Roland Gibbs

Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John
Other work	Constable of the Tower of London (1985–90)

Second World War and acted as chief of staff to the commander of the operation to evacuate all British troops and civilians from Aden during the Aden Emergency

.

Military career

Born the son of Major Guy Melvil Gibbs and Margaret Gibbs (née St John)

Second World War.^[3] He was not immediately involved in action, however, as he was deemed to be too young, and remained in the United Kingdom until he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, KRRC, then commanded by Lieutenant Colonel George Erskine and in the process of reforming after sustaining severe casualties during the siege of Calais. Gibbs, promoted to lieutenant on 1 July 1941,^[4] was to serve with the battalion for the rest of the war and was deployed to North Africa with his battalion in late 1941,^[5] he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) on 15 October 1942.^[6] After participating in the Second Battle of El Alamein, he took command of 'C Company' of his battalion in March 1943 and remained in that role for the rest of the war. Commanding his company throughout the final stages of the Tunisian campaign, he later took part in the Allied invasion of Italy and in the first few weeks of the Italian campaign. This was followed by action during the Normandy landings and the subsequent fighting in North West Europe until Victory in Europe Day (VE Day) in May 1945.^[5] Throughout this time, from D-Day to VE Day, one of his fellow officers was Edwin Bramall. Like Gibbs himself, Bramall was destined to reach the very highest ranks. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 2 August 1945.^[7]

The Allied invasion of Italy, in which Gibbs took part, during the Second World War.

With the

Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours 1968.^[13]

He was appointed Commander of British Land Forces in the Persian Gulf on 30 April 1969

ADC General to the Queen on 25 June 1976,^[19] he became Chief of the General Staff on 15 July 1976.^[20] In this capacity he had to deal with the challenges of recruitment and retention in the army at a time of high inflation.^[10] He was promoted to field marshal on 13 July 1979 on his retirement from the British Army.^[10]

He was also colonel commandant of the 2nd Battalion the Royal Green Jackets from 1971^[21] and colonel commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1972.^[5]

Gibbs retired to a former

the Beaufort, and painting.^[5] He was the Constable of the Tower of London from 1985 to 1990 and served as Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire from 1989 to 1996.^[5]

His interests included shooting and hunting: he used to follow the Beaufort Hunt until a medical operation on his knee halted further participation.^[5] He was also a keen amateur artist.^[5] He died on 31 October 2004.^[5]

Family

In 1955, Gibbs married Davina Merry, the artist; they had two sons, and a daughter.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Debrett's People of Today 1994
^ ^a ^b ^c Heathcote 1999, p. 144.
^ "No. 34766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1940. p. 67.
^ "No. 35207". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1941. p. 3810.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "Obituary: Field Marshal Sir Roland Gibbs". The Telegraph. London. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2011.
^ "No. 35745". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 October 1942. p. 4479.
^ "No. 37204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 July 1945. p. 3955.
^ "No. 37635". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1946. p. 3378.
^ "No. 39744". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1953. p. 152.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Heathcote 1999, p. 145.
^ "No. 43509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 December 1964. p. 10435.
^ "No. 44238". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 January 1967. p. 1154.
^ "No. 44484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1967. p. 6.
^ "No. 44845". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 May 1969. p. 4991.
^ "No. 45554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1971. p. 2.
^ "No. 45575". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 January 1972. p. 647.
^ "No. 46252". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 April 1974. p. 4282.
^ "No. 46919". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1976. p. 8016.
^ "No. 46947". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1976. p. 8989.
^ "No. 46965". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 1976. p. 9899.
^ "No. 45271". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1971. p. 120.

Bibliography

Heathcote, Tony (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736–1997. Barnsley (UK): Pen & Sword.
ISBN 0-85052-696-5
.

Military offices
Preceded by Sir John Sharp	GOC 1st (British) Corps 1972–1974	Succeeded by Sir Jack Harman
Preceded by Sir Basil Eugster	C-in-C, UK Land Forces 1974–1976	Succeeded by Sir Edwin Bramall
Preceded by Sir Peter Hunt	Chief of the General Staff 1976–1979	Succeeded by Sir Edwin Bramall
Honorary titles
Preceded by Sir Hugh Brassey	Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire 1989–1996	Succeeded by Sir Maurice Johnston
Preceded by Sir Peter Hunt	Constable of the Tower of London 1985–1990	Succeeded by Sir John Stanier

[debrett-1] Debrett's People of Today 1994

[FOOTNOTEHeathcote1999144-2] Heathcote 1999, p. 144.

[3] "No. 34766". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1940. p. 67.

[4] "No. 35207". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 July 1941. p. 3810.

[tele-5] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k ^l ^m "Obituary: Field Marshal Sir Roland Gibbs". The Telegraph. London. 2 November 2004. Retrieved 24 December 2011.

[6] "No. 35745". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 October 1942. p. 4479.

[7] "No. 37204". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 July 1945. p. 3955.

[8] "No. 37635". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1946. p. 3378.

[9] "No. 39744". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 January 1953. p. 152.

[FOOTNOTEHeathcote1999145-10] Heathcote 1999, p. 145.

[11] "No. 43509". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 December 1964. p. 10435.

[12] "No. 44238". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 January 1967. p. 1154.

[13] "No. 44484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1967. p. 6.

[14] "No. 44845". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 May 1969. p. 4991.

[15] "No. 45554". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1971. p. 2.

[16] "No. 45575". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 January 1972. p. 647.

[17] "No. 46252". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 April 1974. p. 4282.

[18] "No. 46919". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 June 1976. p. 8016.

[19] "No. 46947". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 June 1976. p. 8989.

[20] "No. 46965". The London Gazette (Supplement). 19 July 1976. p. 9899.

[21] "No. 45271". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1971. p. 120.

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[1]

v t e Commanders-in-Chief of the Forces and Chiefs of the General Staff of the British Army
Commanders-in-Chief of the Forces	Duke of Albemarle Duke of Monmouth Earl of Marlborough Duke of Leinster Duke of Marlborough Duke of Ormonde Earl of Stair George Wade Duke of Cumberland Viscount Ligionier Marquess of Granby Lord Amherst Henry Conway Lord Amherst Duke of York Sir David Dundas Duke of York Duke of Wellington Viscount Hill Duke of Wellington Viscount Hardinge Duke of Cambridge Viscount Wolseley Earl Roberts
Chief of the General Staff	Sir Neville Lyttelton
Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff	Sir William Nicholson Sir John French Sir Charles Douglas Sir James Murray Sir Archibald Murray Sir William Robertson Sir Henry Wilson The Earl of Cavan Sir George Milne Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd Sir Cyril Deverell The Viscount Gort Sir Edmund Ironside Sir John Dill Sir Alan Brooke The Viscount Montgomery of Alamein Sir William Slim Sir John Harding Sir Gerald Templer Sir Francis Festing Sir Richard Hull
Chiefs of the General Staff	Sir Richard Hull Sir James Cassels Sir Geoffrey Baker Sir Michael Carver Sir Peter Hunt Sir Roland Gibbs Sir Edwin Bramall Sir John Stanier Sir Nigel Bagnall Sir John Chapple Sir Peter Inge Sir Charles Guthrie Sir Roger Wheeler Sir Michael Walker Sir Mike Jackson Sir Richard Dannatt Sir David Richards Sir Peter Wall Sir Nick Carter Sir Mark Carleton-Smith Sir Patrick Sanders