Mervyn Butler

General Sir Mervyn Andrew Haldane Butler, (1 July 1913 – 3 January 1976) was a British Army officer who served as Commander-in-Chief Strategic Command.

Military career Mervyn Butler was educated at St Columba's College, Rathfarnham, Ireland and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the South Lancashire Regiment on 4 February 1933 He was again promoted, this time to captain, on 2 February 1941. He transferred to the Parachute Regiment and served with distinction during the Second World War, being awarded both the Distinguished Service Order and the Military Cross for his services. He transferred to the Suffolk Regiment on 20 July 1946. He was awarded a Bar to his Distinguished Service Order on 13 June 1957.

Butler was General Officer Commanding 2nd Division from 1962 to 1964.

In 1964, Butler was appointed Assistant Chief of Defence Studies (Joint Warfare) and then in 1966 went on to be Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley. He was also Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1967 to 1972.

Butler was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire for service in Cyprus in 1957, a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1964 New Year Honours, and advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1968 New Year Honours.

On his death in 1976 Butler was buried in Aldershot Military Cemetery.