Michael Gambier-Parry

Major-General Michael Denman Gambier-Parry, (21 August 1891 – 30 April 1976) was a senior British Army officer who briefly commanded the 2nd Armoured Division during the Western Desert campaign of the Second World War.

Early life and family The Gambier-Parrys of Highnam Court, Gloucestershire, were an artistic and military family (see Thomas Gambier Parry and the latter's son, eminent composer Sir Hubert Parry). His uncle Ernest Gambier-Parry was a major in the army sent to Egypt to avenge the death of General Gordon and wrote a book (Suakin, 1885) about his experiences. Michael's father was architect Sidney Gambier-Parry.

Military career Meeting of the Anglo-Greek War Council in January 1941. Left to right: Major General M. D. Gambier-Parry, Dictator Ioannis Metaxas, King George II of Greece, Air Vice Marshal John D'Albiac and General Alexandros Papagos.

Educated at Eton College, Gambier-Parry entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers in March 1911.

He served in the First World War in France, being awarded the Military Cross in 1916, and in the Gallipoli campaign and the Mesopotamian campaign.

After returning to Sandhurst and being placed in command of a Company of Gentleman Cadets, Gambier-Parry attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1923 to 1924 and transferred to the Royal Tank Corps in 1924. He relinquished the position of brigade major of the 7th Infantry Brigade in February 1929.

He then served as a General Staff Officer at the War Office before becoming commander of the Malaya Infantry Brigade in 1938. Known as 'GP', he was a knowledgeable musician "and led the choir in our church services on Sunday". In September 1943 he escaped with the other officers and after various adventures arrived in Rome, where he had obtained sanctuary in a convent, until the Allies arrived; he retired in 1944.