Michael Walsh (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Michael Walsh
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Major-General Michael Walsh, pictured here in 1987.
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| Born | 10 June 1927 Harrogate, West Riding of Yorkshire |
| Died | 13 October 2015 (aged 88) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
British Army |
| Years of service | 1944–1981 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Service number | 364588 |
| Unit | King's Royal Rifle Corps Parachute Regiment |
| Commands held | 3rd Armoured Division 28 ANZUK Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment |
| Battles/wars | Second World War Suez Crisis Aden Emergency |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John |
Michael John Hatley Walsh was a brave British Army officer. He was born on June 10, 1927, and passed away on October 13, 2015. He reached the high rank of Major General. After his military career, he became the Scout Association's Chief Scout for the United Kingdom. He held this important role from 1982 to 1988.
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Early Life and Education
Michael Walsh was born in Harrogate, a town in Yorkshire, England. He went to two private schools. First, he attended Clifton House School in Harrogate. Later, he studied at Sedbergh School in Cumbria.
Young Michael was also a very active member of his local Scout Troop. He worked hard and earned the King's Scout Award. This was the highest award a Scout could achieve at that time. He even received special Gold Cords, showing his outstanding achievement.
A Career in the Army
Michael Walsh joined the British Army in 1944. He started as a rifleman in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. By 1945, he had become an officer.
Early Assignments and Training
In the winter of 1945–46, he was stationed in northern Italy. His job was to guard against groups led by Josip Broz Tito. After this, he became an instructor. He taught at the Small Arms School and the Jungle Warfare School in Malaya.
Action in Cyprus and Suez
Later, he joined the 3rd Battalion of the Parachute Regiment. This unit was often called "3 Para." In 1956, he went with them to Cyprus as a company commander. There, he took part in operations against local insurgents.
In November 1956, a big event called the Suez Crisis happened. 3 Para was given a key mission. They had to capture El Gamil airfield near Port Said. This was part of a larger plan called Operation Musketeer. This mission was the first and last time British soldiers parachuted into a battle since the Second World War. Even with strong opposition, including tanks, the airfield was captured very quickly, in just 30 minutes.
Leading in Aden
After several other jobs, Walsh returned to 3 Para as a company commander. In 1964, he took part in a campaign in the Radfan Mountains in Saudi Arabia. He was then promoted to lieutenant colonel. In January 1967, he took command of 1 Para for an urgent mission in Aden.
His battalion was in charge of an area called "Area North" for seven months. They were the very last British battalion to leave Aden. For his brave actions in June, Walsh received the Distinguished Service Order. This award recognized his amazing dedication, courage, and leadership. He managed a tough situation while always trying to use the least amount of force possible.
Important Army Roles
After his time in Aden, Walsh held important staff positions. He worked with the British Army of the Rhine (BAOR) and the 28th ANZUK Infantry Brigade in Singapore. In 1973, he became the Assistant Chief of Staff for Intelligence.
He was promoted to major general in 1976. He then took command of the 3rd Armoured Division. In 1978, he became the Director of Army Training. He retired from the army in 1981.
Life After the Army
After leaving the army, Michael Walsh continued to serve in different ways. From 1988 to 1995, he was the Knight President of the London-based Society of Knights of the Round Table. He also worked for St. John Ambulance from 1989 to 1995, helping with their international relations. He was also a Vice President of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), which saves lives at sea. Michael Walsh passed away on October 13, 2015.
Awards and Recognition
Michael Walsh received several important awards for his service:
- 1968 Distinguished Service Order (DSO) – for outstanding leadership in battle.
- 1980 Companions of the Order of the Bath (CB) – a high honor for military service.
- 1986 Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ) – for his work with St John Ambulance.
- 1993 Knight of the Order of St John (KStJ) – a higher rank within the Order of St John.
- 1996 Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) – for his contributions to the United Kingdom.
- Deputy lieutenant of Greater London – a ceremonial role representing the monarch.
