20 Facts About Michael Carver

Lord Carver served as the Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and then as the Chief of the Defence Staff, the professional head of the British Armed Forces.

Michael Carver served with distinction during the Second World War and organised the administration of British forces deployed in response to the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya and later in his career provided advice to the British government on the response to the early stages of The Troubles in Northern Ireland.

From Sandhurst, Michael Carver was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Royal Tank Corps of the British Army on 1 February 1935.

Michael Carver then attended a short course at the Royal Military College of Science before returning to his battalion.

Michael Carver was promoted to lieutenant on 31 January 1938.

Michael Carver served in the Second World War, which began in September 1939, with Carver still serving in Egypt.

Michael Carver received a new appointment at this time, becoming GSO1, essentially chief of staff, of the 7th Armoured Division.

Michael Carver served with this formation in several engagements, including the Second Battle of El Alamein in October 1942, and throughout most of the Tunisian campaign which followed.

Michael Carver received a promotion to the permanent rank of captain in January 1943.

Michael Carver was appointed Commanding officer of the 1st Royal Tank Regiment in April 1943, leading them in North Africa for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 4 May 1943 and in Italy for which he was awarded a Bar to his DSO on 24 February 1944.

Michael Carver was appointed commander of the 4th Armoured Brigade on 27 June 1944 after its previous commander, Brigadier John Cecil Currie, was killed in action.

Michael Carver led his brigade in the remainder of the fighting in Normandy and then throughout the subsequent campaign in North West Europe which followed until the German surrender in May 1945.

Michael Carver was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1945.

Michael Carver became a Technical Staff officer to the Ministry of Supply in 1947, and having been promoted to the substantive rank of major on 31 January 1948, he became Assistant Quartermaster-General at Headquarters Allied Forces Central Europe in May 1951 and then head of the exercise planning staff at SHAPE in October 1952.

Michael Carver was then elevated to Chief of Staff in East Africa in October 1955 and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 8 March 1957.

Michael Carver's division was deployed to Cyprus in February 1964 and he was made Director of Army Staff Duties at the Ministry of Defence on 7 October 1964 and it was in this role that he famously substantially reduced the size of the Territorial Army.

Michael Carver was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers from February 1966, of the Royal Tank Regiment from January 1968, of the Bristol University Officer Training Corps from March 1972 and of the Royal Armoured Corps from April 1974.

Michael Carver wrote a number of books on military history and was a vocal critic of Britain's Trident missile programme, believing that as the American nuclear strike capability was sufficiently powerful it was inefficient for Britain to have an independent program.

Michael Carver died on 9 December 2001 in Fareham, Hampshire.

Michael Carver's mother was related to Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington.