10 Facts About Michael Wilkes

General Sir Michael John Wilkes, was a British army officer who became Adjutant-General to the Forces in the United Kingdom.

The son of an Artillery officer, Michael John Wilkes was born at Steep, Hampshire, on 11 June 1940 and educated at King's School, Rochester where he played rugby for the 1st XV.

Michael Wilkes set up a robust liaison system linking the SAS commander to the police, the security services and the Cabinet Office Briefing Rooms.

The Germans asked the SAS for help and Michael Wilkes dispatched a small team to offer advice to GSG 9, their anti-terrorist squad.

Wilkes moved on in 1979, but the decisive intervention by the SAS in the Iranian Embassy siege in May the following year by Michael Rose was convincing evidence of the value of his legacy.

Michael Wilkes was appointed Commander of 22 Armoured Brigade in 1984 and Director SAS in 1986.

Michael Wilkes was appointed General Officer Commanding 3rd Armoured Division in 1988 and Commander UK Field Army and Inspector General of the Territorial Army in 1990, remaining in that post until 1993.

Michael Wilkes died on 27 October 2013, leaving a wife and two sons.

Michael Wilkes was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1980 New Year Honours, and was promoted to Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1988 Queen's Birthday Honours.

Michael Wilkes was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1991 New Year Honours.