Gerald Lathbury
| Sir Gerald Lathbury | |
|---|---|
Sir Gerald William Lathbury, seen here as Commander-in-Chief (C-in-C), East Africa, in May 1955.
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| Nickname(s) | "Legs" |
| Born |
14 July 1906 Murree, India |
| Died | 16 May 1978 (aged 71) Mortimer, Berkshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1926–1965 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit |
Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Parachute Regiment |
| Commands held |
3rd Parachute Battalion 3rd Parachute Brigade 1st Parachute Brigade 16th Airborne Division Staff College, Camberley East Africa Command Eastern Command |
| Battles/wars | |
| Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Member of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in despatches |
| Other work | Governor of Gibraltar |
General Sir Gerald William Lathbury, GCB, DSO, MBE (14 July 1906 – 16 May 1978) was a senior British Army officer who fought during the Second World War, serving with distinction with the British Army's airborne forces, commanding the 1st Parachute Brigade in Sicily and Holland. He later became Governor of Gibraltar from 1965 to 1969.
Lathbury was born into a military family. His father was Colonel (Henry) Oscar Lathbury. He was educated at Wellington College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Lathbury was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry in 1926. He was seconded to the Royal West African Frontier Force and Gold Coast Regiment between 1928 and 1932 and went to the Staff College, Camberley between 1937 and 1938.
Lathbury served in the Second World War, raising the 3rd Parachute Battalion in 1941 and the 3rd Parachute Brigade in 1943 and then taking command of the 1st Parachute Brigade, part of the 1st Airborne Division, in North Africa. Lathbury took part in the landings in Sicily (Operation Husky), his brigade tasked with the capture of the Primosole Bridge, where he was wounded in the back and both thighs, although he remained in command until reinforcement arrived. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for this action. The citation reads:
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