Lest we forget - Lt General Sir Michael Gray KCB OBE DL

LT GEN SIR MICHAEL GRAY KCB OBE DL

The Regimental Lieutenant Colonel regrets to inform you of the death of Lt Gen Sir Michael Gray who died suddenly on 13 March 2011 at York District Hospital , aged 78 years.

Lt Gen Sir Michael Gray KCB OBE DL was commissioned into the East Yorkshire Regiment in 1952 and transferred to the Parachute Regiment in 1955.  He commanded I PARA from 1969 to 1971 and went on to be the last Commander of 16th Parachute Brigade in 1977.  He was appointed Colonel Commandant of The Parachute Regiment from 1990 to 1993. 

On his retirement he took up the post of Lieutenant of the Tower of London , remaining in that appointment until 1998, and he was subsequently appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of the West Riding of Yorkshire in 1997. He was a keen supporter of the 6th Airborne Division and was became the Chairman of the Airborne Assault Normandy Trust in 1972, a post that he still held at the time of his death.   He was appointed KCB in 1986 and OBE in 1970.