Michael Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham
Field Marshal Michael John Dawson Walker, Baron Walker of Aldringham, GCB, CMG, CBE, DL (born 7 July 1944)[1] is a retired British Army officer. Commissioned in 1966, he served in Cyprus, Northern Ireland, and in a variety of staff posts in the United Kingdom until 1984. After being given command of a battalion, he was mentioned in despatches for his service during a second tour of duty in Northern Ireland, this time in Derry, and subsequently served a tour on Gibraltar. He was promoted to brigadier, unusually having never held the rank of colonel, and took command of 20th Armoured Brigade in Germany before becoming I Corps chief of staff.
The Lord Walker of Aldringham
7 July 1944
Salisbury, Southern Rhodesia (now Harare, Zimbabwe)
United Kingdom
1966–2006
- Chief of the Defence Staff (2003–06)
- Chief of the General Staff (2000–03)
- Land Command (1997–00)
- Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (1994–97)
- Eastern District (1991–92)
- 2nd Infantry Division (1991–92)
- 20th Armoured Brigade (1987–89)
- 1st Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment (1985–87)
As a major general, Walker was appointed General Officer Commanding, Eastern District, before becoming Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff at the Ministry of Defence. He took command of NATO's Allied Rapid Reaction Corps (ARRC), which deployed to the Balkans in 1995, Walker becoming the first officer to command the land component of the NATO-led Implementation Force. For his service with the multi-national forces in the Balkans, he was awarded the American Legion of Merit. After relinquishing command of the ARRC, Walker spent three years as Commander in Chief, Land Command, before being appointed Chief of the General Staff—the professional head of the British Army—in 2000. In 2003, he was promoted to Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS)—the professional head of all the British Armed Forces. While CDS, Walker attracted controversy during the modernisation of the armed forces, over allegations of prisoner abuse during the Iraq War, and over comments that the media coverage of Iraq may have endangered British troops.
Walker retired in 2006 and was subsequently appointed Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, a post he held until 2011. He is married and has three children.
Early and personal life[edit]
Born in Salisbury in the British colony of Southern Rhodesia (modern-day Zimbabwe) to William Hampden Dawson Walker, who was a Senior Assistant Commissioner in the British South Africa Police until 1958,[2] and Dorothy Helena Walker (née Shiach), Walker was educated both in Southern Rhodesia and in Yorkshire, first at Milton School, Bulawayo, and then at Woodhouse Grove School, West Yorkshire.[3] He spent 18 months teaching in a Preparatory School before joining the British Army. Walker married Victoria ("Tor", née Holme), in 1973 and the couple have three children—two sons and one daughter. He lists his interests as sailing, shooting, tennis, skiing and golf.[1]
Early military career[edit]
After attending the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Walker was commissioned into the Royal Anglian Regiment as a second lieutenant on 29 July 1966.[4] He served as a platoon commander with the 1st Battalion and was promoted to lieutenant on 29 January 1968.[1][5] In 1969 he was posted to Cyprus for a two-year tour, and served in Northern Ireland during The Troubles,[1] before attending the Staff College, Camberley.[3] He was promoted to captain on 29 July 1972.[6][7]
After serving in a staff position at the Ministry of Defence (MoD), Walker was promoted to major at the end of 1976,[8] and rejoined the 1st Battalion, to become a company commander, based in Tidworth, Wiltshire. In 1979, he took up another staff post at the MoD, after which he was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1982. Until 1985, he served as Military Assistant to the Chief of the General Staff.[1] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1985 New Year Honours.[9]
In command of the 1st Battalion from 1985 to 1987,[3] Walker served another tour in Northern Ireland, this time in Derry, and later a tour on Gibraltar.[1] He was mentioned in despatches in 1987 "in recognition of gallant and distinguished service" in Northern Ireland.[10] Unusually, Walker was promoted directly to brigadier at the end of 1987, without having held the rank of colonel.[11] He took command of the 20th Armoured Brigade, based in Germany, from 1987 to 1989, before holding the post of chief of staff, I Corps between 1989 and 1991.[3]
Retirement[edit]
Walker relinquished his appointment as Chief of the Defence Staff in April 2006 and retired from the Army, succeeded as CDS by Air Chief Marshal Jock Stirrup.[13] In September 2006, Walker was appointed Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, holding the post until February 2011 when he resigned suddenly.[46] On 24 November 2006, it was announced that he would receive a life peerage, and, on 19 December, he was created Baron Walker of Aldringham, of Aldringham in the county of Suffolk,[13][47] sitting in the House of Lords as a crossbencher. He was given the ceremonial appointment of Deputy Lieutenant of Greater London in 2007.[3] Walker was appointed as an honorary field marshal in the Queen's 2014 Birthday Honours.[48] He serves as the Patron of the British South Africa Police Trust.[2]