Soldiers Who Have Served
Name: Richard Eustance John Gerrald-Wright
Rank: Lieutenant General
Regimental number: 407841
Post nominals: CB CBE DL
Date of birth: 09/05/01930
Place of Birth: Woolsthorpe-by-Belvoir, Lincs
Background: Educated at Christ’s Hospital School, Sussex, and RMA Sandhurst, ‘Dick’ Gerrard-Wright was commissioned into The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment in 1949, serving intitially in the 1st Bn in the Suez Canal Zone, Germany and the UK until 1955, and thence to Malaya where he was Adjutant of 1st Bn 1957-58 and Mentioned in Despatches (L.G. 23.5.1958). From 1958-60 he was an instructor at RMA Sandhurst , and then served in 1st Bn 2nd East Anglian Regiment in Germany. He then attended the Indian Defence Services Staff College and from 1963-65 was Brigade Major of 70th (East African) Brigade in Kenya for which he was awarded the M.B.E. (L.G 12.6.1965). His “Tigers” service was as OC HQ Coy in 4th R Anglian in Watchet, Aden and Malta 1965-67. From 1967-69 he was Brigade Major of 28th (Commonwealth) Brigade at Terendak in Malaysia. He was CO 2nd R Anglian from 1970 to 1973, which included two tours in Northern Ireland, for which he was awarded the O.B.E. on the first (L.G. 12.6.1971) and a Mention in Despatches on the second (L.G. 1.5.1973). Following a tour as Col GS at HQ 1 (BR) Corps at Bielefeld, he commanded 39th Infantry Brigade in Belfast from 1975-77 and was awarded the C.B.E. (L.G. 1.1.1977). After attending the Canadian National Defence College in Ontario, in 1979 be became Chief of Staff of HQ 1 (BR) Corps at Bielefeld. He was GOC Eastern District from 1981-3, and then Director TA & Cadets at the Ministry of Defence 1983-85. He was appointed C.B. (L.G. 31.12.1984) and retired from the Army in 1985.
After 2 years as Chief Executive and Secretary of the Hurlingham Club in London, he became a touring examiner of the Army Security Vetting Unit. He was Deputy Colonel The Royal Anglian Regiment 1975-1980 and Colonel Commandant The Queen’s Division 1981-1984. He was also President of SSAFA Forces Help for Lincolnshire 1998-2010, a Deputy Lieutenant for Cambridgeshire 1993-1997 and for Lincolnshire from 1997 until his death.
Date of Death: 12/05/2012
