Douglas Darling

Major General Douglas Lyall Darling CB, DSO & Bar, MC & Bar (3 October 1914 – 28 December 1978) was a British Army officer who was highly decorated for gallantry and leadership during the Second World War.

Douglas Darling
Born(1914-10-03)3 October 1914
Bengal Presidency, British India
Died28 December 1978(1978-12-28) (aged 64)
Bristol, Gloucestershire, England
Buried
Hullavington, Wiltshire, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1934–1968
RankMajor General
Service number63638
UnitRifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
Commands held7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
133rd Infantry Brigade
53rd (Welsh) Division/District
Wales
Battles/warsSecond World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross & Bar
RelationsGeneral Sir Kenneth Darling (brother)

Early life

Darling was born in India, the younger son of George Kenneth Darling (1879–1964) of the Indian Civil Service and his wife Mabel Eleanor, née Burgess (d. 1952). His elder brother was General Sir Kenneth Darling. He was educated at Eton College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1]

Military career

After graduating from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) on 30 August 1934.[2]

Seeing action in the Second World War, he was awarded the Military Cross on 8 July 1941.[3] Between January and May 1942 he attended the 6th War Course at the Middle East Staff School in Haifa. Darling then took command of the 7th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade. While in command of the battalion he was awarded a Bar to his MC in August 1942,[4] and he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order on 19 August 1943. Darling was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 7 March 1943. On 19 August 1943 he was awarded a Bar to his DSO.[5]

Darling became commander of 133rd Infantry Brigade in May 1959, Chief of British Mission to Soviet Forces in Europe in January 1963 and, after being promoted to major-general on 9 December 1963, he became General Officer Commanding 53rd (Welsh) Division/District of the Territorial Army in December 1963.[6] He went on to be General Officer Commanding Wales in April 1967.[6] He retired from the army in May 1968 and was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath.[7]

Personal life

He married Cynthia Labouchere, the daughter of Arthur Labouchere and Dorothy Timson, on 28 April 1939 in Westminster.[1] They had a daughter and two sons.

References
  1. 'Darling, Douglas Lyall' in at unithistories.com, accessed 8 July 2015
  2. "No. 34083". The London Gazette. 31 August 1934. p. 5524.
  3. "No. 35209". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 July 1941. p. 3884.
  4. "No. 35665". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1942. p. 3543.
  5. "No. 37235". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 August 1945. p. 4267.
  6. "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 7 June 2020.
  7. "No. 44484". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1968. p. 3.
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