Sir Gerald Templer
London Newspaper Group — CN/WPN 02-11-1979
Long Look
by Christopher Long
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Museum his memorial
Field-Marshal Sir Gerald Templer, who died on Friday aged 81, will be sadly missed by The National Army Museum in Chelsea, a spokesman for the museum said this week.
"This museum could be said to be his memorial. It was his idea; he worked for it, pushed for its creation and maintained day to day contact with it as chairman of the executive committee. It only exists because of his vision and energy and he will be very much missed."
Sir Gerald, who was perhaps one of the most distinguished soldiers to have served in both world wars and taken part in British military involvement in the Middle East and Far East after the War, joined the Royal Irish Fusiliers in 1916 and duly became Chief of Imperial General Staff in 1955.
Of all the many honours and distinctions bestowed on him, none pleased him so much as to follow his father as Colonel of his regiment after the last war, and no monument would have given him greater pleasure than the establishment of the National Army Museum in Royal Hospital Road. It was his idea and his creation.
- The funeral service for the Field Marshall will be held in St George's Chapel, Windsor Castle, today (Friday) at 11.30am. Admittance is by ticket only. Donations may be sent to the National Army Museum Building Fund, Royal Hospital Road, Chelsea.