Kenneth Darling

General Sir Kenneth Thomas Darling GBE KCB DSO (17 September 1909 – 31 October 1998) was a senior British Army officer who was Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe from 1967 to 1969.

Early life
Darling was born in India, the eldest son of George Kenneth Darling (1879–1964) of the Indian Civil Service and his wife Mabel Eleanor, née Burgess (d. 1952). His younger brother Maj.-Gen. Douglas Lyall Darling (1914–1978) was also a distinguished soldier.

Military career
Educated at Eton College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Darling was commissioned into the 7th Royal Fusiliers in 1929. He served in North West Europe during 1944 and 1945 and was awarded the DSO in 1945. He became Commander of the 5th Parachute Brigade in 1946, of the Airborne Forces Depot in 1948 and of 16th Independent Parachute Brigade in 1950. He was Chief of Staff of I (British) Corps from 1955, General Officer Commanding II Corps from 1956 and then Deputy Director, Staff Duties at the War Office from 1957. He went on to be General Officer Commanding Cyprus District in 1958, Director of Infantry in 1960 and General Officer Commanding I (British) Corps in 1962. His last appointments were as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief at Southern Command in 1964 and Commander in Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe from 1967 until his retirement in 1969.

He was appointed GBE in 1969, KCB in 1963, CBE in 1957 and CB in 1957.

Darling was Honorary Colonel of the Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment) from 1963 to 1968, Colonel Commandant of the Parachute Regiment from 1965 to 1967, Honorary Colonel of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers from 1968 to 1974 and ADC General to the Queen during 1968 and 1969.

He lived in Chesterton, Bicester, Oxfordshire.

In 1941 he married Pamela Denison-Pender.

General Sir Kenneth Darling GBE KCB DSO died on 31 October 1998.