Succeeded by Paul Molineaux Name Bill Gilbert Allegiance New Zealand Role Military Officer | Years of service 1935–1956 Service/branch New Zealand Army Commands 6th Field Regiment Rank Brigadier | |
Full Name Herbert Ellery Gilbert Born 20 July 1916
Wanganui, New Zealand ( 1916-07-20 ) Spouse(s) Patricia Caroline Anson Gilbert (nee Farrer) Alma mater Royal Military College, Duntroon Died September 26, 1987, Silverstream, Upper Hutt, New Zealand Education Royal Military College, Duntroon Battles and wars North African Campaign, Siege of Tobruk Similar People Albert Kesselring, Fridolin von Senger und Etterlin, Bernard Montgomery - 1st Visco, Mark W Clark, Harold Alexander - 1st Earl A | ||
Sir William Herbert Ellery "Bill" Gilbert (20 July 1916 – 26 September 1987), born Herbert Ellery Gilbert, was a New Zealand military leader and intelligence service director.
He was born in Wanganui on 20 July 1916. In 1956, he was tasked by Jack Marshall, then Minister of Justice, with setting up the New Zealand Security Service. Over 19 years, he served under seven Prime Ministers. He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) in the 1976 Birthday Honours, just one month prior to his retirement.
He was born as Herbert Ellery Gilbert. At the Australian Royal Military College in Duntroon he was nicknamed Bill, and the name stuck. After his retirement, he changed his name by deed poll to William Herbert Ellery Gilbert.