William Gentry
Military leader
Died when: 92 years 235 days (1111 months)Star Sign: Aquarius
Major General Sir William George Gentry, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar (20 February 1899 – 13 October 1991) was a professional soldier in the New Zealand Military Forces who served during the Second World War.
He was Chief of the General Staff of the New Zealand Military Forces from 1952 to 1955.Born in 1899 in London, United Kingdom, Gentry's family emigrated to New Zealand in 1910.
He joined the New Zealand Military Forces in 1916 as a cadet.Following graduation from the Royal Military College in 1919, he was posted to the New Zealand Staff Corps and held a number of staff positions in New Zealand and abroad.
He saw active service during the Second World War as part of the 2nd New Zealand Division, initially as a staff officer but later on as a brigade commander.
After the cessation of hostilities in 1945 he held senior staff positions in the New Zealand Military Forces.From 1952 Gentry served as Chief of the General Staff until his retirement in 1955.
He died in 1991 in Lower Hutt.
