to the highest rank in the British Army would have returned to Bermuda, almost certainly pursuing a totally different career.

"Mind you, I'm not sure what they would have done with me in Bermuda! But it would never have entered my head to join the army.'' This was Maj. Gen. Glyn Gilbert, CB., MC., musing how fate had pushed him into what turned out to be a brilliant career.

The Bermuda Regiment's former Commanding Officer, Lt. Col. Gavin Shorto, says that Gen. Gilbert's rank is only surpassed by Chiefs of Defence Staff: "I doubt if there are more than two dozen serving Major Generals in the whole of the UK.'' Yet the man whom Lt. Col Shorto has also described as the architect of Bermuda's modern regiment is remarkably modest.

Speaking to Living from his home in England, where he is enjoying a somewhat hectic retirement, Gen. Gilbert declares that the one thing he is really proud of is his Bermuda roots. There is a certain irony in this comment, since Bermuda's most illustrious soldier, who happens also to belong to one of its oldest families (the Gilberts were firmly established on the Island by at least 1640), was at one point informed by the Bermuda Government that he was not a Bermudian.

Because of what was termed a "curious anomaly'' in Bermuda's ever-mysterious and ever-changing immigration laws, he was denied permission to apply for status. When his father, Mr. Charles Gilbert, returned home in 1924 with his infant son, he became Director of Education. And Civil Servants did not qualify for the seven-year residency requirements then in force for those seeking status.

Gen. Gilbert says that although he never, in fact, returned here to live, it was "nice to know that I can call myself a Bermudian. I was nearly excommunicated, but I'm glad it was cleared up because it did affect quite a few people.'' He became a visible figure in the Bermuda community in 1977 when he was invited by then Acting Governor Mr. Peter Lloyd, to lead a Board of Inquiry on the force commitments and manpower requirements of the Bermuda Regiment. This arose out of severe discipline problems in the Regiment during a camp held in Barbados. The need to re-structure was further underlined by the riots of that year.

Almost all of Gen. Gilbert's recommendations, which included upgrading in numbers and facilities, closer ties with the Police, a process of Bermudianisation and the introduction of women into the Force, were accepted.

He says he feels "gratified'' that the House of Assembly passed just about all of the radical changes he had proposed: "The Regiment has gone from strength to strength ever since. I believe a fair number of Bermudians are being called to serve -- and although they would never admit it, it does do people good!'' On his annual visits back to Bermuda, Gen. Gilbert continues to call in on the Regiment to say "hallo'' but never in an official capacity.

The young Glyn Gilbert, who was destined to entertain the Queen in his own home during her visit to the School of Infantry under his command, attended Miss Deakin's School and then Saltus Grammar School.

"Mr. Booker was headmaster, then Henry Hallett. And I seem to remember that Henry Cox used to put the fear of God into us!'' At 13, he went off to Eastbourne College in England and explains that as everyone knew war was inevitable, he left school early and went to the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst and never looked back.

It was on D-Day, when then Capt. Gilbert's Lincolnshire Regiment took part in the great Normandy invasion, that he won the Military Cross for his actions in the assault crossing of the Escaut Canal. He recalls: "I was the only officer who survived and later that day, the ribbon was pinned on while we were still in the field. The next day we were relieved by a contingent of Bermudians (the Bermuda Regiment was then affiliated with the Lincolnshire). I knew they were Bermudians because I could hear them laughing!'' He remembers that among that group were Ambrose Gosling, Harry Smith and Toby Smith.

"Unfortunately, Toby was killed only about two weeks later.'' Mr. John Gilbert, who served as Clerk to the Legislature for 14 years until 1990, says that after the war his elder brother seemed to end up in every area where there was trouble.

"He joined the Parachute Regiment and must have done hundreds of jumps. He was in Palestine when the King David Hotel was blown up, chasing Chinese communists in Malaya (now Malaysia) and in Cyprus during the Greek/Cypriot EOKA troubles.'' In 1970, Glyn Gilbert was promoted to the rank of Major General. Mr. Gilbert says that his brother felt particularly honoured when he was placed in overall command of the British 3rd Division, previously commanded by war hero Gen.

Montgomery.

In 1974 he was awarded his CB (Companion of the Bath) by the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

"Glyn still seems to be going flat out at 72,'' laughs Mr. Gilbert: "He is busy directing the national appeal fund for the airborne forces. They've raised more than half of the 5 million target for widows and dependents. He makes a point of meeting up with Bermudians who are sent over to train with the British Army. And he still keeps very close ties with all the family in Bermuda. He gets The Royal Gazette and The Bermudian, so he is well informed about what is going on here.'' Gen. Gilbert is looking forward to the next reunion with his Bermuda family (which includes, among many others, various Goslings and Harveys) when he visits here this summer.

Maj. Gen. Glyn Gilbert.