SIR WILLIAM GERAGHTY

Sir WVilliam Geraghty, KCB, wvho had becin Second Permanent Under Secretary of State (Administration) at the Ministry of Defenice, died on May 7 at the age of 60. He went to the War Office in 1939 with a First in Greats. His work always bore the mark of his education: clear thinking and limpid drafting. But he did not parade his brains. He worked quietly and unhurriedly without upsetting his colleagues. His subordinares always found him approachable and a good listener. He could get angry but the innocent never suffered.

In August 1940 he joined the Army and became a Major in the Royal Artillery. Five years later he returned to the War Office, matured and ready for the responsibilities which never left him. He was Private Secretary to Mr (now Lord) Shinwell and his successor as Secretary of State, Command Secretary to the Middle East Land Forces and, after a year at the Imperial Defence Col-

lege, Inspector of Establishments.

Geraghty tvas the obvious choice as joint head (wvith an architect) of the newv civilian organization formed to provide the Army with its barracks and all other buildings. After.a spell in the Cabinet Office he wvas promoted Deputy Secretary. In 1964 the Service Departments were incorporated in the newv Ministry of Defence and he was shortly afterwards made chairman of the three service Study Group to examine howv far the armed forces could operate economically and vithout loss of efficiency wvitlh triservice administrative backing. The recomme.dations of the Group wvere in advaice of the thinkinig in the Ministry of Defence at the time. Geraghty uas shifted sideways to the Ilinistry of Aviation (later to become the Ministry of Technology). He was not happy there.

Whien in 1971 the Military parts of this 'Ministry were reformed in the Ministry of Defence as the Procurement

Executive, Geraghty became its Controller of Personnel, and a year later he took the equivalenr but bigger job in the AMinistry of Defence itself. This work was more congenial to him and the huge ministry fully tested his wide administrative abilities. He had a fair for understanding and handling humani problems, however young or hierarchically unimportant the individuals concerned might be. The wellbeing of a big newv organization like the Ministry of Defence depends on those at the top having these qualities.

In Geraghty they were outstanding. These were the years of his grcatest achievement.

He wvas taken ill shortly after his promotion to Permament Under Secretary (Administration) ill Seltember, 1975, and r etired at the end of last year before his time. He was created a KCB in that year havinig been appointed a CB in 1962.

He married, in 1946, Lilian Irene Travis. They had iio children.