his courses, Gentry returned to staff duties in New Zealand, serving as Adjutant General to Stewart, now Chief of Staff, and worked with him in preparing plans for the Government's commitment to deploy military forces to the Middle East in the event of hostilities with the Soviet Union. This work led to several clashes with the Government. In the 1950 Kings's Birthday Honours,he was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE). Promoted to major general, from 1952 to 1955 Gentry served as Chief of the General Staff of the New Zealand Military Forces. He represented New Zealand in ANZUS and was involved in planning for the defence of Southeast Asia. In the 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours, he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and the following year retired from the military. In a break with convention he was not rewarded with a knighthood for his services. This may have been due to some ill-feeling within the Government regarding his work developing proposed plans for New Zealand's Middle East deployment. He was appointed knighted three years later by the newly elected Labour Government in the 1958 Queen's Birthday Honours. In his retirement Gentry had a strong relationship with the Boy Scouts Association and served as its New Zealand president from 1957 to 1967. He was awarded the association's Silver Wolf. He died on 13 October 1991 in Lower Hutt, where he had lived for many years, at the age of 92. His wife, whom he married in 1926, died in 1994. Notes References 1899 births 1991 deaths Military personnel from London New Zealand Companions of the Distinguished Service Order New Zealand Companions of the Order of the Bath New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire New Zealand generals New Zealand military personnel of World War II Royal Military College, Duntroon graduates People educated at Wellington College (New Zealand) Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies People from London