Background
Darling was born in India, the younger son of George Kenneth Darling (1879–1964) of the Indian Civil Service and his wife Mabel Eleanor, née Burgess (d 1952).
Darling was born in India, the younger son of George Kenneth Darling (1879–1964) of the Indian Civil Service and his wife Mabel Eleanor, née Burgess (d 1952).
He was educated at Eton College and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
He commissioned into the Rifle Brigade on 30 August 1934. He was awarded the Military Cross on 8 July 1941. Between January and May 1942 he attended the 6th War Course at the Middle East Staff School in Haifa.
Darling then took command of the 7th Battalion of the Rifle Brigade.
Darling was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 7 March 1943. On 19 August 1943 he was awarded a Bar to his Defence Science Organisation. On 9 December 1963 Darling was promoted to major-general.
He retired from the army in May 1968 and was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath.