British officers  |  home
British Army Officers
1939-1945

 

Looking for details on a British Army officer not listed here yet?
Just e-mail me, and I might be able to help out.
Of course, any additions, corrections etc. can also be e-mailed.

Note. Abbreviations and explanations can be found at the help page.
 

A  B  C  D  E  F  G  H  I  J  K  L  M  N  O  P  Q  R  S  T  U  V  W  X  Y  Z

Cable, D.J.
to
Cloutman, B.M.

Coates, R.E.J.C.
to
Curtis, H.O.

 

R.E.J.C. Coates  to  H.O. Curtis
Coates,
[Sir] Robert Edward James Clive [Milnes-];
3rd Baronet (cr. 1911)
R.E.J.C. Coates (Milnes-Coates)
Son of Capt. Sir Edward Clive [Milnes-]Coates, 2nd Bt., OBE (1879-1971), and Lady Celia Hermione Crewe-Milnes (1884-?).
His father assumed the name of Sir Clive Milnes-Coates by deed poll of 19.02.1946.
Succeeded father, 04.09.1971.
Married (04.09.1945) Lady Ethel Patricia Hare, daughter of Richard Granville Hare, 4th Earl of Listowel, and widow of Lt.Col. Charles Thomas Milnes-Gaskell; one son, one daughter.
 		27.09.1907
-
09.05.1982
Helperby, York
2nd Lt.
 		01.09.1927 [38347]
Lt.
 		01.09.1930
local Capt.
 		06.08.1937-31.07.1938
Capt.
 		01.08.1938
A/Maj.
 		14.10.1940-13.01.1941
T/Maj.
 		14.01.1941-31.08.1944
Maj.
 		01.09.1944 (retd 19.07.1947)
A/Lt.Col.
 		10.06.1944-09.09.1944
T/Lt.Col.
 		10.09.1944-(01.1946)
Hon. Lt.Col.
 		19.07.1947
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 24.05.1945

Italy
Mention in Despatches MID
 15.09.1939
 Palestine
Mention in Despatches MID
 11.01.1945
 Italy
Palestine 1936-1939 Medal & Clasp
 		Education: Harrow; Royal Military College, Woolwich; Staff College, Camberley (11.01.1940-15.05.1940); Queen's College, Cambridge University (MA)
01.09.1927

commissioned, Coldstream Guards
30.11.1930
 -
 		30.06.1933
 		ADC to His Excellency the Commander-in-Chief, India
06.08.1937
 -
 		07.01.1940
 		specially employed with the Transjordan Frontier Force
16.05.1940
 -
 		13.10.1940
 		General Staff Officer, 3rd grade (GSO3), ....
14.10.1940
 -
 		19.06.1941
 		Brigade Major, 146th Infantry Brigade
20.06.1941
 -
 		10.02.1943
 		1st Battalion Coldstream Guards
11.02.1943
 -
 		26.10.1943
 		Second-in-Command, 5th Battalion Coldstream Guards
27.10.1943
 -
 		09.06.1944
 		Second-in-Command, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards
10.06.1944
 -
 		01.03.1945
 		Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards (Italy)
01.03.1945
 -
 		09.12.1946
 		Commanding Officer, 3rd Battalion Coldstream Guards
Landowner & farmer. Justice of the Peace, North Riding of Yorkshie, 1960; Patron of two livings.
Coffey,
James
 J. Coffey (Photo courtesy of Mrs Judith Appleby) J. Coffey (Photo courtesy of Mrs Judith Appleby)
Married (24.10.1939) Margaret Roscoe; two daughters, one son.
 		15.04.1912
South Everton, West Derby, Lancashire
-
13.12.1963
Lt.
 		15.02.1941 [172236]
T/Capt.
23.02.1943-(04.1944),
08.11.1945-(04.1946)
15.02.1941

commissioned, The East Lancashire Regiment [emergency commission]
Post-war a surveyor for Rentokil.
Coghill,
Harry
 H. Coghill
Married to Hilda Newbold.
 		03.12.1897
-
c. 1976
2nd Lt.
 		16.08.1916 [15191]
Lt.
 		?
Capt.
 		31.03.1928 (retd 31.03.1938)
Bt. Maj.
 		01.09.1939
16.08.1916

commissioned, The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own)
(03.1931)
 -
 		(06.1933)
 		1st Battalion The Rifle Brigade (Jullundur, later Sudan (for Gosport))
01.03.1934
 -
 		31.01.1938
 		seconded as Adjutant, 1st Battalion Monmouthshire Regiment - Territorial Army
31.01.1938
 -
 		31.03.1938
 		restored to the establishment of The Rifle Brigade, then retired
31.03.1938
 -
 		03.12.1947
 		Regular Army Reserve of Officers - Regimental List [age limit]
24.08.1939

mobilized
02.1942
 -
 		1945
 		captured at the fall of Singapore and in Japanese captivity as a POW for the remainder of the war
Coker,
Douglas Haig Earl
 D.H.E. Coker
 		29.03.1918
-
02.1997
Tower Hamlets, London
RAF:
(A) P/O (prob)
 		01.04.1939 [41829]
Army:
2nd Lt.
 		14.06.1941 [193505]
Lt.
 		17.11.1945, seniority 01.06.1941
A/Capt.
 		08.04.1945-07.07.1945
T/Capt.
08.07.1945-24.06.1946
Capt.
 		01.07.1946
A/Maj.
 		25.03.1946-24.06.1946
T/Maj.
 		25.06.1946-14.06.1947,
19.06.1947-30.11.1952
Maj.
 		01.12.1952
Lt.Col.
 		15.05.1959 (supernumerary 15.05.1962) (retd 26.01.1963)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
 01.01.1963
 New Year 63
01.04.1939
 -
 		16.02.1940
 		commissioned, Royal Air Force (General Duties Branch) [short service commission]



served in the ranks for 1 years, 111 days
1940

mobilized TA
14.06.1941

commissioned, 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) - Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission]
(06.1944)

Officer Commanding, 5 Troop, "B" Squadron, 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)
17.11.1945

permanent commission
22.03.1947

transferred, 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)

Coldwell-Horsfall,
John Henry
 J.H. Coldwell-Horsfall

Obituary at Telegraph Online 		21.02.1915
Putney
-
18.12.2006
2nd Lt.
 		29.08.1935 [66183]
Lt.
 		29.08.1938
A/Capt.
 		02.09.1939-01.12.1939
T/Capt.
 		02.12.1939-10.09.1941
WS/Capt.
 		11.09.1941
Capt.
 		29.08.1943
A/Maj.
 		11.06.1941-10.09.1941
T/Maj.
 		11.09.1941-(04.1946)
WS/Maj.
 		? (retd 27.04.1946)
A/Lt.Col.
16.05.1944-(01.1946)
T/Lt.Col.
 		?
Hon. Lt.Col.
 		27.04.1946
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 26.10.1944
 Cassino, Italy 44
Military Cross MC
 22.10.1940
 France 40
Military Cross MC
 04.05.1943
 Tunisia 43
Palestine 1936-39 Medal & Clasp
 		Education: Harrow; Royal Military College, Sandhurst
29.08.1935

commissioned, The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Princess Victoria's)
1936
 -
 		1936
 		1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Palestine)
(01.1937)

1st/2nd Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Bordon)
1937
 -
 		1939
 		1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Guernsey)
(10.1939)
 -
 		(05.1940)
 		Officer Commanding, "D" Company, 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers (France)
1943?
 -
 		1944?
 		2nd Battalion The London Irish Rifles (initially Second-in-Command, later Commanding Officer) (Italy)
1944
 -
 		12.1944
 		Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion The Royal Irish Fusiliers (Egypt & Italy [wounded])
Coleman,
Leslie Harry Walford
L.H.W. Coleman
 1922 ?
-
03.03.2007
[aged 85]
2nd Lt.
 		28.02.1942 [226940]
WS/Lt.
 		01.10.1942
A/Capt. ?
 		?
Mentions in Despatches MID
 22.03.1945
 NW Europe
28.02.1942

commissioned, Corps of Royal Engineers [emergency commission]
Colledge,
George Edward
G.E. Colledge
 (12?).1917
Worksop district
-
1985
Yorkshire
Dvr.
 		? [1873152]
2nd Lt.
 		05.06.1943 [292791]
WS/Lt.
 		05.06.1943 (reld > 04.1946)
T/Capt.
 		24.01.1944-(04.1946)
Military Medal MM
 pre-WW II
 ?
1933

joined the Army (served in the ranks)
05.06.1943

commissioned, The King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) [emergency commission]
16.10.1944

transferred, Corps of Royal Engineers
Colson,
Alexander Francis Lionel
"Alec"
A.F.L. Colson 		06.09.1921
-
29.06.2007
[Saint Faith's Crematorium, Norwich]
2nd Lt.
 		15.02.1942 [226289]
WS/Lt.
 		01.10.1942
Lt.
 		28.04.1945, seniority 06.09.1942
A/Capt.
 		01.06.1943-31.08.1943
T/Capt.
 		01.09.1943-05.03.1948
Capt.
 		06.03.1948
T/Maj.
 		01.01.1949-19.07.1950,
25.01.1953-05.03.1954
Maj.
 		06.03.1954 (retd 04.06.1960)
Member of the Order of the British Empire (Military Division) MBE
 22.03.1945
 Operation Frippery (Sumatra 44-45)
Mentions in Despatches MID
 22.07.1945
 Operation David (Arakan 44-45)
Education: Oundle (...-1939); psc
1941
 -
 		14.02.1942
 		served in the ranks for 165 days
15.02.1942

commissioned, Corps of Royal Engineers [emergency commission]



Combined Operations Pilotage Party (COPP) 8
28.04.1945

permanent commission
Rector of Elmswell (1965-73); Vicar of St Luke with St Simon and St Jude, West Kilburn (1973-82); Rector of Thrandeston, Stuston and Brome with Oakley (1982-86).
Colville,
Edward Charles
E.C. Colville
Son of late Admiral Hon. Sir Stanley Cecil James Colville, GCB, GCMG, GCVO (1861-1939), and of The Lady Adelaide Colville (died 1960), daughter of 4th Earl Clanwilliam, GCB, KCMG, RM.
Married (29.09.1934) Barbara Joan Denny, daughter of Edward Henry Marland Denny; two daughters.
Residence: (1944/45) Staplefield.
° papers
01.09.1905
St George Hanover Square, London
-
10.01.1982
Stoughton, near Chichester, West Sussex
2nd Lt.
 		03.09.1925 [33638]
Lt.
 		03.09.1927
Capt.
 		16.01.1938
A/Maj.
 		28.05.1941-27.08.1941
T/Maj.
 		28.08.1941-02.09.1942
Maj.
 		03.09.1942
A/Lt.Col.
 		15.01.1943-14.04.1943
T/Lt.Col.
 		15.04.1943-15.01.1945
WS/Lt.Col.
 		16.01.1945
Lt.Col.
 		01.02.1946 (supernumerary 01.02.1949)
A/Col.
 		16.07.1944-15.01.1945
T/Col.
 		16.01.1945-30.03.1949
Col.
 		31.01.1949 (supernumerary 31.03.1955)
A/Brig.
 		16.07.1944-15.01.1945
T/Brig.
 		16.01.1945-31.08.1953
Brig.
 		01.09.1953
local Maj.Gen.
 		10.06.1954-28.06.1954
T/Maj.Gen.
 		29.06.1954-06.07.1955
Maj.Gen.
 		07.07.1955 (retd 12.04.1959)
Companion of the Order of the Bath (Military Division) CB
 25.10.1955
 Malaya 01-06.55
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 19.10.1944
 NW Europe
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 10.05.1945
 NW Europe
Mentions in Despatches MID
 04.04.1946
 NW Europe
Education: Marlborough College; Royal Military College, Sandhurst; Staff College (psc)
03.09.1925

commissioned, The Gordon Highlanders
(03.1931)
  
 		 
 		1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders (Landi Kotal, India)
01.09.1932
 -
 		30.09.1934
 		ADC to Governor-General & Commander-in-Chief, Dominion of Canada
(01.1937)
  
 		 
 		1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders (Edinburgh)
18.11.1937
 -
 		07.02.1940
Adjutant, 1st Battalion The Gordon Highlanders (Edinburgh & Aldershot)
08.02.1940
 -
 		21.01.1941
 		General Staff Officer, 3rd grade (GSO3), ... (Home Forces)
28.05.1941
 -
 		27.02.1942
 		Brigade-Major, ...
28.02.1942
 -
 		13.07.1942
 		General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), ... (Home Forces)
15.01.1943
 -
 		25.08.1943
 		Commandant, Company Commanders' School
08.1943
 -
 		07.1944
 		Commanding Officer, 2nd The Battalion Gordon Highlanders
16.07.1944
 -
 		25.11.1946
 		Commander, 227th Infantry Brigade (NW Europe) [except for 25.06.1945-08.07.1945 & 08.08.1945-13.08.1945]
27.12.1946
 -
 		05.11.1947
 		Brigadier General Staff Military Adviser to UK High Commissioner, Canada
04.11.1949
 -
 		13.05.1952
 		Commander, Infantry Brigade, Territorial Army
09.06.1952
 -
 		30.04.1954
 		Brigadier General Staff, HQ Northern Army Group
29.06.1954
 -
 		13.01.1956
 		Chief of Staff, GHQ Far East Land Forces
15.03.1956
 -
 		14.03.1959
 		General Officer Commanding, 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (TA) & Highland District
12.04.1959
 -
 		01.09.1965
 		Regular Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]
Justice of the Peace (JP), West Sussex, 1960; Deputy Lieutenant (DL), West Sussex, 1962.
Comerford,
Augustine Ambrose
A.A. Comerford
Married (1910, West Ham, Greater London).
 (06?).1886
West Ham, Greater London
-
?
T/Lt.
 		10.04.1916 [2352]
T/Capt.
 		?
Capt. 
 		20.01.1922, seniority 10.04.1917
Maj.
 		01.07.1926
Lt.Col.
22.05.1939 (reld > 04.1946)
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 1940/41?
 ?
Mentions in Despatches MID
 29.04.1941
 for distinguished services in the field
Veterinary surgeon.
10.04.1916

commissioned, Army Veterinary Service (later: Royal Army Veterinary Corps)
20.01.1922

transferred, Royal Army Veterinary Corps - Territorial Army
?
 -
 		(03.1931)
 		East Anglian Division



transferred, Royal Regiment of Artillery - Territorial Army
22.02.1933
 -
 		(01.1939)
 		Officer Commanding, 418th (Bedfordshire) Battery, 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Field Regiment RA (Biggleswade)
24.08.1939

mobilized TA
(1939)
 -
 		(1940)
 		Commanding Officer, 52nd Heavy Regiment RA
?
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		Unemployed List
Comerford,
Basil Michael
B.M. Comerford		 ?
-
2nd Lt.
 		17.05.1933
Lt.
 		17.05.1936
T/Capt.
03.01.1942-(04.1944)
Hon. Capt.
 		< 04.1946



late Cadet Corporal, Beaumont College Contingent, Junior Division, Officer Training Corps
17.05.1933

commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery - Territorial Army
17.05.1933
 -
 		(06.1933)
 		105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Field Regiment RA (Bedford)
(01.1937)
 -
 		(01.1939)
 		418th (Bedfordshire) Battery, 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Field Regiment RA (Biggleswade)
27.05.1939

transferred, Territorial Army Reserve of Officers
24.08.1939

mobilized TA
(1939)
 -
 		(1940)
 		"A" Battery, 52nd Heavy Regiment RA
> 04.1944
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		transferred, Royal Army Service Corps - Territorial Army Reserve of Officers (Class I)
Consett,
Montagu Charles Warcop Peter
 M.C.W.P. Consett
Of Brawith Hall, Thirsk, Yorkshire.
Married (1944) Margaret Syssylt Barwick (1914-1971).
 		20.07.1909
St Marylebone, Greater London
-
03.2001
North Yorkshire
Navy:
Cadet
 		1926
Midsh.
 		01.05.1927
A/S.Lt.
 		01.09.1929
S.Lt.
 		16.04.1930
Lt.
 		16.09.1931
Army:
2nd Lt.
 		12.06.1935
Lt.
 		?
Capt.
 		11.04.1945
Lt.Col.
 		? (retd)
1926
 -
 		1935
 		served Royal Navy:
15.09.1926
 -
 		(07.)1927
 		HMS Valiant (battleship) (Mediterranean)
15.08.1927
 -
 		(06.)1928
 		HMS Warspite (battleship) (Mediterranean)
10.1928
 -
 		(08.)1929
 		HMS Resolution (battleship) (Mediterranean)
26.09.1929
 -
 		(04.)1930
 		promotion course, RN College, Greenwich [HMS President]
03.12.1930
 -
 		(02.)1931
 		HMS York (cruiser) (Atlantic Fleet)
12.1931
 -
 		(01.)1932
 		HMS Voyager (destroyer) (Mediterranean)
01.05.1932
 -
 		(09.1932)
 		HMS Resolution (battleship) (Mediterranean)
01.01.1934
 -
 		(07.1934)
 		HMS Nelson (battleship) (Home Fleet)
12.06.1935

commissioned, The Yorkshire Hussars - Royal Armoured Corps - Territorial Army
24.08.1939

mobilized TA
Deputy Lieutenant, North Riding of York, 16.04.1960.
Consett,
William Lindsay
 W.L. Consett
Son of R.Adm. Montagu William Warcop Peter Consett and Ethel Maude Wilson.
From Exeter.
 		24.12.1912
-
10.1994
Shepway, Kent
2nd Lt.
 		01.09.1934, seniority 02.02.1933 [55995]
Lt.
 		02.02.1936
A/Capt.
 		15.07.1940-14.10.1940
T/Capt.
 		15.10.1940-01.02.1941
Capt.
 		02.02.1941
A/Maj.
 		15.09.1941-14.12.1941
T/Maj.
 		15.12.1941
Maj.
 		01.07.1946 (retd 01.09.1955)
Military Cross MC
 24.01.1946
 NW Europe
Mention in Despatches MID
 22.03.1945
 NW Europe
09.07.1933

commissioned onto the General List - Territorial Army (University Candidates)
01.09.1934

commissioned into the Welsh Guards - Regular Army
14.05.1939
 -
 		14.07.1940
 		seconded as Aide-de-Camp
(09.1944)

Guards Armoured Division (NW Europe)
01.09.1955
 -
 		24.12.1962
 		Regular Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]
Retired, London.
Conway,
Michael John
 M.J. Conway 		22.01.1905
-
1995 ?
Surrey ?
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		29.08.1929 [44048]
Lt.
 		29.08.1932
Capt.
 		01.08.1938
WS/Maj.
 		04.08.1942
Maj.
 		11.01.1945
A/Lt.Col.
 		04.05.1942-03.08.1942
T/Lt.Col.
04.08.1942-19.03.1944,
08.05.1945-(01.1946)
Lt.Col.
 		20.02.1950 (supernumerary 20.02.1953) (retd 18.03.1955)
Mention in Despatches MID
 20.06.1941
 Waziristan 40
NW Frontier of India 1937-39 Medal & Clasp
 		Education: BA, later MA



served in the ranks for 3 years, 96 days
29.08.1929

commissioned, Royal Corps of Signals
(1940)
  
 		 
 		served in Waziristan
(1945)

reputedly in charge of the demolition of signals in Austria
18.03.1955
 -
 		27.07.1960
 		Regular Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]
AMIEE, later MIEE
Cooper,
Derek Guy Ashley
 D.G.A. Cooper 		28.06.1911
Abergavenny
-
10.1991
Bristol, Gloucestershire
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		04.10.1941 [212398]
WS/Lt.
01.10.1942 (reld > 04.1946)
04.10.1941

commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
Cooper,
George Derek
 G.D. Cooper
Son of Capt. George Stanley Cooper. Married (30.07.1952) Pamela Margaret Fletcher (divorced); one daughter.
Lived at Dunlewey, Co. Donegal, Ireland.
 		?
-
1969 still alive
2nd Lt.
 		31.10.1936 [69395]
WS/Lt.
 		31.10.1939
WS/Capt.
 		17.10.1945
T/Maj.
 		17.10.1945
Lt.
 		13.02.1946, seniority 01.08.1938
Capt.
 		13.02.1946, seniority 28.05.1943
Maj.
 		28.05.1948 (retd 01.04.1953)
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
 14.06.1969
 for services in disaster areas overseas
Military Cross MC
 15.10.1948
 Palestine



late Cadet Corporal, Eastbourne College Contingent, Junior Division, Officer Training Corps

31.10.1936

commissioned, Irish Guards - Supplementary Reserve of Officers
24.08.1939

mobilized
05.10.1941

transferred to The Life Guards
(09.1944)

Guards Armoured Division (NW Europe)
13.02.1946

permanent commission
Cooper,
Raymond Gerald
R.G. Cooper (Photo courtsey of Mr Shawn Dymond) 		?
-
Gnr.
 		?
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		25.05.1940 [132904]
WS/Lt.
 		25.11.1941
T/Capt.
 		13.10.1942-(04.1946)



served in the ranks, Royal Artillery



122nd or 123rd Officer Cadet Training Unit (RA)
25.05.1940

commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
(07.1943)

Forward Observation Officer (FOO), HMS Tetcott (destroyer) [Operation Husky, Sicily]
Copeland,
Robert Harry
R.G. Cooper (Photo courtsey of Mr Charles Hawkshaw-Burn) 		21.07.1905
St Pancras district, Greater London
-
1991
Dorset
2nd Lt.