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British Army Officers
1939-1945

 

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Taffs, A.L.
to
Tyler, J.N.D.

 

A.L. Taffs  to  J.N.D. Tyler
Taffs,
Arthur Leslie
A.L. Taffs
From Reading, Berkshire.
 		01.01.1899
Eton district, Buckinghamshire
-
c. 1972
Victoria, Australia
2nd Lt.
 		20.12.1918 [13976]
Lt.
 		20.12.1920
Capt.
 		21.01.1931
Maj.
 		01.08.1938 (retd 22.01.1949)
A/Lt.Col.
 		17.07.1941-16.10.1941
T/Lt.Col.
 		17.10.1941-(01.1946)
Hon. Lt.Col.
 		22.01.1949
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 21.06.1945
 NW Europe
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
 01.01.1944
 New Year 44
Mention in Despatches MID
 22.03.1945
 NW Europe
Iraq Operations 1919-1920 NW Persia Medal & Clasp; Waziristan 1921-1924 Medal & Clasp
20.12.1918

commissioned, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
(03.1931)
  
 		 
 		1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (Dinapore)
(06.1933)
  
 		 
 		1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (Dinapore (for Sudan))
01.11.1935
 -
 		31.10.1939
 		Adjutant, 5th (Hackney) Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment - Territorial Army
27.07.1943
 -
 		16.09.1943
 		acting Commander, 163rd Infantry Brigade (UK)
(1944)
 -
 		(1945)
 		Commanding Officer, 5th Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment (NW Europe)
Tarling,
Charles
C. Tarling 		?
-
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		20.03.1943 [277660]
WS/Lt.
 		20.09.1943 (reld > 04.1946)
20.03.1943

commissioned, Corps of Royal Engineers [emergency commission]
02.02.1944
 -
 		(05.1944)
 		Instructor, Training Wing, Middle East Camouflage School
Taylor,
 Sir George Brian Ogilvie
G.B.O. Taylor
Son of late Edward Taylor and Mary Alexander. Married Cecilia Maria Julia, daughter of late Col D. ffrench Mullen, retired IMS; one son.
 		15.04.1887
-
02.09.1973
[Seaton, Devon ?]
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		20.12.1905 [3405]
Lt.
 		19.06.1908
Capt.
 		30.10.1914
Brev. Maj.
 		04.06.1917 [advanced promotion]
Maj.
 		31.12.1922
A/Lt.Col.
 		09.12.1917-15.12.1918, 23.10.1919-26.07.1920
Brev. Lt.Col.
 		01.07.1926
Lt.Col.
 		10.07.1930 (half-pay 10.07.1934)
T/Col.
 		16.12.1918-21.10.1919
local Col.
 		08.03.1929-17.08.1931
Col.
 		10.07.1934, seniority 01.07.1930
?, backdated 01.07.1929 (full-pay 21.06.1935)
T/Brig.
 		09.10.1937-20.06.1939
Maj.Gen.
 		21.06.1939, seniority 05.01.1938
(retd 12.07.1943)
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE
 11.06.1942
 HM's birthday 42
Commander of the Order of the British Empire CBE
 1919
 ?
Companion of the Order of the Bath CB
 11.07.1940
 HM's birthday 40?
Mention in Despatches MID
 25.09.1916
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 06.12.1916
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 21.07.1917
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 05.06.1919
 ?
Order of the White Eagle, 5th class (with Swords) (Serbia) (15.02.1917); 1914-15 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal
 		Education: Cheltenham College; Royal Military Academy, Woolwich
20.12.1905

commissioned , Corps of Royal Engineers
16.12.1911
 -
 		30.03.1915
 		Adjutant, ... (Territorial Force)
01.1914

qualified as interpreter 2nd class in French
1914
 -
 		1919
 		served European War (France & Belgium 08.08.1915-07.11.1915; Greek Macedonia, Serbia, Bulgaria, European Turkey and the Islands of the Aegean Sea 14.11.1915-11.11.1918) (despatches, CBE)

-
 		31.03.1915
 		Adjutant, Kent (Fortress) Engineers
1917
 -
 		1918
 		Assistant Director of Works, BEF, Salonica
16.12.1918
 -
 		21.10.1919
 		Deputy Director of Works, BEF, Salonica
1922
 -
 		1924
 		Staff Officer to Chief Engineer, Aldershot
07.04.1924
 -
 		13.11.1926
 		Deputy Assistant­Director of Fortifications and Works, War Office
14.11.1926
 -
 		07.03.1929
 		Chief Instructor (Class Y) Construction, School of Military Engineering, Chatham
08.03.1929
 -
 		17.08.1931 Chief Engineer Iraq (employed under the Air Ministry)
(06.1933)

served at Chatham
21.06.1935
 -
 		08.10.1937
 		Assistant Director of Fortifications and Works, War Office
09.10.1937
 -
 		16.02.1939
 		Chief Engineer, Northern Command
17.02.1939
 -
 		20.06.1939
 		special employment
21.06.1939
 -
 		23.06.1940
 		Director of Fortifications and Works, War Office
23.06.1940
 -
an Inspector-General
1941
 -
 		1942
 		Inspector of Fortifications & Director of Bomb Disposal
1942
 -
 		1943
 		Engineer­in­Chief, Persia and Iraq
1943
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		on the list of the Regular Army Reserve of Officers
Taylor,
George Henry
G.H. Taylor 		?
-
?
Lt. (OME 4th cl. *)
 		16.10.1939 [103620]
WS/Capt.
 		04.08.1942
T/Maj.
 		14.02.1944-07.1946
WS/Maj.
 		?
A/Lt.Col.
 		05.1946-06.1946
Capt.
 		01.03.1947, seniority 04.08.1942 (reld 27.03.1950; disability)
Hon. Maj.
 		27.03.1950

* Ordnance Mechanical Engineer 4th class (with the rank of Lieutenant)

16.10.1939

commissioned, Royal Army Ordnance Corps [emergency commission]
01.10.1942

transferred, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers
14.02.1944
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		a Deputy Assistant Director (ME7), Directorate of Mechanical Engineering, Department of the Quarter-Master-General to the Forces, The War Office
05.1946
 -
 		06.1946
 		an Assistant Director (ME7/8), Directorate of Mechanical Engineering, Department of the Quarter-Master-General to the Forces, The War Office
01.03.1947
 -
 		27.03.1950
 		short service commission
Taylor,
Richard George Llewellyn
R.G.L. Taylor
 Married Jeanne (née ...) (died 20.01.2007; age 85).
 		?
-
?
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		19.10.1940 [153266]
WS/Lt.
 		?, seniority 19.10.1940
A/Capt.
 		18.11.1940-(04.1941)
WS/Capt.
 		12.07.1944 (reld > 04.1946)
Capt.
 		01.07.1946, seniority 12.07.1944
Maj.
 		19.10.1953 (reld 23.03.1962)
Hon. Maj.
 		23.03.1962
Mention in Despatches MID
 29.11.1945
 Italy



Officer Cadet Training Unit
19.10.1940

commissioned, The Hampshire Regiment [emergency commission to 30.09.1946]
(04.1941)

11th (Royal Militia Island of Jersey) Battalion, The Hampshire Regiment 
11.1941

left for service overseas
(1945?)

5th Mahratta Light Infantry (Indian Army)
01.07.1946
 -
 		23.03.1962
 		short service commission (Employed List 3)
Temple,
Paul Ernest Laidman
P.E.L. Temple

Telegraph obituary
 		16.03.1920
Retford, Nottinghamshire
-
30.01.2007
2nd Lt.
 		03.12.1942 [255474]
WS/Lt.
03.06.1943 (reld > 04.1946)
A/Capt.
 		?
03.12.1942

commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
Garden designer.
Templer,
 [Sir] Gerald Walter Robert
G.W.R. Templer G.W.R. Templer
G.W.R. Templer G.W.R. Templer
G.W.R. Templer G.W.R. Templer
Only son of late Lt.Col. Walter Francis Templer, CBE, DL.
Married (1926) Ethel Margery, only daughter
of Charles Davie, JP, Bishops Tawton, Barnstaple; one son, one daughter.

biographical sketch
 		11.09.1898
Colchester, Essex
-
25.10.1979
Chelsea, London
2nd Lt.
 		16.08.1916
Lt.
 		16.02.1918
Capt.
 		11.08.1928 [Loyal Regt]
Bt. Maj.
 		01.07.1935 [Loyal Regt]
Capt.
 		14.04.1937 [with regimental seniority 09.04.1929]
Maj.
 		01.08.1938
Bt. Lt.Col.
 		01.07.1938
A/Lt.Col.
 		01.09.1939-30.11.1939
T/Lt.Col.
 		01.12.1939-03.05.1941
WS/Lt.Col.
 		04.05.1941
A/Col.
 		04.11.1940-03.05.1941
T/Col.
 		04.05.1941-05.10.1941
Col.
 		06.10.1941, seniority 01.07.1941
A/Brig.
 		04.11.1940-03.05.1941
T/Brig.
 		04.05.1941-09.04.1943
A/Maj.Gen.
 		10.04.1942-09.04.1943
T/Maj.Gen.
 		10.04.1943-04.12.1944
local Maj.Gen.
 		05.12.1944-16.04.1945
Maj.Gen.
 		17.04.1945, seniority 30.05.1944
A/Lt.Gen.
 		14.09.1942-29.07.1943
T/Lt.Gen.
 		01.02.1948-04.04.1948
Lt.Gen.
 		05.04.1948, seniority 01.08.1946
Gen.
 		04.06.1950 (supernumerary 05.02.1952)
Field Marshal
 		27.11.1956 (retd 1958)
Knight of the Garter KG
 1963
 ?
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB
 1955
 ?
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB
 1951
 ?
Knight Grand Cross of St. Michael and St. George GCMG
 1953
 ?
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE
 1949
 ?
Companion of the Order of St George and St Michael CMG
 1946
 ?
Companion of the Order of the Bath CB
 24.08.1944
 ?
Officer of the Order of the British Empire OBE
 11.07.1940
 ?
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 06.11.1936
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 26.07.1940
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 08.11.1945
 ?
Commander, Legion of Merit (US) (17.10.1946); Commander of the Order of the Crown with Palm & Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm (Belgium) (17.10.1946); Knight Grand Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau with Swords (Netherlands) (17.10.1946); Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of the Defender of the Realm of Malaya; Hon. DCL Oxon; Hon. LLD St Andrews, 1974
 		Education: Wellington College; Royal Military College, Sandhurst; psc
16.08.1916

commissioned, Royal Irish Fusiliers
14.10.1917
 -
 		11.11.1918
 		served European War: France & Belgium (British War Medal, Victory Medal)
1919
 -
 		1920
 		served Iraq operations: Iraq, NW Persia (medal and two bars)
11.08.1928

transferred to the Loyal Regiment
15.04.1932
 -
 		20.01.1933
 		General Staff Officer 3rd grade (GSO3), Southern Command
21.01.1933
 -
 		14.04.1935
 		General Staff Officer for Weapon Training, Northern Command
1936

served Palestine (despatches (23.7.1937), clasp, DSO)
02.11.1936
 -
 		14.10.1938
 		General Staff Officer 2nd grade (GSO2), 53rd (Welsh) Division, Western Command
14.04.1937

transferred back to the Royal Irish Fusiliers
15.10.1938
 -
 		31.08.1939
 		General Staff Officer 2nd grade (GSO2), War Office (London)
01.09.1939
 -
 		27.06.1940
 		General Staff Officer 1st grade (GSO1), British Expeditionary Force (France)
04.11.1940
 -
 		11.05.1941
 		Commander, 210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home) (UK)
12.05.1941
 -
 		09.04.1942
 		Brigadier General Staff, V Corps
10.04.1942
 -
 		14.09.1942
 		General Officer Commanding, 47th (London) Division (UK)
14.09.1942
 -
 		04.1943
 		General Officer Commanding, II Corps (East Anglia)
04.1943
 -
 		29.07.1943
 		General Officer Commanding, XI Corps (East Anglia)
30.07.1943
 -
 		14.10.1943
 		General Officer Commanding, 1st Infantry Division (Tunisia)
15.10.1943
 -
 		24.07.1944
 		General Officer Commanding, 56th (London) Division (Italy, Egypt, Italy), also:
18.02.1944
 -
 		22.02.1944
 		temporary General Officer Commanding, 1st Infantry Division (Italy)
24.07.1944
 -
 		05.08.1944
 		General Officer Commanding, 6th Armoured Division (Italy) (wounded)
17.03.1945
 -
 		31.03.1946
 		Director of Civil Affairs Military Government, 21st Army Group
01.04.1946
 -
 		07.01.1948
 		Director of Military Intelligence, War Office (London)
01.02.1948
 -
 		17.02.1950
 		Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff, War Office (London)
18.02.1950
 -
 		04.02.1952
 		General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Eastern Command
30.08.1951
 -
 		29.08.1954
 		also: ADC General to the King (1951/52) & the Queen (1952/54)
05.02.1952
 -
 		31.10.1954
 		High Commissioner & Director of Operations, Federation of  Malaya
29.09.1955
 -
 		28.09.1958
 		Chief of the Imperial General Staff, War Office (London)
Colonel, The Royal Irish Fusiliers, 23.06.1946-22.06.1960. Colonel, Federation Regiment (Malaya), 02.09.1954-01.09.1959. Colonel, 7th Duke of Edinburgh's Own Gurkha Rifles, 25.05.1956-10.09.1964. Colonel, Royal Horse Guards (The Blues), 05.12.1962-00.00.1969. Colonel, The Blues and the Royals, 1969-...
Constable of HM Tower of London, 28.12.1966-00.00.1970. HM Lieutenant, Greater London, 1967-1973. Freeman, City of London, 1965.  Gold Stick to the Queen, 1963.
Honorary Freeman: Armourers' and Brasiers' Company, 1965; Merchant Taylors' Company, 1979; Fishmongers' Company, 1979. Trustee: National Portrait Gallery, 1958-1972; Imperial War Museum, 1959-1966; Historic Churches Preservation Trust, 1963-.... Member: Council, Outward Bound Trust, 1954-1974; Executive and Finance Committees, National Trust, 1959-1974; Executive Committee and Council, Voluntary Service Overseas, 1961-1977; Council, Scout Association, 1968-; Chairman Executive Committee and Member Council, National Army Museum, 1960-...; President: Society of Army Historical Research, 1965-...; British Horse Society, 1968-1970. Commissioner, Royal Hospital Chelsea, 1969-...
Templeton,
 Miss Frances Hillson
F.H. Templeton
From Dumfries. 		?
-
2nd Sub.
 		28.01.1944 [309792]
WS/Sub.
 		28.07.1944



Staff Sergeant, Royal Army Pay Corps
28.01.1944

commissioned into the Auxiliary Territorial Service
Thatcher,
Frederick Joseph
F.J. Thatcher 		09.10.1884
-
Lt. (Assistant Commissary)
 		15.10.1933
Capt. (Deputy Commissary)
 		28.03.1936 (retd 01.01.1937)



spent many years in the ranks and as a non-commissioned officer in the Indian Ordnance Department
15.10.1933

commissioned, Indian Army Ordnance Corps
20.05.1940
 -
 		(04.1946)
 		temporarily re-employed, Royal Army Ordnance Corps
Thomas,
[Sir] Gwilym Ivor
G.I. Thomas
 
Son of late John Thomas (Pencerdd Gwalia), Harpist to Queen Victoria and King Edward VII, and late Joan Francis, youngest daughter of William Denny, Tralee,
Co. Kerry. Married (1949) Elliott Ellen (died 1971), only
daughter of late Major van Kriekenbeek, 128th Pioneers, and late Mrs H.S. Wilding.
° papers
23.07.1893
Marylebone, London
-
 29.08.1972
Salisbury, Rhodesia
2nd Lt.
 		20.12.1912 [1374]
Lt.
 		09.06.1915
T/Capt.
 		12.01.1916-19.12.1916
Capt.
 		20.12.1916
A/Maj.
 		10.04.1917-15.04.1917, 15.06.1917-02.10.1917
Bt. Maj.
 		01.07.1929
Maj.
 		02.04.1931
Bt. Lt.Col.
 		01.07.1933
Col.
 		12.05.1938, seniority 01.07.1936
T/Brig.
 		14.07.1939-10.11.1942
A/Maj.Gen.
 		09.03.1942-10.11.1942
Maj.Gen.
11.11.1942, seniority 25.10.1941
A/Lt.Gen.
 		18.09.1945-17.09.1946
T/Lt.Gen.
 		18.09.1946-29.10.1946
Lt.Gen.
 		30.10.1946, seniority 30.07.1944
Gen.
 		06.09.1949 (retd 08.09.1952)
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath GCB
 05.06.1952
 HM's birthday 52
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath KCB
 08.06.1950
 HM's birthday 50
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire KBE
 12.06.1947
 HM's birthday 47
Companion of the Order of the Bath CB
 01.01.1944
 New Year 44
Distinguished Service Order DSO
 09.01.1918
 *
MC
 01.01.1917
 ?
MC
 26.09.1917
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 14.12.1917
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 22.03.1945
 NW Europe
Mention in Despatches MID
 09.08.1945
 NW Europe
Mention in Despatches MID
 04.04.1946
 NW Europe
Officer, Légion d'Honneur (France) LegH
 1945
 ?
Croix de Guerre (France) CdeG
 1945
 ?
Ridder Grootkruis, Orde van Oranje Nassau (The Netherlands) OON
 18.07.1947
 ? Dutch date: 1946
Commander, Order of Leopold II (Belgium) Leo
 15.02.1952
 ? Belgian date: 1950
Croix de Guerre (Belgium) CdeG
 15.02.1952
 ? Belgian date: 1950
1914 Star and Clasp; British War Medal; Victory Medal
* For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his battery was being relieved the position was shelled by an intense bombardment, which lasted for over two hours and caused many casualties in Loth batteries. The pits and ammunition of one section caught fire, and he succeeded in extinguishing this. Later, the telephone pit and mess shelter were wrecked, and he immediately led the way to the rescue of wounded men inside. The camouflage nets of three more guns were then set alight, and the ammunition began to catch fire. This he also saved by tearing down the burning camouflage and smothering the smouldering ammunition, some of which had already begun to explode. Not until all the fires had been extinguished, and he had seen every man, both wounded and unwounded, clear of the position, did he seek cover for himself. His great gallantry and exceptional coolness throughout the whole of this time were worthy of the highest praise.
 		Education: Cheltenham College; Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; psc, ns
20.12.1912

commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery (Royal Horse and Royal Field Artillery)
12.10.1914
 -
 		06.10.1915
 		served in France & Belgium (12.10.1914--06.10.1915, 01.03.1916-22.10.1916, 12.03.1917-10.10.1917; wounded)
22.09.1918
 -
 		19.11.1919
 		Staff Captain, War Office (temporary)
20.01.1920
 -
 		20.10.1921
 		Adjutant, ...
10.07.1922
 -
 		08.12.1923
 		Adjutant, ... - Territoral Army
19.02.1926
 -
 		18.02.1930
 		Brigade Major, ... (Aldershot Command)
(03.1931)
  
 		 
 		Depot RA (Woolwich)
07.01.1932
 -
 		08.03.1936
 		General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2) on staff of Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Malta
(01.1937)
  
 		 
 		3rd Medium Brigade RA (Shoeburyness)
20.11.1937
 -
 		11.05.1938
 		General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), War Office
12.05.1938
 -
 		13.07.1939
 		General Staff Officer, 1st grade (GSO1), War Office (employed under Air Raid Precautions Department, Home Office)
14.07.1939
 -
 		08.06.1940
 		Deputy Director of Recruiting & Organization, War Office
09.06.1940
 -
 		02.09.1940
 		Director of Organization, War Office
03.09.1940
 -
 		08.03.1942
 		Commander Royal Artillery (CRA), 2nd Division (Home Forces)
09.03.1942
 -
 		(08.)1945
 		General Officer Commanding, 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division (UK, NW Europe)
 [except for 27.12.1944-28.01.1945 & 01.06.1945-14.06.1945 & 19.06.1945-05.07.1945]
1945
 -
 		1947
 		General Officer Commanding, I Corps District, British Army of the Rhine (Germany)
1947

Administrator Polish Forces under British Command
1948
 -
 		26.05.1950
 		General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Anti-Aircraft Command
24.06.1950
 -
 		11.08.1952
 		Quarter-Master-General to the Forces
08.09.1952
 -
 		23.07.1958
 		Regular Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]
Colonel Commandant, Royal Artillery, 01.01.1948-31.12.1957.
Thomas,
Walter George
W.G. Thomas
 		05.09.1908
Farnham, Hampshire
-
Lt. (QM)
 		24.09.1943
...
 		...
Maj. (QM)
102.06.1954 (Emp. List (2) 29.08.1955)
Lt.Col. (Staff QM)
 		31.01.1959 (retd 05.09.1963)
Member of the Order of the British Empire MBE
 17.01.1946
 ?
Mention in Despatches MID
 19.07.1945
 ?



served in the ranks & aa Warrant Officer
24.09.1943

commissioned, Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission to 25.12.1946]
26.12.1946

permanent commission, 3rd Dragoon Guards
Thompson,
George Threlkeld *
G.T. Thompson (Photo courtesy of Mr Roy T. Thompson)
Son of George Thompson.
Married (1939, Shrewsbury) Evelyn; one son.
* Birth name Threlkeld, adding George later in life
 		31.12.1912
Bongate, Appleby, Westmorland
-
02.09.1951
Shrewsbury, Shropshire
Cadet
 		?
2nd Lt.
 		07.10.1942 [245849]
WS/Lt.
07.04.1943 (reld 08.11.1946)
T/Maj.
 		?
Hon. Maj.
 		08.11.1946
Capt. TA
 		1949?
Efficiency Medal (Territorial) EM
 13.04.1951
 ?
1939-1945 Star 39|45 St
 -
 -
Burma Star Bur St
 -
 -
Defence Medal Def M
 -
 -
Several long service medals.
 		Education: Appleby Grammar School for Boy's in Westmorland
In his teens he was a keen sportsman and student. Whilst in his early 20's he was a sports car enthusiast and owned a supercharged MG "J " type and was also a very keen golfer like his father before him.
07.10.1942

commissioned, Pioneer Corps [emergency commission]
22.09.1944
  
 		 
 		transferred, Corps of Royal Engineers
(1944?)
 -
 		(1945?)
 		Assistant Garrison Engineer at Cochin; distinguished himself with his planning ability and engineering skills as a consequence of which he was appointed to Field Engineer Air Force Works, constructing airfields and maintaining landing strips; later appointed Garrison Engineer, Bangalore
(07?).1949
  
 		 
 		Royal Army Ordnance Corps - Terri