British Army Officers 1939-1945 -- W

British Army Officers
1939-1945

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Wadsworth, G.M.B.
to
Williams, T.H.

Willis, J.C.T.
to
Wynn, R.

G.M.B. Wadsworth to R. Wynn

Wadsworth,
Guthrie Morgan Brian
G.M.B. Wadsworth

(01?).1900
Bromley, Greater
London, Kent
-
16.01.1942
drowned at sea
[age 42]
[Freetown (King
Tom) Cemetery,
6.E.6]

Lt.	28.09.1939 [106133]
WS/Capt.	28.09.1940

Education: Silcoates School, Wrenthorpe, Wakefield (1914-1917); studied medicine (MB)

28.09.1939

commissioned, Royal Army Medical Corps [emergency commission]

Waghorn,
John Edward
J.E. Waghorn

09.06.1917
London
-
03.1999
Redhill, Surrey

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	14.05.1942 [233754]
WS/Lt.	14.11.1942

14.05.1942			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery [emergency commission]
			served in India at some point

Wagstaff,
Joseph John

Son of Mr. and Mrs. G. Wagstaff.
Husband of Doreen L. Wagstaff, of Chew Stoke, Somerset; one daughter.

biography at Clifton Rugby Football Club website

1919 ?
-
12.04.1943
(DOW) [age 24]
[La Reunion War Cemetery, Algeria, 4.G.2]

2nd Lt.	05.05.1937 [71665]
WS/Lt.	05.05.1940
T/Capt.	16.09.1940-(04.1941)
T/Maj.	?

Education: Bristol Grammar School
Worked for Messrs Hudson-Smith and Briggs, accountants.

			late Cadet Serjeant, Bristol Grammar School Contingent, Junior Division, Offier Training Corps
05.05.1937			commissioned, 66th (South Midland) Field Brigade Royal Artillery - Territorial Army
(01.1939)			76th Anti-Aircraft Brigade RA (Bristol)
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
?	-	12.04.1943	349th Battery, 76th Heavy Anti-Aircraft Regiment, RA (died of wounds)

Wagstaff,
Mrs Marjorie Frances
M.F. Wagstaff

Daughter of late Charles Fry, Bedford.
Married 1st Lt.Cdr. Jeffrey Kerr Laughton, RN (died 1925); one son deceased.
Married 2nd Maj.Gen. Cyril Mosley Wagstaff, CB, CMG, CIE, DSO (1878-1934).
Married 3rd (1950) Maj.Gen. John Talbot Wentworth Reeve, CB, CBE, DSO (1891-1983).

(03?).1900
district Bedford, Bedfordshire
-
1998
Surrey

C.Asst.	07.10.1938 [192092]
local C.Comd.	?
C.Comd.	15.09.1939, renamed:
2/Sub.	30.05.1941
T/Sen.Comdt.	16.03.1940-(04.1941)
T/Contr.	12.05.1942-(04.1946)
WS/C.Comd	12.11.1942
Hon. Contr.	?

	CBE	01.01.1944	New Year 44
	TD	13.07.1951	? (got initially the Efficiency Medal (Territorial), 20.01.1947, which was cancelled when this decoration was awarded)

1938			joined Auxiliary Territorial Service (County of London)
			served with BEF, and in Middle East and BAOR
12.05.1942	-	(04.1944)	Deputy Director of ATS, Northern Command (UK)

Was i/c Public Welfare Section of Control Commission for Germany (BE); Principal in Board of Trade (Overseas) till 1950; Swedish Red Cross Medal in Silver, 1950; County Director, BRCS, 1953-1957; Dep. Pres. Suffolk BRCS, 1957, Hon. Vice-Pres., 1977. Badge of Honour (2nd Class) BRCS, 1970. JP (W Suffolk), 1954.

Wagstaff,
Oliver Philip
O.P. Wagstaff

23.09.1908
district Berkhamsted
-
died before 1985

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	30.08.1928 [40413]
Lt.	30.08.1931
Capt.	01.08.1938
A/Maj.	22.07.1940-21.10.1940
T/Maj.	22.10.1940-30.03.1942, 29.06.1942-16.02.1943
WS/Maj.	17.02.1943
Maj.	30.08.1945
A/Lt.Col.	17.11.1942-16.02.1943
T/Lt.Col.	17.02.1943-04.03.1944, 09.01.1947-03.08.1947, 26.10.1950-09.11.1950
local Lt.Col.	28.05.1949-15.08.1949, 01.07.1950-14.08.1950
Lt.Col.	10.11.1950 (supernumerary 10.11.1953) (retd 13.06.1957)

NW Frontier of India 1930-31 & 1936-37 Medals & Clasps

Education: Royal Military Academy; Staff College, Camberley (psc)

30.08.1928			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery
(03.1931)	-	(06.1933)	25th Field Brigade, RA (Nowshera, India)
(01.1937)			22nd Mountain Brigade, RA (Razmak, India)
(01.1939)			21st Mountain Regiment, RA (Peshawar, India)
1939	-	1945	war service:
(03.1941)			CO 7/66 Battery, 4th Field Regiment RA (5th Indian Division) (Keren, Eritrea)
04.08.1947	-	31.10.1947	General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2) (Operations), HQ Malaya Command
01.11.1947	-	31.12.1947	General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2) (Operations), HQ Malaya District
01.20.1948	-	19.11.1948	General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), HQ Central Malaya Sub-District
13.06.1957	-	29.02.1964	Regular Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]

Walford-White,
William

see:

White,
William Walford

Walker,
Gerald Majella
G.M. Walker

15.10.1920
-
1985 still alive

Cadet	? [7948151]
2nd Lt.	02.04.1944 [315335]
WS/Lt.	04.08.1944 (Unemployed List 12.01.1947-31.12.1950)
A/Capt.	28.12.1945-27.03.1946
T/Capt.	28.03.1946-11.01.1947
...	...
Lt.Col.	25.05.1956 (retd 04.10.1971)

Education: BA

			served in the ranks for 2 years, 56 days
02.04.1944			commissioned, Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission to 31.12.1950]
			Reconnaissance Corps, RAC
(05.1944)			Wireless Telegraphy School, Middle East Training Centre
01.01.1951	-	27.01.1953	short service commission
28.01.1953	-	04.10.1971	permanent commission, Royal Army Educational Corps

Walker,
Graeme Murray
G.M. Walker

10.10.1923
Hall Green, Birmingham
-

Cadet	? [14406224]
2nd Lt.	16.04.1944 [315277]
WS/Lt.	16.10.1944 (reld > 04.1946)

16.04.1944			commissioned, Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission]
(1944?)	-	(1945?)	Royal Scots Greys

Motorsport commentator.

Walker,
Jack Thomas
"Johnnie"
J.T. Walker

Married Jean (nëe ...); one son.

18.09.1920
-
02.1990
Crawley, West Sussex

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	30.08.1941 [203372]
WS/Lt.	01.10.1942
A/Capt.	16.03.1944-15.06.1944
T/Capt.	16.06.1944-17.09.1947
Lt.	28.04.1945, seniority 18.03.1945
Capt.	18.09.1947
Maj.	18.09.1954 (retd 03.12.1960)
Lt.Col. TA	31.12.1964

			served in the ranks for 1 year, 363 days
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
30.08.1941			commissioned, The Royal Sussex Regiment [emergency commission to 27.04.1945]
28.04.1945			permanent commission
12.1960?	-	01.04.1967	Territorial Army

Walker,
James Douglas

Originating from Inverness.

21.03.1923
-
10.2004
West Surrey

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	19.09.1943 [293553]
WS/Lt.	19.03.1944
A/Capt.	13.07.1946-12.10.1946
T/Capt.	13.10.1946-20.03.1950
Lt.	08.11.1947, seniority 21.09.1945
Capt.	21.03.1950
T/Maj.	28.01.1957-20.03.1957
Maj.	21.03.1957
T/Lt.Col.	22.02.1965-28.06.1965
Lt.Col.	29.06.1965
Col.	30.06.1969
Brig.	31.12.1971, seniority 30.06.1971 (retd 18.04.1974)

	OBE	late 1960s	?
	PM	?	?

Education: Staff College, Camberley (psc)

1942	-	19.09.1943	served in the ranks for 353 days
19.09.1943			commissioned, Corps of Royal Engineers [emergency commission to 07.11.1947]
08.11.1947			permanent commission
18.05.1948	-	20.10.1948	Technical Staff Officer, 3rd grade (TSO3), War Office
18.12.1950	-	03.03.1952	Staff Officer, 3rd grade (SO3), HQ Southern Command
11.10.1954	-	10.10.1955	General Staff Officer, 3rd grade (GSO3), 12 SME
21.04.1959	-	13.06.1961	General Staff Officer, 2nd grade (GSO2), HQ Northern Army Group
31.10.1963	-	27.01.1965	Brigade Major, Royal School of Military Engineering (RSME)
1972	-	1974	Commander, Engineer Support Group

Wallace,
William John Colin

Son of Robert Newlands Wallace and Elizabeth Agnes Gamble, of Grey Timbers, Bovy Tracey, Devon.
Married Amy Victoria Runo (14.01.1916-05.03.1991), of Massachusetts, USA; one son, two daughters.

24.11.1911
Ravenglass
-
22.08.1968
United Kingdom
(died of a stomach tumour)
[ashes spread in the rose garden of the Torquay Cemetery]

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	19.12.1942 [256512]
WS/Lt.	19.06.1943 (reld 23.03.1946)
T/Capt.	29.11.1944
Hon. Capt.	23.03.1946

Education: Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst

1940	-	1946	served World War II:
1940?			enlisted
19.12.1942			commissioned, Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission]
			57th Training Regiment, RAC ?

Emigrated to the United States in 1946, settling as a real estate developer in Seattle.

Waller,
Anthony Durrant
A.D. Waller

Son of Col. Noel Huxley Waller, MC, TD, and Helen Ethel Waller.
Husband of Florence Mabel Waller of Clifton, Bristol.

(03?).1906
Hampstead, Greater London
-
29.05.1940
(KIA) [age 34]
[Ledringhem Churchyard, France, D.1]

2nd Lt.	20.05.1925 [32421]
Lt.	20.05.1927
Capt.	01.07.1931
Maj. *	?

* Acting or Temporary ?

Education: Cambridge University

			Officer Cadet, Cambridge University Contingent, Senior Division, Officer Training Corps
20.05.1925			commissioned, 5th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment - Territorial Army (Gloucester)
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
24.08.1939	-	29.05.1940	Officer Commanding, HQ Company, 5th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment (UK & France)

Wallington,
Frank Hume

15.04.1915
-
05.1998
Redbridge, Essex

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	15.10.1939 [101388]
WS/Lt.	15.04.1941
T/Capt.	31.08.1942-15.04.1944
WS/Capt.	16.04.1944 (reld > 04.1946)
A/Maj.	1944?

It St	?	?
Afr St	?	?
39\|45 St	?	?

15.10.1939

commissioned, The Essex Regiment [emergency commission]

Walmsley,
Derek John
D.J. Walmsley

Son of Dorothy F. Walmsley, and stepson of Mr. F.W.B. Abrams.

1924 ?
-
13.02.1945
(KIA) [age 21]
[Taukkyan War Cemetery, Burma, 27.G.13]

Cadet	? [6923703]
2nd Lt.	28.04.1944 [315740]
Lt.	?

28.04.1944			commissioned, The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry [emergency commission]
?	-	13.02.1945	attached, 10th Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment

Walter,
Richard John
R.J. Walter

?
-

2nd Lt.	29.07.1944 [326142]
WS/Lt.	29.04.1945 (reld > 04.1946)
A/Capt. TA	01.09.1949

29.07.1944			commissioned, The Devonshire Regiment [emergency commission]
01.09.1949	-	19.06.1950	served Territorial Army - Royal Artillery
19.06.1950	-	?	Territorial Army Reserve of Officers

Walters,
Cyril
C. Walters

Son of William and Annie Mary Walters.
Husband of Beryl Maud Walters, of Rugby, Warwickshire.

1916 ?
-
31.10.1944
(KIA) [age 28]
[Geel War Cemetery, Belgium, IV.D.18]

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	02.07.1943 [284542]
WS/Lt.	02.01.1944

02.07.1943			commissioned, The Devonshire Regiment [emergency commission]
			6th Battalion The Devonshire Regiment
?	-	31.10.1944	attached, 2nd Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment (NW Europe)

Ward,
Charles Herbert John
C.H.J. Ward

(12?).1907
Lambeth, Greater London
-

2nd Lt.	19.06.1929
Lt.	19.12.1931
Capt.	01.03.1935
Maj.	01.05.1937 (reld < 04.1946)
T/Lt.Col.	03.12.1942-(04.1944)
Hon. Lt.Col.	< 04.1946

			late Officer Cadet, Cambridge University Contingent, Senior Division, Officer Training Corps
19.06.1929			commissioned, Royal Regiment of Artillery - Territorial Army
?	-	(03.1931)	420th (Bedfordshire) Battery, 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Field Regiment RA (Luton)
(06.1933)	-	(01.1939)	Officer Commanding, 417th (Bedfordshire) Battery, 105th (Bedfordshire Yeomanry) Army Field Regiment RA (Bedford)
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
(1939)	-	(1940)	Officer Commanding, "D" Battery, 52nd Heavy Regiment RA

Ward,
Dennis
D. Ward

01.02.1924
Rotherham, Yorkshire
-
05.04.2008

Cadet	? [6108180]
2nd Lt.	11.11.1944 [334633]
WS/Lt.	11.05.1945

11.11.1944			commissioned, York and Lancaster Regiment [emergency commission]
12.12.1945			transferred, Glider Pilot Regiment - Army Air Corps

Linguist and artist.

Ward,
Harold Matthias Arthur
H.M.A. Ward

(06?).1884
district Tendring, Essex
-

2nd Lt.	? [22750]
T/Maj.	15.07.1916
Maj.	12.05.1917 [dated 15.07.1916], seniority 01.06.1916
Bt. Lt.Col.	09.01.1926
Lt.Col.	01.10.1932 (reld 09.04.1949)
Bt. Col.	01.10.1936

DSO	>17, <21	?
OBE	>32, <37	?
TD	<21	?

(01.1937)			Suffolk Heavy Brigade RA (Territorial Army)
			Territorial Army Reserve of Officers
24.08.1939			mobilized
			?
?	-	09.04.1949	Territorial Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]

Co-opted member Suffolk Territorial Army Association (1944)

Ward-Jackson,
Peter Wilson
P.W. Ward-Jackson

?
-

Cadet	?
2nd Lt.	25.02.1940 [121380]
WS/Lt.	25.08.1941
T/Capt.	22.03.1942-(04.1944), 04.01.1944-(04.1946) (reld 1946?)

MID

15.12.1942

Middle East 41/42

			served in the ranks in the Suffolk Regiment
?	-	25.02.1940	Officer Cadet Training Unit, Sandhurst
25.02.1940			commissioned, The Worcestershire Regiment [emergency commission]
1941/42			served with the 1st Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment (Middle East)

Warden,
Geoffrey Percival
G.P. Warden

28.03.1906
Tamworth
-
03.2000
Lichfield, Staffordshire

2nd Lt.	04.02.1926 [34942]
Lt.	04.20.1929
local Capt.	27.06.1930-30.04.1935
Capt.	30.07.1936
local Maj.	01.05.1935-26.06.1936
A/Maj.	01.02.1941-30.04.1941
T/Maj.	01.05.1941-10.02.1942, 04.07.1942-03.02.1943
Maj.	04.02.1943
Lt.Col.	01.01.1951 (Emp. List (1)) (supernumerary 01.01.1954) (retd 06.05.1956; age limit)

Palestine 1936-39 Medal & Clasp

04.02.1926			commissioned, The Loyal Regiment
27.06.1930	-	26.06.1936	employed with the Trans-Jordan Field Force
25.09.1936			transferred, 3rd Dragoon Guards
01.08.1937	-	31.01.1941	Adjutant, ...
(02.1949)			Second-in-Command, 3rd Dragoon Guards
06.05.1956	-	07.02.1962	Regular Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]

Wardlaw,
John Irvine Hugh
J.I.H. Wardlaw

Son of John Brown Wardlaw and Selina Wilson Wardlaw, of Westminster, London.

1919 ?
-
09.08.1944
(KIA) [age 25]
[Tilly-sur-Seulles War Cemetery, France, V.E.11]

2nd Lt.	03.08.1940 [140963]
WS/Lt.	03.02.1942
T/Capt.	11.12.1943-09.08.1944

03.08.1940			commissioned, 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own) - Royal Armoured Corps [emergency commission]
(06.1944)			Squadron Officer, "C" Squadron, 13th/18th Royal Hussars (Queen Mary's Own)

Warner,
Charles Whitlow
"Carl"
C.W. Warner

From Birkenhead.

10.04.1910
Liverpool, Lancashire
-
01.09.2002
Liverpool, Lancashire

Lt.	19.07.1940 [139125]
WS/Capt.	19.07.1941 (reld < 04.1946)
T/Maj.	27.10.1943-(04.1944)
Hon. Capt.	< 04.1946

14.10.1943

Middle East

Education: MB

19.07.1940			commissioned, Royal Army Medical Corps [emergency commission]
10.1942	-	02.1943	Officer Commanding, forward dressing station of the 15th Light Field Ambulance (North Africa)
?	-	29.12.1943	Medcial Officer & Instructor, Middle East Training Centre

General practitioner, Woolton, Liverpool, 1936-1984.

Watkin,
Robert Owen
R.O. Watkin (Photo courtesy of Mr Ian Watkin)

Married (10.1939); one daughter, one son.

30.03.1910
Llanfyllin district, Denbighshire / Montgomeryshire / Powys
-
12.06.1986
Pembrokeshire

2nd Lt.	02.09.1939 [96868]
WS/Lt.	02.03.1941 (reld < 04.1946)
T/Capt.	23.01.1942-(04.1944)
A/Maj. ?	1945 ?
Hon. Capt.	< 04.1946

			joined Territorial Army
24.08.1939			mobilized TA
02.09.1939			commissioned, Royal Welch Fusiliers
			probably mainly involved in training at various locations in the UK
spring 1943	-	(05.1945?)	served in India
?	-	30.04.1960	Territoral Army Reserve of Officers [age limit]

Watkins,
Bernard Kelly
B.K. Watkins

(12?.)1906
St. Austell, Cornwall
-
07.1964 still alive

2nd Lt.	? [34451]
Lt.	15.02.1929 (reld 08.10.1930)
Lt.	13.08.1939
T/Capt.	28.05.1940
WS/Capt.	07.04.1941
T/Maj.	07.04.1941 (demobilized < 04.1946)
Capt.	01.01.1949 (reld 21.02.1962)
Hon. Maj.	< 04.1946 & 21.02.1962

			late Cadet, King's College (Taunton) Contingent, Junior Division, Officer Training Corps
15.02.1926			commissioned into the Royal Regiment of Artillery - Territorial Army
15.02.1926	-	08.10.1930	51st (Cornwall & Warwick) Medium Brigade, RA (Territorial Army)
13.08.1939	-	13.08.1942	Royal Artillery [temporary short service commission]
13.08.1942	-	21.02.1962	Regular Army Reserve of Officers - Regimental List (Royal Artillery) [age limit]

Watkins,
Sidney Maurice Kynoch
S.M.K. Watkins

1915 ?
-
03.2008 still alive in Scotland at age 93

Lt.