Frank Messervy: Difference between revisions
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|death_place=[[Heyshott]] near [[Midhurst]] |
|death_place=[[Heyshott]] near [[Midhurst]] |
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|image=Gen Sir Frank Messervy.jpg |
|image=Gen Sir Frank Messervy.jpg |
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|caption=General Frank Messervy, |
|caption=General Frank Messervy, first Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army |
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|nickname=Bearded Man |
|nickname=Bearded Man |
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|allegiance={{UK}}<br>{{flag|British India}}<br>{{PAK}} |
|allegiance={{UK}}<br>{{flag|British India}}<br>{{PAK}} |
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|battles=[[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]]<br/>[[Western Desert Campaign]]<br/>[[Burma Campaign]] |
|battles=[[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]]<br/>[[Western Desert Campaign]]<br/>[[Burma Campaign]] |
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|awards=[[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]] (12 June 1947)<br/> [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]](5 July 1945)<br/>[[Order of the Bath|CB]] (5 September 1942)<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] (30 December 1941)<ref>{{LondonGazette |
|awards=[[Order of the Star of India|KCSI]] (12 June 1947)<br/> [[Order of the British Empire|KBE]](5 July 1945)<br/>[[Order of the Bath|CB]] (5 September 1942)<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order|DSO]] (30 December 1941)<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=35396|date=26 December 1941|startpage=7333|endpage=|supp=y |accessdate=2008-06-23}}</ref><br/>DSO (20 April 1944)<br/>[[Mentioned in despatches]] (MID) (1 April 1941)<br/>MID (31 December 1941)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35396 |date=1941-12-26|startpage=7339|endpage=7353|supp=y |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><br/>MID (4 April 1945)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37015 |date=1945-04-03|startpage=1819|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><br/>MID (19 July 1945)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37184|date=1945-07-17 |startpage=3746|endpage=3753|supp=y |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><br/>[[Legion of Merit]] (date?) |
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|laterwork=Honorary Colonel, 16th Light Cavalry (1945–1948)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37238 |
|laterwork=Honorary Colonel, 16th Light Cavalry (1945–1948)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37238|date=1945-08-24|startpage=4299|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=38431|date=1948-10-15|startpage=5447|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><br/>Honorary Colonel, The Jat Regiment (1947–1955)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40738|date=1956-03-23|startpage=1736|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><br/>Deputy Chief Scout (1949–1950)<br/>Berkshire County Councillor (1953–1956) |
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}} |
}} |
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[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Sir Frank Walter Messervy''', [[Order of the Star of India |
[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Sir Frank Walter Messervy''', [[Order of the Star of India]] (KCSI), [[Order of the British Empire]] (KBE), [[Order of the Bath]] (CB), [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) [[Medal bar|and Bar]], (1893–1974), was a [[British Indian Army]] officer in both the [[First World War|First]] and [[Second World War]]s. Following its independence, he was the first [[Commander-in-Chief|Commander]] of the [[Pakistan Army]] (15 August 1947 – 10 February 1948)<ref> A letter catalogued by MJF{{who?|December 2013}}, dated 23 March 1948, refers to Sir [[Douglas David Gracey]] as Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army at that date; but the International ''Who's Who'' states that Messervy was Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army until August the same year.</ref> Previously, he had become a [[Lieutenant-General]] in 1945; a [[General]] in 1947; [[General Officer Commanding]] in Chief or (GOC-in-C) ''Northern Command'', [[India]] in 1946 and 1947). |
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==Early career== |
==Early career== |
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Messervy was commissioned into the [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] in 1913 and in 1914 joined [[9th Hodson's Horse]] which later became 4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse. He would see action in the [[First World War]] in [[France]], [[Palestine]] and [[Syria]] from 1914 to 1918. He later served in [[Kurdistan]] in 1919. |
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He was appointed as an Instructor at the [[Command and Staff College]], [[Quetta]] from 1932 to 1936. He was made Commander [[13th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)|13th Duke of Connaught's's Own Lancers]], [[British India]], during 1938 and 1939. |
He was appointed as an Instructor at the [[Command and Staff College]], [[Quetta]] from 1932 to 1936. He was made Commander [[13th Duke of Cambridge's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse)|13th Duke of Connaught's's Own Lancers]], [[British India]], during 1938 and 1939. |
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==Second World War== |
==Second World War== |
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===East Africa=== |
===East Africa=== |
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In |
In September 1939 Messervy was promoted to colonel and became a General Staff Officer Grade 1 of the [[Indian 5th Infantry Division]], which was about to be formed at [[Secunderabad]]. In mid-1940, the division was sent to the [[Sudan]] to counter the threat from the Italian forces based in [[Italian East Africa]]. Messervy was appointed commander of ''Gazelle Force''.<ref>Richard Mead, p.295</ref> Created on 16 October 1940, it was a mobile reconnaissance and strike formation of expanded battalion size created from elements of 5th Indian Division. During the ensuing [[East African Campaign (World War II)|East African Campaign]], Messervy commanded ''Gazelle Force'' with notable success, latterly attached to the [[Indian 4th Infantry Division]]. By 13 February 1941, the campaign had became static and Messervy's formation was disbanded.<ref name="Mead296">Richard Mead, p.296</ref> |
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In early March 1941, Messervy was promoted acting brigadier to command |
In early March 1941, Messervy was promoted acting brigadier to command the Indian 5th Infantry Division's 9th Infantry Brigade and played a significant role in the third [[Battle of Keren]] during the second half of March 1941. His promotion was in part related to his actions during the advance from [[Kassala]] through [[Agordat]] to the early fighting at [[Keren, Eritrea|Keren]] during February.<ref name="Mead296"/> |
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When the commander of |
When the commander of the Indian 4th Infantry Division was promoted to command [[XIII Corps (United Kingdom)|XIII Corps]] in [[Western Desert Campaign|North Africa]] Messervy, a brigadier for only six weeks, was appointed to take his place.<ref name="Mead296"/> |
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===Western Desert North Africa=== |
===Western Desert - North Africa=== |
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Messervy took 4th Indian Division to [[North Africa]] in April 1941, taking part in [[Operation Battleaxe]] in June |
Messervy took 4th Indian Division to [[North Africa]] in April 1941, taking part in [[Operation Battleaxe|Operation ''Battleaxe'']] in June. During [[Operation Crusader|Operation ''Crusader'']] in November that year, 4th Indian Division, dug in on the Egypt - Libya border, played a key role in repelling Rommel's tanks after they had defeated the British armour at Sidi Rezegh. The division's battle groups took part in the [[Eighth Army (United Kingdom)|Eighth Army]]'s pursuit when Rommel withdrew from his defensive positions at Gazala in December, ending the year at [[Benghazi]].<ref name="Mead297">Richard Mead, p.297</ref> |
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In January 1942 Messervy was appointed to replace [[Herbert Lumsden]], the wounded commader of [[1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|1st Armoured Division]] which had recently arrived in the desert.<ref name="Mead298">Richard Mead, p.298</ref> During Rommel's attack from [[El Agheila]] in late January 1942 the division was outmatched by the Axis armour and |
In January 1942 Messervy was appointed to replace [[Herbert Lumsden]], the wounded commader of [[1st Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|1st Armoured Division]] which had recently arrived in the desert.<ref name="Mead298">Richard Mead, p.298</ref> During Rommel's attack from [[El Agheila]] in late January 1942, the division was outmatched by the Axis armour and heavily defeated. On Lumsden's return in March 1942, Messervy was moved to command [[7th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|7th Armoured Division]] which had lost its commander, [[Jock Campbell (VC)|Jock Campbell]], killed in a motor accident. Messervy was the only [[British Indian Army]] officer to command a British division during the Second World War.<ref name="Mead298"/> |
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Messervy was known as the "Bearded Man" because he tended not to shave in battle. When Division HQ was overrun by the |
Messervy was known as the "Bearded Man" because he tended not to shave in battle. When Division HQ was overrun by the Germans at the start of the [[Battle of Gazala]], he was captured (27 May 1942); but, removing all insignia, managed to bluff the Germans into believing he was a [[batman (army)|batman]] and escaped with other members of his staff to rejoin Division HQ the following day.<ref name="Mead298"/> |
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Messervy knew little about tanks and was not considered a great success commanding armoured divisions by his superiors. He was dismissed from command of 7th Armoured Division by Eighth Army commander [[Neil Ritchie]] in late June 1942 following the severe defeat the division had sustained at the |
Messervy knew little about tanks and was not considered a great success commanding armoured divisions by his superiors. He was dismissed from command of 7th Armoured Division by Eighth Army commander [[Neil Ritchie]] in late June 1942 following the severe defeat the division had sustained at the Battle of Gazala. He transferred to Cairo as Deputy Chief of General Staff, GHQ [[Middle East Command]] 1942 and was sent to India a few months later to raise [[Indian 43rd Armoured Division|43rd Indian Armoured Division]] as its commander. Originally intended for service in Persia, the division was disbanded in April 1943 when the threat to Persia was removed by the Soviet victory at [[Battle of Stalingrad|Stalingrad]].<ref name="Mead299">Richard Mead, p.299</ref> |
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===India and Burma=== |
===India and Burma=== |
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Messervy was made Director of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, General Headquarters, India Command in 1943 where ironically (in the light of his failure as an armoured commander in the field) he argued successfully against the then prevailing view that large tanks could not be used in Burma. This was to have a significant impact in 1944 and 1945 when heavy armour was used to telling effect against the Japanese.<ref name="Mead299"/> |
Messervy was made Director of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, General Headquarters, India Command in 1943 where ironically (in the light of his failure as an armoured commander in the field), he argued successfully against the then prevailing view that large tanks could not be used in Burma. This was to have a significant impact in 1944 and 1945 when heavy armour was used to telling effect against the Japanese.<ref name="Mead299"/> |
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In July 1943 Messervy was appointed GOC Indian 7th Infantry Division which was sent to the [[Rakhine State|Arakan]] in Burma to join XV Corps in September. In the Japanese offensive in February 1944, despite having his headquarters overrun and scattered and his supply lines compromised, Messervy's brigades conducted a successful defence whilst being supplied by air. After going on the attack in late February 7 Indian Division was relieved in mid-March.<ref name="Mead300">Richard Mead, p.300</ref> |
In July 1943 Messervy was appointed GOC Indian 7th Infantry Division which was sent to the [[Rakhine State|Arakan]] in Burma to join XV Corps in September. In the Japanese offensive in February 1944, despite having his headquarters overrun and scattered and his supply lines compromised, Messervy's brigades conducted a successful defence whilst being supplied by air. After going on the attack in late February, 7 Indian Division was relieved in mid-March.<ref name="Mead300">Richard Mead, p.300</ref> |
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In March 1944 he lost two brigades sent to reinforce the hard-pressed defences at [[Battle of Imphal|Imphal]] and [[Battle of Kohima|Kohima]] in India. By May the whole division was back in the front line in the Kohima sector fighting a key five-day battle at the Naga Village. |
In March 1944 he lost two brigades sent to reinforce the hard-pressed defences at [[Battle of Imphal|Imphal]] and [[Battle of Kohima|Kohima]] in India. By May, the whole division was back in the front line in the Kohima sector, fighting a key five-day battle at the Naga Village. It then advanced towards the [[Chindwin river]], combining with [[Indian 20th Infantry Division]] to inflict a heavy defeat on the Japanese at Ukhrul.<ref name="Mead300"/> |
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In December 1944 he was appointed to command [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]] which he led |
In December 1944 he was appointed to command [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]], which he led in the 1945 offensive during which, he captured the key communications centre at [[Meiktila]] in [[Burma]] and advanced to [[Rangoon]] between February and April. When Messervy returned from home leave hostilities had ceased. He was made Commander-in-Chief [[Malaya Command]] in 1945 after the [[Surrender of Japan|Japanese surrender]].<ref name="Mead301">Richard Mead, p.301</ref> |
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==Post Second World War== |
==Post Second World War== |
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Close to the [[Partition of India]], Messervy was made General Officer Commander-in-Chief Northern Command India from 1946 to 1947. Finally when [[Pakistan]] came into being he served as Commander-in-Chief of [[Pakistan Army]] from 1947 to 1948. He retired in 1948<ref name="Mead301"/> and was granted the honorary rank of general.<ref name="LGHonGen">{{London Gazette |
Close to the [[Partition of India]], Messervy was made General Officer Commander-in-Chief Northern Command India from 1946 to 1947. Finally when [[Pakistan]] came into being, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the [[Pakistan Army]] from 1947 to 1948. He retired in 1948<ref name="Mead301"/> and was granted the honorary rank of general.<ref name="LGHonGen">{{London Gazette|issue=38411|date=1948-09-21|startpage=5135|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> He had resisted the orders of Pakistan’s founding father [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], which is seen as the main reason for his early retirement. He died in the [[United Kingdom]] in 1974. |
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Messervy has been criticised for collusion as Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan's Army, with the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947|clandestine Pakistani invasion]] of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 codenamed [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947#Initial invasion|Operation Gulmarg]] and for not informing [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Mountbatten]] or [[Rob Lockhart|Lockhart]].<ref>{{cite book |
Messervy has been criticised for collusion as Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan's Army, with the [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947|clandestine Pakistani invasion]] of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 codenamed [[Indo-Pakistani War of 1947#Initial invasion|Operation ''Gulmarg'']] and for not informing [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Louis Mountbatten]], the Viceroy of India or [[Rob Lockhart|Lockhart]] {{who?|December 2013}}.<ref>{{cite book|title=History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947-1948|last1=Prasad|first1=S.N.|last2=Dharm Pal|year=1987|publisher=History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited) |location=New Delhi|isbn=|page=18|url=|accessdate=}}.</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
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* Commissioned into [[British Indian Army]] (1913)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28683 |date=1913-01-21 |startpage=499|endpage= |
* Commissioned into the [[British Indian Army]] (1913)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28683 |date=1913-01-21 |startpage=499|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* Commissioned into [[9th Hodson's Horse]] (1914)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28849 |
* Commissioned into the [[9th Hodson's Horse]] (1914)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28849|date=1914-07-14|startpage=5455|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Brigade Major - (1928–1932)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33829 |
*Brigade Major - (1928–1932)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33829|date=1932-05-27 |startpage=3419|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33829|date=1932-05-27|startpage=3418|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* Instructor (GSO2) at [[Command and Staff College]], [[Quetta]] (1932–1936)<ref>{{London Gazette |
* Instructor (GSO2) at [[Command and Staff College]], [[Quetta]] (1932–1936)<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33884|date=1932-11-18|startpage=7344|endpage=|supp= |accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34264|date=1936-03-13|startpage=1660|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* Commanding Officer, [[13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]] (1938–1939) |
* Commanding Officer, [[13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers]] (1938–1939) |
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* General Staff Officer 1, [[Indian 5th Infantry Division]], [[East Africa]] (1939–1941) |
* General Staff Officer 1, [[Indian 5th Infantry Division]], [[East Africa]] (1939–1941) |
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* Commanding Officer, 9th Indian Brigade, Ethiopia (1941) |
* Commanding Officer, 9th Indian Brigade, Ethiopia (1941) |
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* General Officer Commanding, [[Indian 4th Infantry Division]], [[North Africa]] (1941–1942) |
* General Officer Commanding, [[Indian 4th Infantry Division]], [[North Africa]] (1941–1942) |
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* General Officer Commanding, 1st Armoured Division, |
* General Officer Commanding, 1st Armoured Division, North Africa (1942) |
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* General Officer Commanding, 7th Armoured Division, |
* General Officer Commanding, 7th Armoured Division, North Africa (1942) |
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* Deputy Chief of the General Staff, HQ [[Middle East Command]] (1942) |
* Deputy Chief of the General Staff, HQ [[Middle East Command]] (1942) |
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* General Officer Commanding, Indian 43rd Armoured Division (1942–1943) |
* General Officer Commanding, Indian 43rd Armoured Division (1942–1943) |
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* Director Armoured Fighting Vehicles, |
* Director Armoured Fighting Vehicles, India (1943) |
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* General Officer Commanding, [[Indian 7th Infantry Division]], India (1943–1944) |
* General Officer Commanding, [[Indian 7th Infantry Division]], India (1943–1944) |
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* General Officer Commanding, [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]], |
* General Officer Commanding, [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]], Burma (1944–1945) |
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* General Officer Commander-In-Chief, [[Malaya Command]] (1945–1946) |
* General Officer Commander-In-Chief, [[Malaya Command]] (1945–1946) |
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* General Officer Commander-In-Chief, [[Northern Command (India)|Northern Command, India]] (1946–1947)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37801 |
* General Officer Commander-In-Chief, [[Northern Command (India)|Northern Command, India]] (1946–1947)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37801|date=1946-11-29 |startpage=5852|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army (1947–1948)<ref name="LGGen">{{London Gazette |
* Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army (1947–1948)<ref name="LGGen">{{London Gazette|issue=38041|date=1947-08-08|startpage=3739|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* Retired (1948)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=38400 |
* Retired (1948)<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=38400|date=1948-09-10|startpage=4907|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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==Promotions== |
==Promotions== |
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*Second Lieutenant-22 January 1913<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28683 |
*Second Lieutenant-22 January 1913<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=28683|date=1913-01-21|startpage=499|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2013-10-17}}</ref> |
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*Lieutenant - 22 April 1915<ref>{{London Gazette |
*Lieutenant - 22 April 1915<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29186|date=1915-06-08|startpage=5526|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Captain - 22 January 1917<ref>{{London Gazette |
*Captain - 22 January 1917<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30236|date=1917-08-17|startpage=8458|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Acting Major - 23 November to 27 December 1918<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33409 |
**Acting Major - 23 November to 27 December 1918<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33409|date=1928-07-03|startpage=5217|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Brevet Major - 1 July 1929<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33513 |
**Brevet Major - 1 July 1929<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33513|date=1929-07-02|startpage=4362|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Major - 22 January 1931<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33693 |
*Major - 22 January 1931<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33693|date=1931-02-27|startpage=1357|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Local Lieutenant-Colonel - 1 September 1932<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33882 |
**Local Lieutenant-Colonel - 1 September 1932<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33882|date=1932-11-11|startpage=7180|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel - 1 July 1933<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33955 |
**Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel - 1 July 1933<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=33955|date=1933-06-30|startpage=4383|endpage=|supp=|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Lieutenant-Colonel - 10 April 1938<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34516 |
*Lieutenant-Colonel - 10 April 1938<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34516|date=1938-06-03|startpage=3567|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Colonel - 19 April 1940<ref>{{London Gazette |
*Colonel - 19 April 1940<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34832|date=1940-04-16|startpage=2301|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Acting Major-General<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35163 |
**Acting Major-General<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35163|date=1941-05-13|startpage=2783|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> (Temporary Brigadier) - 14 April 1941 |
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**Temporary Major-General - 14 April 1942<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35533 |
**Temporary Major-General - 14 April 1942<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=35533|date=1942-04-21|startpage=1799|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Major-General - 17 April 1943<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36003 |
*Major-General - 17 April 1943<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=36003|date=1943-05-04|startpage=2043|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Acting Lieutenant-General - 8 December 1944<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37466 |
**Acting Lieutenant-General - 8 December 1944<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37466|date=1946-01-25|startpage=701|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Lieutenant-General - 1 June 1945<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37294 |
*Lieutenant-General - 1 June 1945<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37294|date=1945-10-02|startpage=4890|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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**Acting General - 15 August 1947<ref name="LGGen"/> |
**Acting General - 15 August 1947<ref name="LGGen"/> |
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*Honorary General - 1948<ref name="LGHonGen"/> |
*Honorary General - 1948<ref name="LGHonGen"/> |
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==Honours and Decorations== |
==Honours and Decorations== |
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*Order of the Nile (4th Class) (Egypt) - 16 January 1920<ref>{{London Gazette |
*Order of the Nile (4th Class) (Egypt) - 16 January 1920<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31736|date=1920-01-13|startpage=698|endpage=700|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* |
*CB- 9 September 1942<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35697|date=1942-09-08|startpage=3945|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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* |
*DSO - 30 December 1941<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35396|date=1941-12-26|startpage=7332|endpage=7333|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*Bar to DSO - 20 April 1944<ref>{{London Gazette |
*Bar to DSO - 20 April 1944<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36477|date=1944-04-18|startpage=1815|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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*KBE - 1945 |
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*Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) - 1945 |
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* |
*KCSI - 12 June 1947<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=37977|date=1947-06-06|startpage=2574|endpage=|supp=y|accessdate=2009-03-13}}</ref> |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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| Line 113: | Line 112: | ||
==References== |
==References== |
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* {{cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Messervy/Sir_Frank_Walter/Great_Britain.html|title=Generals of World War II |
* {{cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Messervy/Sir_Frank_Walter/Great_Britain.html|title=Generals of World War II|accessdate=2007-08-31 |last=Ammentorp|first=Steen|coauthors=}} |
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* {{cite book| first=Antony| last=Brett-James| |
* {{cite book| first=Antony| last=Brett-James|title=Ball of fire - The Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War|url=http://ourstory.info/library/4-ww2/Ball/fireTC.html#TC|publisher=[[Gale & Polden]]|year=1951|page=481 pages}} |
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* {{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=../units_index/documents.asp? |
* {{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/units_index/default.asp?file=../units_index/documents.asp?|title=World War II unit histories and officers|accessdate=2007-08-31|last=Houterman |first=Hans| coauthors=Koppes, Jeroen}} |
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* {{cite book |
* {{cite book|first=Compton|last=Mackenzie|authorlink=Compton Mackenzie|title=Eastern Epic|publisher=Chatto & Windus, London|year=1951|page=623 pages}} |
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* Maule, Henry (1961). ''Spearhead General: The Epic Story of General Sir Frank Messervy and his Men in Eritrea, North Africa and Burma''. |
* Maule, Henry (1961). ''Spearhead General: The Epic Story of General Sir Frank Messervy and his Men in Eritrea, North Africa and Burma''. |
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* {{cite book |
* {{cite book|first=Richard|last=Mead|title=Churchill's Lions: A biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II|year=2007| publisher=Spellmount|location=Stroud (UK)|isbn=978-1-86227-431-0|page=544 pages}} |
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* {{cite web|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/PersonData.aspx?PerX=938&Tab=App |
* {{cite web|url=http://www.ordersofbattle.com/PersonData.aspx?PerX=938&Tab=App|title=Orders of Battle.com|accessdate=2007-08-31|last=|first=}} |
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== External links== |
== External links== |
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Revision as of 20:27, 9 December 2013
Frank Walter Messervy | |
|---|---|
| File:Gen Sir Frank Messervy.jpg General Frank Messervy, first Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army | |
| Nickname(s) | Bearded Man |
| Born | 9 December 1893 Trinidad |
| Died | 2 February 1974 (aged 80) Heyshott near Midhurst |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom British India Pakistan |
| Service |  British Indian Army Pakistan Army |
| Years of service | 1913–1948 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (1938–1939) Gazelle Force (1941) Indian 9th Infantry Brigade 1941 Indian 4th Infantry Division (1941–1942) 1st Armoured Division (1942) 7th Armoured Division (1942) Indian 43rd Armoured Division (1942–1943) Indian 7th Infantry Division (1943–1944) IV Corps (1944–1945) Malaya Command (1945–1946) Northern Command, India (1946–1947) Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan) (1947–1948) |
| Battles / wars | East African Campaign Western Desert Campaign Burma Campaign |
| Awards | KCSI (12 June 1947) KBE(5 July 1945) CB (5 September 1942) DSO (30 December 1941)[1] DSO (20 April 1944) Mentioned in despatches (MID) (1 April 1941) MID (31 December 1941)[2] MID (4 April 1945)[3] MID (19 July 1945)[4] Legion of Merit (date?) |
| Other work | Honorary Colonel, 16th Light Cavalry (1945–1948)[5][6] Honorary Colonel, The Jat Regiment (1947–1955)[7] Deputy Chief Scout (1949–1950) Berkshire County Councillor (1953–1956) |
General Sir Frank Walter Messervy, Order of the Star of India (KCSI), Order of the British Empire (KBE), Order of the Bath (CB), Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and Bar, (1893–1974), was a British Indian Army officer in both the First and Second World Wars. Following its independence, he was the first Commander of the Pakistan Army (15 August 1947 – 10 February 1948)[8] Previously, he had become a Lieutenant-General in 1945; a General in 1947; General Officer Commanding in Chief or (GOC-in-C) Northern Command, India in 1946 and 1947).
Early career
Messervy was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1913 and in 1914 joined 9th Hodson's Horse which later became 4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse. He would see action in the First World War in France, Palestine and Syria from 1914 to 1918. He later served in Kurdistan in 1919.
He was appointed as an Instructor at the Command and Staff College, Quetta from 1932 to 1936. He was made Commander 13th Duke of Connaught's's Own Lancers, British India, during 1938 and 1939.
Second World War
East Africa
In September 1939 Messervy was promoted to colonel and became a General Staff Officer Grade 1 of the Indian 5th Infantry Division, which was about to be formed at Secunderabad. In mid-1940, the division was sent to the Sudan to counter the threat from the Italian forces based in Italian East Africa. Messervy was appointed commander of Gazelle Force.[9] Created on 16 October 1940, it was a mobile reconnaissance and strike formation of expanded battalion size created from elements of 5th Indian Division. During the ensuing East African Campaign, Messervy commanded Gazelle Force with notable success, latterly attached to the Indian 4th Infantry Division. By 13 February 1941, the campaign had became static and Messervy's formation was disbanded.[10]
In early March 1941, Messervy was promoted acting brigadier to command the Indian 5th Infantry Division's 9th Infantry Brigade and played a significant role in the third Battle of Keren during the second half of March 1941. His promotion was in part related to his actions during the advance from Kassala through Agordat to the early fighting at Keren during February.[10]
When the commander of the Indian 4th Infantry Division was promoted to command XIII Corps in North Africa Messervy, a brigadier for only six weeks, was appointed to take his place.[10]
Western Desert - North Africa
Messervy took 4th Indian Division to North Africa in April 1941, taking part in Operation Battleaxe in June. During Operation Crusader in November that year, 4th Indian Division, dug in on the Egypt - Libya border, played a key role in repelling Rommel's tanks after they had defeated the British armour at Sidi Rezegh. The division's battle groups took part in the Eighth Army's pursuit when Rommel withdrew from his defensive positions at Gazala in December, ending the year at Benghazi.[11]
In January 1942 Messervy was appointed to replace Herbert Lumsden, the wounded commader of 1st Armoured Division which had recently arrived in the desert.[12] During Rommel's attack from El Agheila in late January 1942, the division was outmatched by the Axis armour and heavily defeated. On Lumsden's return in March 1942, Messervy was moved to command 7th Armoured Division which had lost its commander, Jock Campbell, killed in a motor accident. Messervy was the only British Indian Army officer to command a British division during the Second World War.[12]
Messervy was known as the "Bearded Man" because he tended not to shave in battle. When Division HQ was overrun by the Germans at the start of the Battle of Gazala, he was captured (27 May 1942); but, removing all insignia, managed to bluff the Germans into believing he was a batman and escaped with other members of his staff to rejoin Division HQ the following day.[12]
Messervy knew little about tanks and was not considered a great success commanding armoured divisions by his superiors. He was dismissed from command of 7th Armoured Division by Eighth Army commander Neil Ritchie in late June 1942 following the severe defeat the division had sustained at the Battle of Gazala. He transferred to Cairo as Deputy Chief of General Staff, GHQ Middle East Command 1942 and was sent to India a few months later to raise 43rd Indian Armoured Division as its commander. Originally intended for service in Persia, the division was disbanded in April 1943 when the threat to Persia was removed by the Soviet victory at Stalingrad.[13]
India and Burma
Messervy was made Director of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, General Headquarters, India Command in 1943 where ironically (in the light of his failure as an armoured commander in the field), he argued successfully against the then prevailing view that large tanks could not be used in Burma. This was to have a significant impact in 1944 and 1945 when heavy armour was used to telling effect against the Japanese.[13]
In July 1943 Messervy was appointed GOC Indian 7th Infantry Division which was sent to the Arakan in Burma to join XV Corps in September. In the Japanese offensive in February 1944, despite having his headquarters overrun and scattered and his supply lines compromised, Messervy's brigades conducted a successful defence whilst being supplied by air. After going on the attack in late February, 7 Indian Division was relieved in mid-March.[14]
In March 1944 he lost two brigades sent to reinforce the hard-pressed defences at Imphal and Kohima in India. By May, the whole division was back in the front line in the Kohima sector, fighting a key five-day battle at the Naga Village. It then advanced towards the Chindwin river, combining with Indian 20th Infantry Division to inflict a heavy defeat on the Japanese at Ukhrul.[14]
In December 1944 he was appointed to command IV Corps, which he led in the 1945 offensive during which, he captured the key communications centre at Meiktila in Burma and advanced to Rangoon between February and April. When Messervy returned from home leave hostilities had ceased. He was made Commander-in-Chief Malaya Command in 1945 after the Japanese surrender.[15]
Post Second World War
Close to the Partition of India, Messervy was made General Officer Commander-in-Chief Northern Command India from 1946 to 1947. Finally when Pakistan came into being, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army from 1947 to 1948. He retired in 1948[15] and was granted the honorary rank of general.[16] He had resisted the orders of Pakistan’s founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which is seen as the main reason for his early retirement. He died in the United Kingdom in 1974.
Messervy has been criticised for collusion as Commander-in-Chief of Pakistan's Army, with the clandestine Pakistani invasion of Jammu and Kashmir in 1947 codenamed Operation Gulmarg and for not informing Louis Mountbatten, the Viceroy of India or Lockhart [who?].[17]
Career
- Commissioned into the British Indian Army (1913)[18]
- Commissioned into the 9th Hodson's Horse (1914)[19]
- Brigade Major - (1928–1932)[20][21]
- Instructor (GSO2) at Command and Staff College, Quetta (1932–1936)[22][23]
- Commanding Officer, 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (1938–1939)
- General Staff Officer 1, Indian 5th Infantry Division, East Africa (1939–1941)
- Commanding Officer Gazelle Force, Sudan and Eritrea (1940–1941)
- Commanding Officer, 9th Indian Brigade, Ethiopia (1941)
- General Officer Commanding, Indian 4th Infantry Division, North Africa (1941–1942)
- General Officer Commanding, 1st Armoured Division, North Africa (1942)
- General Officer Commanding, 7th Armoured Division, North Africa (1942)
- Deputy Chief of the General Staff, HQ Middle East Command (1942)
- General Officer Commanding, Indian 43rd Armoured Division (1942–1943)
- Director Armoured Fighting Vehicles, India (1943)
- General Officer Commanding, Indian 7th Infantry Division, India (1943–1944)
- General Officer Commanding, IV Corps, Burma (1944–1945)
- General Officer Commander-In-Chief, Malaya Command (1945–1946)
- General Officer Commander-In-Chief, Northern Command, India (1946–1947)[24]
- Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army (1947–1948)[25]
- Retired (1948)[26]
Promotions
- Second Lieutenant-22 January 1913[27]
- Lieutenant - 22 April 1915[28]
- Captain - 22 January 1917[29]
- Major - 22 January 1931[32]
- Lieutenant-Colonel - 10 April 1938[35]
- Colonel - 19 April 1940[36]
- Major-General - 17 April 1943[39]
- Acting Lieutenant-General - 8 December 1944[40]
- Lieutenant-General - 1 June 1945[41]
- Acting General - 15 August 1947[25]
- Honorary General - 1948[16]
Honours and Decorations
- Order of the Nile (4th Class) (Egypt) - 16 January 1920[42]
- CB- 9 September 1942[43]
- DSO - 30 December 1941[44]
- Bar to DSO - 20 April 1944[45]
- KBE - 1945
- KCSI - 12 June 1947[46]
See also
References
- Ammentorp, Steen. "Generals of World War II". Retrieved 2007-08-31.
{{cite web}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Brett-James, Antony (1951). Ball of fire - The Fifth Indian Division in the Second World War. Gale & Polden. p. 481 pages.
- Houterman, Hans. "World War II unit histories and officers". Retrieved 2007-08-31.
{{cite web}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Mackenzie, Compton (1951). Eastern Epic. Chatto & Windus, London. p. 623 pages.
- Maule, Henry (1961). Spearhead General: The Epic Story of General Sir Frank Messervy and his Men in Eritrea, North Africa and Burma.
- Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: A biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II. Stroud (UK): Spellmount. p. 544 pages. ISBN 978-1-86227-431-0.
- "Orders of Battle.com". Retrieved 2007-08-31.
External links
Footnotes
- ^ "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1941.
- ^ "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1941-12-26.
- ^ "No. 37015". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1945-04-03.
- ^ "No. 37184". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1945-07-17.
- ^ "No. 37238". The London Gazette. 1945-08-24.
- ^ "No. 38431". The London Gazette. 1948-10-15.
- ^ "No. 40738". The London Gazette. 1956-03-23.
- ^ A letter catalogued by MJF[who?], dated 23 March 1948, refers to Sir Douglas David Gracey as Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army at that date; but the International Who's Who states that Messervy was Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army until August the same year.
- ^ Richard Mead, p.295
- ^ a b c Richard Mead, p.296
- ^ Richard Mead, p.297
- ^ a b c Richard Mead, p.298
- ^ a b Richard Mead, p.299
- ^ a b Richard Mead, p.300
- ^ a b Richard Mead, p.301
- ^ a b "No. 38411". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1948-09-21.
- ^ Prasad, S.N.; Dharm Pal (1987). History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947-1948. New Delhi: History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited). p. 18..
- ^ "No. 28683". The London Gazette. 1913-01-21.
- ^ "No. 28849". The London Gazette. 1914-07-14.
- ^ "No. 33829". The London Gazette. 1932-05-27.
- ^ "No. 33829". The London Gazette. 1932-05-27.
- ^ "No. 33884". The London Gazette. 1932-11-18.
- ^ "No. 34264". The London Gazette. 1936-03-13.
- ^ "No. 37801". The London Gazette. 1946-11-29.
- ^ a b "No. 38041". The London Gazette. 1947-08-08.
- ^ "No. 38400". The London Gazette. 1948-09-10.
- ^ "No. 28683". The London Gazette. 1913-01-21.
- ^ "No. 29186". The London Gazette. 1915-06-08.
- ^ "No. 30236". The London Gazette. 1917-08-17.
- ^ "No. 33409". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1928-07-03.
- ^ "No. 33513". The London Gazette. 1929-07-02.
- ^ "No. 33693". The London Gazette. 1931-02-27.
- ^ "No. 33882". The London Gazette. 1932-11-11.
- ^ "No. 33955". The London Gazette. 1933-06-30.
- ^ "No. 34516". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1938-06-03.
- ^ "No. 34832". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1940-04-16.
- ^ "No. 35163". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1941-05-13.
- ^ "No. 35533". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1942-04-21.
- ^ "No. 36003". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1943-05-04.
- ^ "No. 37466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1946-01-25.
- ^ "No. 37294". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1945-10-02.
- ^ "No. 31736". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1920-01-13.
- ^ "No. 35697". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1942-09-08.
- ^ "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1941-12-26.
- ^ "No. 36477". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1944-04-18.
- ^ "No. 37977". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1947-06-06.
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