List of commanders of the British 4th Division

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4th Division
4th Infantry Division
4th Armoured Division
Painting of Galbraith Lowry Cole
Galbraith Lowry Cole, the commanding officer of the 4th Division, for the majority of the Peninsular War
ActiveRaised and disbanded numerous times between 1809 and 2012
Country United Kingdom
Branch British Army
EngagementsNapoleonic Wars
Crimean War
Second Boer War
First World War
Second World War

The 4th Division was an infantry division of the British Army, which was first formed in 1809 and disbanded for the final time in 2012. The division was commanded by a general officer commanding (GOC). In this role, the GOC received orders from a level above him in the chain of command, and then used the forces within the division to undertake the mission assigned. In addition to directing the tactical battle in which the division was involved, the GOC oversaw a staff and the administrative, logistical, medical, training, and discipline of the division.[1] The division had 63 different permanent GOCs over its history that spanned 203 years

Prior to 1809, the British Army did not use divisional formations. As the British military grew in size during the Napoleonic Wars, the need arose for such an implementation in order to better organise forces for administrative, logistical, and tactical reasons. The 4th Division was formed on 18 June 1809 by Lieutenant-General Arthur Wellesley, and served in the Peninsular War (part of the Napoleonic Wars).[1] During this period, three of the division's commanding officers were wounded. Major-General Galbraith Lowry Cole was wounded on two separate occasions, while leading the division.[2] After the Peninsular War ended in 1814, the division was disbanded only to be re-raised the following year when the War of the Seventh Coalition broke out. It then fought at the Battle of Waterloo, and was disbanded the same year when the Napoleonic Wars concluded.[3]

It was next raised for service in the Crimean War (1853–1856). During the Battle of Inkerman (5 November 1854), the division had four different commanding officers, with two killed in action. Following the end of the war, in 1856, the division was disbanded.[4] Forty-three years later, in 1899, the division was reformed to take part in the Second Boer War. Lieutenant-General William Penn Symons, who initially led the division, was wounded in action and subsequently taken prisoner. When the need for divisions subsided, the following year, the division was broken-up to provide garrisons for various static locations.[5]

In 1902, a new 4th Division was formed as a permanent standing formation and not for a particular crisis. During the 20th century, the division fought in the First and Second World Wars. Major-General Louis Lipsett, the division's penultimate commander during the First World War, was killed in action shortly before the war ended in November 1918.[6] In the post-Second World War years, it formed part of the British Army of the Rhine in Germany. During the 1960s, Major-General Jean Allard became the first Canadian to command a British Army division when he was appointed to lead the 4th.[7][8] In 1978, the infantry division was transformed into an armoured formation.[7] It maintained this role until the division was disbanded in 1993, when the British Army was downsized following the end of the Cold War. It was re-raised in 1995 as an administrative formation and maintained this role until 2012, when it was disbanded for the final time.[9]

General officer commanding[edit]

See also: General officer commanding
General officer commanding
No. General officer commanding Rank Appointment date Notes Source(s)
1 Alexander Campbell Major-General 18 June 1809 The division was formed for the first time, during the Peninsular War, from troops based in Portugal. Campbell was wounded in action at the Battle of Talavera, on 28 July 1809. [10]
Temporary James Kemmis Colonel 28 July 1809 [11]
2 Galbraith Lowry Cole Major-General October 1809 Cole was wounded during the Battle of Albuera on 16 May 1811. [2]
Temporary James Kemmis Colonel 16 May 1811 Promoted to Major-General during temporary tenure [11]
2 Galbraith Lowry Cole Major-General July 1811 Cole returned to the UK on sick leave in December 1811. [2]
3 Sir Charles Colville Major-General 22 December 1811 Colville was wounded in action during the siege of Badajoz in April 1812. His position was kept vacant following Colville's injury until June 1812. [12]
2 Galbraith Lowry Cole Major-General June 1812 Cole was assigned as commander following his return from injury. He was again wounded, this time at the Battle of Salamanca on 22 July. [13]
Acting William Anson Major-General 22 July 1812 [13]
2 Galbraith Lowry Cole Major-General 15 October 1812 Cole maintained this role until the conclusion of the Peninsular War, in 1814, when the division was disbanded in France. [14]
4 Henry de Hinuber Major-General 11 April 1815 On 11 April 1815, the division was reformed in the Southern Netherlands. [15]
3 Sir Charles Colville Lieutenant-General 28 April 1815 Following the conclusion of the Napoleonic Wars, the British military in France was reorganised into three divisions. The remaining forces, including the 4th Division, were stood down. [16]
5 Sir George Cathcart Lieutenant-General 18 August 1854 The division was formed in Varna, Ottoman Bulgaria, from British troops who had been assembled, and had prepared to move to the Crimean peninsular during the Crimean War. Cathcart was killed in action at the Battle of Inkerman on 5 November 1854. [17][18]
Acting Thomas Leigh-Goldie Brigadier-General 5 November 1854 Leigh-Goldie commanded the division's first brigade, and took over command during the Battle of Inkerman after Cathcart was killed. Leigh-Goldie was killed soon after, during the same battle. [19][20]
Acting Charles Windham Brevet Colonel 5 November 1854 Windham was the assistant adjutant general of the division, and temporarily took command during the Battle of Inkerman. [21]
Acting Frederick Horn Brevet Colonel 5 November 1854 Horn commanded an infantry battalion within the division's first brigade. By the end of the Battle of Inkerman, command had fallen to him. [19]
Temporary Sir John Campbell Major-General 6 November 1854 Campbell took command of the division once the Inkerman fighting ended. He held this position until Bentinck took command the following year. [22][23]
6 Henry Bentinck Lieutenant-General 1 June 1855 Bentinck was assigned to take command of the division following Cathcart's death. However, he was also wounded during the Battle of Inkerman and this delayed his ability to take command until June 1855. [24][25]
7 Robert Garrett Major-General 5 October 1855 Garrett retained command of the division until 1856 and the conclusion of the war. With the end of hostilities, the division was disbanded in Crimea. [25][26][27][28]
8 Sir William Penn Symons Lieutenant-General 9 October 1899 A new 4th Division was formed in southern Africa, from troops based there, for service in the Second Boer War. Symons was wounded during the Battle of Glencoe on 20 October. His force soon retreated following the battle and the wounded, including Symons, were captured. Symons died from his wounds on 23 October. [29][30]
Acting James Herbert Yule Brigadier-General 20 October 1899 Under Yule, the division retired to Ladysmith and became part of the besieged garrison on 26 October. [31]
9 Neville Lyttelton Lieutenant-General 22 March 1900 Following the lifting of the siege of Ladysmith, the garrison was reorganised into a new 4th Division. At the end of 1900, while still in southern Africa, the division was broken-up. [32][33]
10 Sir Charles Knox Major-General 30 October 1902 This marked the first time the 4th Division was formed as a permanent formation, and not raised on an ad hoc basis for a particular war. [34][35]
11 William Franklyn Major-General 1 June 1906 Around May 1907, Franklyn's command was reorganised as the 3rd Division. [36][37]
12 Theodore Stephenson Major-General May 1907 Around May 1907, the 6th Division was reorganised as the 4th Division [38][39]
13 Herbert Belfield Major-General 12 May 1907 [40]
14 Thomas Snow Major-General 12 May 1911 Under Snow, the division was mobilised for the First World War and departed for France. Snow was incapacitated on 9 September 1914, during the First Battle of the Marne. [41][42]
Acting Henry Wilson Brigadier-General 9 September 1914 [6]
15 Sir Henry Rawlinson Major-General 23 September 1914 [6]
16 Henry Wilson Major-General 4 October 1914 [6]
17 William Lambton Major-General 4 October 1914 Lambton was incapacitated on 12 September 1917. [6]
Acting Ralph Berners Brigadier-General 12 September 1917 [6]
18 Torquhil Matheson Major-General 21 September 1917 [6]
19 Louis Lipsett Major-General 14 September 1918 Lipsett was killed in action on 14 October 1918. [6]
20 Cuthbert Lucas Major-General 15 October 1918 On 6 January 1919, the division was demobilised in Belgium. [43]
21 Sir Cameron Shute Major-General 1 November 1919 The division was reformed in England [44][45]
22 Sir Reginald Stephens Major-General 1 November 1923 [46]
23 Sir Percy Radcliffe Major-General 1 April 1926 [47]
24 Archibald Cameron Major-General 1 October 1927 [48]
25 Charles Bonham-Carter Major-General 1 June 1931 [49]
26 John Brind Major-General 21 July 1933 On 13 December 1934, Brind was temporarily assigned as the commander of the peacekeeping International Force in the Saar, and held this position until 16 March 1935. [50]
27 James Dick-Cunyngham Major-General 1 June 1935 Died in office [51][52]
28 Clive Liddell Major-General 27 November 1935 [53]
Acting Unknown Unknown 13 December 1937 On this date, Liddell relinquished command of the division. A new commanding officer was not appointed until the new year. [54]
29 Dudley Johnson Major-General 7 January 1938 During Johnson's tenure, the division was mobilised for service in the Second World War. The division was deployed to France in 1939 and was evacuated back to the UK in 1940. [55][56]
30 Ralph Eastwood Major-General 25 June 1940 [57]
31 John Swayne Major-General 4 October 1940 [57]
32 John Hawkesworth Major-General 9 March 1942 During Hawkesworth's tenure, the division was deployed to Tunisia and fought in the Tunisian campaign. [56]
Acting John Hogshaw Brigadier 22 August 1943 [57]
33 Hayman Hayman-Joyce Major-General 5 September 1943 During Hayman-Joyce's tenure, the division was deployed to fight in the Italian campaign. [56]
34 Dudley Ward Major-General 20 April 1944 In December 1944, the division was deployed to Greece and would remain there until the end of the war. [56]
Acting Rudolph. Kirwan Brigadier 9 March 1945 [57]
34 Dudley Ward Major-General 2 April 1945 [57]
Acting Rudolph Kirwan Brigadier 20 April 1945 [57]
35 Colin Callander Major-General 25 April 1945 [57]
36 Ernest Down Major-General 26 September 1946 The division was disbanded, in Greece, in March 1947. [7][58][59]
37 Reginald Hewetson Major-General April 1956 In April 1956, the 11th Armoured Division, based in Germany, was reorganised as the 4th Infantry Division. [7][60]
38 Gerald Hopkinson Major-General 2 March 1958 During Hopkinson's tenure, the word 'infantry' was dropped from the division's title. [61]
39 Desmond Gordon Major-General 12 October 1959 [62]
40 Jean Allard Major-General 10 November 1961 Allard was a Canadian Army officer, and the first Canadian to command a British Army division. [8][63]
41 Basil Eugster Major-General 15 October 1963 [64]
42 Michael Forrester Major-General 14 October 1965 [65]
43 Vernon Erskine-Crum Major-General 16 October 1967 [66]
44 David Fraser Major-General 10 October 1969 [67]
45 Anthony Farrar-Hockley Major-General 10 October 1971 [68]
46 Michael Gow Major-General 10 October 1973 [69]
47 Nigel Bagnall Major-General 21 September 1975 [70]
48 Richard Vickers Major-General 7 October 1977 On 1 January 1978, the formation was redesignated as the 4th Armoured Division. [7][71]
49 John Akehurst Major-General 19 July 1979 [72]
50 Jeremy Reilly Major-General 20 November 1981 [73]
51 John Waters Major-General 21 November 1983 [74]
52 Michael Hobbs Major-General December 1985 [75][76]
53 William Rous Major-General 30 November 1987 [77]
54 Jeremy Mackenzie Major-General 15 December 1989 [78]
55 Anthony Denison-Smith Major-General 15 December 1989 As part of Options for Change, the division was disbanded in Germany in 1993. [79][80]
55 Anthony Denison-Smith Lieutenant-General 1 April 1995 The division was reformed in England [81][82]
56 Nigel Richards Major-General 31 March 1996 [79][83]
57 Timothy Sulivan Major-General 1998 [84]
58 John Holmes Major General 29 January 2001 [85]
59 Andrew Ritchie Major General 1 April 2002 [86]
60 David Judd Major General 6 January 2003 [87]
61 Seumas Kerr Major General 1 May 2004 [88]
62 Peter Everson Major General 16 October 2006 [89]
63 Lamont Kirkland Major General 12 November 2008 During January 2012, the division was disbanded. [90][91]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ a b Haythornthwaite 2016, The Divisional System.
  2. ^ a b c Reid 2004, pp. 52–55.
  3. ^ Weller 2010, p. 34; Siborne 1900, pp. 735; Ross-of-Bladensburg 1896, pp. 49–50.
  4. ^ Barthorp 1980, p. 155; McGuigan 2001, pp. 8, 29, 67; Demchak 2011, p. 127.
  5. ^ Creswicke 1900, pp. 15–20, 35, Chart of Staff Appointments Made at the Commencement of the War; Creswicke 1901, p. 138; Dunlop 1938, p. 74.
  6. ^ a b c d e f g h Becke 1935, p. 57.
  7. ^ a b c d e Lord & Watson 2003, p. 33.
  8. ^ a b "General Allard To Return To Canada". The Times. No. 55793. 30 August 1963.
  9. ^ Tanner 2014, pp. 13–14.
  10. ^ Reid 2004, p. 52.
  11. ^ a b McGuigan & Burnham 2017, pp. 158–159.
  12. ^ Reid 2004, pp. 54–55.
  13. ^ a b Reid 2004, p. 55.
  14. ^ Reid 2004, p. 56; Oman 1930, p. 513.
  15. ^ Weller 2010, p. 34; Ross-of-Bladensburg 1896, pp. 49–50; McGuigan & Burnham 2017, p. 137.
  16. ^ Siborne 1900, pp. 73; McGuigan & Burnham 2017, p. 137.
  17. ^ Barthorp 1980, p. 155; McGuigan 2001, pp. 8, 29.
  18. ^ "No. 21584". The London Gazette. 18 August 1854. p. 2566.
  19. ^ a b McGuigan 2001, pp. 26, 29.
  20. ^ "Memorial: Brigadier General T Leigh-Goldie". Imperial War Museum.
  21. ^ McGuigan 2001, p. 29.
  22. ^ McGuigan 2001, p. 34.
  23. ^ "No. 21738". The London Gazette. 2 July 1855. p. 2543.
  24. ^ McGuigan 2001, p. 43.
  25. ^ a b Boase, George Clement (1885). "Bentinck, Henry John William" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 04. p. 284.
  26. ^ McGuigan 2001, p. 67; Demchak 2011, p. 127.
  27. ^ "No. 21793". The London Gazette. 5 October 1855. p. 3683.
  28. ^ Chichester, Henry Manners (1890). "Garrett, Robert" . Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 21. pp. 15–16.
  29. ^ Creswicke 1900, pp. 15–20, 35, Chart of Staff Appointments Made at the Commencement of the War; Dunlop 1938, p. 74.
  30. ^ "No. 27129". The London Gazette. 24 October 1899. p. 6387.
  31. ^ Creswicke 1900, pp. 17, 33.
  32. ^ Creswicke 1901, p. 138; Hare 1929, p. 281.
  33. ^ "No. 27193". The London Gazette. 18 May 1900. p. 3148.
  34. ^ Dunlop 1938, p. 219.
  35. ^ "War Office, Monthly Army List, July 1903". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. July 1903. p. 8. and "No. 27515". The London Gazette. 13 January 1903. p. 237.
  36. ^ "No. 27920". The London Gazette. 8 June 1906. p. 4001.
  37. ^ "War Office, Monthly Army List, March 1907". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. March 1907. p. 18a., and "War Office, Monthly Army List, May 1907". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. May 1907. p. 18a.
  38. ^ "No. 27920". The London Gazette. 8 June 1906. p. 4001.
  39. ^ "War Office, Monthly Army List, March 1907". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. March 1907. p. 18a., and "No. 28024". The London Gazette. 24 May 1907. p. 3593.
  40. ^ "No. 28024". The London Gazette. 24 May 1907. p. 3593. and "No. 28496". The London Gazette. 19 May 1911. p. 3818.
  41. ^ "No. 28496". The London Gazette. 19 May 1911. p. 3818.
  42. ^ Becke 1935, pp. 57, 62.
  43. ^ Becke 1935, pp. 57, 63.
  44. ^ "No. 31643". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 November 1919. p. 13875. and "No. 32878". The London Gazette. 9 November 1923. p. 7659.
  45. ^ "War Office, Monthly Army List, December 1920". London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. 1920. p. 33.
  46. ^ "No. 32878". The London Gazette. 9 November 1923. p. 7659. and "No. 33149". The London Gazette. 9 April 1926. p. 2469.
  47. ^ "No. 33149". The London Gazette. 9 April 1926. p. 2469. and "No. 33320". The London Gazette. 14 October 1927. p. 6470.
  48. ^ "No. 33320". The London Gazette. 14 October 1927. p. 6470. and "No. 33320". The London Gazette. 5 June 1931. p. 33723.
  49. ^ "No. 33723". The London Gazette. 5 June 1931. p. 3654. and "No. 33962". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 July 1933. p. 4886.
  50. ^ "No. 33964". The London Gazette. 28 July 1933. p. 5045., "No. 34114". The London Gazette. 14 December 1934. p. 8124., "No. 34144". The London Gazette. 22 March 1935. p. 1981., and "No. 34165". The London Gazette. 31 May 1935. p. 3519.
  51. ^ "No. 34168". The London Gazette. 7 June 1935. p. 3708.
  52. ^ Montague-Smith 1980, p. B–227.
  53. ^ "No. 34226". The London Gazette. 3 December 1935. p. 7671. and "No. 34482". The London Gazette. 15 February 1938. p. 969.
  54. ^ "No. 34482". The London Gazette. 15 February 1938. p. 969.
  55. ^ "No. 34472". The London Gazette. 11 January 1938. p. 192.
  56. ^ a b c d Joslen 2003, pp. 45–46.
  57. ^ a b c d e f g Joslen 2003, p. 45.
  58. ^ "No. 37746". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 October 1946. p. 4933.
  59. ^ "Obituary: Lieut-General Sir Ernest Down". The Times. No. 60557. 22 February 1980. p. 16.
  60. ^ "No. 40727". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 March 1956. p. 1427. and "No. 41326". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 February 1958. p. 1429.
  61. ^ "No. 41326". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 February 1958. p. 1429. and "No. 41839". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 October 1959. p. 6415.
  62. ^ "No. 41839". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 October 1959. p. 6415. and "No. 42508". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1961. p. 8089.
  63. ^ "No. 42508". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 November 1961. p. 8089. and "No. 43130". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 October 1963. p. 8421.
  64. ^ "No. 43130". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 October 1963. p. 8421. and "No. 43788". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 October 1965. p. 9553.
  65. ^ "No. 43788". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 October 1965. p. 9553. and "No. 44430". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 October 1967. p. 11261.
  66. ^ "No. 44430". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 October 1967. p. 11261. and "No. 44955". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1969. p. 10469.
  67. ^ "No. 44955". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1969. p. 10469. and "No. 45493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 October 1971. p. 10969.
  68. ^ "No. 45493". The London Gazette (Supplement). 11 October 1971. p. 10969. and "No. 46103". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 October 1973. p. 12242.
  69. ^ "No. 46103". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 October 1973. p. 12242. and "No. 46692". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 September 1975. p. 11931.
  70. ^ "No. 46692". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 September 1975. p. 11931. and "No. 47346". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1977. p. 12783.
  71. ^ "No. 47346". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 October 1977. p. 12783. and "No. 47925". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1979. p. 10350.
  72. ^ "No. 47925". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 August 1979. p. 10350. and "No. 48803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1981. p. 14920.
  73. ^ "No. 48803". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1981. p. 14920. and "No. 49552". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 November 1983. p. 15767.
  74. ^ "No. 49552". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 November 1983. p. 15767.
  75. ^ "Latest appointments". The Times. No. 62236. 6 September 1985.
  76. ^ "No. 51136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 November 1987. p. 14774.
  77. ^ "No. 51136". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 November 1987. p. 14774. and "No. 51969". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 December 1989. p. 14616.
  78. ^ "No. 51969". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 December 1989. p. 14616. and "No. 52732". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 December 1991. p. 18536.
  79. ^ a b Tanner 2014, p. 13.
  80. ^ "No. 52732". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 December 1991. p. 18536.
  81. ^ "4th Division". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 22 September 2010. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
  82. ^ The Army List. London: HMSO. 1995. p. 56.
  83. ^ "No. 54360". The London Gazette. 1 April 1996. p. 4793.
  84. ^ "Sulivan, Maj.-Gen. Timothy John, (Born 19 Feb. 1946), DL; Vice-President, Customer Relations, General Dynamics (Formerly CDC Systems) UK LTD, 2001–13". Who's Who. 1 December 2021 [1 December 2007]. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.U36660. ISBN 978-0-19-954088-4. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  85. ^ "No. 56104". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 January 2001. p. 1159.
  86. ^ "No. 56524". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 April 2002. p. 3964.
  87. ^ "No. 56818". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 January 2003. p. 413.
  88. ^ "No. 57297". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 May 2004. p. 6504.
  89. ^ "No. 58125". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 October 2006. p. 14169.
  90. ^ Tanner 2014, p. 14.
  91. ^ "No. 58885". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 November 2008. p. 17876.

References[edit]

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