John Edwards (British Army officer)

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John Edwards
Born1896
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1915−1947
Rank Major-General
Service number 10842
Unit Scots Guards
Commands 148th Independent Brigade
45th Infantry Division
Battles/wars First World War
Arab revolt in Palestine
Second World War
Awards Distinguished Service Order [1]
Officer of the Order of the British Empire [2]
Military Cross

Major-General John Keith Edwards DSO , OBE , MC (born 1896) was a senior British Army officer.

Contents

Military career

Edwards was commissioned into the Scots Guards, in 1915, during the First World War. [3] He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) in September 1917. [4] The citation for his MC appeared in a later issue of The London Gazette , in January 1918, and reads as follows:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. In spite of a severe flesh wound in his leg he continued to command his platoon until the objective was captured, working hard at the consolidation himself and setting a splendid example to his men. He did not go sick until ordered to do so by the medical officer, and his pluck and coolness were most marked. [5]

He went on to remain in the army during the interwar period and became an instructor at the Staff College, Quetta in India in 1936 and a staff officer in Palestine and Transjordan in 1939 during the Arab revolt there. [6]

In the Second World War he served as brigadier on the general staff at East Africa Command from 1940, commander of the 148th Independent Brigade in 1942 and General Officer Commanding 45th Infantry Division from 1943. [6] His last appointment was as Head of the SHAEF Mission to the Netherlands before retiring in 1947. [6]

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References

  1. ↑ "No. 35396". The London Gazette . 26 December 1941. p. 7333.
  2. ↑ "No. 43200". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1963. p. 24.
  3. ↑ Smart, Nicholas (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Leo Cooper. ISBN   978-1844150496.
  4. ↑ "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 9974.
  5. ↑ "No. 30466". The London Gazette (Supplement). 8 January 1918. p. 602.
  6. 1 2 3 "Edwards, John Keith". Generals.dk. Retrieved 29 June 2020.

Bibliography

Military offices
Preceded by GOC 45th Infantry Division
1943−1944		Succeeded by


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