Guy Williams (British Army officer)

General Sir Guy Charles Williams KCB CMG DSO (10 September 1881 – 2 February 1959) was a British Army officer who served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Eastern Command during World War II.

Sir Guy Williams
Born	10 September 1881 Bangalore, British India
Died	2 February 1959 (aged 77)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1901−1941
Rank	General
Service number	8372
Unit	Royal Engineers
Commands held	199th Brigade 8th Brigade Staff College, Quetta 5th Infantry Division Eastern Command
Battles/wars	Second Boer War World War I Arab revolt in Palestine World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in dispatches (7)

Military career

Born in Bangalore in British India on 10 September 1881, Guy Williams was sent to England where he was educated at Sherborne School.[1] He later attended the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Royal Engineers[2] and, after serving briefly in the Second Boer War, served in World War I.[3][1] His service in the war was outstanding, being mentioned in dispatches seven times and awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1915 and, in 1918, commanding the 199th Brigade of the 66th Division, where he had previously been Commander Royal Engineers (CRE).[4]

After attending the Staff College, Camberley, graduating in 1919, he was appointed Deputy Military Secretary at the War Office in 1923 and the Commander of the 8th Brigade in 1927.[5] In 1928 he became an instructor at the Imperial Defence College and then in 1928 he became Engineer in Chief at Aldershot Command.[5] In 1934 he was appointed Commandant of the Staff College, Quetta in India and in 1937 he became General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 5th Division.[5] The division was then stationed in Palestine during the Arab revolt.[4]

He served in World War II as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command from 1938 to 1941 when he was appointed Military Adviser to the New Zealand Government: he retired later that year.[5]

References

1. Smart, p. 335
2. "No. 28389". The London Gazette. 24 June 1910. p. 4488.
3. "No. 29833". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 November 1916. p. 11388.
4. Smart, p. 336
5. Generals.dk

Bibliography

• Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.

External links

• Generals of World War II