John Akehurst (British Army officer)

General Sir John Bryan Akehurst, KCB, CBE (12 February 1930 – 20 February 2007) was a British Army officer who rose to be Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.

Sir John Akehurst
Born	12 February 1930 Chatham, Kent
Died	20 February 2007 (aged 77)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1947–1990
Rank	General
Commands held	Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe UK Field Army Staff College, Camberley 4th Armoured Division Dhofar Brigade 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment
Battles/wars	Malayan Emergency Dhofar Rebellion
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in Despatches

Military career

Educated at Cranbrook School and the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, John Akehurst was commissioned into the Northamptonshire Regiment in 1949.[1] He was seconded to the Malay Regiment in 1952 during the Malayan Emergency.[2] He was appointed Commanding Officer of 2nd Battalion Royal Anglian Regiment in 1968.[2]

In 1974 he commanded the Dhofar Brigade of the Sultan of Oman's Armed Forces against a communist-inspired armed insurrection during the Dhofar Rebellion.[1] It reached a peak in the autumn of 1975 when he successfully launched an attack from the mountain garrison of Sarfait on the border, although at Christmas 1975 his helicopter was attacked by guerrillas.[3]

He spent two years as Deputy Military Secretary from 1976 to 1978 and then became General Officer Commanding 4th Armoured Division in 1979.[1] In 1982 he was appointed Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley and in 1984 he became Commander of the UK Field Army.[1] His final appointment was as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe in 1987; he retired in 1990.[1]

Family

In 1955 he married Shirley Anne Webb.[2] Their two children died in childhood from cystic fibrosis.[2] Lady Akehurst died on 31 December 2020 at the age of 85.[4]

References

1. Obituary: Sir John Akehurst The Times, 27 February 2007
2. Obituary: Sir John Akehurst The Daily Telegraph, 6 March 2007
3. Goldman, Lawrence (7 March 2013). Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 2005–2008. Oxford University Press. p. 11. ISBN 978-0-19-967154-0.
4. Akehurst

Bibliography

• We Won a War: The Campaign in Oman 1965–1975 by John Akehurst, Russell Publishing, 1982, ISBN 978-0-85955-091-8
• Generally Speaking: Then Hurrah for the life of a Soldie by John Akehurst. Published by Michael Russell Publishing Ltd, 1999, ISBN 978-0859552530