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Dempsey, Miles Christopher "Lucky"

Date of birth:
December 15th, 1896 (New Brighton/Wallasey/England, Great-Britain)
Date of death:
June 5th, 1969 (Yattendon/England, Great-Britain)
Buried on:
Commonwealth War Graves Abergavenny Cemetery
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
First World War (1914-1918)
Rank:
Acting Captain
Unit:
1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, British Army
Awarded on:
June 3rd, 1919
Military Cross (MC)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Brigadier
Unit:
Headquarters, 13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, British Army
Awarded on:
July 11th, 1940
"An outstanding Commander, who, throughout the operations in Flanders set a fine example of enthusiasm and disregard of danger. On several occasions he restored doubtful situations by his personal interventions, particularly on the YPRES-COMINES Canal.
Under the most difficult circumstances he remained cool, cheerful and completely efficient."
Inverurie,
27-6-40.
Signed
Major-General,
Commander, 5th Division
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Acting Lieutenant-General
Unit:
Headquarters, XIII Corps, British Army
Awarded on:
October 14th, 1943
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-General
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
June 29th, 1944
Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
1944
Citation:
"Lieut.Gen Sir M.C. Dempsey has commanded the British Second Army from the time of the assault on the NORMANDY coast. By outstanding leadership and handling of the troops under his command he contributed immeasurably to the success of the operations which ultimately resulted in driving the German Armies from the soil of France."

WO 373/186/1051
Commandeur de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
April 12th, 1945
Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)
"Lieutenant-General Dempsey has commanded the Second British Army brilliantly throughout the operations in North-West Europe. The success of this large army of First Corps (16 Divisions) speak for themselves. The control and handling of a force of this size, particularly what it has to be launched across a water obstacle against a defeded coastline must be one of the severest tests for any Commander. General Dempsey proud himself fully equal to the test, and has since displayed outstanding powers of leadership in France, Belgium, and now in Holland. He has rendered highly distinguished services to the Allied cause."
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
July 5th, 1945
Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (K/DBE)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
August 9th, 1945
Mentioned in Dispatches
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
January 16th, 1947
Grootofficier in de Orde van Leopold II
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
January 16th, 1947
Croix de Guerre 1940
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Lieutenant-general
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
March 20th, 1947
"Lt Gen DEMPSEY has commanded the British Second Army throughout the campaign in North West EUROPE which led to the liberation of HOLLAND. The skill with which Lt. Gen DEMPSEY led the Second Army was a major factor in the success of these operations which hastened the defeat of the enemy."
Grootofficier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau (ON.2)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
General
Unit:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Awarded on:
January 16th, 1948
Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)

War Diary mentions

20 June 1944 WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment
CO, 2IC, Adjt, OsC ASC Sqn, Recce Tp inspect knocked out British tks. Talk by Brigadier on lessons to be learnt. Gen MC Dempsey GOC Second Army net C.O.

16 September 1944 WO 171/846 - 15-19 The King Royal Hussars
A fine Sept day. Regt still in same posn supporting 231 Bde in the br hd. Still some shelling and a certain amount of activity all around but not determined counter attack developed during the day. The br hd was strengthened by 9th Bn DLI who came in on the S.E. corner of the br hd thus allowing the Dorsets to move further North and make stronger link with the Devons in the North. C.O. attended a talk by the Corps Commander - Lt-Gen BG Horrecks CB., DSO, MC and the Commander 2nd Army Lt-Gen Sir Miles Dempsey KCB, DSO, MC at BOURG LEOPOLD 2683. On this the Corps Comd spoke of the adv during the past fortnight, the present situation and the operation Market Garden which was due to begin the following day. This operation was to be an adv by 30 Corps from the br hd up to the Zuider Zee to dominate the country West of this, thereby cutting off communication between Germany and the Low Countries and thus it was hoped trapping what German forces were left in France and the Low Countries, and also cutting off V.2. bases in this area. 30 Corps was to adv on one centre line through EINDHOVEN 4218 - ST OEDENRODE 4232 - GRAVE 6153 - NIJMEGEN 7062 - ARNHEM 7477 - APELDOORN 7803 - EEP 8018 - NUNSPEET 6621 with 8 Corps (11 Armd Div, 3rd Inf Div) protecting their right and rear and 12 Corps (7Armd Div, 4 Armd Bde, 15 (S) Div and 53(W) Div) operating on their left flank. A large part was also being played in this operation by Airborne Forces, 1st British Airborne Div with the Polish Para Bde was to capture intact the bridges over the Nederrijn at ARNHEM and dominate the surrounding countryside. 82 US Airborne Div was to capture intact the bridges over the Maas en Waal in areas GRAVE en NIJMEGEN and to dominate the surrounding country.101 US Airborne Div was to be dropped in the area between EINDHOVEN en GRAVE with the task of facilitating the adv of 30 Corps as far as the R. Maas. The Corps Comd expressed the opinion that if this operation was as successfull as he hoped he thought that it might be the decisive battle of the war and finally finish the German Army. The Regt's task in this operation was as follows:- with under comd 'A' Sqn The Royals (Maj J Bowlby), 1 Bty 86 Fd Regt RA (Herts Yeo) to adv behind the leading Bde of Gds Armd Div to the EINDHOVEN - ST OEDENRODE area and there come under comd 101 US Airborne Div whose task it was to keep open the Corps Axis of advance between VALKENSWAARD 4108 and VEGHEL 4737 and to prevent the enemy interference on this axis from either flank.

8 November 1944 WO 171/691 - 159 Infantry Brigade
At 0830 hrs 1 Hereford took over from 4 Ksli in IJSSELSTEIN, the 4 Ksli moving to DEURNE Bks for a 48 hrs rest in preparation for taking over GRIENDTSVEEN. Other Bde locations remained the same. Patrols continued during the night. Air Marshal Tedder and General Dempsey visited the Hq and remained talking to the Brigadier for about half an hour.

30 November 1944 WO 171/607 - 6 Guards Tank Brigade
The Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, G.C.B., visited Bde HQ and units of the Bde accompanied by General Sir Miles C. Dempsey, K.B.E., Commander Second British Army. Gen. Eisenhower’s inspection lasted two hours.

30 November 1944 WO 171/1255 - 4 Grenadier Guards
The Bn had the honour to be visited by the Supreme Commander General “Ike” Eisenhower. He inspected one vehicle of every type held by the Bn & was apparently extremely impressed by the standard of cleanliness & maintenance. He was accompanied by the Army Commander General Dempsey. The weather managed to keep fine for the visit for the first time in 3 weeks.

1 December 1944 WO 171/1251 - 4 Coldstream Guards
The Bn was visited, and an informal inspection held, by the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower. With him were Lt. Gen. Sir Miles Dempsey & Lt. Gen. Ritchie. The General was shown “Cuckoo" the Panther and talked to Sergeant Roberts, its Commander.

8 December 1944 WO 171/1330 - 1 East Lancashire
We learned that Lt-Gen. Sir Miles Christopher Dempsey, K.C.B., D.S.O., M.C., was going to visit the bn tomorrow. A programme was arranged for the visit and the bn was busy during the afternoon in preparation. (Copy of programme for Visit is attached as Appendix "B").

20 December 1944 WO 171/837 - 2 Household Cavalry
At about 2200 hrs 19 Dec, 2 IC returned and orders were given the 2 HCR was to recce the line of the Meuse incl NAMUR - incl VISE 5359 to report whether the Hun had reached the river also to report on the roads and bridges in the area. The river front given was a 40 mile front while communication had to be to Army who were approx 60 miles back from the Meuse so that the wireless distances were immense. However by remembering our training in YORKSHIRE and by everyone sitting on top of the highest hills of which at long last there were some, touch was maintained. The job was done 3 up, A rt D centre and C left. B Sqn in reserve at WATERSCHEI also acted as a step up to Army. The job entailed a long night move - for A Sqn up to 60 miles and the object was to get on the river line by first light. However the fog and US convoys slowed things up a good deal. Nevertheless by 1030 hrs it was firmly established that no sizeable body of enemy were up to or had crossed the Meuse. By the time the C.O. who had been sent for from BRUSSELS returned that is by 1500 hrs a fairly accurate report could be given of the state of the bridges and of the roads in the area. Comn with Army was through an L.O., Capt Garnett, who had a 9 set on 2 HCR comd net and to whom the infmn was relayed by B Sqn. In fact this method was probably an error and it would have been a far better plan to have the LO on a separate frequency working to him through the RCA set. At the time however 2 HCR had no satisfactory spare frequency and time was too short to get one allotted. In fact the infmn was got through and there was not a great block on the comd net. RHQ was at CHATEAU DE LOOZE. Appx A: Orders given by General Dempsey to 2 I.C. Appx B: Letter form General Dempsey to 2 IC dated 20 Dec.

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