Giffard, George James
- Date of birth:
- September 27th, 1886 (Englefield Green/Surrey, United Kingdom)
- Date of death:
- November 17th, 1964 (Royal Hampshire County Hospital/Winchester, United Kingdom)
- Nationality:
- British
Biography
Commissioned into The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1906, George Giffard served in East Africa during WWI, earning four mentions in despatches and the DSO. His interwar career included postings with the King’s African Rifles, the Royal West African Frontier Force, and instructional roles at the Staff College and Imperial Defence College. He commanded the 2nd Battalion of The Queen’s Royal Regiment from 1931 to 1933.
During WWII, Giffard held senior appointments including Military Secretary, GOC Palestine and Trans-Jordan, and Commander-in-Chief West Africa. In this latter role, he oversaw regional operations including support for Operation Postmaster, a covert SOE raid launched from West Africa in January 1942. Promoted to General in 1941, he later commanded Eastern Army in India and the 11th Army Group, with General Slim under his command.
He retired in 1946 and served as Colonel of The Queen’s Royal Regiment until 1954. Giffard died on 17 November 1964
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Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Rank:
- Acting Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
- Awarded on:
- June 4th, 1917
Croix de Guerre (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Rank:
- Acting Lieutenant-Colonel
- Unit:
- Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
- Awarded on:
- August 31st, 1917
- Rank:
- Major General
- Unit:
- Inspector General Royal African Frontier Force and King's African Rifles
- Awarded on:
- 1937
- Awarded on:
- January 1st, 1938
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-general
- Unit:
- Headquarters, West Africa Command, British Army
- Awarded on:
- January 1st, 1941
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- Lieutenant-general
- Unit:
- Headquarters, Palestine & Trans-Jordan Command, British Army
- Awarded on:
- April 1st, 1941
General Officer Commanding
Order Odrodzenia Polski Wielki
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- General
- Unit:
- Headquarters, 11th Army Group, British Army
- Awarded on:
- December 14th, 1943
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- General
- Unit:
- Headquarters, 11th Army Group, British Army
- Awarded on:
- January 1st, 1944
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Rank:
- General
- Unit:
- Headquarters, 11th Army Group, British Army
- Awarded on:
- October 26th, 1944
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- First World War (1914-1918)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
- Period:
- Second World War (1939-1945)
Sources
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