John Whiteley (British Army officer)
Sir John Whiteley | |
---|---|
Nickname(s) | "Jock"[1] |
Born | 7 June 1896 |
Died | 20 May 1970 | (aged 73)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1915–1956 |
Rank | General |
Service number | 10235 |
Unit | Royal Engineers |
Commands held | National Defence College, Canada Canadian Army Staff College |
Battles/wars | First World War
Second World War
|
Awards | (United States) |
In May 1940, during the
After a few months in Germany as Assistant Chief of Staff in the
Early life and interbellum
John Francis Martin Whiteley was educated at
With the war now over, Whiteley attended the Staff College, Camberley from January 1927 to December 1928.[6][1] He was married the year after graduating and served in India where he was a Deputy Assistant Adjutant General from 1932 to 1934 before returning to the United Kingdom to serve as a staff officer at the War Office in London from 1932 to 1934.[7]
Second World War
Middle East
When the
Whiteley returned via London, where he briefed the Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), General Sir John Dill and the prime minister, Winston Churchill, on his mission to the United States. Churchill expressed his displeasure with the progress of the Western Desert campaign,[6] which resulted in Wavell's replacement by General Sir Claude Auchinleck in July 1941.[9] In October 1941 Whiteley became Auchinleck's envoy to London to brief the Prime Minister on the plans for Operation Crusader and the reasons why Auchinleck was resisting pressure to advance its date.[6]
During Operation Crusader, Auchinleck relieved the commander of the Eighth Army, Lieutenant General Alan Cunningham, replacing him with his Deputy Chief of the General Staff (DCGS), Major General Neil Ritchie. Amid doubts about Ritchie's suitability for the post, Auchinleck and his new DCGS, Brigadier Eric Dorman-Smith, decided that Whiteley should become Chief of Staff of the Eighth Army. Whiteley assumed his new post on 28 March 1942. His time in the post saw British fortunes fall to their lowest ebb, with the disastrous Battle of Gazala and the fall of Tobruk. Auchinleck assumed personal command of the Eighth Army on 25 June, and Whiteley was superseded by the "dangerous super-numerary"[7] Dorman-Smith to some extent. However, Whiteley remained in the job until after the First Battle of El Alamein, when he was replaced by Brigadier Freddie de Guingand. In Auchinleck's opinion, Whiteley had proved himself a disappointment as Chief of Staff of the Eighth Army, describing him as "not cut out for high staff appointments in a field formation."[7] Despite this, he still recommended Whiteley for promotion on the basis of his performance at GHQ.[10]
North West Europe
Whiteley joined Lieutenant General
When Eisenhower was appointed
Whiteley remained on good terms with the staff at
Post-war
After a few months in Germany as Assistant Chief of Staff in the
Following his retirement in 1956, Whiteley and his wife settled in Wiltshire, at The Mill House, Steeple Langford.[17][7] He died on 20 May 1970, at the age of 73, just a few weeks away from his 74th birthday.[3]
Notes
- ^ a b c Smart 2005, p. 332.
- ^ "No. 29063". The London Gazette. 9 February 1915. p. 1329.
- ^ a b "Obituary of Gen Sir John Whiteley", The Times, no. 57876, p. 10, 22 May 1970
- ^ "No. 30450". The London Gazette (Supplement). 28 December 1917. p. 49.
- ^ "No. 29851". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 December 1916. p. 11937.
- ^ a b c d Mead 2007, p. 485
- ^ a b c d e f g Smart 2005, p. 333.
- ^ Playfair et al. 1956, pp. 231–233
- ^ Playfair et al. 1956, pp. 243–244
- ^ Mead 2007, p. 486
- ^ Howe 1957, p. 33
- ^ a b Mead 2007, p. 487
- ^ Pogue 1954, pp. 64–65
- ^ Pogue 1954, p. 71
- ^ Pogue 1954, p. 378
- ^ Mead 2007, p. 488
- ^ National Gardens Scheme 1966, p. 115
References
- Howe, George F. (1957). Northwest Africa: Seizing the Initiative in the West. Washington, D.C.: )
- Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: A biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II. Stroud, Gloucestershire: Spellmount. OCLC 171539131.
- National Gardens Scheme (1966). The Gardens of England and Wales. OCLC 83315114.
- OCLC 470533468.
- )
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.