British Far East Command
Encyclopedia
The Far East Command was a British military command
which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
(ABDACOM), and secondly, 1963 – 1971 succeeded by Australia
, New Zealand
, and United Kingdom
Force (ANZUK Force
)
, the British had two commands with responsibilities for possessions in the Far East. GHQ India under General Sir Archibald Wavell the Commander-in-Chief, India
and the Far East Command under Air Marshal Robert Brooke-Popham
and from 23 December 1941 by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Royds Pownall
.
The C-in-C Far East Command was responsible directly to the Chiefs of Staff for the operational control and general direction of training of all British land and air forces in Malaya
, Burma, and Hong Kong
, and for the co-ordination of plans for the defence of those territories. But the CinC exercised no command or control over any naval forces.
It was intended that C-in-C should deal primarily with matters of major military policy and strategy, but it was not the intention that the C-in-C should assume any administrative or financial responsibilities or take over any of the day-to-day functions at that time exercised by the General (or Air) Officers Commanding (GOC) of the different areas. The degree of "operational control" of British land and air forces, which the Commander-in-Chief Far East should assume, was defined as meaning "the higher direction and control" as distinct from "detailed operational control". To complicate matters, the GOCs correspond with the War Office
, Air Ministry
, Colonial Office
and Local Governor's Offices on all matters on which they had previously dealt with those departments. But the GOCs had to keep the C-in-C informed if he wished.
To enable the Commander-in-Chief Far East to carry out his functions, he was allowed a small staff, initially consisting of seven officers drawn from all three Services with the necessary clerical and cipher staff. For intelligence purposes, he had at his disposal the Far East Combined Intelligence Bureau, though it remained under Admiralty
control. Although the establishment of his staff was later increased to fifteen it was never large enough. The Naval Base was a considerable distance across Singapore
from the Malaya Army Headquarters which discouraged frequent meetings.
On 5 December 1941 London gave permission for C-in-C Far East Command to decide if Operation Matador
should be activated. The chief strategic decision to be decided was whether Siam should be invaded in a pre-emptive move, before any Japanese landings took place. The Malaya Command
was responsible for the planning of Operation Matador.
When the Allied governments appointed General Sir Archibald Wavell as supreme commander of American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
(ABDACOM), British Far East Command became redundant because its functions would in future be carried out by ABDACOM. So when Wavell arrived in Singapore
, where the British Far East Command was based, on 7 January 1942. ABDACOM absorbed the British command in its entirety and C-in-C Far East Command Henry Royds Pownall
became Wavell's Chief of Staff. On 15 January, Wavell moved his headquarters to Lembang
near Bandung
on Java and assumed control of Allied operations.
After the Far East came under the jurisdiction, from August 1943, of South East Asia Command
('SEAC'). The initial land forces operational area for SEAC had been India
, Burma, Ceylon, British Malaya
, Sumatra
, and, for offensive operations, Siam (Thailand) and French Indochina. On August 15, 1945 this was expanded to include the Dutch East Indies
and French Indochina. SEAC was disbanded in 1946 and in 1947 the Army Command was reformed under the name Far East Land Forces.
General Officers Commanding included:
, Hong Kong
, Kobe
and Singapore
. Major bases included Hong Kong (HMS Tamar
) and Singapore. It was organised as an interservice command:
11 January 1971 disbanded at Singapore (succeeded by ANZUK Force).
British Commander-in-Chief, Far East Command
Commander, British Far East Land Forces
Command (military formation)
A command in military terminology is an organisational unit that the individual in Military command has responsibility for. A Commander will normally be specifically appointed into the role in order to provide a legal framework for the authority bestowed...
which had 2 distinct periods. These were firstly, 18 November 1940 – 7 January 1942 succeeded by the American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
(ABDACOM), and secondly, 1963 – 1971 succeeded by Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, and United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Force (ANZUK Force
ANZUK
ANZUK was a tripartite force formed by Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom to defend the Asian Pacific region after the United Kingdom withdrew forces from the east of Suez in the early seventies. The ANZUK force was formed in 1971 and disbanded in 1974....
)
1940–1942
At the start of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the British had two commands with responsibilities for possessions in the Far East. GHQ India under General Sir Archibald Wavell the Commander-in-Chief, India
Commander-in-Chief, India
During the period of the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India was the supreme commander of the Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at General Headquarters, India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India...
and the Far East Command under Air Marshal Robert Brooke-Popham
Robert Brooke-Popham
Air Chief Marshal Sir Henry Robert Moore Brooke-Popham, GCVO, KCB, CMG, DSO, AFC, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. During World War I he served in the Royal Flying Corps as wing commander and senior staff officer...
and from 23 December 1941 by Lieutenant-General Sir Henry Royds Pownall
Henry Royds Pownall
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Royds Pownall KCB, KBE, DSO was a British general, who held several important command and Staff appointments during World War II. In particular, he was Chief of Staff to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium until the fall of France in May 1940...
.
The C-in-C Far East Command was responsible directly to the Chiefs of Staff for the operational control and general direction of training of all British land and air forces in Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
, Burma, and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, and for the co-ordination of plans for the defence of those territories. But the CinC exercised no command or control over any naval forces.
It was intended that C-in-C should deal primarily with matters of major military policy and strategy, but it was not the intention that the C-in-C should assume any administrative or financial responsibilities or take over any of the day-to-day functions at that time exercised by the General (or Air) Officers Commanding (GOC) of the different areas. The degree of "operational control" of British land and air forces, which the Commander-in-Chief Far East should assume, was defined as meaning "the higher direction and control" as distinct from "detailed operational control". To complicate matters, the GOCs correspond with the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, Air Ministry
Air Ministry
The Air Ministry was a department of the British Government with the responsibility of managing the affairs of the Royal Air Force, that existed from 1918 to 1964...
, Colonial Office
Colonial Office
Colonial Office is the government agency which serves to oversee and supervise their colony* Colonial Office - The British Government department* Office of Insular Affairs - the American government agency* Reichskolonialamt - the German Colonial Office...
and Local Governor's Offices on all matters on which they had previously dealt with those departments. But the GOCs had to keep the C-in-C informed if he wished.
To enable the Commander-in-Chief Far East to carry out his functions, he was allowed a small staff, initially consisting of seven officers drawn from all three Services with the necessary clerical and cipher staff. For intelligence purposes, he had at his disposal the Far East Combined Intelligence Bureau, though it remained under Admiralty
Admiralty
The Admiralty was formerly the authority in the Kingdom of England, and later in the United Kingdom, responsible for the command of the Royal Navy...
control. Although the establishment of his staff was later increased to fifteen it was never large enough. The Naval Base was a considerable distance across Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
from the Malaya Army Headquarters which discouraged frequent meetings.
On 5 December 1941 London gave permission for C-in-C Far East Command to decide if Operation Matador
Operation Matador
Operation Matador may refer to:*Operation Matador , a proposed plan to counter any Imperial Japanese perceived threat to British Malaya*Operation Matador , a Burma campaign operation during World War II...
should be activated. The chief strategic decision to be decided was whether Siam should be invaded in a pre-emptive move, before any Japanese landings took place. The Malaya Command
Malaya Command
The Malaya Command was a command of British Commonwealth forces formed in the 1920s for the coordination of the defences of Malaya and Singapore.-History:...
was responsible for the planning of Operation Matador.
When the Allied governments appointed General Sir Archibald Wavell as supreme commander of American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
American-British-Dutch-Australian Command
The American-British-Dutch-Australian Command, or ABDACOM, was a short-lived, supreme command for all Allied forces in South East Asia, in early 1942, during the Pacific War in World War II...
(ABDACOM), British Far East Command became redundant because its functions would in future be carried out by ABDACOM. So when Wavell arrived in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, where the British Far East Command was based, on 7 January 1942. ABDACOM absorbed the British command in its entirety and C-in-C Far East Command Henry Royds Pownall
Henry Royds Pownall
Lieutenant General Sir Henry Royds Pownall KCB, KBE, DSO was a British general, who held several important command and Staff appointments during World War II. In particular, he was Chief of Staff to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium until the fall of France in May 1940...
became Wavell's Chief of Staff. On 15 January, Wavell moved his headquarters to Lembang
Lembang
Lembang is a town in the province of West Java in Java, Indonesia. The population is 183,300.Lembang is situated between 1,312 and 2,084 above sea level. Its highest point is on top of Tangkuban Perahu Mt...
near Bandung
Bandung
Bandung is the capital of West Java province in Indonesia, and the country's third largest city, and 2nd largest metropolitan area in Indonesia, with a population of 7.4 million in 2007. Located 768 metres above sea level, approximately 140 km southeast of Jakarta, Bandung has cooler...
on Java and assumed control of Allied operations.
Commanders-in-Chief
Commanders-in-Chief have included:| Command | Headquarters | Rank | Name | Appointed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Far East Command | Singapore Naval Base Singapore Naval Base The Singapore Naval Base , situated in Sembawang at the northern tip of Singapore, was a Royal Navy Shore establishment as well as being a cornerstone of British Defence policy in the Far East between the World Wars.-History:After the Great War, the British government devoted... |
Commander-in-Chief | Air Chief Marshal R. Brooke-Popham Robert Brooke-Popham Air Chief Marshal Sir Henry Robert Moore Brooke-Popham, GCVO, KCB, CMG, DSO, AFC, was a senior commander in the Royal Air Force. During World War I he served in the Royal Flying Corps as wing commander and senior staff officer... |
18 November 1940 |
| Lieutenant-General Sir H. R. Pownall Henry Royds Pownall Lieutenant General Sir Henry Royds Pownall KCB, KBE, DSO was a British general, who held several important command and Staff appointments during World War II. In particular, he was Chief of Staff to the British Expeditionary Force in France and Belgium until the fall of France in May 1940... |
23 December 1941 | |||
| Far East Air Force (Royal Air Force) | Seletar Field, Singapore Seletar Airport "RAF Seletar" & "Seletar Airbase/Airfield" redirects here.Seletar Airport is a civilian airport located at Seletar, in the northeastern region of Singapore, and is managed by the Changi Airport Group... |
Air Officer Commanding | Air Vice Marshal J.T. Babington | 12 August 1938 |
| Air Vice Marshal C.W.H. Pulford | 6 May 1941 | |||
| Air Vice Marshal P.C. Maltby | 11–14 February 1942 | |||
| Burma Command | Rangoon Yangon Yangon is a former capital of Burma and the capital of Yangon Region . Although the military government has officially relocated the capital to Naypyidaw since March 2006, Yangon, with a population of over four million, continues to be the country's largest city and the most important commercial... , Burma |
General Officer Commanding | Major General D.K. McLeod Donald Kenneth McLeod Sir Kenneth McLeod was an officer in the British Army who achieved a rank of Lieutenant General. He joined the army in 1903 and by 1904 he was with the British Indian Army.-Career:* 1908 North West Frontier, India... |
1939 |
| Lieutenant General T.J. Hutton Thomas Jacomb Hutton Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Jacomb Hutton , KCB, KCIE, MC, was an officer in the British Army, who held a variety of vital staff appointments between World War I and World War II, ultimately commanding Burma Army during the early stages of the Japanese conquest of Burma.-Early career, and World... |
29 December 1941 | |||
| Malaya Command Malaya Command The Malaya Command was a command of British Commonwealth forces formed in the 1920s for the coordination of the defences of Malaya and Singapore.-History:... |
Army HQ, Singapore | General Officer Commanding | Lieutenant General A.E. Percival Arthur Ernest Percival Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival, CB, DSO & Bar, OBE, MC, OStJ, DL was a British Army officer and World War I veteran... |
May 1941 |
| Hong Kong Garrison Hong Kong Garrison The Hong Kong Garrison was a British and Commonwealth force that protected Hong Kong.In December 1941 during the Battle of Hong Kong in the Second World War, the Japanese Army attacked Hong Kong and after a brief but violent series of engagements the garrison surrendered.- Kowloon Brigade :**C.O... |
Hong Kong | General Officer Commanding | Major General C.M. Maltby | August 1941 |
After the Far East came under the jurisdiction, from August 1943, of South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command
South East Asia Command was the body set up to be in overall charge of Allied operations in the South-East Asian Theatre during World War II.-Background:...
('SEAC'). The initial land forces operational area for SEAC had been India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, Burma, Ceylon, British Malaya
British Malaya
British Malaya loosely described a set of states on the Malay Peninsula and the Island of Singapore that were brought under British control between the 18th and the 20th centuries...
, Sumatra
Sumatra
Sumatra is an island in western Indonesia, westernmost of the Sunda Islands. It is the largest island entirely in Indonesia , and the sixth largest island in the world at 473,481 km2 with a population of 50,365,538...
, and, for offensive operations, Siam (Thailand) and French Indochina. On August 15, 1945 this was expanded to include the Dutch East Indies
Dutch East Indies
The Dutch East Indies was a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II. It was formed from the nationalised colonies of the Dutch East India Company, which came under the administration of the Netherlands government in 1800....
and French Indochina. SEAC was disbanded in 1946 and in 1947 the Army Command was reformed under the name Far East Land Forces.
General Officers Commanding included:
- 1947 - 1948 General Sir Neil RitchieNeil RitchieGeneral Sir Neil Methuen Ritchie GBE, KCB, DSO, MC, KStJ was a senior British army officer during the Second World War.-Military career:...
- 1948 - 1951 General Sir John HardingJohn Harding, 1st Baron Harding of PethertonField Marshal Allan Francis John Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton, GCB, CBE, DSO, MC was a British Army officer and Governor of Cyprus from 1955 to 1957, Cyprus being a British colony at that time....
- 1951 - 1953 General Sir Charles KeightleyCharles KeightleyGeneral Sir Charles Frederic Keightley, GCB, GBE, DSO was a senior officer in the British Army during and following World War II.-Military career:...
- 1953 - 1956 General Sir Charles LoewenCharles LoewenGeneral Sir Charles Falkland Loewen GCB, KBE, DSO was a Canadian born and educated soldier who became Adjutant-General to the Forces in the United Kingdom.-Military career:...
- 1956 - 1958 General Sir Francis FestingFrancis FestingField Marshal Sir Francis Wogan Festing GCB, KBE, DSO , called 菲士挺 in Chinese, was a field marshal of the British Army...
- 1958 - 1961 General Sir Richard Hull
- 1961 - 1963 Lieutenant General Sir Nigel PoettNigel PoettGeneral Sir Joseph Howard Nigel Poett KCB, DSO was a British Army officer who commanded the 5th Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, during the Second World War.-Early life:...
1963–1971
1963 Far East Command was established, covering the region covered ChinaChina
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
, Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
, Kobe
Kobe
, pronounced , is the fifth-largest city in Japan and is the capital city of Hyōgo Prefecture on the southern side of the main island of Honshū, approximately west of Osaka...
and Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
. Major bases included Hong Kong (HMS Tamar
HMS Tamar (shore station)
HMS Tamar was the name for the Royal Navy's base in Hong Kong from 1897 to 1997. It took its name from HMS Tamar a ship that was used as the base until replaced by buildings ashore.-19th Century:...
) and Singapore. It was organised as an interservice command:
- Far East Land Forces [British]
- Australian Army Force
- Additional air and naval elements
11 January 1971 disbanded at Singapore (succeeded by ANZUK Force).
Commanders-in-Chief
Commanders-in-Chief have included:British Commander-in-Chief, Far East Command
- 24 April 1963 Admiral Sir Varyl BeggVaryl BeggAdmiral of the Fleet Sir Varyl Cargill Begg GCB, DSO, DSC was First Sea Lord, the professional head of the Royal Navy, from 1966 to 1968.-Early life:...
- 1965 Air Vice Marshal Sir John GrandyJohn GrandyMarshal of the Royal Air Force Sir John Grandy GCB GCVO KBE DSO KStJ RAF was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force...
- 1 February 1967 General Sir Michael CarverMichael Carver, Baron CarverField Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver, Baron Carver GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC was a British soldier. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces.-Army career:Educated at Winchester College, Michael Carver was...
- 7 March 1969 Admiral Sir Peter Hill-Norton
- 1970 Air Chief Marshal Sir Brian BurnettBrian BurnettAir Chief Marshal Sir Brian Kenyon Burnett GCB DFC AFC was a former senior Royal Air Force officer who became Air Secretary.-Early life and RAF career:...
Commander, British Far East Land Forces
- 10 April 1963 Lieutenant General Sir Reginald HewetsonReginald HewetsonGeneral Sir Reginald Hackett Hewetson GCB CBE DSO is a fomer Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:...
- 8 June 1964 Lieutenant General Sir Alan JollyAlan JollyGeneral Sir Alan Jolly GCB CBE DSO is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Jolly was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1931...
- 28 July 1966 Lieutenant General Sir Michael CarverMichael Carver, Baron CarverField Marshal Richard Michael Power Carver, Baron Carver GCB, CBE, DSO & Bar, MC was a British soldier. He served as the Chief of the Defence Staff of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces.-Army career:Educated at Winchester College, Michael Carver was...
- 31 January 1967 Lieutenant General Sir Thomas PearsonThomas Pearson (British Army officer)General Sir Thomas Pearson KCB CBE DSO was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe.-Military career:Educated at Charterhouse School, Pearson was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1934....
- 16 November 1968 Lieutenant General Sir Peter Hunt
- 10 October 1970 until 30 October 1971 Major General Sandy ThomasWalter Babington ThomasMajor-General Walter Babington 'Sandy' Thomas CB DSO MC and Bar is a former Commander of British Far East Land Forces.-Military career:...