Colville Wemyss
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Henry Colville Barclay Wemyss KCB KBE DSO
MC
(1891–1959) was Adjutant-General to the Forces
.
in 1910. He served in the First World War, being awarded the DSO
and MC
. In 1920 he transferred to the newly formed Royal Corps of Signals
. In 1926 he became a General Staff Officer at the War Office
and then in 1929 he was appointed an Instructor at the School of Signals at Catterick
. He left the School of Signals in 1932 to become a General Staff Officer at Northern Command
at York
.
On October 1, 1935, he was promoted Colonel
and appointed an Assistant Adjutant General at the War Office
in London
. He was a student at the Imperial Defence College between January 18, 1938 on January 1939. On completing the course, he was promoted Major General
and appointed as the Director of Mobilisation at the War Office
on January 9, 1939. On February 19, 1940, he transferred to the post of Deputy Adjutant General to the Forces at the War Office.
On June 10, 1940, he replaced General Robert Gordon-Finlayson
as Adjutant-General to the Forces
. He was promoted Acting Lieutenant General on assuming the role. The increasing importance of the role of the United States
in the Second World War led to United Kingdom
government establishing a military mission to Washington, D.C.
and on June 3, 1941 Wemyss was appointed the Head of the British Army Mission to Washington. In January 1942, Prime Minister
Winston Churchill
decided to replace Wemyss in Washington with General Sir Sir John Dill
so Wemyss returned to the United Kingdom
. Wemyss was appointed Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War
on June 16, 1942. Wemyss was to remain in this key post for the rest of the war. He was promoted General
on October 15, 1945 and retired from Army service on November 23, 1946.
Wemys was awarded the CB on July 11, 1940 and the KCB on June 14, 1945. He was also awarded the KBE on July 1, 1941.
In recognition of his links to the United States
, on July 23, 1948, he was also awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander
.
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Henry Colville Barclay Wemyss KCB KBE DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1891–1959) was Adjutant-General to the Forces
Adjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
.
Military career
Colville Wemyss was son of Alexander Wemyss. He was commissioned in the Royal EngineersRoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in 1910. He served in the First World War, being awarded the DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
. In 1920 he transferred to the newly formed Royal Corps of Signals
Royal Corps of Signals
The Royal Corps of Signals is one of the combat support arms of the British Army...
. In 1926 he became a General Staff Officer at 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...
and then in 1929 he was appointed an Instructor at the School of Signals at Catterick
Catterick Garrison
Catterick Garrison is a major Army base located in Northern England. It is the largest British Army garrison in the world with a population of around 12,000, plus a large temporary population of soldiers, and is larger than its older neighbour...
. He left the School of Signals in 1932 to become a General Staff Officer at Northern Command
Northern Command (United Kingdom)
-Nineteenth century:The District Commands of the British Army in Great Britain and Ireland first appear in print in 1840, at which time Northern Command was held by Maj-Gen Charles James Napier, appointed in 1838. During his time the troops stationed within Northern Command were frequently deployed...
at York
York
York is a walled city, situated at the confluence of the Rivers Ouse and Foss in North Yorkshire, England. The city has a rich heritage and has provided the backdrop to major political events throughout much of its two millennia of existence...
.
On October 1, 1935, he was promoted Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and appointed an Assistant Adjutant General at 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...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. He was a student at the Imperial Defence College between January 18, 1938 on January 1939. On completing the course, he was promoted Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
and appointed as the Director of Mobilisation at 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...
on January 9, 1939. On February 19, 1940, he transferred to the post of Deputy Adjutant General to the Forces at the War Office.
On June 10, 1940, he replaced General Robert Gordon-Finlayson
Robert Gordon-Finlayson
General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson KCB CMG DSO was Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:Finlayson entered the British Army from the Suffolk Militia and was commissioned into the Royal Artillery. He served during the First World War initially as a Royal Artillery officer with 7th...
as Adjutant-General to the Forces
Adjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
. He was promoted Acting Lieutenant General on assuming the role. The increasing importance of the role of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in the Second World War led to 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...
government establishing a military mission to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
and on June 3, 1941 Wemyss was appointed the Head of the British Army Mission to Washington. In January 1942, Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
decided to replace Wemyss in Washington with General Sir Sir John Dill
John Dill
Field Marshal Sir John Greer Dill, GCB, CMG, DSO was a British commander in World War I and World War II. From May 1940 to December 1941 he was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and subsequently in Washington, as Chief of the British Joint Staff...
so Wemyss returned to the 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...
. Wemyss was appointed Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War
Secretary of State for War
The position of Secretary of State for War, commonly called War Secretary, was a British cabinet-level position, first held by Henry Dundas . In 1801 the post became that of Secretary of State for War and the Colonies. The position was re-instated in 1854...
on June 16, 1942. Wemyss was to remain in this key post for the rest of the war. He was promoted General
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
on October 15, 1945 and retired from Army service on November 23, 1946.
Wemys was awarded the CB on July 11, 1940 and the KCB on June 14, 1945. He was also awarded the KBE on July 1, 1941.
In recognition of his links to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, on July 23, 1948, he was also awarded the U.S. Legion of Merit, Degree of Commander
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
.