Iltyd Nicholl Clayton
Encyclopedia
Brigadier Sir Iltyd Nicholl Clayton CBE
(1886–30 June 1955) was a British Army
officer notable for his attachment to the Middle East Office in Cairo
during and after World War II
and his involvement in the formation of Arab League
and formulation of post-war British policy in the Middle East
.
He was educated at Lancing College
and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery
in 1906 and promoted Lieutenant
in 1909. He served in the First World War, reaching the rank of Major
. After post-war spells in Iraq
and Cairo, he served as Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Artillery
from 1934 to 1938 and retired in 1939. Recalled to service during the Second World War, he served as Advisor on Arab Affairs to the British Government (1943–1945). He was later Special Advisor to Head of British Middle East Office and served as Minister attached to the British Embassy in Cairo (1947–1948).
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1886–30 June 1955) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer notable for his attachment to the Middle East Office in Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
during and after World War II
World 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...
and his involvement in the formation of Arab League
Arab League
The Arab League , officially called the League of Arab States , is a regional organisation of Arab states in North and Northeast Africa, and Southwest Asia . It was formed in Cairo on 22 March 1945 with six members: Egypt, Iraq, Transjordan , Lebanon, Saudi Arabia, and Syria. Yemen joined as a...
and formulation of post-war British policy in the Middle East
Middle East
The Middle East is a region that encompasses Western Asia and Northern Africa. It is often used as a synonym for Near East, in opposition to Far East...
.
He was educated at Lancing College
Lancing College
Lancing College is a co-educational English independent school in the British public school tradition, founded in 1848 by Nathaniel Woodard. Woodard's aim was to provide education "based on sound principle and sound knowledge, firmly grounded in the Christian faith." Lancing was the first of a...
and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Garrison Artillery
Royal Garrison Artillery
The Royal Garrison Artillery was an arm of the Royal Artillery that was originally tasked with manning the guns of the British Empire's forts and fortresses, including coastal artillery batteries, the heavy gun batteries attached to each infantry division, and the guns of the siege...
in 1906 and promoted Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
in 1909. He served in the First World War, reaching the rank of Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
. After post-war spells in Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
and Cairo, he served as Regimental Lieutenant-Colonel of the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
from 1934 to 1938 and retired in 1939. Recalled to service during the Second World War, he served as Advisor on Arab Affairs to the British Government (1943–1945). He was later Special Advisor to Head of British Middle East Office and served as Minister attached to the British Embassy in Cairo (1947–1948).
External links
- Index reference to the Sir Iltyd Clayton collection, held by St Anthony's College, University of Oxford.
- Glossary of Israeli Parties and Personalities - 1948-1981, Jewish Center for Public Affairs.