Jack Harman
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Jack Wentworth Harman GCB, OBE, MC
(20 July 1920 – 28 December 2009) is a former Adjutant-General to the Forces
. He began his military career in 1940, serving in The Queen's Bays for the majority of his early career and saw service with them during Second World War in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Following the war Harman held various appointments at regiment
al, divisional
and corps
level rising to fulfil the role of Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1976. His final position was as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, which he held until retirement in 1981. In later life he served as a director of an insurance brokers and vice-chairman of the National Army Museum
and The Automobile Association
before he died in December 2009, at the age of 89.
KCB
, DSO
. He was educated at Wellington College
, Berkshire
.
in 1940. He served in the Second World War
and was awarded the Military Cross
in August 1943, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East". He joined the 24th Lancers
for the Normandy Landings. In autumn 1944 he re-joined the Bay's for the Italian Campaign
and was involved in the Spring 1945 offensive
. During the Second World War, Harman served with the 2nd Armoured Brigade in the Western Desert
and the Italian Campaign.
He was appointed Commanding Officer
of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
in 1960, General Officer Commanding
, 1st Division from 1970 until 1972 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst between 1972 and 1973. During his tenure, and with his assistance, the Army Board
cut commissioning the course from two years to one year. He was appointed General Officer Commanding 1 (British) Corps in 1974, which he relinquished in 1976. On 1 November 1975, Harman was appointed the Colonel, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. Then in 1976 he was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces
. Finally he served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1978 to 1981. He retired from the British Army
on 7 May 1981.
He was also Aide-de-Camp General
to the Queen from 1977 to 1980.
He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1962, as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1974 and as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1978.
from 1980 to 1987. He also held the post of Vice-chairman of The Automobile Association
between 1986 and 1989.
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 Jack Wentworth Harman GCB, OBE, 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....
(20 July 1920 – 28 December 2009) is a former 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 began his military career in 1940, serving in The Queen's Bays for the majority of his early career and saw service with them during Second World War in the Middle East, Europe and Africa. Following the war Harman held various appointments at regiment
Regiment
A regiment is a major tactical military unit, composed of variable numbers of batteries, squadrons or battalions, commanded by a colonel or lieutenant colonel...
al, divisional
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
and corps
Corps
A corps is either a large formation, or an administrative grouping of troops within an armed force with a common function such as Artillery or Signals representing an arm of service...
level rising to fulfil the role of Adjutant-General to the Forces in 1976. His final position was as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe, which he held until retirement in 1981. In later life he served as a director of an insurance brokers and vice-chairman of the National Army Museum
National Army Museum
The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, England adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The National Army Museum is open to the public every day of the year from 10.00am to 5.30pm,...
and The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
before he died in December 2009, at the age of 89.
Early life
Harman was the son of Lieutenant General Sir Wentworth HarmanWentworth Harman
Lieutenant-General Sir Wentworth Harman KCB DSO was a British Army officer who commanded 1st Infantry Division.-Military career:...
KCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, 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...
. He was educated at Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
.
Military career
Upon completion of training at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Jack Harman was commissioned into the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays)
The 2nd Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1685 by King James II. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards in 1959....
in 1940. He served in the Second World War
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 was awarded the Military Cross
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 August 1943, "in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in the Middle East". He joined the 24th Lancers
24th Lancers
The 24th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1940 to 1944.- Origins :The regiment was raised in December 1940 from a cadre of personnel taken from the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and the 17th/21st Lancers, and was assigned to 29th Armoured Brigade of 11th Armoured Division...
for the Normandy Landings. In autumn 1944 he re-joined the Bay's for the Italian Campaign
Italian Campaign (World War II)
The Italian Campaign of World War II was the name of Allied operations in and around Italy, from 1943 to the end of the war in Europe. Joint Allied Forces Headquarters AFHQ was operationally responsible for all Allied land forces in the Mediterranean theatre, and it planned and commanded the...
and was involved in the Spring 1945 offensive
Spring 1945 offensive in Italy
The Spring 1945 offensive in Italy, codenamed Operation Grapeshot, was the Allied attack by Fifth United States Army and British 8th Army into the Lombardy Plain which started on 6 April 1945 and ended on 2 May with the surrender of German forces in Italy....
. During the Second World War, Harman served with the 2nd Armoured Brigade in the Western Desert
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
and the Italian Campaign.
He was appointed Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards
1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards is a cavalry regiment of the British Army. Nicknamed The Welsh Cavalry, the regiment recruits from Wales, Herefordshire, and Shropshire, and is the senior cavalry regiment, and therefore senior regiment, of the line of the British Army...
in 1960, General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, 1st Division from 1970 until 1972 and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst between 1972 and 1973. During his tenure, and with his assistance, the Army Board
Army Board
The Army Board is the senior single-service management committee of the British Army:-Army Board members:*Civilian** The Secretary of State for Defence** Minister for the Armed Forces** Minister for Defence Equipment and Support...
cut commissioning the course from two years to one year. He was appointed General Officer Commanding 1 (British) Corps in 1974, which he relinquished in 1976. On 1 November 1975, Harman was appointed the Colonel, 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards. Then in 1976 he was appointed 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...
. Finally he served as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe from 1978 to 1981. He retired from the 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...
on 7 May 1981.
He was also Aide-de-Camp General
Aide-de-Camp General
One of the several categories of aides de camp to the Monarch in the United Kingdom is styled Aide de Camp General.These are honorary appointments for senior British Army generals, first made in 1910. There were originally four, but the number was reduced to three in 1988...
to the Queen from 1977 to 1980.
He was appointed as an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1962, as a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1974 and as a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1978.
Ranks
| Rank | Date | Ref. |
|---|---|---|
| Second Lieutenant | 2 March 1940 | |
| Lieutenant | 2 September 1941 | |
| Captain | 1 July 1946 | |
| Major | 2 March 1953 | |
| Colonel | 22 January 1965 (Seniority 7 May 1963) |
|
| Brigadier | 31 December 1966 | |
| Major General | 12 February 1970 (Seniority 25 Aug 1969) |
|
| Lieutenant General | 24 January 1974 (Seniority 24 Jan 1973) |
|
| General | 15 July 1976 (Seniority 25 Mar 1976) |
Later life
Upon retirement from the military, Harman became a Director of Wilsons Hogg Robinson, an insurance brokers; a position he filled from 1982 to 1988. He was Vice-chairman of the National Army MuseumNational Army Museum
The National Army Museum is the British Army's central museum. It is located in the Chelsea district of central London, England adjacent to the Royal Hospital Chelsea, the home of the "Chelsea Pensioners". The National Army Museum is open to the public every day of the year from 10.00am to 5.30pm,...
from 1980 to 1987. He also held the post of Vice-chairman of The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association
The Automobile Association , a British motoring association founded in 1905 was demutualised in 1999 to become a private limited company which currently provides car insurance, driving lessons, breakdown cover, loans and motoring advice, and other services...
between 1986 and 1989.
Family
In 1947, he was married to Gwladys May Murphy; widow of Lieutenant-Colonel RJ Murphy and was the daughter of Sir Idwal Lloyd. In 2001 he married again, this time to Sheila Perkins (née Gurdon), widow of Major Christopher Perkins. He has a daughter from his first marriage and two stepdaughters from his second. He died in his sleep the morning of 28 December 2009.External links
- General Sir Jack Harman - Daily Telegraph obituary