Otway Herbert
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Otway Herbert KBE CB DSO
(19 November 1901 - 4 April 1984) was a British Army
General who achieved high command in the 1950s.
in 1921. He served in Egypt
between 1928 and 1935. Returning to the United Kingdom
, he became Brigade Major for the Home Counties Anti-Aircraft Group in 1935.
He served in World War II
initially as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General for 27 Anti-Aircraft Group within the British Expeditionary Force
and was deployed to France
and Belgium
. In 1942 he joined 132nd Field Regiment, which formed part of 78th Division serving in North Africa
, and then in 1943 he joined 21st Army Group in France
.
After the War he became Commander
Royal Artillery for 5th Division moving on to be Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1947.
He became Director Territorial Army and Cadet
s at the War Office
in 1949 and General Officer Commanding
44th Infantry Division in 1952. He was General Officer Commanding
-in-Chief West Africa Command
from 1953 earning the distinction of being the last soldier to hold this command. He was GOC-in-Chief of Western Command
from 1957 and retired in 1960.
He was also Colonel Commandant
of the Royal Artillery
from 1956 to 1966.
He lived at Brynsiencyn
in Anglesey
.
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...
(19 November 1901 - 4 April 1984) 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...
General who achieved high command in the 1950s.
Military career
Otway Herbert was commissioned into the Royal ArtilleryRoyal 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:...
in 1921. He served in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
between 1928 and 1935. Returning 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...
, he became Brigade Major for the Home Counties Anti-Aircraft Group in 1935.
He served in 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...
initially as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General for 27 Anti-Aircraft Group within the British Expeditionary Force
British Expeditionary Force (World War II)
The British Expeditionary Force was the British force in Europe from 1939–1940 during the Second World War. Commanded by General Lord Gort, the BEF constituted one-tenth of the defending Allied force....
and was deployed to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. In 1942 he joined 132nd Field Regiment, which formed part of 78th Division serving in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, and then in 1943 he joined 21st Army Group in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
After the War he became Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
Royal Artillery for 5th Division moving on to be Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1947.
He became Director Territorial Army and Cadet
Cadet
A cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
s 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 1949 and 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...
44th Infantry Division in 1952. He was 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...
-in-Chief West Africa Command
West Africa Command
-History:After the First World War, military forces in the four British West African colonies were under the control of the individual colonial governments. "The regiments of the four colonies were all under the umbrella of the Royal West African Frontier Force...
from 1953 earning the distinction of being the last soldier to hold this command. He was GOC-in-Chief of Western Command
Western Command (United Kingdom)
-History:The Command was established in 1905 and was originally called the Welsh & Midland Command before changing its name in 1906. In 1907 Western Command relocated to Watergate House in Chester...
from 1957 and retired in 1960.
He was also Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
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 1956 to 1966.
He lived at Brynsiencyn
Llanidan
Llanidan is a parish in south-west Anglesey, Wales which includes the village of Brynsiencyn. The parish is located along the Menai Strait, approximately 4 miles north-east of Caernarfon . The parish church is located near the A4080 highway, a little to the east of Brynsiencyn...
in Anglesey
Anglesey
Anglesey , also known by its Welsh name Ynys Môn , is an island and, as Isle of Anglesey, a county off the north west coast of Wales...
.