Thomas Corbett (Indian Army officer)
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Thomas William Corbett MC
(1888-1981) was an Indian Army
officer who commanded IV Corps during World War II
.
in 1908 and served with 9th Hodson's Horse in World War I
at the end of which he was awarded the MC
. He became an Instructor at the Staff College, Quetta
in 1935 and Commander of the Sialkot Brigade
in 1938. He served in World War II
as a Brigadier responsible for the Cavalry at Army Headquarters India and then as Inspector of Cavalry Army Headquarters India before becoming General Officer Commanding
31st Indian Armoured Division
in 1941. He went on to be Commander of IV Corps from January to March 1942 in the Middle East before being appointed Chief of Staff in the Middle East later that year. He was then General Officer Commanding 7th Indian Infantry Division in Burma before retiring in 1943.
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....
(1888-1981) was an Indian Army
Indian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
officer who commanded IV Corps during 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...
.
Military career
Corbett was commissioned into the Indian ArmyIndian Army
The Indian Army is the land based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. With about 1,100,000 soldiers in active service and about 1,150,000 reserve troops, the Indian Army is the world's largest standing volunteer army...
in 1908 and served with 9th Hodson's Horse in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
at the end of which he was awarded the 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....
. He became an Instructor at the Staff College, Quetta
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
in 1935 and Commander of the Sialkot Brigade
3rd Indian Motor Brigade
The 3rd Indian Motor Brigade was a unit of the Indian Army during World War II, formed in 1940. In its short history one of its regiments would be involved in the siege of Tobruk and the brigade was twice overrun during the Western Desert Campaign by units of the Afrika Corps and the Italian...
in 1938. 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...
as a Brigadier responsible for the Cavalry at Army Headquarters India and then as Inspector of Cavalry Army Headquarters India before becoming 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...
31st Indian Armoured Division
31st Indian Armoured Division
The 31st Indian Armoured Division was an armoured formation of the Indian Army during World War II, formed in 1940, as 1st Indian Armoured Division; it consisted of units of the British Army and the British Indian Army...
in 1941. He went on to be Commander of IV Corps from January to March 1942 in the Middle East before being appointed Chief of Staff in the Middle East later that year. He was then General Officer Commanding 7th Indian Infantry Division in Burma before retiring in 1943.