Alexander Gatehouse
Encyclopedia
Major-General Alexander Hugh Gatehouse DSO
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MC
(20 May 1895 – 1964) was a British Army
officer who commanded 10th Armoured Division during World War II
.
in 1914. He fought in World War I
and then transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment
1931. He was appointed Commandant of the Mechanisation Experimental Establishment at Farnborough
in 1933. He served in World War II
as Deputy Commander of 7th Armoured Brigade in the Western Desert
from 1940, as Commander of 4th Armoured Brigade in the Western Desert from 1941 and as General Officer Commanding
10th Armoured Division from June 1942. Having led the 10th Armoured Division at Battle of Alam el Halfa
in September 1942 and then the Second Battle of El Alamein
in October 1942 he became Major-General in charge of Administration at Washington D. C. at the end of the year and military attaché
in Moscow
in 1944 before retiring in 1947.
).
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...
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Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that 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....
(20 May 1895 – 1964) 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 who commanded 10th Armoured Division 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
Gatehouse was commissioned in to the Royal Northumberland FusiliersRoyal Northumberland Fusiliers
The Royal Northumberland Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army. Originally raised in 1674, the regiment was amalgamated with three other fusilier regiments in 1968 to form the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers.-Origins:...
in 1914. He fought 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...
and then transferred to the Royal Tank Regiment
Royal Tank Regiment
The Royal Tank Regiment is an armoured regiment of the British Army. It was formerly known as the Tank Corps and the Royal Tank Corps. It is part of the Royal Armoured Corps and is made up of two operational regiments, the 1st Royal Tank Regiment and the 2nd Royal Tank Regiment...
1931. He was appointed Commandant of the Mechanisation Experimental Establishment at Farnborough
Farnborough
Farnborough may refer to:* Farnborough, Berkshire, a small village and civil parish in the English county of Berkshire* Farnborough, Hampshire, a town in the Rushmoor district of Hampshire, England...
in 1933. 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 Deputy Commander of 7th Armoured Brigade in the Western Desert
Western Desert
Western Desert may refer to:* Libyan Desert, located in the northern and eastern part of the Sahara Desert. It occupies Egypt west of the Nile , eastern Libya and northwestern Sudan alongside the Nubian Desert.* Western Desert cultural bloc or just Western Desert is a cultural region in...
from 1940, as Commander of 4th Armoured Brigade in the Western Desert from 1941 and as 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...
10th Armoured Division from June 1942. Having led the 10th Armoured Division at Battle of Alam el Halfa
Battle of Alam el Halfa order of battle
This is the order of battle for the Battle of Alam el Halfa, a World War II battle between the British Commonwealth and the European Axis Powers Germany and Italy in North Africa between August 30 and September 5, 1942.-Allied forces:...
in September 1942 and then the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein order of battle
Second Battle of El Alamein Order of Battle is a listing of the significant formations that were involved in the battle, 23 October – 3 November 1942.-British 8th Army:Under the command of Lieutenant General Bernard Montgomery...
in October 1942 he became Major-General in charge of Administration at Washington D. C. at the end of the year and military attaché
Attaché
Attaché is a French term in diplomacy referring to a person who is assigned to the diplomatic or administrative staff of a higher placed person or another service or agency...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
in 1944 before retiring in 1947.
Family
In 1920 he married Helen Williams; they had one son (Sir Robert Alexander Gatehouse, a Judge of the Queen's Bench Division of the High CourtHigh Court of Justice
The High Court of Justice is, together with the Court of Appeal and the Crown Court, one of the Senior Courts of England and Wales...
).