Cyril Deverell
Encyclopedia
Field Marshal
Sir Cyril John Deverell, GCB, KBE, ADC
(9 November 1874 - 12 May 1947) was a British
career military officer who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1936 and 1937.
he was commissioned into the Prince of Wales's West Yorkshire Regiment
in 1895.
Deverell received his first command assignment in 1915 during World War I
, when he was asked to command the 20th Brigade, 7th Division
. The division was present at the Somme
. It held a position on the 21st Division
's right flank during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge
and attacked the Switch Line to the east of High Wood
; one of Deverell's men, Theodore William Henry Veale
, won the Victoria Cross
during this action. Several weeks later, Deverell was given command of the 3rd Division after its commander, Sir Aylmer Haldane
, took over VI Corps
.
Deverell formally took command on 7 August 1916. He led the division at Arras
in 1917, then participated in the latter stages of Passchendaele. He returned to the Somme in 1918, before fighting alongside the Portuguese
at the Battle of the Lys. The division participated in the Hundred Days Offensive
, finally leading to the German
surrender on 11 November 1918.
He commanded that division until 1919, when he took over command of the 53rd (Welsh) Division
. In 1921 he moved to India
, where he commanded the United Provinces District, served as Quartermaster-General and finally became Chief of the General Staff
of India in 1930. He became Commander-in-Chief of Western Command
in 1931 and then Eastern Command
in 1933 and then served as Aide-de-Camp
to King George V
before being promoted to field marshal
and assuming the position of Chief of the Imperial General Staff on 15 May 1936. He would hold the latter office for 20 months before retiring from active service. He did not serve during World War II
.
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Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
Sir Cyril John Deverell, GCB, KBE, ADC
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
(9 November 1874 - 12 May 1947) was a British
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...
career military officer who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1936 and 1937.
Army career
Educated at Bedford SchoolBedford School
Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Modern School or Bedford High School or Old Bedford School in Bedford, TexasBedford School is an HMC independent school for boys located in the town of Bedford, England, United Kingdom...
he was commissioned into the Prince of Wales's West Yorkshire Regiment
West Yorkshire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Own)
The West Yorkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army. In 1958 it amalgamated with The East Yorkshire Regiment to form The Prince of Wales's Own Regiment of Yorkshire...
in 1895.
Deverell received his first command assignment in 1915 during 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...
, when he was asked to command the 20th Brigade, 7th Division
British 7th Infantry Division
The 7th Infantry Division was established by Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, as part of the Anglo-Portuguese Army, for service in the Peninsula War and was active also during the First World War from 1914-1918/19 and also in 1938-39 in Palestine and Egypt.-Peninsula War:The 7th Division...
. The division was present at the Somme
Battle of the Somme (1916)
The Battle of the Somme , also known as the Somme Offensive, took place during the First World War between 1 July and 14 November 1916 in the Somme department of France, on both banks of the river of the same name...
. It held a position on the 21st Division
British 21st Division
The British 21st Division was a New Army division raised in September 1914. The division moved to France in September 1915 and served on the Western Front for the duration of the First World War.The division's insignia was the "triple-seven".- Formation :...
's right flank during the Battle of Bazentin Ridge
Battle of Bazentin Ridge
The Battle of Bazentin Ridge, launched by the British Fourth Army at dawn on 14 July 1916, marked the start of the second phase of the Battle of the Somme. Dismissed beforehand by one French commander as "an attack organized for amateurs by amateurs", it turned out to be "hugely successful" for...
and attacked the Switch Line to the east of High Wood
High Wood
High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.-Background:...
; one of Deverell's men, Theodore William Henry Veale
Theodore William Henry Veale
Theodore William Henry Veale VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
, won the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
during this action. Several weeks later, Deverell was given command of the 3rd Division after its commander, Sir Aylmer Haldane
James Aylmer Lowthorpe Haldane
General Sir James Aylmer Lowthorpe Haldane GCMG, KCB, DSO was a senior British Army officer with a long and distinguished career.-Military career:...
, took over VI Corps
VI Corps (United Kingdom)
VI Corps was an army corps of the British Army in World War I. It was first organised in June 1915 and fought throughout on the Western Front.-Prior to World War I:...
.
Deverell formally took command on 7 August 1916. He led the division at Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
in 1917, then participated in the latter stages of Passchendaele. He returned to the Somme in 1918, before fighting alongside the Portuguese
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
at the Battle of the Lys. The division participated in the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
, finally leading to the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
surrender on 11 November 1918.
He commanded that division until 1919, when he took over command of the 53rd (Welsh) Division
British 53rd (Welsh) Division
The British 53rd Infantry Division was a Territorial Army division that fought in both World Wars. During the First World War the division fought at Gallipoli and in the Middle East. Remaining active during the interwar years as a peace-time formation, the division again saw action in the Second...
. In 1921 he moved to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he commanded the United Provinces District, served as Quartermaster-General and finally became Chief of the General Staff
Chief of the General Staff
The Chief of the General Staff is a post in many armed forces , the head of the military staff.See also:*Chief of the General Staff *Chief of General Staff of Azerbaijani Armed Forces...
of India in 1930. He became Commander-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...
in 1931 and then Eastern Command
Eastern Command (United Kingdom)
-History:The Command was established in 1905 from the Fourth Army Corps and was based in London. Among the formations raised under its supervision in World War I was the 12th Division. Its headquarters was initially located at Horseguards in London. During World War II the Command relocated to...
in 1933 and then served as Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
before being promoted to field marshal
Field Marshal
Field Marshal is a military rank. Traditionally, it is the highest military rank in an army.-Etymology:The origin of the rank of field marshal dates to the early Middle Ages, originally meaning the keeper of the king's horses , from the time of the early Frankish kings.-Usage and hierarchical...
and assuming the position of Chief of the Imperial General Staff on 15 May 1936. He would hold the latter office for 20 months before retiring from active service. He did not serve 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...
.
Further reading
- The British Field Marshals 1736-1997, Tony Heathcote, Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 1999, ISBN 0-85052-696-5
External links
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