Geoffrey Sherman
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant Colonel Geoffrey Collingwood Sherman (6 April 1915 – 22 March 2009) was a Royal Marines
officer, who as Chief-of-Staff to Lieutenant-General Boy Browning, organised the ceremony of the Japanese surrender of Singapore on 12 September 1945. He later worked in West Africa and with British Aerospace
.
, and would serve in a variety of roles during his career, both on land and sea. He was promoted to acting lieutenant
on 18 June 1936, probationary lieutenant on 1 September 1936, and confirmed in that rank on 18 December 1936. He served on commanding her detachment in an overall force of 746 marines which in May 1940 invaded Iceland
during Operation Fork. The force suffered from the conditions and seasickness, however his detachment managed to capture the post office of Reykjavik
and secure several key documents. The force remained in the area for a short time before being relieved by 4,000 British Army personnel, and by 1941 by an American detachment.
By November 1940, Sherman and Berwick were detached to the Mediterranean, taking part in the battles of Taranto
and Cape Spartivento
. Sherman was wounded while commanding his marines in one of Berwicks turrets, while seven others were killed. Sherman continued to serve on the Berwick during its battle with a German
commerce raider in December, and while it escorted convoys to Russia up until 1942, whereupon Sherman left the ship. He was promoted acting major on 13 November 1942.
in Egypt
, taking part in Operation Baytown
in September 1943 before being sent to Italy in 1944 to serve under Lieutenant-General Browning and Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was planning his Operation Zipper
. Sherman arrived in Singapore
and relieved the inmates of Changi
's jails before being charged with setting up the currender ceremony for the local Japanese forces of General Seishirō Itagaki. Supervised by Lady Edwina Mountbatten throughout the ceremony where the Japanese Instrument of Surrender
was signed, Sherman later retained possession of the Union Flag
and Malayan flag used during the surrender ceremony, which had themselves been formerly used at the Tanglin
barracks.
of the British government. He was promoted acting lieutenant colonel on 1 February 1946, reverting to acting major on 18 November 1946. He regained the acting rank of lieutenant colonel on 1 January 1948, his substantive rank was still captain until 30 June 1948 when that was advanced to major. Eventually the injuries he sustained aboard HMS Berwick forced his retirement on 12 August 1950. Moving to West Africa, he worked with a trading company in Nigeria
, and later as a superintendent
in the Nigerian Special Constabulary
. He then returned to England, joining British Aerospace
in 1970. While there, he worked on the Panavia Tornado
.
was the secretary to General Browning during the latter part of the Second World War. Sherman was also an active sportsman. He played cricket
for the MCC
and for Nigeria as a bowler and wicketkeeper. He also played rugby
for Wasps and the Royal Navy
. He also worked for the Samaritans
in Blackpool
, and worked with rifle associations in Bisley
until his death in 2009 at the age of 93. He died in Somerset, England, and was survived by his two sons, daughter, wife; Evelyn and 5 grandchildren.
Royal Marines
The Corps of Her Majesty's Royal Marines, commonly just referred to as the Royal Marines , are the marine corps and amphibious infantry of the United Kingdom and, along with the Royal Navy and Royal Fleet Auxiliary, form the Naval Service...
officer, who as Chief-of-Staff to Lieutenant-General Boy Browning, organised the ceremony of the Japanese surrender of Singapore on 12 September 1945. He later worked in West Africa and with British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
.
Berwick
Sherman joined the Royal Marines on 1 September 1933 when he was commissioned as a probationary second lieutenantSecond Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
, and would serve in a variety of roles during his career, both on land and sea. He was promoted to acting lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
on 18 June 1936, probationary lieutenant on 1 September 1936, and confirmed in that rank on 18 December 1936. He served on commanding her detachment in an overall force of 746 marines which in May 1940 invaded Iceland
Iceland
Iceland , described as the Republic of Iceland, is a Nordic and European island country in the North Atlantic Ocean, on the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. Iceland also refers to the main island of the country, which contains almost all the population and almost all the land area. The country has a population...
during Operation Fork. The force suffered from the conditions and seasickness, however his detachment managed to capture the post office of Reykjavik
Reykjavík
Reykjavík is the capital and largest city in Iceland.Its latitude at 64°08' N makes it the world's northernmost capital of a sovereign state. It is located in southwestern Iceland, on the southern shore of Faxaflói Bay...
and secure several key documents. The force remained in the area for a short time before being relieved by 4,000 British Army personnel, and by 1941 by an American detachment.
By November 1940, Sherman and Berwick were detached to the Mediterranean, taking part in the battles of Taranto
Battle of Taranto
The naval Battle of Taranto took place on the night of 11–12 November 1940 during the Second World War. The Royal Navy launched the first all-aircraft ship-to-ship naval attack in history, flying a small number of obsolescent biplane torpedo bombers from an aircraft carrier in the Mediterranean Sea...
and Cape Spartivento
Battle of Cape Spartivento
The Battle of Cape Spartivento, known as the Battle of Cape Teulada in Italy, was a naval battle during the Battle of the Mediterranean in the Second World War...
. Sherman was wounded while commanding his marines in one of Berwicks turrets, while seven others were killed. Sherman continued to serve on the Berwick during its battle with a German
Nazi Germany
Nazi Germany , also known as the Third Reich , but officially called German Reich from 1933 to 1943 and Greater German Reich from 26 June 1943 onward, is the name commonly used to refer to the state of Germany from 1933 to 1945, when it was a totalitarian dictatorship ruled by...
commerce raider in December, and while it escorted convoys to Russia up until 1942, whereupon Sherman left the ship. He was promoted acting major on 13 November 1942.
Africa, Italy and Singapore
Sherman was sent to the General Bernard Montgomery's Eighth ArmyEighth Army (United Kingdom)
The Eighth Army was one of the best-known formations of the British Army during World War II, fighting in the North African and Italian campaigns....
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...
, taking part in Operation Baytown
Operation Baytown
Operation Baytown was a part of the Allied invasion of Italy during World War II on 3 September 1943.The operation consisted of the landing by sea of the British 13th Corps of British 8th Army at Reggio di Calabria...
in September 1943 before being sent to Italy in 1944 to serve under Lieutenant-General Browning and Lord Louis Mountbatten, who was planning his Operation Zipper
Operation Zipper
During the Second World War, Operation Zipper was a British plan to capture either Port Swettenham or Port Dickson, Malaya as staging areas for the recapture of Singapore. However, due to the end of the war in the Pacific, it was never fully executed. Some of the proposed landings on Penang went...
. Sherman arrived in Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
and relieved the inmates of Changi
Changi
Changi is an area at the eastern end of Singapore. It is now the site of Singapore Changi Airport/Changi Air Base, Changi Naval Base and is also home to Changi Prison, site of the former Japanese Prisoner of War Camp during World War II which held Allied prisoners captured in Singapore and Malaysia...
's jails before being charged with setting up the currender ceremony for the local Japanese forces of General Seishirō Itagaki. Supervised by Lady Edwina Mountbatten throughout the ceremony where the Japanese Instrument of Surrender
Japanese Instrument of Surrender
The Japanese Instrument of Surrender was the written agreement that enabled the Surrender of Japan, marking the end of World War II. It was signed by representatives from the Empire of Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of China, the United Kingdom, the Union of Soviet Socialist...
was signed, Sherman later retained possession of the Union Flag
Union Flag
The Union Flag, also known as the Union Jack, is the flag of the United Kingdom. It retains an official or semi-official status in some Commonwealth Realms; for example, it is known as the Royal Union Flag in Canada. It is also used as an official flag in some of the smaller British overseas...
and Malayan flag used during the surrender ceremony, which had themselves been formerly used at the Tanglin
Tanglin
Tanglin is the name of an urban planning area within the Central Region in Singapore.The Tanglin Planning Area is defined by the region bounded by Bukit Timah Road to the north, Farrer Road and Queensway to the west, Kay Siang Road, Tanglin Road and a section of the Alexandra Canal to the south,...
barracks.
Post-war career
After the end of the war, Sherman was posted to the Cabinet OfficeCabinet Office
The Cabinet Office is a department of the Government of the United Kingdom responsible for supporting the Prime Minister and Cabinet of the United Kingdom....
of the British government. He was promoted acting lieutenant colonel on 1 February 1946, reverting to acting major on 18 November 1946. He regained the acting rank of lieutenant colonel on 1 January 1948, his substantive rank was still captain until 30 June 1948 when that was advanced to major. Eventually the injuries he sustained aboard HMS Berwick forced his retirement on 12 August 1950. Moving to West Africa, he worked with a trading company in Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, and later as a superintendent
Superintendent (police)
Superintendent , often shortened to "super", is a rank in British police services and in most English-speaking Commonwealth nations. In many Commonwealth countries the full version is superintendent of police...
in the Nigerian Special Constabulary
Special Constabulary
The Special Constabulary is the part-time volunteer section of a statutory police force in the United Kingdom or some Crown dependencies. Its officers are known as Special Constables or informally as Specials.Every United Kingdom territorial police force has a special constabulary except the...
. He then returned to England, joining British Aerospace
British Aerospace
British Aerospace plc was a UK aircraft, munitions and defence-systems manufacturer. Its head office was in the Warwick House in the Farnborough Aerospace Centre in Farnborough, Hampshire...
in 1970. While there, he worked on the Panavia Tornado
Panavia Tornado
The Panavia Tornado is a family of twin-engine, variable-sweep wing combat aircraft, which was jointly developed and manufactured by the United Kingdom, West Germany and Italy...
.
Personal life and sporting career
Sherman married Evelyn in 1939, remaining married to her for 70 years and having three children. His son Nicholas's godmotherGodparent
A godparent, in many denominations of Christianity, is someone who sponsors a child's baptism. A male godparent is a godfather, and a female godparent is a godmother...
was the secretary to General Browning during the latter part of the Second World War. Sherman was also an active sportsman. He played cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
for the MCC
Marylebone Cricket Club
Marylebone Cricket Club is a cricket club in London founded in 1787. Its influence and longevity now witness it as a private members' club dedicated to the development of cricket. It owns, and is based at, Lord's Cricket Ground in St John's Wood, London NW8. MCC was formerly the governing body of...
and for Nigeria as a bowler and wicketkeeper. He also played rugby
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
for Wasps and the Royal Navy
Royal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
. He also worked for the Samaritans
Samaritans (charity)
Samaritans is a registered charity aimed at providing emotional support to anyone in emotional distress or at risk of suicide throughout the United Kingdom and Ireland, often through their telephone helpline. The name comes from the Biblical parable of the Good Samaritan, though the organisation...
in Blackpool
Blackpool
Blackpool is a borough, seaside town, and unitary authority area of Lancashire, in North West England. It is situated along England's west coast by the Irish Sea, between the Ribble and Wyre estuaries, northwest of Preston, north of Liverpool, and northwest of Manchester...
, and worked with rifle associations in Bisley
Bisley
-Places:* Two villages in the United Kingdom:**Bisley, Surrey**Bisley, Gloucestershire*Bisley Ranges is near the Surrey village and is the headquarters of the National Rifle Association, UK -Others:...
until his death in 2009 at the age of 93. He died in Somerset, England, and was survived by his two sons, daughter, wife; Evelyn and 5 grandchildren.
External links
- Lieutenant-Colonel Geoffrey Sherman-Daily Telegraph obituary