George Philip Bradley Roberts
Encyclopedia
Major-General George Philip Bradley Roberts CB
, DSO
, MC
, (1906 – 1997), better known as "Pip", was a British
commander of an armoured
division
during the Second World War.
, British India, in 1906 and was educated at Marlborough College
and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1926. He was posted to Egypt
with the Royal Tanks Corps from 1928 to 1931.
Roberts was an instructor at the Tank Driving and Maintenance School at Bovington, Dorset
, from 1933 to 1937. He was again posted to Egypt for 1938 and 1939. He commanded the 11th Armoured Division (the "Black Bull") in North West Europe
from 1944 to 1946.
Roberts commanded the 7th Armoured Division in 1947. He then became Director of the Royal Armoured Corps
and retired from the Army in September 1949. His book From the Desert to the Baltic is an account of all his wartime battles.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DSO
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...
, 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....
, (1906 – 1997), better known as "Pip", 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...
commander of an armoured
Armoured warfare
Armoured warfare or tank warfare is the use of armoured fighting vehicles in modern warfare. It is a major component of modern methods of war....
division
Division (military)
A division is a large military unit or formation usually consisting of between 10,000 and 20,000 soldiers. In most armies, a division is composed of several regiments or brigades, and in turn several divisions typically make up a corps...
during the Second World War.
Military career
Roberts was born in QuettaQuetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
, British India, in 1906 and was educated at Marlborough College
Marlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1926. He was posted to 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...
with the Royal Tanks Corps from 1928 to 1931.
Roberts was an instructor at the Tank Driving and Maintenance School at Bovington, Dorset
Dorset
Dorset , is a county in South West England on the English Channel coast. The county town is Dorchester which is situated in the south. The Hampshire towns of Bournemouth and Christchurch joined the county with the reorganisation of local government in 1974...
, from 1933 to 1937. He was again posted to Egypt for 1938 and 1939. He commanded the 11th Armoured Division (the "Black Bull") in North West Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
from 1944 to 1946.
Roberts commanded the 7th Armoured Division in 1947. He then became Director of the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
and retired from the Army in September 1949. His book From the Desert to the Baltic is an account of all his wartime battles.