James Joseph Kingstone
Encyclopedia
Brigadier James Joseph Kingstone DSO
MC
(died 1966) was an officer in the British Army
during World War II
.
During the Anglo-Iraqi War
, Brigadier Kingstone was under the command of Major General J. G. W. Clark
and was part of his relieving Habforce
which included the British 4th Cavalry Brigade, a battalion of The Essex Regiment, the Arab Legion Mechanised Regiment
, a field artillery battery and a troop of anti-tank guns). Kingstone commanded a flying column
named Kingcol
in his honor.
Habforce and Kingcol, parts of Iraqforce
, attacked from the British Mandate of Palestine to relieve the forces defending RAF Habbaniya
.
Kingstone was again under Clark's command during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
.
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....
(died 1966) was an officer in the 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...
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...
.
During the Anglo-Iraqi War
Anglo-Iraqi War
The Anglo-Iraqi War was the name of the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. The war lasted from 2 May to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the...
, Brigadier Kingstone was under the command of Major General J. G. W. Clark
John George Walters Clark
John George Walters Clark CB, MC was a British army officer in both World War I and World War II.-Early life:Clark was commissioned into the 16th The Queen's Lancers in 1911 and fought with them during World War I. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross...
and was part of his relieving Habforce
Habforce
Habforce was a British Army military unit created during the Anglo-Iraqi War and still active during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.-Creation and composition:...
which included the British 4th Cavalry Brigade, a battalion of The Essex Regiment, the Arab Legion Mechanised Regiment
Arab Legion
The Arab Legion was the regular army of Transjordan and then Jordan in the early part of the 20th century.-Creation:...
, a field artillery battery and a troop of anti-tank guns). Kingstone commanded a flying column
Flying column
A flying column is a small, independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility and usually composed of all arms. It is often an ad hoc unit, formed during the course of operations....
named Kingcol
Kingcol
-Creation and composition:Kingcol was created to allow a portion of Habforce to relieve RAF Habbaniya as soon as possible. The column was named after its commander, Brigadier J.J. Kingstone...
in his honor.
Habforce and Kingcol, parts of Iraqforce
Iraqforce
Iraqforce was a British and Commonwealth formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq. The formation fought in the Middle East during World War II.-Background:...
, attacked from the British Mandate of Palestine to relieve the forces defending RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
.
Kingstone was again under Clark's command during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
.
Command history
- Commanding Officer, 1st Cavalry Brigade, Middle East - 1939 to 1940
- Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Cavalry Division, Middle East - 1940
- Commanding Officer, 1st Cavalry Brigade, Middle East - 1940 to 1941
- Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Cavalry Division, Middle East - 1941
- Commanding Officer, 1st Cavalry Brigade, Middle East - 1941
- Commanding Officer, 30th Armored Brigade - 1941 to 1942