John Aldam Aizlewood
Encyclopedia
Major General John Aldam Aizlewood MC
(1895–1990) was an officer in the British Army
and British Indian Army
during the interwar years
and World War II
.
in 1914.
He served in World War I
on the Western Front
. After the War he became a Brigade Major in India
in 1927 and then from 1938 to 1939 he was Commanding Officer
of 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards.
He also served in World War II
initially becoming Commander
of 3rd Indian Cavalry Brigade
in 1939. In August 1941 as part of Paiforce (formerly Iraqforce
), Brigadier Aizlewood commanded Hazelforce and the 2nd Indian Amoured Brigade Group
during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. He moved on to be Commander
of 30th Armoured Brigade in 1942 and 42nd Armoured Division
also later in 1942.
Returning to the UK he was appointed Commander of Essex and Suffolk District in 1943 and acting General Officer Commanding
-in-Chief for Eastern Command
in 1944 while Sir Alan Cunningham was away: he retired in 1945.
In retirement he was Colonel of 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards from 1948 to 1958.
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....
(1895–1990) 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...
and British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
during the interwar years
Interwar period
Interwar period can refer to any period between two wars. The Interbellum is understood to be the period between the end of the Great War or First World War and the beginning of the Second World War in Europe....
and 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
John Aizlewood was commissioned into 4th Dragoon Guards4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards
The 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment of the British Army from 1922 to 1992.It was formed in India in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards and 7th Dragoon Guards , as the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards; it gained the distinction Royal in 1935...
in 1914.
He served 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...
on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
. After the War he became a Brigade Major in 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...
in 1927 and then from 1938 to 1939 he was Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards.
He also 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...
initially becoming Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of 3rd Indian Cavalry Brigade
3rd Indian Cavalry Brigade
The 3rd Indian Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry formation of the Indian Army during World War II.It was formed in Meerut in September 1939, and converted to the 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade in February 1940,-Formation:*1st The Royal Warwickshire Regiment...
in 1939. In August 1941 as part of Paiforce (formerly 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:...
), Brigadier Aizlewood commanded Hazelforce and the 2nd Indian Amoured Brigade Group
252nd Indian Armoured Brigade
The 252nd Indian Armoured Brigade was an armoured formation of the Indian Army during World War II.It was formed as the 3rd Indian Cavalry Brigade in September 1939, and then when mechanized renamed the 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade in February 1940, and finally the 252nd in January 1942, when it was...
during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. He moved on to be Commander
Commander
Commander is a naval rank which is also sometimes used as a military title depending on the individual customs of a given military service. Commander is also used as a rank or title in some organizations outside of the armed forces, particularly in police and law enforcement.-Commander as a naval...
of 30th Armoured Brigade in 1942 and 42nd Armoured Division
42nd Armoured Division (United Kingdom)
The 42nd Armoured Division was a First Line Territorial Army formation during the Second World War. It was formed by converting an infantry division into an armoured role...
also later in 1942.
Returning to the UK he was appointed Commander of Essex and Suffolk District in 1943 and acting 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...
-in-Chief for 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 1944 while Sir Alan Cunningham was away: he retired in 1945.
In retirement he was Colonel of 4/7 Royal Dragoon Guards from 1948 to 1958.