Richard Elton Goodwin
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sir Richard (Elton) Goodwin KCB CBE DSO
(1908–1986) was a British Army
General who reached high office in the 1960s.
in 1928. He served in India
and became Aide-de-camp
to the Governor of Madras in 1935.
He served in World War II
as Second-in-Command of the 9th Bn Warwickshire Regiment from 1942 and then as Commanding Officer
of 1st Bn Suffolk Regiment
in 1943.
After the War he became a Brigade Commander in 1945 and then went to the Staff College, Camberley
in 1946. He became a College Commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
in 1947 and a Colonel on the General Staff at General Headquarters Far East Land Forces in 1949.
He was appointed Commandant
at the School of Infantry in 1951 and Commander of 6th Infantry Brigade
within British Army of the Rhine
in 1954. He went on to be General Officer Commanding
49th Infantry Division and North Midland District in 1957 and General Officer Commanding
East Africa Command
in 1960. In this capacity he accelerated the commissioning of Africa
n officers.
He was appointed GOC 1st (British) Corps within British Army of the Rhine
in 1963 and Military Secretary in 1966; he retired in 1969.
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...
(1908–1986) was a 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...
General who reached high office in the 1960s.
Military career
Goodwin was commissioned into the Suffolk RegimentSuffolk Regiment
The Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1959...
in 1928. He served 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...
and became 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 the Governor of Madras in 1935.
He 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...
as Second-in-Command of the 9th Bn Warwickshire Regiment from 1942 and then as 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 1st Bn Suffolk Regiment
Suffolk Regiment
The Suffolk Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army with a history dating back to 1685. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated with the Royal Norfolk Regiment as the 1st East Anglian Regiment in 1959...
in 1943.
After the War he became a Brigade Commander in 1945 and then went to the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1946. He became a College Commander at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
in 1947 and a Colonel on the General Staff at General Headquarters Far East Land Forces in 1949.
He was appointed Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
at the School of Infantry in 1951 and Commander of 6th Infantry Brigade
6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)
- World War I :The brigade was part of 2nd Division. It was composed as follows;*1st Battalion, The King's *2nd Battalion, The South Staffordshire Regiment*13th Battalion , The Essex Regiment...
within British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
in 1954. He went on to be 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...
49th Infantry Division and North Midland District in 1957 and 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...
East Africa Command
East Africa Command
-History:The formation was essentially an expansion of the East Africa Force which came into being in August 1940. It was reformed as a Command in September 1941 by General Sir William Platt and covered North East Africa, East Africa and British Central Africa. It established its own intelligence...
in 1960. In this capacity he accelerated the commissioning of Africa
Africa
Africa is the world's second largest and second most populous continent, after Asia. At about 30.2 million km² including adjacent islands, it covers 6% of the Earth's total surface area and 20.4% of the total land area...
n officers.
He was appointed GOC 1st (British) Corps within British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
in 1963 and Military Secretary in 1966; he retired in 1969.