Stephen Shoosmith
Encyclopedia
Major-General Stephen Shoosmith CB
OBE
DSO and Bar
(September 15, 1900 – December 3, 1956), was Principal Staff Officer to the Deputy Supreme Commander, Allied Powers in Europe, and, but for his early death, was expected to reach the highest positions in the service.
and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
. He was commissioned in the Royal Artillery
in 1920 and passed the Staff College
in 1936. He married Kathleen Noad in 1938 and had a son and daughter.
and Egypt
, and in the autumn of 1939 he went to France
as a brigade major with the 3rd Division.
He was assistant military secretary to the War Cabinet
in 1941 and the following year he was given command of a field regiment He later served in North Africa
, Italy
, and Greece
, and rose to command 10 Infantry Brigade in 4 British Infantry Division
. He was awarded the DSO
and Bar and was appointed OBE
.
, AA Command
in the UK.
His next post was in Washington, D.C.
, where he assumed command of the Army Staff of the British Joint Services Mission. His experiences there served him in good stead when, in July 1952, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to General Mark Clark
, the United Nations
Commander in Korea
. There had been lack of consultation between the British and Americans over an implied threat to bomb Chinese
bases in Manchuria
, and the appointment was regarded as an assurance that a similar failure would not be repeated http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1952/jul/28/korea-military-situation. He was not an agent of the British Government at General Clark’s headquarters but a senior member of the latter’s staff, the only one who was not an American. However, his presence ensured that British reactions would not be ignored through lack of representation http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1952/jul/30/korea-british-deputy-chief-of-staff. General Clark welcomed his arrival and recalled their happy association in Washington when he was Chief of the United States Army Field Forces
. Shoosmith quickly gained the confidence of all the United Nations
officers with whom he was associated, while putting the British Government’s point of view tactfully yet firmly.
In the summer of 1954 Shoosmith was relieved in Korea by Major-General Hirsch and transferred in November to Supreme Allied Headquarters in Europe
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-31971406.html?name=Schach+in+Teheran as principal staff officer to Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery
, the Deputy Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Shoosmith was made a Commander of the US Legion of Merit
in 1954.
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...
OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
DSO and Bar
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...
(September 15, 1900 – December 3, 1956), was Principal Staff Officer to the Deputy Supreme Commander, Allied Powers in Europe, and, but for his early death, was expected to reach the highest positions in the service.
Early life
Shoosmith was educated at Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
and 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...
. He was commissioned in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1920 and passed the Staff College
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
in 1936. He married Kathleen Noad in 1938 and had a son and daughter.
World War 2
By the time the Second World War broke out, Shoosmith had served in IndiaIndia
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 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...
, and in the autumn of 1939 he went to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
as a brigade major with the 3rd Division.
He was assistant military secretary to the War Cabinet
War Cabinet
A War Cabinet is a committee formed by a government in a time of war. It is usually a subset of the full executive cabinet of ministers. It is also quite common for a War Cabinet to have senior military officers and opposition politicians as members....
in 1941 and the following year he was given command of a field regiment He later served in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
, and rose to command 10 Infantry Brigade in 4 British Infantry Division
4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)
The 4th Infantry Division is a regular British Army division with a long history having been present at the Peninsular War the Crimean War , the First World War , and during the Second World War.- Napoleonic Wars :...
. He was awarded the 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...
and Bar and was appointed OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
.
Post war
After the war Shoosmith was in Germany for two years and then in 1949 became Chief of StaffChief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
, AA Command
Anti-Aircraft Command
Anti-Aircraft Command was a British Army command of the Second World War that controlled the anti-aircraft artillery units of the British Isles.-History:...
in the UK.
His next post was in Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
, where he assumed command of the Army Staff of the British Joint Services Mission. His experiences there served him in good stead when, in July 1952, he was appointed Deputy Chief of Staff to General Mark Clark
Mark Wayne Clark
Mark Wayne Clark was an American general during World War II and the Korean War and was the youngest lieutenant general in the U.S. Army...
, the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
Commander in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
. There had been lack of consultation between the British and Americans over an implied threat to bomb Chinese
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
bases in Manchuria
Manchuria
Manchuria is a historical name given to a large geographic region in northeast Asia. Depending on the definition of its extent, Manchuria usually falls entirely within the People's Republic of China, or is sometimes divided between China and Russia. The region is commonly referred to as Northeast...
, and the appointment was regarded as an assurance that a similar failure would not be repeated http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1952/jul/28/korea-military-situation. He was not an agent of the British Government at General Clark’s headquarters but a senior member of the latter’s staff, the only one who was not an American. However, his presence ensured that British reactions would not be ignored through lack of representation http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1952/jul/30/korea-british-deputy-chief-of-staff. General Clark welcomed his arrival and recalled their happy association in Washington when he was Chief of the United States Army Field Forces
Army Ground Forces
The Army Ground Forces were one of the three autonomous components of the Army of the United States during World War II, the others being the Army Air Forces and Army Service Forces. Throughout their existence, Army Ground Forces were the largest training organization ever established in the United...
. Shoosmith quickly gained the confidence of all the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
officers with whom he was associated, while putting the British Government’s point of view tactfully yet firmly.
In the summer of 1954 Shoosmith was relieved in Korea by Major-General Hirsch and transferred in November to Supreme Allied Headquarters in Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe
Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe is the central command of NATO military forces. It is located at Casteau, north of the Belgian city of Mons...
http://www.spiegel.de/spiegel/print/d-31971406.html?name=Schach+in+Teheran as principal staff officer to Field-Marshal Lord Montgomery
Bernard Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein
Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, KG, GCB, DSO, PC , nicknamed "Monty" and the "Spartan General" was a British Army officer. He saw action in the First World War, when he was seriously wounded, and during the Second World War he commanded the 8th Army from...
, the Deputy Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.
Shoosmith was made a Commander of the US Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
in 1954.
Sources
- Obituary - General S. N. Shoosrnith, The Times, December 5, 1956
- The Generals of WWII, Extracted April 24, 2009 http://www.generals.dk/general/Shoosmith/Stephen_Newton/Great_Britain.html