Walter Mervyn St George Kirke
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Walter Mervyn St George Kirke GCB CMG DSO
(19 January 1877 - 2 September 1949) was the Commander in Chief of the British Home Forces during the Second World War.
and his wife Sarah, Walter Kirke was commissioned into the Royal Artillery
in 1896. He served in Waziristan
on the North West Frontier of India
between 1901 and 1902.
He served in World War I
as a General Staff Officer at GHQ in France
and Belgium
. In 1918 he became Deputy Director of Military Operations at the War Office
and was then moved to Aldershot
in 1922. In 1924 he was appointed Head of the British Military Mission to Finland
and in 1925 President of Inter-Allied Commission of Investigation for Hungary
.
Then in 1926 he became Deputy Chief of the General Staff for India
moving on to be General Officer Commanding
5th Division in 1929. In 1933 he was appointed General Officer Commanding
-in-Chief for Western Command
and in 1936 he became Director-General of the Territorial Army.
He served in World War II
initially as Inspector-General of Home Defence and then as Commander in Chief of the British Home Forces: in that role he always thought that the threat of a German
invasion was exaggerated. He retired in 1940.
He was also an Aide-de-Camp
to the King from 1937 to 1940.
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Walter Mervyn St George Kirke GCB CMG 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...
(19 January 1877 - 2 September 1949) was the Commander in Chief of the British Home Forces during the Second World War.
Military career
Born the second son of Colonel St.George Mervyn Kirke RERoyal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
and his wife Sarah, Walter Kirke was commissioned into 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 1896. He served in Waziristan
Waziristan
Waziristan is a mountainous region near the Northwest of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . The area is entirely populated by ethnic Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto...
on the North West Frontier of 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...
between 1901 and 1902.
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...
as a General Staff Officer at GHQ in 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...
and Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. In 1918 he became Deputy Director of Military Operations at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
and was then moved to Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
in 1922. In 1924 he was appointed Head of the British Military Mission to Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
and in 1925 President of Inter-Allied Commission of Investigation for Hungary
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
.
Then in 1926 he became Deputy Chief of the General Staff for 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...
moving 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...
5th Division in 1929. In 1933 he was appointed 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 Western Command
Western Command (United Kingdom)
-History:The Command was established in 1905 and was originally called the Welsh & Midland Command before changing its name in 1906. In 1907 Western Command relocated to Watergate House in Chester...
and in 1936 he became Director-General of the Territorial Army.
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...
initially as Inspector-General of Home Defence and then as Commander in Chief of the British Home Forces: in that role he always thought that the threat of a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
invasion was exaggerated. He retired in 1940.
He was also an 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 King from 1937 to 1940.