William Platt
Encyclopedia
General
Sir William Platt GBE
, KCB
, DSO
(born 1885; died 1975) was an officer in the British Army
, the Australian Army
, and the New Zealand Army
during World War I
and World War II
.
and Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
In 1908, Platt was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers. From 1908 to 1914 he served on the North West Frontier in India
where he won a Distinguished Service Order
and was mentioned in dispatches
for the first of a remarkable six such citations. Platt was promoted to Captain in 1914.
and Belgium
during World War I
. Between 1915 and 1916, he was promoted to Brigade-Major of the 103rd Infantry Brigade. Between 1916 and 1917, Platt was made a General Staff Officer, Grade 2, of the 21st Division. In 1917, he was made a General Staff Officer, Grade 2, of II Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
in France. This corps was later reformed as the British XXII Corps
.
. From 1934 to 1938, Platt was the Brigadier commanding 7th Infantry Brigade. From 1937 to 1938, he was aide-de-camp
to the King. In 1938, Platt was promoted to Major-General.
. In this role he carried the Arabic title of al-qa'id al-'amm (the "Leader of the Army") referred to simply as "the Kaid". He commanded the forces invading Italian East Africa
from Sudan
during the East African Campaign
. His primary units were the Indian 4th Infantry Division
and the Indian 5th Infantry Division
. After re-taking the abandoned Kassala railway junction in Sudan on 18 January 1941, Platt advanced into Eritrea
and captured Agordat on 28 January. He next faced strong Italian resistance at Keren. From 3 March to 1 April, Platt's leadership played a large part in the successful outcome of the Battle of Keren
. The Eritrean capital, Asmara, was taken by the Indian 5th Infantry Division
on 1 April while Keren was still being mopped up by the Indian 4th Infantry Division
. After the battle of Keren, Platt lost the Indian 4th Infantry Division which returned to Egypt. On 8 April, the port city of Massawa surrendered. The forces still under Platt then marched on Amba Alagi.
Platt, advancing from Sudan, met up with the forces of Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham, advancing from Kenya, at Amba Alagi. A large Italian force, under Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
, was dug in at Amba Alagi in what they considered impregnable positions. The British attacks started on 3 May. On 18 May, Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, surrendered his embattled force and the campaign in East Africa was all but over.
In 1941, Platt was promoted to lieutenant-general. From 1941 to 1945, Platt was the General Officer and Commander-in-Chief of the East Africa Command
which, although no longer a theatre of war was an important source of manpower. Platt raised seventeen new battalions of the King's African Rifles
. From 1942 to 1954, Platt was the honorary Colonel of the Wiltshire Regiment
. He was promoted to General in 1943.
1st Class in 1942, the Grand Cross, Star of Ethiopia in 1945 and the French Légion d'Honneur
in 1945.
General
A general officer is an officer of high military rank, usually in the army, and in some nations, the air force. The term is widely used by many nations of the world, and when a country uses a different term, there is an equivalent title given....
Sir William Platt GBE
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...
, KCB
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...
, 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...
(born 1885; died 1975) 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...
, the Australian Army
Australian Army
The Australian Army is Australia's military land force. It is part of the Australian Defence Force along with the Royal Australian Navy and the Royal Australian Air Force. While the Chief of Defence commands the Australian Defence Force , the Army is commanded by the Chief of Army...
, and the New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
during 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...
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...
.
Early years
Platt was educated at Marlborough CollegeMarlborough College
Marlborough College is a British co-educational independent school for day and boarding pupils, located in Marlborough, Wiltshire.Founded in 1843 for the education of the sons of Church of England clergy, the school now accepts both boys and girls of all beliefs. Currently there are just over 800...
and Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
In 1908, Platt was commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers. From 1908 to 1914 he served on the North West Frontier 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...
where he won a Distinguished Service Order
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 was mentioned in dispatches
Mentioned in Dispatches
A soldier Mentioned in Despatches is one whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which is described the soldier's gallant or meritorious action in the face of the enemy.In a number of countries, a soldier's name must be mentioned in...
for the first of a remarkable six such citations. Platt was promoted to Captain in 1914.
World War I
From 1914 to 1918, Platt fought in FranceFrance
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...
during 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...
. Between 1915 and 1916, he was promoted to Brigade-Major of the 103rd Infantry Brigade. Between 1916 and 1917, Platt was made a General Staff Officer, Grade 2, of the 21st Division. In 1917, he was made a General Staff Officer, Grade 2, of II Australian and New Zealand Army Corps
II Anzac Corps
The II ANZAC Corps was an Australian and New Zealand First World War army corps formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganization of the Australian Imperial Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli in November 1915, under the command of William Birdwood...
in France. This corps was later reformed as the British XXII Corps
XXII Corps (United Kingdom)
The British XXII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I.- History :British XXII Corps was formed in France in December 1917 from what was left of II ANZAC once the Australian divisions had left to form the Australian Corps...
.
Between the wars
Between 1918 and 1920, Platt was a General Staff Officer, Grade 1, of the 37th Division. From 1920 to 1922, he was a Brigade-Major, 12 Infantry Brigade, 1st Eastern Command and Galway Brigade, Irish Command. Platt was promoted to Major in 1924 and Lieutenant-Colonel in 1930. From 1930 to 1933, he was Officer Commanding, 2nd Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment. In 1933, Platt was promoted to Colonel. From 1933 to 1934, he was a General Staff Officer, Grade 1, 3rd Division, BulfordBulford
Bulford is a village and civil parish in Wiltshire, England, close to Salisbury Plain. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,698.The name is derived from the Old English bulut ieg ford meaning 'ragged robin island ford'....
. From 1934 to 1938, Platt was the Brigadier commanding 7th Infantry Brigade. From 1937 to 1938, he was 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. In 1938, Platt was promoted to Major-General.
World War II
From 1938 to 1941, Platt was the Commandant, Sudan Defence ForceSudan Defence Force
The Sudan Defence Force was a Sudanese military unit formed in 1925, as its name indicates, to maintain the borders of the Sudan under the British administration...
. In this role he carried the Arabic title of al-qa'id al-'amm (the "Leader of the Army") referred to simply as "the Kaid". He commanded the forces invading Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa
Italian East Africa was an Italian colonial administrative subdivision established in 1936, resulting from the merger of the Ethiopian Empire with the old colonies of Italian Somaliland and Italian Eritrea. In August 1940, British Somaliland was conquered and annexed to Italian East Africa...
from Sudan
Sudan
Sudan , officially the Republic of the Sudan , is a country in North Africa, sometimes considered part of the Middle East politically. It is bordered by Egypt to the north, the Red Sea to the northeast, Eritrea and Ethiopia to the east, South Sudan to the south, the Central African Republic to the...
during the East African Campaign
East African Campaign (World War II)
The East African Campaign was a series of battles fought in East Africa during World War II by the British Empire, the British Commonwealth of Nations and several allies against the forces of Italy from June 1940 to November 1941....
. His primary units were the Indian 4th Infantry Division
Indian 4th Infantry Division
The Indian 4th Infantry Division, also known as the Red Eagle Division, is an infantry division of the Indian Army.The division was formed in Egypt in 1939 and was the first Indian formation to go overseas during the Second World War. As with all formations in the Indian Army prior to independence,...
and the Indian 5th Infantry Division
Indian 5th Infantry Division
Indian 5th Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Indian Army during World War II which fought in several theatres of war and more than earned its nickname the "Ball of Fire".- History :...
. After re-taking the abandoned Kassala railway junction in Sudan on 18 January 1941, Platt advanced into Eritrea
Eritrea
Eritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and captured Agordat on 28 January. He next faced strong Italian resistance at Keren. From 3 March to 1 April, Platt's leadership played a large part in the successful outcome of the Battle of Keren
Battle of Keren
The Battle of Keren was fought as part of the East African Campaign during World War II. The Battle of Keren was fought from 5 February-1 April 1941 between the colonial Italian army defending it's colonial possession of Eritrea and the invading British and Commonwealth forces. In 1941, Keren was...
. The Eritrean capital, Asmara, was taken by the Indian 5th Infantry Division
Indian 5th Infantry Division
Indian 5th Infantry Division was an infantry division in the Indian Army during World War II which fought in several theatres of war and more than earned its nickname the "Ball of Fire".- History :...
on 1 April while Keren was still being mopped up by the Indian 4th Infantry Division
Indian 4th Infantry Division
The Indian 4th Infantry Division, also known as the Red Eagle Division, is an infantry division of the Indian Army.The division was formed in Egypt in 1939 and was the first Indian formation to go overseas during the Second World War. As with all formations in the Indian Army prior to independence,...
. After the battle of Keren, Platt lost the Indian 4th Infantry Division which returned to Egypt. On 8 April, the port city of Massawa surrendered. The forces still under Platt then marched on Amba Alagi.
Platt, advancing from Sudan, met up with the forces of Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham, advancing from Kenya, at Amba Alagi. A large Italian force, under Amedeo, Duke of Aosta
Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta
Prince Amedeo of Savoy-Aosta was the third Duke of Aosta and a first cousin, once removed of the King of Italy, Victor Emmanuel III. His baptismal name was Amedeo Umberto Isabella Luigi Filippo Maria Giuseppe Giovanni di Savoia-Aosta...
, was dug in at Amba Alagi in what they considered impregnable positions. The British attacks started on 3 May. On 18 May, Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, surrendered his embattled force and the campaign in East Africa was all but over.
In 1941, Platt was promoted to lieutenant-general. From 1941 to 1945, Platt was the General Officer and Commander-in-Chief of the 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...
which, although no longer a theatre of war was an important source of manpower. Platt raised seventeen new battalions of the King's African Rifles
King's African Rifles
The King's African Rifles was a multi-battalion British colonial regiment raised from the various British possessions in East Africa from 1902 until independence in the 1960s. It performed both military and internal security functions within the East African colonies as well as external service as...
. From 1942 to 1954, Platt was the honorary Colonel of the Wiltshire Regiment
Wiltshire Regiment
The Wiltshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 62nd Regiment of Foot and the 99th Duke of Edinburgh's Regiment of Foot....
. He was promoted to General in 1943.
Honours and awards
In addition to his UK honours, Platt also received the Egyptian Order of the NileOrder of the Nile
The Order of the Nile is Egypt's highest state honor. The award was instituted in 1915 by Sultan Hussein Kamel to be awarded by Egypt for exceptional services to the nation...
1st Class in 1942, the Grand Cross, Star of Ethiopia in 1945 and the French Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1945.
Army career summary
- Commissioned officer, Northumberland Fusiliers - 1905 to 1914
- Captain, Northumberland Fusiliers - 1914 to 1915
- Brigade-Major, 103rd Infantry Brigade - 1915 to 1916
- General Staff Officer, Grade 2, of the 21st Division - 1916 to 1917
- General Staff Officer, Grade 2, of the 2nd Australian and New Zealand Army CorpsII Anzac CorpsThe II ANZAC Corps was an Australian and New Zealand First World War army corps formed in Egypt in February 1916 as part of the reorganization of the Australian Imperial Force following the evacuation of Gallipoli in November 1915, under the command of William Birdwood...
- 1917 to 1918 - General Staff Officer, Grade 1, of the 37th Division - 1918 to 1920
- Brigade-Major, 12 Infantry Brigade, 1st Eastern Command and Galway Brigade, Irish Command - 1920 to 1922
- Commanding Officer, 2nd Battalion Wiltshire Regiment - 1930 to 1933
- General Staff Officer 1, 3rd Division - 1933 to 1934
- Commanding Officer 7th Brigade - 1934 to 1938
- General Officer Commanding, British Troops in SudanAnglo-Egyptian SudanAnglo-Egyptian Sudan referred to the manner by which Sudan was administered between 1899 and 1956, when it was a condominium of Egypt and the United Kingdom.-Union with Egypt:...
- 1938 to 1941 - General Officer Commanding, Sudan Defence ForceSudan Defence ForceThe Sudan Defence Force was a Sudanese military unit formed in 1925, as its name indicates, to maintain the borders of the Sudan under the British administration...
- 1938 to 1941 - General Officer Commanding, Northern Front, EritreaEritreaEritrea , officially the State of Eritrea, is a country in the Horn of Africa. Eritrea derives it's name from the Greek word Erethria, meaning 'red land'. The capital is Asmara. It is bordered by Sudan in the west, Ethiopia in the south, and Djibouti in the southeast...
and EthiopiaEthiopiaEthiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
- 1941 - Commander in Chief, East Africa Command - 1941 to 1945