Claude Liardet
| Claude Liardet | |
|---|---|
 Major General Liardet, Commander in Chief of the RAF Regiment, inspecting a contingent of the Regiment in London. | |
| Born | 1881 |
| Died | 1966 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 Territorial Army; RAF Regiment |
| Years of service | 1899 - 1945 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands held |
Lancashire and Cheshire Coast Brigade, RGA 106 (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, RFA 64 (7th London) Field Brigade, RA 56th (London) Infantry Division RAF Regiment |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order |
| Other work | Director of Bevington, Vaizey, and Foster Ltd |
Major-General Sir Claude Francis Liardet KBE, CB, DSO, TD, DL (1881 – 1966) was a businessman and long-serving artillery officer in Britain's part-time Territorial Army before becoming the first Commandant General of the RAF Regiment.
Early life
Claude Liardet was born on 26 September 1881, the son of Commander Henry Maughan Lairdet of Her Majesty's Indian Navy. He was educated at Bedford School.[1]
Military career
Liardet joined the Lancashire Artillery in 1899.[2] He transferred to the Lancashire and Cheshire Royal Garrison Artillery in 1905 and served in World War I, during which he was Mentioned in dispatches five times and awarded a DSO.[1][2] He became Commanding Officer (CO) of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coast Brigade of the Royal Artillery in 1919, and CO of 106 (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in 1923.[2][3]
In 1929 Liardet became CO of 64th (7th London) Field Brigade, RFA, serving in 47th (2nd London) Division and in 1934 he was promoted to Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) of that division. When the 47th Division was disbanded in 1936 he transferred as CRA to 56th (1st London) Division.[1][2][3][4] Liardet was promoted to command 56 Division in the rank of major-general in 1938, and held that post during the early part of World War II.[1][2][5]
In 1941 Liardet was appointed Inspector General of Aerodrome Defence and Director General of Ground Defence at the Air Ministry. In 1942 he became Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment until the end of the War, when he retired.[1][2][6]
Business career
Liardet was a director of the Lloyd's of London insurance brokers Bevington, Vaizey, and Foster Ltd.[1]
Family life
Liardet married, firstly, on 11 January 1906, Dorothy Hopper, daughter of Dr A.R. Hopper. They had two children:[1]
- Major General Henry Maughan Liardet, CB CBE DSO DL, Royal Tank Regiment[1][2]
- Dorothy Mary Liardet
He married secondly, on 25 May 1928, Dorothy Clare Borrett, OBE, daughter of Admiral George Holmes Borrett. They had one child:[1]
- John Borrett Liardet.
Claude Liardet died in 1966.[2]
Honours
- KBE 1944
- DSO 1917
- CB 1937
- TD
- Honorary Colonel of 64 (7th London) Field Brigade, RA (TA), (became 264 Field Regiment after World War II), 1937
Notes
References
- Burke's Peerage, Baronetage and Knightage, 100th Edn, London, 1953.
- Lt-Col H.F. Joslen, Orders of Battle, United Kingdom and Colonial Formations and Units in the Second World War, 1939–1945, London: HM Stationery Office, 1960/Uckfield: Naval & Military, 2003, ISBN 1843424746.
External Sources
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New title RAF Regiment established |
Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment 1942 – 1945 |
Succeeded by A E Robinson |