Otway Herbert
| Sir Otway Herbert | |
|---|---|
| Born | 19 November 1901 |
| Died | 4 April 1984 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held |
British Forces in Berlin 44th Infantry Division West Africa Command Western Command |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order |
Lieutenant General Sir Edwin Otway Herbert KBE CB DSO (19 November 1901 – 4 April 1984) was a British Army General who achieved high command in the 1950s.
Military career
Otway Herbert was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1921.[1] He served in Egypt between 1928 and 1935.[1] Returning to the United Kingdom, he became Brigade Major for the 27th (Home Counties) Anti-Aircraft Group in 1935.[1]
He served in World War II initially as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General for 27 Anti-Aircraft, then deployed to France and Belgium with the British Expeditionary Force.[1] On 1 March 1942 he took over as commanding officer of 6th Battalion King's Shropshire Light Infantry with the task of converting it into 181st Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.[2] In August 1942 he joined 132nd Field Regiment, which formed part of 78th Division and commanded it in the North African Campaign. In 1943 he joined 21st Army Group in France.[1]
After the War he became Commander Royal Artillery for 5th Division moving on to be Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1947.[1]
He became Director Territorial Army and Cadets at the War Office in 1949 and General Officer Commanding 44th Infantry Division in 1952.[1] He was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief West Africa Command from 1953[1] earning the distinction of being the last soldier to hold this command.[3] He was GOC-in-Chief of Western Command from 1957 and retired in 1960.[1]
He was also Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery from 1956 to 1966.[1]
He lived at Brynsiencyn in Anglesey.[4]
Family
In 1925 he married Muriel Irlam Barlow and together they went on to have a daughter.[4]
Notes
References
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- Don Neal, Guns and Bugles: The Story of the 6th Bn KSLI – 181st Field Regiment RA 1940–1946, Studley: Brewin, 2001, ISBN 1-85858-192-3.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Eric Nares |
Commandant, British Sector in Berlin 1947–1949 |
Succeeded by Lord Bourne |
| Preceded by Sir Lashmer Whistler |
GOC West Africa Command 1953–1956 |
Succeeded by Post Disbanded |
| Preceded by Sir Lashmer Whistler |
GOC-in-C Western Command 1957–1960 |
Succeeded by Sir William Stirling |