Geoffrey Harding Baker

Sir Geoffrey Harding Baker , GCB , CMG , CBE , MC (* 20th June 1912 in Murree , Punjab , British India , today Pakistan , † 8. May 1980 in Wellington College, Berkshire ) was a British field marshal (Field Marshal) who was last Chief of the General Staff of the British Army between 1968 and 1971 and constable of the Tower from 1975 to 1980 . During his tenure as Chief of the General Staff, Operation Banner began in 1969 , the longstanding deployment of the British military in the Northern Ireland conflict .

Life

Military training and uses as an officer

After attending school, Baker began officer training at the Royal Military Academy Woolwich and after graduating in 1932 became an artillery officer ( Royal Artillery ) . With various temporary ranks (Temporary Rank) or in a brevet he was in the Second World War, initially between 29 January and December 1942 instructor at the Staff College in the Middle East (Middle East Staff School) and from December 1942 to July 1943 General Staff Officer 1 (G 1) of the 8th army ( Eighth army ) before he, between July 1943 and late 1943 commander ( commanding Officer ) of the 127th field artillery regiment (127th field regiment Royal artillery) was. After that he was from March 1944 to April 1945 on-duty colonel for staff matters in the General Staff of the 21st Army Group ( 21st Army Group ) , and from April to July 1945 on-duty brigadier general for administrative services of the Allied Control Commission for Germany .

Then Baker was from July 1945 to late 1946 again Colonel on duty for staff matters in the General Staff of the 21st Army Group and received his promotion to major on July 1, 1946 during this time . After he was between January 1947 and August 1949 Deputy Director of Staff Affairs Ministry of War ( War Office ) . After his promotion to lieutenant colonel on December 31, 1951, he served between December 31, 1951 and December 1952 as commander of the 3rd Regiment of the Royal Horse Artillery (3rd Regiment Royal Horse Artillery) . On 29 June 1955 he was appointed colonel promoted and was during the Cyprus conflict mid-1950s, between November 1955 and January 1957 Director of Operations of the British forces in Cyprus against the resistance movement National Organization of Cypriot Fighters ( EOKA ). Then he was between 1957 and April 1958 first commander of the artillery units of the 7th Armored Division ( 7th Armored Division ) and from April 1958 to February 1959 commander of the artillery units of the 5th Infantry Division (5th Infantry Division) .

Promotion to Field Marshall and Chief of General Staff

In 1969, during Baker's tenure as Chief of Staff, Operation Banner , the longstanding service of the British military in the Northern Ireland conflict, began

Baker then acted between February 1959 and February 3, 1960 as Assistant Chief of Staff of Army Group North NORTHAG ( Northern Army Group ) of NATO and was after his promotion to major general (skipping a promotion to brigadier general ) from February 3, 1960 to November 1961 Chief of Staff of the Southern Command , before he was Chief of Staff for Contingent Planning in the Supreme Allied Main Command of the Allied Forces of NATO in Europe between November 1961 and May 27, 1963, SHAPE ( Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe ) . After his promotion to Lieutenant General on September 2, 1963, he succeeded Lieutenant General William Pike from September 2, 1963 until his replacement by Lieutenant General Desmond Fitzpatrick on July 25, 1966, the post of Vice Chief of the General Staff of the British Army. During this time he was beaten on January 1, 1964 to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) and since then has had the suffix "Sir". In addition, he held the post of Colonel Commandant of the Royal Regiment of Artillery from July 20, 1964 until his death on May 8, 1980 .

On October 31, 1966 Baker took over from Lieutenant General Kenneth Darling the post of commander in chief ( General Officer Commanding in Chief ) of the Southern Command, and had this to 12 February 1968, which, after Lieutenant General John Mogg became his successor. During this time he was promoted to general on May 7, 1967 and was also awarded the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on January 1, 1968 . He also served between February 27, 1968 and March 31, 1971 as Adjutant General ( Aide-de-camp General ) of Queen Elizabeth II. He finally took over the post of Chief of the General Staff of the British Army as the successor to General James Cassels this post until his retirement on March 31, 1971, whereupon General Michael Carver took his place. During his tenure as Chief of the General Staff, Operation Banner began in 1969 , the longstanding deployment of the British military in the Northern Ireland conflict . In addition, he was between March 1, 1968 and March 7, 1971 Colonel Commandant of the Corps of the Military Police (Corps of Royal Military Police) and from November 27, 1970 to January 1, 1977 Colonel Commandant of the Artillery Cavalry (Royal Horse Artillery) . He also acted as the successor to Robert Mansergh between 1970 and his replacement by Harry Tuzo in 1976 as Master Gunner, St James's Park . With his retirement from active duty after 39 years of service, he was awarded the rank of the March 31, 1971 , Field Marshal (Field Marshal) .

Most recently, Baker replaced General Field Marshal Richard Hull as constable of the Tower on August 1, 1975 and held this position until his death on May 8, 1980, when General Peter Mervyn Hunt succeeded him.

Web links

• Entry in generals.dk
• KNIGHTS AND DAMES in Leigh Rayment Peerage