Philip Gregson-Ellis
Major General Philip George Saxon Gregson-Ellis CB OBE (31 August 1898 – 1956) was a senior British Army officer who saw active service during both the First World War and the Second World War, where he commanded the 5th Infantry Division during the Italian Campaign in 1944.
Philip Gregson-Ellis | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 31 August 1898 Edinburgh, Scotland |
| Died | 20 October 1956 (aged 58) Kent, England |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1917–1950 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Service number | 15399 |
| Unit | Grenadier Guards |
| Commands held | 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 30th Armoured Brigade 1st Guards Brigade 5th Infantry Division Staff College, Camberley 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
Military career
Gregson-Ellis entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the British Army's Grenadier Guards in 1917, towards the end of the First World War.[1][2]
He remained in the army after the war, and, during the interwar period, attended the Staff College, Camberley and was appointed an instructor there in 1937.[3][2]
He served in the Second World War as a General Staff Officer (GSO) with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France before becoming Commanding Officer (CO) of the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards in 1940.[3] He continued his war service as a Brigadier on the staff in Northern Ireland from 1941 and as Deputy Chief of Staff for Home Forces in 1942 before taking command of the 30th Armoured Brigade in January 1943, and then the 1st Guards Brigade in July, which was then serving in North Africa.[3][2] He was appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 5th Infantry Division in January 1944 and commanded the division in the Italian Campaign, leading it in the Battle of Anzio and Operation Diadem.[3][2]
After the war he returned to the Staff College, Camberley as Commandant and then went back to the 5th Division for a second tour as its commander.[3] He was appointed GOC 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division in 1947 and finally retired from the British Army in 1950.[3][2]
References
- "No. 30438". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 December 1917. p. 13335.
- Smart, p. 130
- "Gregson-Ellis, Philip". Generals.dk. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
- Bronwydd Estate Records
Bibliography
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Gerard Bucknall |
GOC 5th Infantry Division January–November 1944 |
Succeeded by Richard Hull |
| Preceded by Douglas Wimberley |
Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley 1944–1946 |
Succeeded by Richard Hull |
| Preceded by Richard Hull |
GOC 5th Infantry Division 1946–1947 |
Succeeded by John Churcher |
| Preceded by Hugh Stockwell |
GOC 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division 1947–1950 |
Succeeded by Brian Kimmins |