John Cowley (British Army officer)
Sir John Cowley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 August 1905 Mussoorie, India |
| Died | 7 January 1993 (aged 87) New Forest, Hampshire |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1925–1962 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held | Master-General of the Ordnance (1960–62) |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | George Cross Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath |
Lieutenant General Sir John Guise Cowley GC, KBE, CB (20 August 1905 – 7 January 1993) was a British Army officer who reached high office in the 1950s.
Military career
Educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military Academy Woolwich,[1] Cowley was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1925.[2] He was awarded the Albert Medal which he subsequently exchanged for the George Cross because of his action during the Balochistan earthquake of May 1935.[1]
He served in the Second World War in the Middle East, Italy and North West Europe.[2] In 1953 he became Chief of Staff at Headquarters Eastern Command.[2] He was then appointed Vice Quartermaster-General in 1956, Controller of Munitions at the Ministry of Supply in 1957 and Master-General of the Ordnance in 1960; he retired in 1962.[2]
He was also Colonel Commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1961 to 1970.[2]
Family
In 1941 he married Irene Sybil Millen and together they went on to have one son and three daughters.[1]
References
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1905 births
- 1993 deaths
- British Army generals
- British Army personnel of World War II
- Royal Engineers officers
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire
- Recipients of the Albert Medal (lifesaving)