George Johnson (British Army officer)
Sir George Johnson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1903 |
| Died | 1980 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1925–57 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands held | London District 1st Guards Brigade 32nd Guards Brigade 201st Guards Motor Brigade Group 3rd Battalion, Scots Guards |
| Battles/wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order |
Major General Sir George Frederick Johnson, KCVO, CB, CBE, DSO (1903–1980) was a senior British Army officer who fought in the Second World War and was Major-General commanding the Household Brigade and General Officer Commanding London District.
Military career
Johnson entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Scots Guards in 1925.[1] He was appointed a General Staff Officer (GSO) at London District in 1939.[1]
He served in the Second World War, becoming Commanding Officer (CO) of the 3rd Battalion, Scots Guards in 1940.[1] He went on to be Commander of 201st Guards Motor Brigade Group and was captured while fighting in the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa in 1942 and became a prisoner of war in Italy, but escaped in 1943.[1] He then took command of the 32nd Guards Brigade in North West Europe.[1]
After the war he commanded the Scots Guards and then became Commander of the 1st Guards Brigade in Palestine in 1947.[1] In 1949 he was made Chief of Staff at Scottish Command and in 1953 he was appointed Major-General commanding the Household Brigade and General Officer Commanding London District.[1] He retired in 1957.[1]
He lived at Castlesteads near Brampton in Cumbria.[2] He was appointed High Sheriff of Cumberland for 1966. [3]
Family
In 1938 he married Lady Ida Mary Ramsay and they went on to have one daughter and two sons.[2]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ^ a b The Peerage.com
- ^ "No. 43921". The London Gazette. 11 March 1966.
- Use dmy dates from April 2012
- 1903 births
- 1980 deaths
- Knights Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Commanders of the Order of the British Empire
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Scots Guards officers
- British Army generals
- High Sheriffs of Cumberland
- World War II prisoners of war held by Italy