Frank Messervy

Frank Walter Messervy

General Sir Frank Messervy, first Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army
Nickname(s) Bearded Man
Born (1893-12-09)9 December 1893
Trinidad
Died 2 February 1974(1974-02-02) (aged 80)
Heyshott, West Sussex
Allegiance British Empire
Service/branch  British Indian Army
 Pakistan Army
Years of service 1913–1948
Rank General
Commands held Chief of Army Staff (Pakistan) (1947–48)
Northern Command, India (1946–47)
Malaya Command (1945–46)
IV Corps (1944–45)
Indian 7th Infantry Division (1943–44)
Indian 43rd Armoured Division (1942–43)
7th Armoured Division (1942)
1st Armoured Division (1942)
Indian 4th Infantry Division (1941–42)
Indian 9th Infantry Brigade (1941)
Gazelle Force (1941)
13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (1938–39)
Battles/wars

First World War
Second World War

Awards Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India[1]
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order[2] & Bar[3]
Mentioned in Despatches (3)[4][5][6]
Order of the Nile (Egypt)[7]
Legion of Merit (United States)
Other work Honorary Colonel, 16th Light Cavalry (1945–48)[8][9]
Honorary Colonel, The Jat Regiment (1947–55)[10]
Deputy Chief Scout (1949–50)
Berkshire County Councillor (1953–56)

General Sir Frank Walter Messervy KCSI, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar (9 December 1893 – 2 February 1974) was a British Indian Army officer in both the First and Second World Wars. Following its independence, he was the first Commander of the Pakistan Army (15 August 1947 – 10 February 1948)[11] Previously, he had become a Lieutenant-General in 1945; a General in 1947; General Officer Commanding in Chief or (GOC-in-C) Northern Command, India in 1946 and 1947.

Personal

Messervy was born in 1893 in Trinidad to Walter John Messervy (born in Jersey), a bank manager in the colony (and later England) and Mayra Naida de Boissiere of Trinidad.[12]

Early career

Messervy was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1913 and in 1914 joined 9th Hodson's Horse[13] which later became 4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse. He would see action in the First World War in France, Palestine and Syria from 1914 to 1918. He later served in Kurdistan in 1919.

He was appointed as an Instructor at the Command and Staff College, Quetta from 1932 to 1936. He was made Commander 13th Duke of Connaught's's Own Lancers, British India, during 1938 and 1939.

Second World War

East Africa

In September 1939 Messervy was promoted to colonel and became a General Staff Officer Grade 1 of the Indian 5th Infantry Division, which was about to be formed at Secunderabad. In mid-1940, the division was sent to the Sudan to counter the threat from the Italian forces based in Italian East Africa. Messervy was appointed commander of Gazelle Force.[14] Created on 16 October 1940, it was a mobile reconnaissance and strike formation of expanded battalion size created from elements of 5th Indian Division. During the ensuing East African Campaign, Messervy commanded Gazelle Force with notable success, latterly attached to the Indian 4th Infantry Division. By 13 February 1941, the campaign had become static and Messervy's formation was disbanded.[15]

In early March 1941, Messervy was promoted acting brigadier to command the Indian 5th Infantry Division's 9th Infantry Brigade and played a significant role in the third Battle of Keren during the second half of March 1941. His promotion was in part related to his actions during the advance from Kassala through Agordat to the early fighting at Keren during February.[15]

When the commander of the Indian 4th Infantry Division was promoted to command XIII Corps in North Africa Messervy, a brigadier for only six weeks, was appointed to take his place.[15]

Western Desert – North Africa

Messervy, unshaved, giving orders south-west of Gazala.

Messervy took 4th Indian Division to North Africa in April 1941, taking part in Operation Battleaxe in June. During Operation Crusader in November that year, 4th Indian Division, dug in on the Egypt – Libya border, played a key role in repelling Rommel's tanks after they had defeated the British armour at Sidi Rezegh. The division's battle groups took part in the Eighth Army's pursuit when Rommel withdrew from his defensive positions at Gazala in December, ending the year at Benghazi.[16]

In January 1942 Messervy was appointed to replace Herbert Lumsden, the wounded commader of 1st Armoured Division which had recently arrived in the desert.[17] During Rommel's attack from El Agheila in late January 1942, the division was outmatched by the Axis armour and heavily defeated. On Lumsden's return in March 1942, Messervy was moved to command 7th Armoured Division which had lost its commander, Jock Campbell, killed in a motor accident. Messervy was the only British Indian Army officer to command a British division during the Second World War.[17]

Messervy was known as the "Bearded Man" because he tended not to shave in battle. When Division HQ was overrun by the Germans at the start of the Battle of Gazala, he was captured (27 May 1942); but, removing all insignia, managed to bluff the Germans into believing he was a batman and escaped with other members of his staff to rejoin Division HQ the following day.[17]

Messervy knew little about tanks and was not considered a great success commanding armoured divisions by his superiors. He was dismissed from command of 7th Armoured Division by Eighth Army commander Neil Ritchie in late June 1942 following the severe defeat the division had sustained at the Battle of Gazala. He transferred to Cairo as Deputy Chief of General Staff, GHQ Middle East Command 1942 and was sent to India a few months later to raise 43rd Indian Armoured Division as its commander. Originally intended for service in Persia, the division was disbanded in April 1943 when the threat to Persia was removed by the Soviet victory at Stalingrad.[18]

India and Burma

Messervy was made Director of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, General Headquarters, India Command in 1943 where ironically (in the light of his failure as an armoured commander in the field), he argued successfully against the then prevailing view that large tanks could not be used in Burma. This was to have a significant impact in 1944 and 1945 when heavy armour was used to telling effect against the Japanese.[18]

In July 1943 Messervy was appointed GOC Indian 7th Infantry Division which was sent to the Arakan in Burma to join XV Corps in September. In the Japanese offensive in February 1944, despite having his headquarters overrun and scattered and his supply lines compromised, Messervy's brigades conducted a successful defence whilst being supplied by air (Battle of the Admin Box). After going on the attack in late February, 7 Indian Division was relieved in mid-March.[19]

In March 1944 he lost two brigades sent to reinforce the hard-pressed defences at Imphal and Kohima in India. By May, the whole division was back in the front line in the Kohima sector, fighting a key five-day battle at the Naga Village. It then advanced towards the Chindwin river, combining with Indian 20th Infantry Division to inflict a heavy defeat on the Japanese at Ukhrul.[19]

In December 1944 he was appointed to command IV Corps, which he led in the 1945 offensive during which, he captured the key communications centre at Meiktila in Burma and advanced to Rangoon between February and April. When Messervy returned from home leave hostilities had ceased. He was made Commander-in-Chief Malaya Command in 1945 after the Japanese surrender.[20]

Post Second World War

Close to the Partition of India, Messervy was made General Officer Commander-in-Chief Northern Command India from 1946 to 1947. Finally when Pakistan came into being, he served as Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army from 1947 to 1948. He retired in 1948[20] and was granted the honorary rank of general.[21]

In October 1947, Messervy had become aware of the mobilisation of Pashtun tribesmen in the North-West Frontier Province for the invasion of Kashmir. The governor George Cunningham informed him of the efforts by the Chief Minister Abdul Qayyum Khan in the mobilisation. Messervy advised the Prime Minister Liaquat Ali Khan against such a course. Eventually the tribal invasion was launched on 20 October 1947 when Messervy was away in London.[22] Nevertheless, Messervy came in for criticism by the Indian leadership for not informing the Indian officers regarding the invasion.[23]

He had resisted the orders of Pakistan’s founding father Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which is seen as the main reason for his early retirement.

Messervy died in the United Kingdom in 1974.


Career

Promotions

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Frank Walter Messervy.

Footnotes

  1. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37977. p. 2574. 1947-06-06. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  2. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35396. p. 7333. 26 December 1941. Retrieved 2008-06-23.
  3. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36477. p. 1815. 1944-04-18. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35396. pp. 7339–7353. 1941-12-26. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37015. p. 1819. 1945-04-03. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  6. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37184. pp. 3746–3753. 1945-07-17. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  7. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 31736. pp. 698–700. 1920-01-13. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  8. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 37238. p. 4299. 1945-08-24. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  9. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 38431. p. 5447. 1948-10-15. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  10. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 40738. p. 1736. 1956-03-23. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  11. ↑ A letter catalogued by MJF, dated 23 March 1948, refers to Sir Douglas David Gracey as Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army at that date; but the International Who's Who states that Messervy was Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army until August the same year.
  12. ↑ http://oxfordindex.oup.com/view/10.1093/ref:odnb/31440
  13. ↑ MESSERVY, Gen Sir Frank Walter (1893-1974), Liddell Hart Military Archives, King's College, London
  14. ↑ Richard Mead, p.295
  15. 1 2 3 Richard Mead, p.296
  16. ↑ Richard Mead, p.297
  17. 1 2 3 Richard Mead, p.298
  18. 1 2 Richard Mead, p.299
  19. 1 2 Richard Mead, p.300
  20. 1 2 Richard Mead, p.301
  21. 1 2 The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38411. p. 5135. 1948-09-21. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  22. ↑ Hodson, H. V. (1969), The Great Divide: Britain, India, Pakistan, London: Hutchinson, p. 447
  23. ↑ Prasad, S.N.; Dharm Pal (1987). History of Operations In Jammu and Kashmir 1947–1948. New Delhi: History Department, Ministry of Defence, Government of India. (printed at Thomson Press (India) Limited). p. 18..
  24. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28683. p. 499. 1913-01-21. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  25. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28849. p. 5455. 1914-07-14. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  26. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33829. p. 3419. 1932-05-27. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  27. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33829. p. 3418. 1932-05-27. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  28. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33884. p. 7344. 1932-11-18. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  29. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 34264. p. 1660. 1936-03-13. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  30. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 37801. p. 5852. 1946-11-29. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  31. 1 2 The London Gazette: no. 38041. p. 3739. 1947-08-08. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  32. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 38400. p. 4907. 1948-09-10. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  33. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 28683. p. 499. 1913-01-21. Retrieved 2013-10-17.
  34. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 29186. p. 5526. 1915-06-08. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  35. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 30236. p. 8458. 1917-08-17. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  36. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 33409. p. 5217. 1928-07-03. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  37. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33513. p. 4362. 1929-07-02. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  38. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33693. p. 1357. 1931-02-27. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  39. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33882. p. 7180. 1932-11-11. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  40. ↑ The London Gazette: no. 33955. p. 4383. 1933-06-30. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  41. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34516. p. 3567. 1938-06-03. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  42. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 34832. p. 2301. 1940-04-16. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  43. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35163. p. 2783. 1941-05-13. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  44. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35533. p. 1799. 1942-04-21. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  45. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 36003. p. 2043. 1943-05-04. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  46. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37466. p. 701. 1946-01-25. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
  47. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37294. p. 4890. 1945-10-02. Retrieved 2009-03-13.
Military offices
Preceded by
Herbert Lumsden		 GOC 1st Armoured Division
January 1942 – March 1942 		Succeeded by
Herbert Lumsden
Preceded by
Jock Campbell		 GOC 7th Armoured Division
March 1942 – June 1942 		Succeeded by
James Renton
Preceded by
Sir Geoffrey Scoones		 GOC, IV Corps
1944–1945 		Succeeded by
Sir Francis Tuker
Preceded by
Sir Miles Dempsey		 GOC Malaya Command
1945 		Succeeded by
Sir Alexander Galloway
Preceded by
Sir Richard O'Connor		 GOC-in-C, Northern Command, India
1946–1947 		Succeeded by
Post disbanded
New title
Pakistan Army established
 Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army
1947–1948 		Succeeded by
Douglas Gracey
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