George Philip Bradley Roberts
| George Philip Bradley Roberts | |
|---|---|
 Major-General Roberts, commanding 11th Armoured Division, in his White scout car, 15 August 1944. | |
| Nickname(s) | Pip |
| Born |
5 November 1906 Quetta, British India (now in Pakistan) |
| Died |
5 November 1997 (aged 91) East Sussex |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1926 – 1949 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Unit | Royal Tank Regiment |
| Commands held |
3rd Royal Tank Regiment (4 Jan 1942) 22nd Armoured Brigade Group & 22nd Armoured Brigade (23 Jul 1942 – 20 Jan 1943) 7th Armoured Division (acting, 20 Jan 1943 – 25 Jan 1943) 26th Armoured Brigade (13 Mar 1943 – 19 Jun 1943) 30th Armoured Brigade (20 Jul 1943 – 6 Dec 1943) 11th Armoured Division (6 Dec 1943 - 1946) 7th Armoured Division (1947 - 1948) Hanover District, Germany (1948) Director, Royal Armoured Corps (1948 - 1949) |
| Battles/wars |
Second World War North Africa Normandy Northern Europe |
| Awards |
Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross |
| Other work | unsuccessful Conservative Party candidate for Wimbledon (Jul 1945); Director of Scribbans-Kemp (1949-1964); Honorary Colonel, Kent and County of London Yeomanry Squadron, The Royal Yeomanry Regiment, TAVR (1 May 1962 – 31 Jul 1970); Justice of the Peace (1960 - 1970) |
Major-General George Philip Bradley Roberts CB, DSO, MC, (November 5, 1906 – November 5, 1997), better known as "Pip", was a senior officer of the British Army who served with distinction during the Second World War, in particular as commander of the 11th Armoured Division.
Military career
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Roberts was born in Quetta, British India, in 1906 and was educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1926.[1] He was posted to Egypt with the Royal Tanks Corps from 1928 to 1931.[1]
Roberts was an instructor at the Tank Driving and Maintenance School at Bovington, Dorset, from 1933 to 1937.[1] He was again posted to Egypt for 1938 and 1939.[1] He commanded the 11th Armoured Division (the "Black Bull"), which fought in North West Europe, from 1944 to 1946.[1]
Roberts commanded the 7th Armoured Division in 1947.[1] He then became Director of the Royal Armoured Corps and retired from the Army in September 1949.[1] His book From the Desert to the Baltic is an account of all his wartime battles.
References
- Roberts, GPB. From The Desert to the Baltic.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to George Roberts. |
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Brocas Burrows |
GOC 11th Armoured Division December 1943–1946 |
Succeeded by Vacant (next held by Henry Foote) |
| Preceded by Vacant (previously held by Lewis Lyne) |
GOC 7th Armoured Division 1947–1948 |
Succeeded by Vacant (next held by Robert Arkwright) |