Alexander Godley

General Sir Alexander Godley

General Sir Alexander John Godley KCB, KCMG (1867-1957) was a First World War general, best known for his role as commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and British XXII Corps, although he was also Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force, and had been in 1910, when he was appointed on the advice of Lord Kitchener. During the Battle of Gallipoli he commanded the New Zealand and Australian Division.

Alexander Godley was born in Chatham, Kent, England, on 4 February 1867, the son of William Godley, a British Army Captain of Irish heritage. He attended Sandhurst Military Academy and, after graduating in 1886, was commissioned in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He married Louisa Fowler in 1898 before serving in the Boer War. During his time in South Africa, Godley served with the Irish Guards.

After having attended the Staff College, he was dispatched by Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, to command the military of New Zealand for five years, with the rank of Major-General. He led the New Zealand army to Egypt, where its training continued before the landing at Anzac Cove. After the Gallipoli campaign, Godley was appointed to command the First ANZAC Corps, although before it saw any action, he was swapped with General Birdwood, commanding the Second ANZAC Corps, though he later commanded the British XXII Corps.

After the War, Godley served in the Occupation of the Rhine, then as Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, before returning to the Rhine as Commander of the Occupational forces.

Over his career, General Godley was Mentioned in Despatches at least ten times. He died in Oxford.

He was a nephew of John Robert Godley, the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Biography in 1966 Encyclopaedia of New Zealand

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