Wikipedia:
Richard Amyatt Hull |
| Richard Hull | |
|---|---|
| 7 May 1907 - 17 September 1989 | |
 Field Marshal Sir Richard Hull Crown Copyright |
|
| Place of birth |  Cosham, Hampshire |
| Place of death | Pinhoe, Devon |
| Allegiance | 
United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | 
British Army |
| Years of service | 1926 - 1967 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands | 1st Armoured Division 5th Infantry Division British troops in Egypt Far East Command |
| Awards | KG GCB (2 Jun 1961) KCB (2 Jan 1956) CB (5 Jul 1945) DSO (9 Feb 1943) |
| Other work | Constable of the Tower of London (1970 - 1975) Honorary Colonel, Cambridge University Officers Training Corps (Territorial Army) Sheriff of the County of Devonshire (13 Nov 1972) Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire (3 May 1973) High Sheriff of Devonshire (13 Nov 1974) Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire (5 Oct 1978) |
Field Marshal Sir Richard Amyatt Hull, KG, GCB, DSO (7 May 1907 - 17 September 1989) was the last Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1961 – 1964) and the first Chief of the General Staff (1964 – 1965), and as such the professional head of the British Army.
Army career
Educated at Charterhouse School and Trinity College, Cambridge, Hull was commissioned into the 17th/21st Lancers in 1928[1].
World War II
In 1941 he was appointed commanding Officer of the 17th/21st Lancers moving on in 1942 to become General Staff Officer 1 Canadian Armored Division. In 1943 he became successively brigade commander of 12th Infantry Brigade and then 26th Armoured Brigade in North Africa. From 1943 to 1944 he served as Deputy Director of Staff Duties at the War Office[2].
In 1944 he became General Officer Commanding of the 1st Armoured Division in Italy, leading it through the fierce battles of Operation Olive on the Gothic Line. Following the division's disbandment at the end of September, he became in November 1944 the commander of the 5th Infantry Division, leading it through the final phases of the war in North-Wast Europe - a post he held until 1946[3]. He was one of the youngest divisional commanders in the British Army.
After the War
From 1946 to 1948 he served as Commandant of Staff College Camberley. In 1948 he was appointed Director of Staff Duties at the War Office and in 1950 went on to become Chief Army Instructor at the Imperial Defence College. From 1953 to 1954 he was Chief of Staff for the Middle East Command[2].
In 1954 he became General Officer Commanding British troops in Egypt and then in 1956 Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff. In 1958 he was appointed Commander in Chief Far East Command. In 1961 he became Chief of the Imperial General Staff and in 1964 Chief of the General Staff. He was Chief of the Defence Staff from 1965 to 1967[4].
Later career
In retirement he became Constable of the Tower of London.
References
Further reading
- Heathcote, T.A. (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736-1997. Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Francis Festing |
Chief of the
Imperial General Staff 1961–1964 |
Succeeded by Post abolished |
| Preceded by New post |
Chief of
the General Staff 1964–1965 |
Succeeded by Sir James Cassels |
| Preceded by The Viscount Mountbatten of Burma |
Chief of
the Defence Staff 1965–1967 |
Succeeded by The Lord Elworthy |
| Honorary titles | ||
| Preceded by Sir Gerald Templer |
Constable of the Tower of
London 1970 – 1975 |
Succeeded by Sir Geoffrey Baker |
| Preceded by The Lord Roborough |
Lord Lieutenant of
Devon 1978–1982 |
Succeeded by The Earl of Morley |
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