Name Godwin Michelmore Died October 25, 1982 | Education Rugby School | |
Major General Sir William Godwin Michelmore KBE, CB, DSO, MC, TD, JP, DL (14 March 1894–25 October 1982) was a senior British Army officer who served in both world wars and was later ADC to King George VI and Lord Mayor of Exeter.
Contents
Early life and military career
Godwin Michelmore was born in Exeter, Devon, and educated at Rugby School. During the First World War Michelmore was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the British Army's Royal Engineers and fought in the Battle of Passchendaele, where he was wounded. By the end of the war, Michelmore had been promoted to acting major and had been awarded the Military Cross (MC) and had been twice mentioned in despatches.
During the Second World War, Michelmore was a brigade and divisional commander. He commanded the Devon and Cornwall County Division, the 77th Infantry Division (later re-designated as the 77th Infantry (Reserve) Division, and finally the 77th Holding Division), and finally the 45th Holding Division. Michaelmore also served as Aide-de-camp (ADC) to King George VI between 1942 and 1947.
Post war
Michelmore’s post war appointments included:
Michelmore was appointed Commander of the Honourable Order of the Bath CB in 1945 and created Knight Commander of The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1953.
In early 1971 he married Winsome Montgomery, one of Bernard Montgomery's sisters.