Western Command (United Kingdom)

Updated on Oct 23, 2023

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Active 1905–1972 Branch British Army Garrison/HQ Chester		Country United Kingdom Type Command

Western Command was a command of the British Army.

History

Western Command was established in 1905 and was originally called the Welsh & Midland Command before changing its name in 1906. In 1907 Western Command relocated to Watergate House in Chester. In 1938, after a brief stay in temporary accommodation at Boughton, it moved to a new purpose-built neo-Georgian property known as Capital House at Queen's Park in Chester.

First World War

Army Order No 324, issued on 21 August 1914, authorised the formation of a 'New Army' of six Divisions, manned by volunteers who had responded to Earl Kitchener's appeal (hence the First New Army was known as 'K1'). Each division was to be under the administration of one of the Home Commands, and Western Command formed what became the 13th (Western) Division. It was followed by 19th (Western) Division of K2 in September 1914.

Second World War

In 1939, under Lieutenant General Robert Haining, the command consisted of Welsh, West Lancashire, and East Lancashire Areas, each commanding two divisions plus other troops. It covered Wales and the Counties of Cumberland, Westmorland, Lancashire, Staffordshire, Shropshire, Herefordshire, Cheshire, and Beachley, Gloucestershire as well as the Isle of Man and the coast defence garrisons of Berehaven, Queenstown and (for the purpose of technical training only) Lough Swilly.

Regular Troops reporting to the Command included:

2nd Bn The Buffs

2nd Anti-Aircraft Brigade

During 1943–44, the 80th Infantry (Reserve) Division was assigned to the Command as its training formation. On 1 September 1944, the division was replaced by the 38th Infantry (Reserve) Division, which took over the training role.

Post War

The Command was merged into HQ UK Land Forces (HQ UKLF) in 1972 and the property handed over to the Royal Army Pay Corps.

General Officers Commanding-in-Chief

GOCs and GOCinCs have included:
General Officer Commanding North Western District

1889–1890: Major-General William Goodenough

1890–1895: Lieutenant-General Julian Hall

1895–1896: Major-General Sir Baker Creed Russell

1896–1902: Major-General Leopold Swaine

1902–1903: Major-General Henry Hallam Parr

1904–1905: Major-General Sir Francis Howard

General Officer Commanding in Chief Western Command

1905 – 1907 Major General Sir Francis Howard

1907 – 1910 Lieutenant General Sir Charles Burnett

1910 – 1916 Lieutenant General Sir Henry Mackinnon

1916 – 1918 Lieutenant General Sir William Campbell

1918 – 1919 Lieutenant General Sir Thomas Snow

1919 – 1923 Lieutenant General Sir Beauvoir De Lisle

1923 – 1924 Lieutenant General Sir John Du Cane

1924 – 1928 Lieutenant General Sir Richard Butler

1928 – 1931 Lieutenant General Sir Cecil Romer

1931 – 1933 Lieutenant General Sir Cyril Deverell

1933 – 1936 Lieutenant General Sir Walter Kirke

1936 – 1939 Lieutenant General Sir Henry Jackson

1939 – 1940 Lieutenant General Sir Robert Haining

1940 – 1941 General Sir Robert Gordon-Finlayson

1941 – 1942 Lieutenant General Sir James Marshall-Cornwall

1942 – 1944 Lieutenant General Sir Edmond Schreiber

1944 – 1946 Lieutenant General Sir Daril Watson

1946 – 1948 Lieutenant General Sir Brian Horrocks

1948 – 1951 Lieutenant General Sir Frank Simpson

1951 – 1953 Lieutenant General Sir Cameron Nicholson

1953 – 1953 Lieutenant General Sir Charles Loewen

1953 – 1957 General Sir Lashmer Whistler

1957 – 1960 Lieutenant General Sir Otway Herbert

1960 – 1961 Lieutenant General Sir William Stirling

1961 – 1964 Lieutenant General Sir Edward Howard-Vyse

1964 – 1966 Lieutenant General Sir Richard Craddock

1966 – 1969 Lieutenant General Sir Antony Read

1969 – 1972 Lieutenant General Sir Napier Crookenden

References

Western Command (United Kingdom) Wikipedia

(Text) CC BY-SA