GODWIN-AUSTEN, Gen Sir Alfred Reade (1889-1963)

Papers relating to his service in Somaliland, 1940, notably including typescript copies of telegrams to Lt Gen Arthur Francis Smith, Deputy Chief of General Staff, [GHQ Middle East], giving a brief account of the attack by Italian troops on British forces at Tug Argan, 11 Aug 1940, dated 12 Aug 1940, and to [Gen Sir Archibald Percival Wavell] giving an appreciation of the current situation in Somaliland, 14 Aug 1940.

Born in 1889; educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; joined South Wales Borderers, 1909; served at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia, 1915-1919, on Staff of 40 Infantry Bde and 13 Div; Staff College, Camberley, 1923-1925; staff appointments, War Office, Royal Military College, Sandhurst and Egypt; publication of The Staff and the Staff College (Constable and Co, London, 1927); commanded 2nd Bn, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 1936-1937; employed with British Military Mission to Egyptian Army, 1937-1938; commanded 14 Infantry Bde in Palestine Rebellion, 1938-1939; Maj-Gen, 1939; Commanded 8th Division, 1939; served in East Africa, Abyssinia, and Libya; Director of Research, War Office, 1942-1943; Vice Quartermaster General, War Office, 1943-1944; Quartermaster General, India Command, New Delhi, 1945; Principal Administrative Officer, India Command, New Delhi, 1945-1946; Lt-Gen 1946; Gen, 1946; retired pay, 1947; died in 1963.

1 file.

Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.

Presented to the Centre by the family in 1965.

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