John Eldridge (British Army officer)

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Sir John Eldridge
Born2 March 1898
Died3 November 1985 (aged 87)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1915−1957
RankLieutenant-General
Service number13420
UnitRoyal Artillery
Commands heldAldershot District
Military College of Science
Battles/warsWorld War I
World War II
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Mentioned in despatches

Lieutenant-General Sir (William) John Eldridge KBE CB DSO MC (2 March 1898 – 3 November 1985) was a senior British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding Aldershot District.

Military career[edit]

Eldridge was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1915 during World War I and served in France and Belgium.[1] He was awarded the Military Cross in September 1917 for his actions during the war,[2] and the Distinguished Service Order in January 1919.[3]

After the war he was involved in operations in Iraq.[1] He attended the Staff College, Camberley, alongside future general officers such as William Dimoline, Leslie Lockhart and Ashton Wade, from 1933 to 1934.[4][5] He also served in World War II and was deployed to Italy in 1944.[1]

He became Director General of Artillery at the Ministry of Supply in 1945 and Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science in 1948.[1] He was made General Officer Commanding Aldershot District in 1951 and Controller of Munitions at the Ministry of Supply in 1953; he retired in 1957.[1]

He was a Founder Member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.[6]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  2. ^ "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 9974.
  3. ^ "No. 31092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1918. p. 18.
  4. ^ "No. 33904". The London Gazette. 20 January 1933. p. 442.
  5. ^ Smart 2005, p. 95.
  6. ^ "International Institute for Strategic Studies". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2010.

Bibliography[edit]

  • Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.

External links[edit]

Military offices
Preceded by Commandant of the Military College of Science
1948−1951
Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC Aldershot District
1951−1953
Succeeded by