Desmond Fitzpatrick
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Geoffrey Richard Desmond Fitzpatrick, GCB, GCVO, DSO
, MBE, MC
(14 December 1912 – 12 October 2002) was a senior British Army
officer who served as commander of the British Army of the Rhine
and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. After his retirement from the army he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
and later held a ceremonial position in the Royal Household
.
, the son of Sir Richard Fitzpatrick, a Brigadier-General
. He attended Eton College
and then the Royal Military College Sandhurst
, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the 1st The Royal Dragoons on 1 September 1932. He was promoted lieutenant
three years later. In 1938, his regiment was sent to Palestine to suppress the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, and on 22 December 1939 Fitzpatrick received the Military Cross
for his role in operations there.
on 1 September 1940. In 1941, his regiment was dispatched to Syria
, with him as adjutant
, to join Operation Exporter, the allied
invasion of territory controlled by Vichy France
in the Middle East. Fitzpatrick's regiment then participated in the Western Desert Campaign
, in the reconnaissance
role. After the operations there, he attended the British staff college
at Haifa
, and in June 1942 he became brigade major
of the 2nd Armoured Brigade, where he helped to plan the Second Battle of El Alamein
. After the battle, by which time he was a temporary major, Fitzpatrick was Mentioned in Despatches on 24 June 1943, and later appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire, announced in the London Gazette
in October 1943. By now he was an acting lieutenant colonel. The recommendation for the MBE credits his planning for he successful deployment of 2nd Armoured Brigade during the battle, and also comments on his "personal example, often under heavy shell fire" while at the Tactical HQ during the battle itself, from where he passed back valuable information to the higher-level formations which had a material effect on the outcome of the battle.
Fitzpatrick next served as a staff officer with the US First Corps and in a position at the War Office
, before rejoining his regiment in Holland in 1944 and taking command of one of its squadrons. In 1945, he took command of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
, which served as the reconnaissance regiment of the 7th Armoured Division. While commanding the regiment, Fitzpatrick helped capture the heavily-defended town of Tostedt
, personally leading several reconnaissance missions. Fitzpatrick's regiment also liberated the concentration camp at Fallingbostel, freeing 10,000 allied prisoners of war and 12,000 other prisoners. His regiment also liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
. For his leadership during this period, by which time he was a temporary lieutenant colonel, he was appointed to the Distinguished Service Order
on 14 July 1945.
. He was promoted brevet
lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1951, and then assumed command of the 1st Royal Dragoons in the Suez Canal Zone. He received substantive promotion to lieutenant colonel on 8 October 1952 and to colonel on 31 December 1953 (having held the rank on a temporary basis for a period before that). In 1957, he became the Chief of Staff of the 1st Corps with the rank of temporary brigadier. On 20 February 1959, he was appointed an Aide-de-Camp
to the Queen, and later in the year, Lord Mountbatten of Burma
selected Fitzpatrick to serve as the first Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff
. He took up the post on 29 October 1959, with the temporary rank of major general, and the rank was made substantive on 11 December 1959. In this position, Fitzpatrick became known as a "master tactician in the corridors of power" and distinguished himself as an expert in both the political and military realms, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours
, and relinquished the post on 28 October 1961. As a result of his success, he became Director of Military Operations at the Ministry of Defence
in 1962. In that role, he helped prepare the British intelligence estimate for the Cuban Missile Crisis
and played an important role in various defence policy debates, including those over the Polaris Missile. He relinquished the post on 14 February 1964.
On 25 March 1964, he became the Chief of Staff of the British Army of the Rhine
and General Officer Commanding
Rhine Army Troops. Then on 24 April 1965, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant general and became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Ireland Command
, the rank was made substantive on 4 June 1965. He was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours, by which time, and he had also been appointed honorary colonel of the Royals. He left Northern Ireland on 9 July 1966, and succeeded Geoffrey Baker
as Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff on 25 July. Next, on 1 May 1968 he relinquished that post, and on 10 July he was given the local rank of general
and appointed to command the British Army of the Rhine and the NATO Northern Army Group, his rank became substantive on 1 October. During his time with the Northern Army Group, Fitzpatrick became well respected among his NATO colleagues "for his intellectual capabilities and for his finesse in dealing with international problems" and acquired a reputation as a soldier with particular skill for diplomacy. He relinquished the colonelcy of the Royals on 29 March 1969 when the regiment was almalgamated into the Blues and Royals
, becoming deputy colonel of the new regiment until 9 December 1974. He was appointed ADC (General) on 9 January 1970.
Because of his skill and good reputation, Fitzpatrick appointment as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) was announced in April 1970, he took up the post on 1 December 1970, and was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1971 New Year Honours
. He was appointed Colonel Commandant
of the Royal Armoured Corps
on 1 April 1971. He served as DSACEUR until 12 November 1973, and retired from the Army on 26 January 1974.
, beginning in 1974. He was appointed Colonel of the Blues and Royals (Gold Stick
) on 17 December 1979 and held the post until 1998. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1997 New Year Honours. He died on 12 October 2002 at the age of 89.
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
Sir Geoffrey Richard Desmond Fitzpatrick, GCB, GCVO, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MBE, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(14 December 1912 – 12 October 2002) was a senior British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer who served as commander of the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
and Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe. After his retirement from the army he was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
Lieutenant Governor of Jersey
The Lieutenant Governor of Jersey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Jersey, a Crown dependency of the British Crown....
and later held a ceremonial position in the Royal Household
Royal Households of the United Kingdom
The Royal Households of the United Kingdom are the organised offices and support systems for the British Royal Family, along with their immediate families...
.
Early life
Fitzpatrick was born on 14 December 1912 in AldershotAldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
, the son of Sir Richard Fitzpatrick, a Brigadier-General
Brigadier (United Kingdom)
Brigadier is a senior rank in the British Army and the Royal Marines.Brigadier is the superior rank to Colonel, but subordinate to Major-General....
. He attended Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and then the Royal Military College Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, and was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the 1st The Royal Dragoons on 1 September 1932. He was promoted lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
three years later. In 1938, his regiment was sent to Palestine to suppress the 1936–1939 Arab revolt in Palestine, and on 22 December 1939 Fitzpatrick received the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
for his role in operations there.
Second World War
Fitzpatrick was promoted captainCaptain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 1 September 1940. In 1941, his regiment was dispatched to Syria
Syria
Syria , officially the Syrian Arab Republic , is a country in Western Asia, bordering Lebanon and the Mediterranean Sea to the West, Turkey to the north, Iraq to the east, Jordan to the south, and Israel to the southwest....
, with him as adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
, to join Operation Exporter, the allied
Allies of World War II
The Allies of World War II were the countries that opposed the Axis powers during the Second World War . Former Axis states contributing to the Allied victory are not considered Allied states...
invasion of territory controlled by Vichy France
Vichy France
Vichy France, Vichy Regime, or Vichy Government, are common terms used to describe the government of France that collaborated with the Axis powers from July 1940 to August 1944. This government succeeded the Third Republic and preceded the Provisional Government of the French Republic...
in the Middle East. Fitzpatrick's regiment then participated in the Western Desert Campaign
Western Desert Campaign
The Western Desert Campaign, also known as the Desert War, was the initial stage of the North African Campaign during the Second World War. The campaign was heavily influenced by the availability of supplies and transport. The ability of the Allied forces, operating from besieged Malta, to...
, in the reconnaissance
Reconnaissance
Reconnaissance is the military term for exploring beyond the area occupied by friendly forces to gain information about enemy forces or features of the environment....
role. After the operations there, he attended the British staff college
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
at Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
, and in June 1942 he became brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of the 2nd Armoured Brigade, where he helped to plan the Second Battle of El Alamein
Second Battle of El Alamein
The Second Battle of El Alamein marked a major turning point in the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. The battle took place over 20 days from 23 October – 11 November 1942. The First Battle of El Alamein had stalled the Axis advance. Thereafter, Lieutenant-General Bernard Montgomery...
. After the battle, by which time he was a temporary major, Fitzpatrick was Mentioned in Despatches on 24 June 1943, and later appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire, announced in the London Gazette
London Gazette
The London Gazette is one of the official journals of record of the British government, and the most important among such official journals in the United Kingdom, in which certain statutory notices are required to be published...
in October 1943. By now he was an acting lieutenant colonel. The recommendation for the MBE credits his planning for he successful deployment of 2nd Armoured Brigade during the battle, and also comments on his "personal example, often under heavy shell fire" while at the Tactical HQ during the battle itself, from where he passed back valuable information to the higher-level formations which had a material effect on the outcome of the battle.
Fitzpatrick next served as a staff officer with the US First Corps and in a position at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, before rejoining his regiment in Holland in 1944 and taking command of one of its squadrons. In 1945, he took command of the 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
8th King's Royal Irish Hussars
The 8th King's Royal Irish Hussars was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1693. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into The Queen's Royal Irish Hussars in 1958....
, which served as the reconnaissance regiment of the 7th Armoured Division. While commanding the regiment, Fitzpatrick helped capture the heavily-defended town of Tostedt
Tostedt
Tostedt is a municipality in the district of Harburg, in Lower Saxony, Germany. It is situated approx. 35 km southwest of Hamburg, and 12 km southwest of Buchholz in der Nordheide....
, personally leading several reconnaissance missions. Fitzpatrick's regiment also liberated the concentration camp at Fallingbostel, freeing 10,000 allied prisoners of war and 12,000 other prisoners. His regiment also liberated the Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen concentration camp
Bergen-Belsen was a Nazi concentration camp in Lower Saxony in northwestern Germany, southwest of the town of Bergen near Celle...
. For his leadership during this period, by which time he was a temporary lieutenant colonel, he was appointed to the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
on 14 July 1945.
Post-war career
After the war, Fitzpatrick finally received substantive to promotion to major on 1 July 1946, and held several staff assignments and became an instructor at the Staff College, CamberleyStaff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
. He was promoted brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1951, and then assumed command of the 1st Royal Dragoons in the Suez Canal Zone. He received substantive promotion to lieutenant colonel on 8 October 1952 and to colonel on 31 December 1953 (having held the rank on a temporary basis for a period before that). In 1957, he became the Chief of Staff of the 1st Corps with the rank of temporary brigadier. On 20 February 1959, he was appointed an Aide-de-Camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to the Queen, and later in the year, Lord Mountbatten of Burma
Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma
Admiral of the Fleet Louis Francis Albert Victor Nicholas George Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma, KG, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, GCVO, DSO, PC, FRS , was a British statesman and naval officer, and an uncle of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh...
selected Fitzpatrick to serve as the first Assistant Chief of the Defence Staff
Chief of the Defence Staff (United Kingdom)
The Chief of the Defence Staff is the professional head of the British Armed Forces, a senior official within the Ministry of Defence, and the most senior uniformed military adviser to the Secretary of State for Defence and the Prime Minister...
. He took up the post on 29 October 1959, with the temporary rank of major general, and the rank was made substantive on 11 December 1959. In this position, Fitzpatrick became known as a "master tactician in the corridors of power" and distinguished himself as an expert in both the political and military realms, he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1961 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
, and relinquished the post on 28 October 1961. As a result of his success, he became Director of Military Operations at the Ministry of Defence
Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)
The Ministry of Defence is the United Kingdom government department responsible for implementation of government defence policy and is the headquarters of the British Armed Forces....
in 1962. In that role, he helped prepare the British intelligence estimate for the Cuban Missile Crisis
Cuban Missile Crisis
The Cuban Missile Crisis was a confrontation among the Soviet Union, Cuba and the United States in October 1962, during the Cold War...
and played an important role in various defence policy debates, including those over the Polaris Missile. He relinquished the post on 14 February 1964.
On 25 March 1964, he became the Chief of Staff of the British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
and General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
Rhine Army Troops. Then on 24 April 1965, he was promoted to temporary lieutenant general and became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Ireland Command
HQ Northern Ireland
HQ Northern Ireland was the command formation responsible for the administration of all British Armed Forces stationed in and around Northern Ireland...
, the rank was made substantive on 4 June 1965. He was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1965 Queen's Birthday Honours, by which time, and he had also been appointed honorary colonel of the Royals. He left Northern Ireland on 9 July 1966, and succeeded Geoffrey Baker
Geoffrey Baker
Field Marshal Sir Geoffrey Harding Baker GCB, CMG, CBE, MC was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army.-Army career:...
as Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff on 25 July. Next, on 1 May 1968 he relinquished that post, and on 10 July he was given the local rank of general
General (United Kingdom)
General is currently the highest peace-time rank in the British Army and Royal Marines. It is subordinate to the Army rank of Field Marshal, has a NATO-code of OF-9, and is a four-star rank....
and appointed to command the British Army of the Rhine and the NATO Northern Army Group, his rank became substantive on 1 October. During his time with the Northern Army Group, Fitzpatrick became well respected among his NATO colleagues "for his intellectual capabilities and for his finesse in dealing with international problems" and acquired a reputation as a soldier with particular skill for diplomacy. He relinquished the colonelcy of the Royals on 29 March 1969 when the regiment was almalgamated into the Blues and Royals
Blues and Royals
The Blues and Royals is a cavalry regiment of the British Army, part of the Household Cavalry. The Colonel-in-Chief is Her Majesty The Queen and the Colonel is HRH The Princess Royal...
, becoming deputy colonel of the new regiment until 9 December 1974. He was appointed ADC (General) on 9 January 1970.
Because of his skill and good reputation, Fitzpatrick appointment as Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) was announced in April 1970, he took up the post on 1 December 1970, and was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1971 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
. He was appointed Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant
Colonel Commandant is a military title used in the armed forces of some English-speaking countries. The title, not a substantive rank, could denote a senior colonel with authority over fellow colonels...
of the Royal Armoured Corps
Royal Armoured Corps
The Royal Armoured Corps is currently a collection of ten regular regiments, mostly converted from old horse cavalry regiments, and four Yeomanry regiments of the Territorial Army...
on 1 April 1971. He served as DSACEUR until 12 November 1973, and retired from the Army on 26 January 1974.
Retirement
After retiring, Fitzpatrick was appointed to a five-year term Lieutenant Governor of JerseyLieutenant Governor of Jersey
The Lieutenant Governor of Jersey is the representative of the British monarch in the Bailiwick of Jersey, a Crown dependency of the British Crown....
, beginning in 1974. He was appointed Colonel of the Blues and Royals (Gold Stick
Gold Stick and Silver Stick
The Gold Stick and the Silver Stick are bodyguard positions in the British Royal Household, personal attendants to the Sovereign on ceremonial occasions....
) on 17 December 1979 and held the post until 1998. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order in the 1997 New Year Honours. He died on 12 October 2002 at the age of 89.