Geoffrey Musson
Encyclopedia
General
Sir Geoffrey Randolph Dixon Musson GCB CBE DSO
(9 June 1910 - 10 January 2008) was a senior British Army
officer who became Adjutant-General to the Forces
.
and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Geoffrey Musson was commissioned into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1930. During the Second World War he served in North Africa
and Italy
. He was Commanding Officer
of the 2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
from 1943 to 1944 and Commander of 36th Infantry Brigade from 1944 to 1946. He was awarded the DSO
in May 1944 for making an assault crossing of the Gari River, establishing a bridgehead
on the far bank, covering the construction of ferries
to allow the rest of the brigade
to cross and then securing an important vantage
point overlooking Monte Cassino
.
He commanded the Commonwealth Forces in Korea
from 1954 to 1955, and in 1956 he became commandant of the Infantry Training Centre
. In 1958 he was appointed General Officer Commanding
7th Armoured Division going on to be General Officer Commanding
5th Division later that year. He then served as Chief of Staff
of Middle East Land Forces from 1959 to 1962. He became Commander-in-Chief
Northern Command
in 1964 and Adjutant General
in 1967: he retired from the British Army
in 1970.
He was also Colonel Commandant
of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry from 1963 to 1968 and Colonel Commandant
of the Light Infantry
from 1968 to 1972.
He lived in Hurstbourne Tarrant
near Andover, Hampshire
.
He was awarded the CB in 1959, the KCB in 1965 and the GCB in 1970. He was also awarded the CBE in 1945.
In retirement he was Vice-Chairman of the National Savings Committee.
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 Randolph Dixon Musson GCB CBE 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...
(9 June 1910 - 10 January 2008) 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 became Adjutant-General to the Forces
Adjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
.
Military career
Educated at Shrewsbury SchoolShrewsbury School
Shrewsbury School is a co-educational independent school for pupils aged 13 to 18, founded by Royal Charter in 1552. The present campus to which the school moved in 1882 is located on the banks of the River Severn in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England...
and at Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall, Cambridge
Trinity Hall is a constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. It is the fifth-oldest college of the university, having been founded in 1350 by William Bateman, Bishop of Norwich.- Foundation :...
Geoffrey Musson was commissioned into the King's Shropshire Light Infantry in 1930. During the Second World War he served in North Africa
North Africa
North Africa or Northern Africa is the northernmost region of the African continent, linked by the Sahara to Sub-Saharan Africa. Geopolitically, the United Nations definition of Northern Africa includes eight countries or territories; Algeria, Egypt, Libya, Morocco, South Sudan, Sudan, Tunisia, and...
and Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He was Commanding Officer
Commanding officer
The commanding officer is the officer in command of a military unit. Typically, the commanding officer has ultimate authority over the unit, and is usually given wide latitude to run the unit as he sees fit, within the bounds of military law...
of the 2nd Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
from 1943 to 1944 and Commander of 36th Infantry Brigade from 1944 to 1946. He was awarded the 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...
in May 1944 for making an assault crossing of the Gari River, establishing a bridgehead
Bridgehead
A bridgehead is a High Middle Ages military term, which antedating the invention of cannons was in the original meaning expressly a referent term to the military fortification that protects the end of a bridge...
on the far bank, covering the construction of ferries
Ferry
A ferry is a form of transportation, usually a boat, but sometimes a ship, used to carry primarily passengers, and sometimes vehicles and cargo as well, across a body of water. Most ferries operate on regular, frequent, return services...
to allow the rest of the brigade
Brigade
A brigade is a major tactical military formation that is typically composed of two to five battalions, plus supporting elements depending on the era and nationality of a given army and could be perceived as an enlarged/reinforced regiment...
to cross and then securing an important vantage
Vantage
Vantage may refer to:*Vantage, Washington, a census-designated place in Kittitas County, Washington*Aston Martin V8 Vantage , an automobile brand manufactured by Aston Martin*Vantage , a cigarette brand manufactured by R.J...
point overlooking Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino
Monte Cassino is a rocky hill about southeast of Rome, Italy, c. to the west of the town of Cassino and altitude. St. Benedict of Nursia established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order, here around 529. It was the site of Battle of Monte Cassino in 1944...
.
He commanded the Commonwealth Forces in Korea
Korea
Korea ) is an East Asian geographic region that is currently divided into two separate sovereign states — North Korea and South Korea. Located on the Korean Peninsula, Korea is bordered by the People's Republic of China to the northwest, Russia to the northeast, and is separated from Japan to the...
from 1954 to 1955, and in 1956 he became commandant of the Infantry Training Centre
Infantry Training Centre
The Infantry Training Centre is a unit of the British Army administered by HQ School of Infantry responsible for both basic and advanced training of Soldiers and Officers joining the infantry...
. In 1958 he was appointed 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...
7th Armoured Division going on to be 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...
5th Division later that year. He then served as Chief of Staff
Chief of Staff
The title, chief of staff, identifies the leader of a complex organization, institution, or body of persons and it also may identify a Principal Staff Officer , who is the coordinator of the supporting staff or a primary aide to an important individual, such as a president.In general, a chief of...
of Middle East Land Forces from 1959 to 1962. He became Commander-in-Chief
Commander-in-Chief
A commander-in-chief is the commander of a nation's military forces or significant element of those forces. In the latter case, the force element may be defined as those forces within a particular region or those forces which are associated by function. As a practical term it refers to the military...
Northern Command
Northern Command (United Kingdom)
-Nineteenth century:The District Commands of the British Army in Great Britain and Ireland first appear in print in 1840, at which time Northern Command was held by Maj-Gen Charles James Napier, appointed in 1838. During his time the troops stationed within Northern Command were frequently deployed...
in 1964 and Adjutant General
Adjutant-General to the Forces
The Adjutant-General to the Forces, commonly just referred to as the Adjutant-General , is one of the most senior officers in the British Army. He is in charge of administration, personnel and organisational matters. The Adjutant-General usually holds the rank of General or Lieutenant-General...
in 1967: he retired from the 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...
in 1970.
He was also 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 King's Shropshire Light Infantry from 1963 to 1968 and 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 Light Infantry
Light infantry
Traditionally light infantry were soldiers whose job was to provide a skirmishing screen ahead of the main body of infantry, harassing and delaying the enemy advance. Light infantry was distinct from medium, heavy or line infantry. Heavy infantry were dedicated primarily to fighting in tight...
from 1968 to 1972.
He lived in Hurstbourne Tarrant
Hurstbourne Tarrant
Hurstbourne Tarrant is a village in Hampshire, England. It lies to the north of the county in the Test Valley.The Tarrant part of the name originates from 1226, when the village was given to the Cistercian Tarrant nunnery....
near Andover, Hampshire
Andover, Hampshire
Andover is a town in the English county of Hampshire. The town is on the River Anton some 18.5 miles west of the town of Basingstoke, 18.5 miles north-west of the city of Winchester and 25 miles north of the city of Southampton...
.
He was awarded the CB in 1959, the KCB in 1965 and the GCB in 1970. He was also awarded the CBE in 1945.
In retirement he was Vice-Chairman of the National Savings Committee.