George Molesworth
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General George Noble Molesworth, CSI
, CBE
(1890–1968) was an officer
commissioned into the British Army
serving in India and saw active service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War
. He later transferred to the British Indian Army
and rose to oversee intelligence
and to be Deputy Chief of General Staff of Army Headquarters India. He also served as Military Secretary to the India Office.
and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
As a young man during World War I
, Molesworth joined Somerset Light Infantry as 2nd Lieutenant and served as Adjutant from 1916 to 1919. During this time he served in Malta
, North China
and India
, where he received a Great War Medal
). He also served during this time in the Third Anglo-Afghan War
, where he was Mentioned in Despatches and received 'medal and clasp'. He also served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Army Headquarters India during 1919 and 1921 and in 1924, and was made Brigade Major in 1925. Between the years 1926 and 1927 he served as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at Army Headquarters India.
In 1928 he transferred to the Indian Army
, 15th Punjab Regiment
. He served as Instructor at the Staff College
, Quetta
from 1929 to 1933. He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1932. Two years later, in 1934, he commanded the 4th Bn of the 5th Punjab Regiment; he joined the Imperial Defence College in 1935.
From 1936 to 1938 he served as Deputy Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at Army Headquarters India before being promoted to Director in 1939. He served in this position for a year before becoming Deputy Chief of General Staff at Army Headquarters India in 1940.
From 1943 to 1944 he served as Military Secretary to the India Office
; he retired in 1945.
He was also Colonel of the 4/15th Punjab Regiment from 1941 to 1960.
Source: Who Was Who (UK)
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(1890–1968) was an officer
Officer (armed forces)
An officer is a member of an armed force or uniformed service who holds a position of authority. Commissioned officers derive authority directly from a sovereign power and, as such, hold a commission charging them with the duties and responsibilities of a specific office or position...
commissioned into 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...
serving in India and saw active service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War
Third Anglo-Afghan War
The Third Anglo-Afghan War began on 6 May 1919 and ended with an armistice on 8 August 1919. It was a minor tactical victory for the British. For the British, the Durand Line was reaffirmed as the political boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British India and the Afghans agreed not to...
. He later transferred to the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
and rose to oversee intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
and to be Deputy Chief of General Staff of Army Headquarters India. He also served as Military Secretary to the India Office.
Military career
Lieutenant-General George Noble Molesworth was the Eldest son of Henry B. Molesworth and Grandson of Sir Guildford Molesworth. He was educated at Bradfield CollegeBradfield College
Bradfield College is a coeducational independent school located in the small village of Bradfield in the English county of Berkshire.The college was founded in 1850 by Thomas Stevens, Rector and Lord of the Manor of Bradfield...
and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
As a young man during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, Molesworth joined Somerset Light Infantry as 2nd Lieutenant and served as Adjutant from 1916 to 1919. During this time he served in Malta
Malta
Malta , officially known as the Republic of Malta , is a Southern European country consisting of an archipelago situated in the centre of the Mediterranean, south of Sicily, east of Tunisia and north of Libya, with Gibraltar to the west and Alexandria to the east.Malta covers just over in...
, North China
North China
thumb|250px|Northern [[People's Republic of China]] region.Northern China or North China is a geographical region of China. The heartland of North China is the North China Plain....
and India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, where he received a Great War Medal
British War Medal
The British War Medal was a campaign medal of the British Empire, for service in World War I.The medal was approved in 1919, for issue to officers and men of British and Imperial forces who had rendered service between 5 August 1914 and 11 November 1918...
). He also served during this time in the Third Anglo-Afghan War
Third Anglo-Afghan War
The Third Anglo-Afghan War began on 6 May 1919 and ended with an armistice on 8 August 1919. It was a minor tactical victory for the British. For the British, the Durand Line was reaffirmed as the political boundary between the Emirate of Afghanistan and British India and the Afghans agreed not to...
, where he was Mentioned in Despatches and received 'medal and clasp'. He also served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Army Headquarters India during 1919 and 1921 and in 1924, and was made Brigade Major in 1925. Between the years 1926 and 1927 he served as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at Army Headquarters India.
In 1928 he transferred to the Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
, 15th Punjab Regiment
15th Punjab Regiment
The 15th Punjab Regiment was a regiment of the British Indian Army from 1922 to 1947. It was transferred to Pakistan Army on Partition of India in 1947, and amalgamated with the 1st, 14th and 16th Punjab Regiments in 1956 to form the Punjab Regiment....
. He served as Instructor at the Staff College
Command and Staff College
The Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
, Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
from 1929 to 1933. He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1932. Two years later, in 1934, he commanded the 4th Bn of the 5th Punjab Regiment; he joined the Imperial Defence College in 1935.
From 1936 to 1938 he served as Deputy Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at Army Headquarters India before being promoted to Director in 1939. He served in this position for a year before becoming Deputy Chief of General Staff at Army Headquarters India in 1940.
From 1943 to 1944 he served as Military Secretary to the India Office
Military Secretary to the India Office
The Military Secretary to the India Office was responsible for the recruitment of British and other European nationals to the officer ranks of the Indian Army.-Military Secretaries to the India Office:The Military Secretaries were as follows:...
; he retired in 1945.
He was also Colonel of the 4/15th Punjab Regiment from 1941 to 1960.
Honors
- Made CSIOrder of the Star of IndiaThe Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
1941 - Made OBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
1950 - Made CBEOrder of the British EmpireThe Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
1956 - Honorary Colonel 12/Punjab RegimentPunjab RegimentPunjab Regiment may refer to the following existing units:*Punjab Regiment *Punjab Regiment From 1922 to 1947, the British Indian Army included 6 numbered Punjab Regiments:*1st Punjab Regiment*2nd Punjab Regiment*8th Punjab Regiment...
1961
Source: Who Was Who (UK)
External links
Publications
- Molesworth, Lt-Gen. G.N., Afghanistan 1919 (Asia Publishing House, 1962).