John George Walters Clark
Encyclopedia
John George Walters Clark CB
, MC
(1892–1948) was a British army officer in both World War I
and World War II
.
in 1911 and fought with them during World War I
. In 1917 he was awarded the Military Cross
. The citation for this award, which was published in the London Gazette
, stated:
and Trans-Jordan).
In May 1941, Clark formed and commanded Habforce
(which when in Iraq became part of Iraqforce
) which crossed the desert from Trans-Jordan to relieve RAF Habbaniya
during the Anglo-Iraqi War
. When Kingcol
, the flying column
of Habforce, arrived the airfield garrison had already forced the threatening Iraqi force to retire. With the arrival of Kingcol the garrison drove on to capture Falluja and Kingcol then exploited this to advance on Baghdad
, arriving on 29 May. The Iraq government capitulated two days later.
Habforce was also involved in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
advancing from eastern Iraq to capture Palmyra
on 3 July to secure the Haditha
- Palmyra oil pipeline.
In August 1941, the 1st Cavalry Division was reorganised as 10th Armoured Division. Clark remained in command until April 1942 so missing the division's active service at Alam Halfa
and Second battle of El Alamein
. Thereafter he held a number of administrative appointments including twelve months in 1944 as Chief Administrative Officer at AFHQ for which he held the acting rank of lieutenant-general.
. He was awarded the United States Legion of Merit
, in the Order of Commander in 1947 having already been given the award in the order of Officer in 1943
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, 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....
(1892–1948) was a British army officer in both 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...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Early life
Clark was commissioned into the 16th The Queen's Lancers16th The Queen's Lancers
The 16th The Queen's Lancers was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922.-History:...
in 1911 and fought with them 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...
. In 1917 he was awarded 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....
. The citation for this award, which was published 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...
, stated:
World War II
Between October 1939 and July 1942, Clark commanded 1st Cavalry Division (re-designated 10th Armoured Division in 1941) based in British Mandate of Palestine (PalestinePalestine
Palestine is a conventional name, among others, used to describe the geographic region between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River, and various adjoining lands....
and Trans-Jordan).
In May 1941, Clark formed and commanded Habforce
Habforce
Habforce was a British Army military unit created during the Anglo-Iraqi War and still active during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.-Creation and composition:...
(which when in Iraq became part of Iraqforce
Iraqforce
Iraqforce was a British and Commonwealth formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq. The formation fought in the Middle East during World War II.-Background:...
) which crossed the desert from Trans-Jordan to relieve RAF Habbaniya
RAF Habbaniya
Royal Air Force Station Habbaniya, more commonly known as RAF Habbaniya, was a Royal Air Force station at Habbaniyah, about west of Baghdad in modern day Iraq, on the banks of the Euphrates near Lake Habbaniyah...
during the Anglo-Iraqi War
Anglo-Iraqi War
The Anglo-Iraqi War was the name of the British campaign against the rebel government of Rashid Ali in the Kingdom of Iraq during the Second World War. The war lasted from 2 May to 31 May 1941. The campaign resulted in the re-occupation of Iraq by British armed forces and the return to power of the...
. When Kingcol
Kingcol
-Creation and composition:Kingcol was created to allow a portion of Habforce to relieve RAF Habbaniya as soon as possible. The column was named after its commander, Brigadier J.J. Kingstone...
, the flying column
Flying column
A flying column is a small, independent, military land unit capable of rapid mobility and usually composed of all arms. It is often an ad hoc unit, formed during the course of operations....
of Habforce, arrived the airfield garrison had already forced the threatening Iraqi force to retire. With the arrival of Kingcol the garrison drove on to capture Falluja and Kingcol then exploited this to advance on Baghdad
Baghdad
Baghdad is the capital of Iraq, as well as the coterminous Baghdad Governorate. The population of Baghdad in 2011 is approximately 7,216,040...
, arriving on 29 May. The Iraq government capitulated two days later.
Habforce was also involved in the Syria-Lebanon campaign
Syria-Lebanon campaign
The Syria–Lebanon campaign, also known as Operation Exporter, was the Allied invasion of Vichy French-controlled Syria and Lebanon, in June–July 1941, during World War II. Time Magazine referred to the fighting as a "mixed show" while it was taking place and the campaign remains little known, even...
advancing from eastern Iraq to capture Palmyra
Battle of Palmyra
The Battle of Palmyra was part of the Allied invasion of Syria during the Syria-Lebanon campaign in World War II. The British mechanized cavalry and an Arab Legion desert patrol broke up a Vichy French mobile column northeast of the city of Palmyra...
on 3 July to secure the Haditha
Haditha
Haditha is a city in the western Iraqi Al Anbar Governorate, about 240 km northwest of Baghdad. It is a farming town situated on the Euphrates River at . Its population of around 100,000 people is predominantly Sunni Muslim Arabs...
- Palmyra oil pipeline.
In August 1941, the 1st Cavalry Division was reorganised as 10th Armoured Division. Clark remained in command until April 1942 so missing the division's active service at Alam Halfa
Battle of Alam Halfa
The Battle of Alam el Halfa took place between 30 August and 5 September 1942 south of El Alamein during the Western Desert Campaign of the Second World War. Panzerarmee Afrika—a German-Italian force commanded by Generalfeldmarschall Erwin Rommel—attempted an envelopment of the British 8th Army,...
and 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...
. Thereafter he held a number of administrative appointments including twelve months in 1944 as Chief Administrative Officer at AFHQ for which he held the acting rank of lieutenant-general.
Retirement
Clark retired from the army in 1946 with the substantive rank of Major-GeneralMajor-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
. He was awarded the United States Legion of Merit
Legion of Merit
The Legion of Merit is a military decoration of the United States armed forces that is awarded for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services and achievements...
, in the Order of Commander in 1947 having already been given the award in the order of Officer in 1943
Army career summary
- Commissioned into 16th The Queen's Lancers16th The Queen's LancersThe 16th The Queen's Lancers was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922.-History:...
- 1911 - Instructor at Staff College Camberley - 1929 - 1932
- Commanding Officer 16th/5th Lancers - 1933 - 1936
- General Staff Officer 1 War Office - 1937 - 1938
- Commanding Officer 12th Infantry Brigade, France - 1938 - 1939
- General Officer Commanding 1st Cavalry Division, Middle East - 1939 - 1941
- General Officer Commanding 10th Armoured Division, Middle East - 1941 - 1942
- General Officer Commanding Lines of Communications Allied Forces Headquarters, Tunisia- 1942 - 1943
- Deputy Governor of Sicily - 1943
- Major-General Administration GHQ Middle East CommandMiddle East CommandThe Middle East Command was a British Army Command established prior to the Second World War in Egypt. Its primary role was to command British land forces and co-ordinate with the relevant naval and air commands to defend British interests in the Middle East and eastern Mediterranean region.The...
- 1943 - Chief Administrative Officer Allied Forces Headquarters - 1944
- Head Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Force Mission to Netherlands - 1945
- Head British Economic Mission to Greece - 1945 - 1947
- Retired - 1946