Staff College, Camberley
Encyclopedia
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
.
John Gaspard Le Marchant, 7th Hussars, submitted a proposal to the Commander-in-Chief
of the British Army
for a Royal Military College in three departments. A private officer training school, based on the idea of a senior or staff department in the proposed college was opened in the same year by Colonel Le Marchant, at the Antelope Inn, High Wycombe
, with himself as Commandant
. This was officially recognised by royal warrant
in 1801 as the senior department of the Royal Military College
which was to open in 1802 in Marlow
. Le Marchant now assumed the office of Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent-General.
The course, for which students were to pay until 1858, lasted two years. The role was specifically stated in 1808 as being to train future commanding officers as well as staff officers. The senior department moved to Fareham
in Surrey
in 1813 and to the Royal Military College buildings at Sandhurst
in 1820.
In 1858 the name was changed to the Staff College and it was made independent of the Royal Military College in 1870. It now had its own Commandant
and Adjutant
, although continued to be administered by Sandhurst until 1911. However it now had properly conducted entry and final examinations, and primarily military subjects were taught. Purpose-built dedicated premises were approved in 1858, and built between 1859 and 1863 to a design by James Pennethorne
, adjacent to the Royal Military College (but over the county boundary in Camberley
). During the 1870s there were just 40 students although numbers increased to 60 students in the 1880s.
In 1903 officers of the Colonial forces first joined the college and in 1905 naval officers were first introduced.
The College was completely restructured in 1938, with a junior wing at Camberley
, for officers of an average age of 29 years, and a senior wing at Minley Manor
, Farnborough
, for graduates of the former aged about 35 years.
In 1994 it was announced that a new Joint Services Command and Staff College
would replace the Staff College, the Royal Naval Staff College, RAF Staff College
, and Joint Service Defence College
in 1997.
Commandant, Staff College, Sandhurst
Commandant, Staff College, Camberley
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
, was a staff college for 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...
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
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
.
Origins
In 1799 ColonelColonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
John Gaspard Le Marchant, 7th Hussars, submitted a proposal to the 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...
of 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...
for a Royal Military College in three departments. A private officer training school, based on the idea of a senior or staff department in the proposed college was opened in the same year by Colonel Le Marchant, at the Antelope Inn, High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
, with himself as Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
. This was officially recognised by royal warrant
Royal Warrant
Royal warrants of appointment have been issued for centuries to those who supply goods or services to a royal court or certain royal personages. The warrant enables the supplier to advertise the fact that they supply to the royal family, so lending prestige to the supplier...
in 1801 as the senior department of the Royal Military College
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...
which was to open in 1802 in Marlow
Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a town and civil parish within Wycombe district in south Buckinghamshire, England...
. Le Marchant now assumed the office of Lieutenant-Governor and Superintendent-General.
The course, for which students were to pay until 1858, lasted two years. The role was specifically stated in 1808 as being to train future commanding officers as well as staff officers. The senior department moved to Fareham
Fareham
The market town of Fareham lies in the south east of Hampshire, England, between the cities of Southampton and Portsmouth, roughly in the centre of the South Hampshire conurbation.It gives its name to the borough comprising the town and the surrounding area...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
in 1813 and to the Royal Military College buildings at 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...
in 1820.
Decline, independence and subsequent growth
The College underwent a decline and by 1857 the annual admissions had fallen to just six.In 1858 the name was changed to the Staff College and it was made independent of the Royal Military College in 1870. It now had its own Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
and 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...
, although continued to be administered by Sandhurst until 1911. However it now had properly conducted entry and final examinations, and primarily military subjects were taught. Purpose-built dedicated premises were approved in 1858, and built between 1859 and 1863 to a design by James Pennethorne
James Pennethorne
Sir James Pennethorne was a notable 19th century English architect and planner, particularly associated with buildings and parks in central London.-Life:...
, adjacent to the Royal Military College (but over the county boundary in Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
). During the 1870s there were just 40 students although numbers increased to 60 students in the 1880s.
In 1903 officers of the Colonial forces first joined the college and in 1905 naval officers were first introduced.
The College was completely restructured in 1938, with a junior wing at Camberley
Camberley
Camberley is a town in Surrey, England, situated 31 miles southwest of central London, in the corridor between the M3 and M4 motorways. The town lies close to the borders of both Hampshire and Berkshire; the boundaries intersect on the western edge of the town where all three counties...
, for officers of an average age of 29 years, and a senior wing at Minley Manor
Minley Manor
Minley Manor is a Grade 2 listed country manor house, built in the French style by Henry Clutton in the 1860s with further additions in the 1880s. The Manor is situated 2 miles north of junction 4A of the M3 between Farnborough and Yateley in Hampshire, England and is situated in 38 hectares of...
, Farnborough
Farnborough, Hampshire
-History:Name changes: Ferneberga ; Farnburghe, Farenberg ; Farnborowe, Fremborough, Fameborough .Tower Hill, Cove: There is substantial evidence...
, for graduates of the former aged about 35 years.
In 1994 it was announced that a new Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College
Joint Services Command and Staff College is a British military academic establishment providing training and education to experienced officers of the Royal Navy, Army, Royal Air Force, Ministry of Defence Civil Service, and serving officers of other states.-History:JSCSC combined the single...
would replace the Staff College, the Royal Naval Staff College, RAF Staff College
RAF Staff College, Bracknell
The RAF Staff College at Bracknell was a Royal Air Force staff college active for most of the second half of the 20th century. Its role was the training of staff officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of air force matters...
, and Joint Service Defence College
Joint Service Defence College
The Joint Service Defence College was a training academy for British military personnel in the period from 1983 to 1997. It has now been amalgamated into the Joint Services Command and Staff College.-History:...
in 1997.
Commandants
Commandants since the College gained its independence in 1870 have been:Commandant, Staff College, Sandhurst
- 1870-1878 Major-General Edward HamleyEdward Bruce HamleyLieutenant-General Sir Edward Bruce Hamley KCB KCMG was a British general and military writer and a Conservative politician who sat in the House of Commons from 1885 to 1892.-Early life:...
- Feb-May 1878 Major-General Archibald AlisonSir Archibald Alison, 2nd BaronetGeneral Sir Archibald Alison, 2nd Baronet GCB was a Scottish soldier who achieved high office in the British Army in the 1880s.-Military career:...
- 1878-1885 Major-General Charles Creagh-OsborneCharles Creagh-OsborneLieutenant General Charles Osborne Creagh-Osborne CB was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Staff College, Sandhurst.-Military career:...
- 1885-1888 Major-General Edward CliveEdward Clive (1837–1916)General Edward Henry Clive DL, JP , was a British soldier and Liberal politician.-Military career:Clive was the son of George Clive and Ann Sybella Martha, daughter of Sir Thomas Farquhar, 2nd Baronet. He was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1854 and then transferred to the Grenadier Guards...
Commandant, Staff College, Camberley
- 1888-1893 Colonel Francis CleryFrancis CleryGeneral Sir Francis Clery KCB KCMG was a British Army officer who commanded 2nd Division during the Second Boer War.-Military career:...
- 1893-1898 Colonel Henry HildyardHenry HildyardGeneral Sir Henry John Thoroton Hildyard GCB was a British Army general who saw active service in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and the Second Boer War.He was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, South Africa, from 1905 to 1908....
- 1898-1903 Colonel Herbert MilesHerbert MilesLieutenant General Sir Herbert Scott Gould Miles GCB GCMG GBE CVO was Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Miles was commissioned into the 101st Regiment of Foot in 1869....
- 1903-1906 Colonel Sir Henry RawlinsonHenry Rawlinson, 1st Baron RawlinsonGeneral Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson, GCB, GCSI, GCVO, KCMG , known as Sir Henry Rawlinson, Bt between 1895 and 1919, was a British First World War general most famous for his roles in the Battle of the Somme of 1916 and the Battle of Amiens in 1918.-Military career:Rawlinson was...
- 1907-1910 Brigadier-General Henry Wilson
- 1910-1913 Major-General Sir William Robertson
- 1913-1914 Brigadier-General Launcelot KiggellLauncelot KiggellLieutenant General Sir Launcelot Edward Kiggell KCB KCMG was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey.-Military career:Kiggell was commissioned into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment in 1882...
- Note the college was closed during the War
- 1919-1922 Major-General Hastings AndersonHastings AndersonLieutenant General Sir Hastings Anderson KCB was Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Educated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, Anderson was commissioned into the Cheshire Regiment in 1890.He fought in the Second Boer War becoming Deputy Assistant...
- 1922-1926 Major-General Sir Edmund IronsideEdmund Ironside, 1st Baron IronsideField Marshal William Edmund Ironside, 1st Baron Ironside GCB, CMG, CBE, DSO, was a British Army officer who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff during the first year of the Second World War....
- 1926-1931 Major-General Charles GwynnCharles GwynnMajor-General Sir Charles William Gwynn KCB, CMG, DSO, FRGS was an Irish born British Army officer, geographer, explorer and author of works on military history and theory.-Military career:...
- 1931-1934 Major-General John DillJohn DillField Marshal Sir John Greer Dill, GCB, CMG, DSO was a British commander in World War I and World War II. From May 1940 to December 1941 he was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and subsequently in Washington, as Chief of the British Joint Staff...
- 1934-1936 Major-General Clement ArmitageClement ArmitageGeneral Sir Clement Armitage KCB CMG DSO was a British Army officer who commanded 1st Infantry Division shortly before World War II.-Military career:...
- 1936-1937 Major-General Viscount GortJohn Vereker, 6th Viscount GortField Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC , was a British and Anglo-Irish soldier. As a young officer in World War I he won the Victoria Cross at the Battle of the Canal du Nord. During the 1930s he served as Chief of the...
- 1937-1938 Major-General Sir Ronald AdamRonald AdamGeneral Sir Ronald Forbes Adam, 2nd Baronet, GCB, DSO, OBE was a British Army officer whose career spanned World War I and World War II...
- 1938-1939 Major-General Bernard PagetBernard PagetGeneral Sir Bernard Charles Tolver Paget GCB, DSO, MC was a British officer who served in both the First and Second World Wars.-Military career:...
- 1939-1941 Major-General Robert CollinsRobert Collins (British Army officer)Major-General Robert John Collins CMG DSO was a British Army officer who became Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley.-Military career:...
- 1941-1942 Major-General Montagu Stopford
- 1942-1943 Major-General Sir Alan Cunningham
- 1943-1944 Major-General Douglas WimberleyDouglas WimberleyMajor-General Douglas Neil Wimberley CB, DSO, MC was commander of the 51st Division at the Second Battle of El Alamein in World War II and lead it across North Africa to Sicily....
- 1944-1946 Major-General Philip Gregson-EllisPhilip Gregson-EllisMajor-General Philip George Saxon Gregson-Ellis CB OBE was a British Army officer who commanded 5th Division.-Military career:Gregson-Ellis was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in 1917 towards the end of World War I. He was appointed an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley in 1937...
- 1946-1948 Major-General Richard Hull
- 1948-1951 Major-General Dudley WardAlfred Dudley WardGeneral Sir Alfred Dudley Ward, GCB, KBE, DSO , was a British Army officer during the Second World War and later Governor of Gibraltar. He served as an ordinary soldier for three years before being sent for officer training in 1926...
- 1951-1954 Major-General Gerald LathburyGerald LathburyGeneral Sir Gerald William Lathbury, GCB, DSO, MBE was a British Army officer during the Second World War and later became Governor of Gibraltar-Military career:...
- 1954-1956 Major-General Charles JonesCharles Phibbs JonesGeneral Sir Charles Phibbs Jones GCB CBE MC was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1950s.-Military career:Charles Jones was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1925...
- 1957-1958 Major-General Nigel PoettNigel PoettGeneral Sir Joseph Howard Nigel Poett KCB, DSO was a British Army officer who commanded the 5th Parachute Brigade, 6th Airborne Division, during the Second World War.-Early life:...
- 1958-1961 Major-General Reginald HewetsonReginald HewetsonGeneral Sir Reginald Hackett Hewetson GCB CBE DSO is a fomer Adjutant-General to the Forces.-Military career:...
- 1961-1963 Major-General Charles HaringtonCharles Henry Pepys HaringtonGeneral Sir Charles Henry Pepys Harington GCB, CBE, DSO, MC was an officer in the British Army. He served in the British Expeditionary Force and in Normandy in the Second World War. He was later Commander-in-Chief of the three-service Middle East Command from 1963 to 1965, based at Aden...
- 1963-1966 Major-General John WorsleyJohn WorsleyLieutenant General Sir John Worsley KBE CB MC was Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong.-Military career:Worsley was commissioned into the 3rd Bn 2nd Punjab Regiment of the Indian Army in 1934 and served on the North West Frontier in India from 1935.He served in World War II and fought at the...
- 1966-1967 Major-General Mervyn Butler
- 1967-1970 Major-General John SharpJohn Sharp (British Army officer)General Sir John Sharp KCB MC was a British Army General who achieved high office in the 1970s.-Military career:Sharp was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1938. He served in World War II with 5th Medium Regiment and then with 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery...
- 1970-1972 Major-General Allan TaylorAllan Taylor (British Army officer)Lieutenant General Sir Allan Macnab Taylor KBE MC is a former British Army officer who commanded 1st Division.-Military career:Taylor was commissioned into the Royal Armoured Corps in 1940 during World War II...
- 1972-1974 Major-General Patrick Howard-DobsonPatrick Howard-DobsonGeneral Sir Patrick John Howard-Dobson GCB is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:...
- 1974-1975 Major-General Hugh BeachHugh BeachGeneral Sir Hugh Beach, GBE, KCB, MC is a British soldier who, in retirement, researches and advises on defence policy, arms control and disarmament, with an active interest in promoting concerns about ethical issues of peace and war....
- 1975-1978 Major-General John Stanier
- 1978-1980 Major-General Frank KitsonFrank KitsonGeneral Sir Frank Edward Kitson GBE, KCB, MC and Bar, DL is a retired British Army officer and writer on military subjects, notably low intensity operations...
- 1980-1982 Major-General David Alexander-SinclairDavid Alexander-SinclairMajor-General David Boyd Alexander-Sinclair CB is a former British Army officer who commanded 1st Armoured Division.-Military career:...
- 1982-1984 Major-General John AkehurstJohn Akehurst (British Army officer)General Sir John Bryan Akehurst KCB CBE was a British Army General who rose to be Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.-Military career:...
- 1984-1986 Major-General Patrick Palmer
- 1986-1988 Major-General John WatersJohn Waters (British Army officer)General Sir Charles John Waters GCB CBE is a former Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces.-Army career:Educated at Oundle School, John Waters was commissioned into the Gloucestershire Regiment in February 1956. He was made Commanding Officer of 1st Bn Gloucestershire Regiment in 1975...
- 1988-1989 Major-General John Learmont
- Mar-Dec 1989 Major-General Jeremy MackenzieJeremy MackenzieGeneral Sir John Jeremy Mackenzie GCB, OBE, DL is a former British Army General who became Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe.-Military career:...
- 1989-1991 Major-General William RousWilliam Rous (British Army officer)Lieutenant General The Honourable Sir William Edward Rous KCB OBE is a former Quartermaster-General to the Forces.-Military career:Born the son of the Earl of Stradbroke, Rous was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1959....
- 1991-1993 Major-General Michael Rose
- 1993-1994 Major-General Christopher Wallace
- 1994-1996 Major-General Anthony PigottAnthony PigottLieutenant-General Sir Anthony David Pigott KCB, CBE is a former British Army officer. He presently serves as Independent Member of Steering Board at the Intellectual Property Office.- Biography :...
- 1919-1922 Major-General Hastings Anderson