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Dempsey, Miles Christopher "Lucky"

Geboortedatum:
15 december 1896 (New Brighton/Wallasey/Engeland, Groot-Brittanie)
Overlijdensdatum:
5 juni 1969 (Yattendon/Engeland, Groot-Brittanie)
Begraven op:
Oorlogsgraven van het Gemenebest Abergavenny Cemetery
Nationaliteit:
Britse (1801-heden, Koninkrijk)

Biografie

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Periode:
Eerste Wereldoorlog (1914-1918)
Rang:
Acting Captain (Waarnemend Kapitein)
Eenheid:
1st Battalion Royal Berkshire Regiment, 6th Brigade, 2nd Division, British Army
Toegekend op:
3 juni 1919
Military Cross (MC)
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Acting Brigadier (Waarnemend Brigade Generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, 13th Infantry Brigade, 5th Infantry Division, British Army
Toegekend op:
11 juli 1940
Aanbeveling:
Een uitstekend commandant die tijdens de operaties in Vlaanderen een fraai voorbeeld van enthousisasme en minachting voor gevaar heeft getoond. Bij diverse gelegenheden herstelde hij moeilijke situaties door zijn tussenkomst, in het bijzonder bij het kanaal tussen Ieper en Komen.
Hij bleef kalm, opgewekt en uiterste effectief onder de moeilijkste omstandigheden.
Inverurie 27-6-40.
Getekend: Major-General, Commander 5th Division.
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Acting Lieutenant-General
Eenheid:
Headquarters, XIII Corps, British Army
Toegekend op:
14 oktober 1943
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Temporary Lieutenant-General (Tijdelijk Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
29 juni 1944
Commander of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (KCB/DCB)
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
1944
Aanbeveling:
Lt-gen. Sir M.C. Dempsey voerde het bevel over het Britse 2nd Army vanaf de aanval op de Franse kust. Door zijn opmerkellijke leiderschap en zijn omgang met de troepen onder zijn bevel leverde hij een onschatbare bijdrage aan het succes van de operaties die uiteindelijk leidden tot het verdrijven van de Duitse legers van Franse bodem.

WO 373/186/1051
Commandeur de l' Ordre National de la Legion d'Honneur
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
12 april 1945
Legion of Merit - Commander (LoM - C)
Aanbeveling:
Lieutenant-general Dempsey heeft het Britse 2nd Army tijdens de operaties in noordwest Europa briljant aangevoerd. Het succes van dit grote leger van First Corps (16 divisies) spreekt voor zich. De controle over en het omgaan met een troepenmacht van deze omvang, in het bijzonder wanneer die over zee moet worden ingezet tegen een verdedigde kustlijn moet een van de zwaarste tests voor elke commandant zijn. Generaal Dempsey was hier volledig tegen opgewassen en heeft sindsdien opmerkelijke kwaliteiten van leiderschap getoond in Frankrijk, België en nu in Nederland. Hij heeft zeer opmerkelijke diensten verleend aan de Geallieerde zaak.
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
5 juli 1945
Knights/Dames Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (K/DBE)
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
9 augustus 1945
Mentioned in Dispatches
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
16 januari 1947
Grootofficier in de Orde van Leopold II
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
16 januari 1947
Croix de Guerre 1940
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
Lieutenant-general (Luitenant-generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
20 maart 1947
Aanbeveling:
Lt Gen Dempsey heeft het Britse 2nd Army aangevoerd gedurende de veldtocht in noordwest Europa die heeft geleid tot de bevrijding van Nederland. De deskundigheid waarmee Lt Gen Dempsey het 2nd Army heeft aangevoerd was een belangrijke factor voor het succes van de operaties die de nederlaag van de vijand heeft versneld.
Grootofficier in de Orde van Oranje Nassau met zwaarden (ON.2z)
Periode:
Tweede Wereldoorlog (1939-1945)
Rang:
General (Generaal)
Eenheid:
Headquarters, Second Army, British Army
Toegekend op:
16 januari 1948
Distinguished Service Medal - Army (DSM)

War Diary vermeldingen

20 june 1944 WO 171/866 - 3 Royal Tank Regiment
CO, 2IC, Adjt, OsC ASC Sqn, Recce Tp inspect knocked out British tks. Talk by Brigadier on lessons to be learnt. Gen MC Dempsey GOC Second Army net C.O.

16 september 1944 WO 171/846 - 15-19 The King Royal Hussars
A fine Sept day. Regt still in same posn supporting 231 Bde in the br hd. Still some shelling and a certain amount of activity all around but not determined counter attack developed during the day. The br hd was strengthened by 9th Bn DLI who came in on the S.E. corner of the br hd thus allowing the Dorsets to move further North and make stronger link with the Devons in the North. C.O. attended a talk by the Corps Commander - Lt-Gen BG Horrecks CB., DSO, MC and the Commander 2nd Army Lt-Gen Sir Miles Dempsey KCB, DSO, MC at BOURG LEOPOLD 2683. On this the Corps Comd spoke of the adv during the past fortnight, the present situation and the operation Market Garden which was due to begin the following day. This operation was to be an adv by 30 Corps from the br hd up to the Zuider Zee to dominate the country West of this, thereby cutting off communication between Germany and the Low Countries and thus it was hoped trapping what German forces were left in France and the Low Countries, and also cutting off V.2. bases in this area. 30 Corps was to adv on one centre line through EINDHOVEN 4218 - ST OEDENRODE 4232 - GRAVE 6153 - NIJMEGEN 7062 - ARNHEM 7477 - APELDOORN 7803 - EEP 8018 - NUNSPEET 6621 with 8 Corps (11 Armd Div, 3rd Inf Div) protecting their right and rear and 12 Corps (7Armd Div, 4 Armd Bde, 15 (S) Div and 53(W) Div) operating on their left flank. A large part was also being played in this operation by Airborne Forces, 1st British Airborne Div with the Polish Para Bde was to capture intact the bridges over the Nederrijn at ARNHEM and dominate the surrounding countryside. 82 US Airborne Div was to capture intact the bridges over the Maas en Waal in areas GRAVE en NIJMEGEN and to dominate the surrounding country.101 US Airborne Div was to be dropped in the area between EINDHOVEN en GRAVE with the task of facilitating the adv of 30 Corps as far as the R. Maas. The Corps Comd expressed the opinion that if this operation was as successfull as he hoped he thought that it might be the decisive battle of the war and finally finish the German Army. The Regt's task in this operation was as follows:- with under comd 'A' Sqn The Royals (Maj J Bowlby), 1 Bty 86 Fd Regt RA (Herts Yeo) to adv behind the leading Bde of Gds Armd Div to the EINDHOVEN - ST OEDENRODE area and there come under comd 101 US Airborne Div whose task it was to keep open the Corps Axis of advance between VALKENSWAARD 4108 and VEGHEL 4737 and to prevent the enemy interference on this axis from either flank.

8 november 1944 WO 171/691 - 159 Infantry Brigade
At 0830 hrs 1 Hereford took over from 4 Ksli in IJSSELSTEIN, the 4 Ksli moving to DEURNE Bks for a 48 hrs rest in preparation for taking over GRIENDTSVEEN. Other Bde locations remained the same. Patrols continued during the night. Air Marshal Tedder and General Dempsey visited the Hq and remained talking to the Brigadier for about half an hour.

30 november 1944 WO 171/607 - 6 Guards Tank Brigade
The Supreme Allied Commander, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, G.C.B., visited Bde HQ and units of the Bde accompanied by General Sir Miles C. Dempsey, K.B.E., Commander Second British Army. Gen. Eisenhower’s inspection lasted two hours.

30 november 1944 WO 171/1255 - 4 Grenadier Guards
The Bn had the honour to be visited by the Supreme Commander General “Ike” Eisenhower. He inspected one vehicle of every type held by the Bn & was apparently extremely impressed by the standard of cleanliness & maintenance. He was accompanied by the Army Commander General Dempsey. The weather managed to keep fine for the visit for the first time in 3 weeks.

1 december 1944 WO 171/1251 - 4 Coldstream Guards
The Bn was visited, and an informal inspection held, by the Supreme Commander, General Eisenhower. With him were Lt. Gen. Sir Miles Dempsey & Lt. Gen. Ritchie. The General was shown “Cuckoo" the Panther and talked to Sergeant Roberts, its Commander.

8 december 1944 WO 171/1330 - 1 East Lancashire
We learned that Lt-Gen. Sir Miles Christopher Dempsey, K.C.B., D.S.O., M.C., was going to visit the bn tomorrow. A programme was arranged for the visit and the bn was busy during the afternoon in preparation. (Copy of programme for Visit is attached as Appendix "B").

20 december 1944 WO 171/837 - 2 Household Cavalry
At about 2200 hrs 19 Dec, 2 IC returned and orders were given the 2 HCR was to recce the line of the Meuse incl NAMUR - incl VISE 5359 to report whether the Hun had reached the river also to report on the roads and bridges in the area. The river front given was a 40 mile front while communication had to be to Army who were approx 60 miles back from the Meuse so that the wireless distances were immense. However by remembering our training in YORKSHIRE and by everyone sitting on top of the highest hills of which at long last there were some, touch was maintained. The job was done 3 up, A rt D centre and C left. B Sqn in reserve at WATERSCHEI also acted as a step up to Army. The job entailed a long night move - for A Sqn up to 60 miles and the object was to get on the river line by first light. However the fog and US convoys slowed things up a good deal. Nevertheless by 1030 hrs it was firmly established that no sizeable body of enemy were up to or had crossed the Meuse. By the time the C.O. who had been sent for from BRUSSELS returned that is by 1500 hrs a fairly accurate report could be given of the state of the bridges and of the roads in the area. Comn with Army was through an L.O., Capt Garnett, who had a 9 set on 2 HCR comd net and to whom the infmn was relayed by B Sqn. In fact this method was probably an error and it would have been a far better plan to have the LO on a separate frequency working to him through the RCA set. At the time however 2 HCR had no satisfactory spare frequency and time was too short to get one allotted. In fact the infmn was got through and there was not a great block on the comd net. RHQ was at CHATEAU DE LOOZE. Appx A: Orders given by General Dempsey to 2 I.C. Appx B: Letter form General Dempsey to 2 IC dated 20 Dec.

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