GORT, 6th Viscount Gort John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, Viscount

Fold3_Team  ·  31 Oct 2023

Further Information: LL.D (Doctor of Law). P.C. (Privy Councillor). Graduate of Staff College, Camberley or Quetta. Graduate of Senior Wing, Staff College or the equivalent, or prior to 1939, of Staff College. Denotes the holder of an appointment (a) at War Office, (b) in Commands, (c) in Establishments, where no reference to the appointment or no general reference, such as (Special Appointment) is recorded. Officer serving with Militia, Territorial Army, Supplementary Reserve, Oversea Forces (Except Union of South Africa Defence Forces), or holding a temporary commission, who had service in any of the several theatres of war overseas. [The entry of this symbol is made as such Officers are not shown in the Graduation List of the Half-Yearly Army List].

Fold3_Team  ·  31 Oct 2023

Information: Served in the First World War as Commander 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Served in the Second world war in Command of the British Expeditionary Force. Ranks achieved: Captain, Major, Lieutenant-Colonel and Field Marshal. General Staff Officer 1st Grade, Staff College. Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel 06/01/1921. Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel 06/01/1921. Colonel, late Foot Guards, Temporary Brigadier, Officer on the Active List, seniority date 01/01/1925, Army List 1933. Colonel and Temporary Brigadier, Director of Military Training for the Directorate of Military Training, Head-Quarters of India, seniority date 14/11/1932, Army List 1933. Chief of the Imperial General Staff 1937-1939. Colonel-in-Chief British Field Force in France and Flanders 1939-1940. Inspector-General to the Forces for Training and Inspector-General Home Guard 1940-1941. Aide-de-Camp General to the King 1940-44. Governor and Colonel-in-Chief Gibraltar 1941-1942. Governor and Colonel-in-Chief Malta 1942-1944. Aide-de-Camp to H.M. King George VI 1940-1946. Colonel Commandant, Honourable Artillery Company, Territorial Army 20/07/1943. First Military Member. War Office, Army Council. Later Major-General General and Field Marshal. Establishments. Educational and Training. Staff College (Camberley). Commandant. Major General, General Staff. Active List, the Army on the Active List. GAZETTE ISSUE 29146, Appointed General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade, dated 31/03/1915. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29146/supplements/4145. Published 27/04/1915, page 4145. GAZETTE ISSUE 29608, Promoted to Brevet Major, His Majesty has been graciously pleased to approve the reward for Distinguished Service in the Field, dated 03/06/1916. http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29608/supplements/5565. Published 02/06/1916, page 5565. Son of John Gage Prendergast Vereker, 5th Viscount Gort, and of the Viscountess Gort (nee Surtees), of St. Marylebone, London, and Cowes, Isle of Wight. 6th Viscount Gort.

Fold3_Team  ·  31 Oct 2023

More Information: Further gazette dates: 11/05/19137 (G.C.B.); 31/12/1937 (K.C.B.); 01/06/1928 (C.B.E.); 01/06/1917 (D.S.O.); 25/09/1917 (D.S.O.Bar); 08/01/1918 (D.S.O.Bar, Citation); 10/01/1919 (D.S.O.Second Bar); 22/06/1915 (M.C.); 16/10/1914 (MiD); 20/10/1914 (MiD); 16/02/1915 (MiD); 18/06/1915 (MiD); 13/06/1916 (MiD); 15/05/1917 (MiD); 14/12/1917 (MiD); 24/12/1918 (MiD); 04/07/1919 (MiD) Further gazette pages: 3079 (G.C.B.); 3 (K.C.B.); 3851 (C.B.E.); 5470 (D.S.O.); 9967 (D.S.O.Bar); 558 (D.S.O.Bar, Citation); 577 (D.S.O.Second Bar); 6118 (M.C.); 8346 (MiD); 8378 (MiD); 1649 (MiD); 5977 (MiD); 5920 (MiD); 4747 (MiD); 13225 (MiD); 15121 (MiD); 8577 (MiD) Further gazette issues: 34396 (G.C.B.); 34469 (K.C.B.); 33390 (C.B.E.); 30111 (D.S.O.); 30308 (D.S.O.Bar); 30466 (D.S.O.Bar, Citation); 31119 (D.S.O.Second Bar); 29202 (M.C.); 28942 (MiD); 28945 (MiD); 29072 (MiD); 29200 (MiD); 29623 (MiD); 30072 (MiD); 30434 (MiD); 31083 (MiD); 31439 (MiD)

Fold3_Team  ·  31 Oct 2023

Gazette Information: GAZETTE ISSUE 31034, VICTORIA CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31034/supplements/14039. His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the award of the Victoria Cross to the undermentioned:- Captain and Brevet Major (Acting Lieutenant-Colonel) John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, Viscount Gort, D.S.O., M.V.O., M.C., 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards. For most conspicuous bravery, skilful leading and devotion to duty during the attack of the Guards Division on 27th September 1918, across the Canal Du Nord near Flesquieres, when in command of the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, the leading battalion of the 3rd Brigade. Under heavy artillery and machine-gun fire he led his battalion with great skill and determination to the “forming-up” ground, where very severe fire from artillery and machine-guns was again encountered. Although wounded, he quickly grasped the situation, directed a platoon to proceed down a sunken road to make a flanking attack, and, under terrific fire, went across open ground to obtain the assistance of a Tank, which he personally led and directed to the best possible advantage. While thus fearlessly exposing himself, he was again severely wounded by a shell. Notwithstanding considerable loss of blood, after lying on a stretcher for a while, he insisted on getting up and personally directing the further attack. By his magnificent example of devotion to duty and utter disregard of personal safety all ranks were inspired to exert themselves to the utmost, and the attack resulted in the capture of over 200 prisoners, two batteries of field guns and numerous machine-guns. Lieutenant-Colonel Viscount Gort then proceeded to organise the defence of the captured position until he collapsed; even then he refused to leave the field until he had seen the “success signal” go up on the final objective. The successful advance of the battalion was mainly due to the valour, devotion and leadership of this very gallant officer. KNIGHT GRAND CROSS OF THE BATH,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34396/supplements/3079. KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE BATH,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/34469/supplements/3. COMMANDER OF THE BRITISH EMPIRE,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/33390/supplements/3851. DISTINGUISHED SERVICE ORDER,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30111/supplements/5470. BAR TO D.S.O.,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30308/supplements/9967. BAR TO D.S.O. (Citation),: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30466/supplements/558. SECOND BAR TO D.S.O.,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31119/supplements/577. MILITARY CROSS,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29202/supplements/6118. GAZETTE ISSUE 29202, MILITARY CROSS, The KING has been graciously pleased to approve the Honour for Distinguished Service in the Field, with effect from 03/06/1915. Awarded the Military Cross. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28942/supplements/8346. GAZETTE ISSUE 28942, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, The despatch has been received by the Secretary of States for War from the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, British Forces in the Field. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/28945/pages/8378. GAZETTE ISSUE 28945, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, I have the honour to forward herewith the names of those under my command whom I wish to bring to notice for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29072/supplements/1649. GAZETTE ISSUE, 29072, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES. The Following Despatch has been received by the Secretary of State for War from the Field-Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, British Forces in the Field. I have the honour to bring to notice names of those whom I recommend for gallant and distinguished service in the Field. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29200/supplements/5977. GAZETTE ISSUE 29200, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, The following despatch has been received by the Secretary of State for War from the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief, British Forces in the field. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/29623/supplements/5920. GAZETTE ISSUE 29623, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, General Haig has the honour to forward herewith the names of those under his command whom he wished to bring to notice for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30072/supplements/4747. GAZETTE ISSUE 30072, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, Field Marshal, D. Haig, Commander-in-Chief, The British Armies in France, has the honour to give a special mention to those under his command who has given distinguished and gallant service and devotion to duty. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/30434/supplements/13225. GAZETTE ISSUE 30434, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, Deserving of special mention. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31083/supplements/15121. GAZETTE ISSUE 31083, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, The names of the undermentioned are a continuation of Sir D. Haig's Despatch of the 8th November, submitting names deserving of special mention. MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES,: http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/31439/supplements/8577. GAZETTE ISSUE 31439, MENTIONED IN DESPATCHES, Despatch from Sir D. Haig from 16th March, 1919.