24 Facts About Frank Messervy

Frank Messervy was made commanding officer of the 13th Duke of Connaught's's Own Lancers, then in British India, during 1938 and 1939.

In September 1939, Frank Messervy was promoted to colonel and became a General Staff Officer Grade 1 of the 5th Indian Infantry Division, which was about to be formed at Secunderabad.

In early March 1941, Frank Messervy was promoted acting brigadier to command the Indian 5th Infantry Division's 9th Indian Infantry Brigade and played a significant role in the third Battle of Keren during the second half of March 1941.

Frank Messervy was promoted to the acting rank of major general as a result of his new appointment.

Frank Messervy took his division to North Africa in April 1941, taking part in Operation Battleaxe in June.

In early January 1942 Frank Messervy had received orders to depart for India where he would assume command of the 31st Indian Armoured Division.

Frank Messervy was instead appointed to replace Major General Herbert Lumsden, the wounded commander of the 1st Armoured Division which had recently arrived in the desert.

When division HQ was overrun by the Germans at the start of the Battle of Gazala, Frank Messervy was captured on 27 May 1942; but, removing all insignia, managed to bluff the Germans into believing he was a batman and escaped with other members of his staff to rejoin division HQ the following day.

Frank Messervy knew little about tanks and was not considered a great success commanding armoured divisions by his superiors.

Frank Messervy was dismissed from command of 7th Armoured Division by Eighth Army commander Neil Ritchie in late June 1942 following the severe defeat the division had sustained at the Battle of Gazala.

Frank Messervy transferred to Cairo as Deputy Chief of General Staff, GHQ Middle East Command 1942 and was sent to India a few months later to raise 43rd Indian Armoured Division as its commander.

Much to his horror, Frank Messervy was then made Director of Armoured Fighting Vehicles, General Headquarters, India, in 1943, where he argued successfully against the then prevailing view that anything other than light tanks could not be used in Burma.

In July 1943, Frank Messervy was appointed GOC of the 7th Indian Infantry Division, in succession to Major-General Thomas Corbett, which, although an improvement above his old position, was not initially greeted with much enthusiasm by the division's officers, who all admired Corbett.

In March 1944, Frank Messervy lost two brigades sent to reinforce the hard-pressed defences at Imphal and Kohima in India.

In December 1944, Frank Messervy was appointed to command IV Corps, which he led in the 1945 offensive during which, he captured the key communications centre at Meiktila in Burma and advanced to Rangoon between February and April.

Frank Messervy was made Commander-in-Chief Malaya Command in 1945 after the Japanese surrender.

Close to the Partition of India, Frank Messervy was made General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, India from 1946 to 1947.

Frank Messervy complained to Governor George Cunningham of the NWFP that Mountbatten had gone over to the side of the "Hindus".

Nevertheless, Frank Messervy issued a statement on 12 November 1947, denying that any "serving Pakistan Army officers are directing operations in Kashmir", which was cited by Pakistan in the UN Security Council debates as proof of Pakistan's innocence.

Frank Messervy was relieved of his post on 15 February 1948, leading to his retirement on 22 August that year.

Frank Messervy opined that if the pro-India National Conference party was allowed to hold power in Kashmir, India would likely win a plebiscite, but if Pakistan was allowed to hold on to the areas that it had captured, a Pakistan win was 'even more certain'.

Frank Messervy had 'few doubts' as to which dominion most people of Kashmir would choose.

Frank Messervy died at home in the small village of Heyshott, in the south of England, on 2 February 1974.

In 1927 Frank Messervy married Patricia Waldegrave Courtney daughter of Lt Col Edward Arthur Waldegrave Courtney.