23 Facts About Hugh Stockwell

Hugh Stockwell was stationed in India until 1929, where he was promoted to lieutenant on 1 February 1925.

Hugh Stockwell was then seconded to the Royal West African Frontier Force from 1 January 1930, and promoted to captain on 25 June 1932.

Unlikely to see action in Northern Ireland where his unit was based, Hugh Stockwell volunteered in March 1940 and was selected to command one of the independent companies formed to serve in the Norwegian campaign.

Hugh Stockwell, commanding No 2 Independent Company, was promoted to lieutenant-colonel to replace Gubbins who had been given command of 24th Guards Brigade.

Hugh Stockwell held the position successfully for 48 hours until ordered to withdraw.

Hugh Stockwell immediately came back, collected two platoons, and went forward again with them, and put them into action to stem the German advance.

Hugh Stockwell was selected to head the commando training centre at Lochailort.

In January 1945, Hugh Stockwell was granted the acting rank of major-general and still in Burma, was at short notice given command of the 82nd Division.

Hugh Stockwell selected a WO 1 as a sort of adviser on the Africans.

Hugh Stockwell then took command of the 6th Airborne Division, stationed in Palestine.

Hugh Stockwell then served as General Officer Commanding East Anglian District from January to May 1951 before commanding the 3rd Division for a year.

In June 1952, Hugh Stockwell was made GOC Malaya with responsibility for the British forces fighting in the Malayan Emergency.

Hugh Stockwell was raised to the temporary rank of lieutenant-general and this rank was made permanent in September 1953.

In 1954, Hugh Stockwell left Malaya to take command of the I Corps and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in that year's Queen's Birthday Honours, before leaving in 1956 to take command of II Corps and attached French ground forces at Port Said during the Suez Crisis.

Together with his deputy, the French General Andre Beaufre, Hugh Stockwell was highly opposed to the change imposed on Musketeer in September 1956 when Port Said replaced Alexandria as the main target.

Hugh Stockwell was not popular with the officers who served under him.

When Beaufre suggested on 3 November 1956 that the Allies launch Telescope, namely Anglo-French paratroop landings in the Canal Zone ahead of schedule, Hugh Stockwell reluctantly agreed to the change.

Hugh Stockwell was always in favour of rigidly following already agreed to plans, and was most reluctant to see any changes, whereas Beaufre was all for changing plans to match with changed circumstances.

In February 1957 Hugh Stockwell became Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, and was promoted to full general that August.

Hugh Stockwell served as Military Secretary until 1959 when he was appointed Adjutant-General to the Forces.

Hugh Stockwell was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1959 Birthday Honours.

In 1960, on the advice of Viscount Montgomery of Alamein, Hugh Stockwell was appointed Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO, a post which he held until his retirement in 1964.

Hugh Stockwell died on 27 November 1986 of leukemia at the Princess Alexandra Hospital at the Royal Air Force base at Wroughton near Swindon.