James Renton

Major General James Malcolm Leslie Renton CB DSO OBE (1898–1972) was a senior British Army officer who briefly commanded the 7th Armoured Division ("The Desert Rats") during the Second World War.

James Malcolm Leslie Renton
Nickname(s)"Wingy"[1]
Born1898
Died1972 (aged 73–74)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1916–1948
RankMajor General
Service number10795
UnitRifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
Commands held2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
7th Motor Brigade
7th Armoured Division
199th Infantry Brigade
Senior Officers' School, Sheerness
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Military career

Renton was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1916 and served in World War I.[2] He was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the Iraq Levies in 1922.[2] He also served in World War II as Commander of 2nd Bn the Rifle Brigade from 1940 (leading it and losing an arm at the Battle of Sidi Saleh in 1941)[1] and as Commander of the Support Group of 7th Motor Brigade from 1942 (leading it at the Battle of Gazala).[1] He was appointed General Officer Commanding 7th Armoured Division later that year.[2] He went on to serve at the Senior Officers' School from 1943 before becoming Head of the British Military Mission and Inspector General of the Iraqi Army in 1944 and retiring in 1948.[2]

References

  1. "Divisional Commanders". Archived from the original on 12 May 2006.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
  2. Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives

Bibliography

  • Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.
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