John D'Arcy (British Army officer)
Lieutenant-General John Conyers D'Arcy CBE MC (12 February 1894 – 1 February 1966) was a senior British Army officer who fought in both World War I and World War II, where he commanded the 9th Armoured Division.
John D'Arcy | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 12 February 1894 |
| Died | 1 February 1966 (aged 71) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1914–1946 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Service number | 10058 |
| Unit | Royal Field Artillery Royal Artillery |
| Commands held | 69th Medium Regiment, Royal Artillery 9th Support Group 9th Armoured Division British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II Palestine Emergency |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross Mentioned in dispatches |
Military career
Born the son of the Most Reverend Charles D'Arcy, D'Arcy was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1914.[1][2] He fought in the First World War, where he was wounded twice during his service.[3] While on leave he saw active service with the British Army during the Easter Rising, leading the attack on the General Post Office, Dublin. He was wounded on the North-West Frontier of India in 1931 and awarded the Military Cross.[4][5][3]
He served again in the Second World War, commanded 9th Armoured Division in the UK from 1942 onwards. After the division was disbanded in 1944, he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-General and became General Officer Commanding British Forces in Palestine and Trans-Jordan from 1944.[4][6] He retired in 1946.[7]
He lived at Hyde Park in County Westmeath in Ireland.[2][3]
Family
In 1920 he married Noël Patricia Wakefield; they had two sons.[2]
References
- "No. 28902". The London Gazette. 15 September 1914. p. 7300.
- The Peerage.com
- Smart 2005, p. 77.
- Charles Frederick d'Arcy Archived 12 December 2008 at the Wayback Machine at belfastcathedral.org
- "D'Arcy, Lt-Gen. John Conyers, (12 Feb. 1894–1 Feb. 1966)". WHO'S WHO & WHO WAS WHO. 2007. doi:10.1093/ww/9780199540884.013.u49484. ISBN 978-0-19-954089-1. Retrieved 3 April 2021.
- D'Arcy of Hyde Park Papers at nli.ie, the National Library of Ireland web site (pdf file)
- Generals.dk
Bibliography
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.