Lieutenant-General Sir (William) John Eldridge KBE CB DSO MC (2 March 1898 – 3 November 1985) was a senior British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding Aldershot District.
Sir John Eldridge | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 March 1898 |
| Died | 3 November 1985 (aged 87) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1915−1957 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Service number | 13420 |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Commands held | Aldershot District Military College of Science |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in despatches |
Military career edit
Eldridge was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1915 during World War I and served in France and Belgium.[1] He was awarded the Military Cross in September 1917 for his actions during the war,[2] and the Distinguished Service Order in January 1919.[3]
After the war he was involved in operations in Iraq.[1] He attended the Staff College, Camberley, alongside future general officers such as William Dimoline, Leslie Lockhart and Ashton Wade, from 1933 to 1934.[4][5] He also served in World War II and was deployed to Italy in 1944.[1]
He became Director General of Artillery at the Ministry of Supply in 1945 and Commandant of the Royal Military College of Science in 1948.[1] He was made General Officer Commanding Aldershot District in 1951 and Controller of Munitions at the Ministry of Supply in 1953; he retired in 1957.[1]
He was a Founder Member of the International Institute for Strategic Studies.[6]
References edit
- ^ a b c d e Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ^ "No. 30308". The London Gazette (Supplement). 25 September 1917. p. 9974.
- ^ "No. 31092". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1918. p. 18.
- ^ "No. 33904". The London Gazette. 20 January 1933. p. 442.
- ^ Smart 2005, p. 95.
- ^ "International Institute for Strategic Studies". Archived from the original on 2 December 2008. Retrieved 27 February 2010.
Bibliography edit
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.