William Bradshaw (British Army officer)

Major-General William Pat Arthur Bradshaw CB DSO (8 March 1897 − 9 April 1966) was a British Army officer.

William Bradshaw
Major General W. P. A. Bradshaw, pictured here as a captain in the First World War.
Nickname(s)"Pat"[1]
Born8 March 1897
Died9 April 1966 (aged 69)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1914–1946
RankMajor-General
Service number22511
UnitScots Guards
Commands held2nd Battalion, Scots Guards
4th (London) Infantry Brigade
24th Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards)
59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division
48th Infantry (Reserve) Division
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order

Biography edit

Educated at Eton College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Bradshaw was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1914. He was deployed to France and was mentioned in dispatches and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in 1917.[2]

After serving as ADC to the Viceroy of India, Bradshaw became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards in 1935 and commander of the Scots Guards Regiment and Regimental District in 1938.[3]

He became commander of 4th (London) Infantry Brigade, which was later renamed the 140th (London) Infantry Brigade, in August 1939.[3] He went on to be commander of commander of 24th Independent Brigade in November 1941, General Officer Commanding 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division in April 1942 and General Officer Commanding 48th (South Midland) Division in March 1944 before retiring in May 1946.[3]

Family edit

In 1938 he married a daughter of Lord Cadman.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ Smart 2005, p. 38.
  2. ^ Smart 2005, p. 37.
  3. ^ a b c "Bradshaw, William Pat Arthur". Generals.dk. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
  4. ^ "Major-General William Bradshaw". The Peerage. Retrieved 9 June 2020.

Bibliography edit

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

External links edit

Military offices
Preceded by GOC 59th (Staffordshire) Infantry Division
1942–1944
Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC 48th Infantry (Reserve) Division
1944–1946
Succeeded by
Division disbanded