Frank Kitson

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This article is about the British Army officer. For the 1898-1907 baseball pitcher, see Frank Kitson (baseball).
Frank Kitson
1926–

General Sir Frank Kitson Photo: Crown copyright
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1946–85
Rank General
Commands held UK Land Forces, 1982–1985
Staff College, Camberley, 1978–80
2 Division, 1976–78
Battles/wars Mau Mau Uprising
Malayan Emergency
Falklands War
Northern Ireland
Awards Order of the British Empire (GBE), 1985
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB), 1980
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE), 1972
Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), 1968
Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE), 1959
Bar to the MC, 1958
Military Cross (MC)

General Sir Frank Edward Kitson GBE, KCB, MC and Bar, DL (born 1926) is a retired British Army officer and writer on military subjects, notably low intensity operations. He rose to be Commander-in-Chief UK Land Forces from 1982 to 1985 and was Aide-de-Camp General to the Queen from 1983 to 1985.

Contents

[edit] Army career

Kitson joined the army as a second lieutenant on an emergency commission in the Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own),[1] he was appointed to a regular commission as a lieutenant on 10 April 1948 (with seniority from 15 December 1947),[2] and promoted to captain on 15 December 1953.[3] He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) on 1 January 1955 for service in the Mau Mau Uprising in Kenya,[4] and was awarded a Bar to it on 23 May 1958, for service in the Malayan Emergency the previous year, the citation for the bar read:[5]

The War Office, 23rd May, 1958.

The QUEEN has been graciously pleased to approve the following awards in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Malaya for the period 31st August to 31st December, 1957:—

Bar to the Military Cross.

Captain (temporary Major) Frank Edward Kitson, M.C. (362061), The Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own).

For exceptional skill and leadership as a Company Commander during jungle operations. By his devotion to duty he attained the virtual elimination of two communist party branches in a difficult area.

He was appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire in the 1959 Queen's Birthday Honours.[6] He was promoted major on 15 December 1950,[7] and brevet lieutenant-colonel on 1 July 1964,[8] and to the substantive rank on 31 December 1966.[9] He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1968 New Year Honours.[10] He was promoted colonel on 31 December 1969 (with seniority from 30 June 1969),[11] and brigadier on 30 June 1970.[12]

From September 1970 Kitson commanded 39 Airportable Brigade, which comprised 8 (frequently changing) battalions on short, four month, tours. A further brigade was usually attached as brigade reserve, but this could be employed elsewhere as required.[13] On 15 February 1972 he was promoted Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) for his operational service in Northern Ireland the previous year.[14] On 22 January 1976 he became General Officer Commanding 2 Division, with the acting rank of major-general,[15] with substantive promotion following on 5 April 1976 (and seniority from 2 June 1974),[16] stepping down on 28 February 1978.[17] He was then Commandant of the Staff College, Camberley, 5 March 1978–18 January 1980.[18][19] He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1980 New Year Honours.[20] On 17 March 1980 he was appointed Deputy Commander in Chief, United Kingdom Land Forces and Inspector General Territorial Army, with substantive promotion to lieutenant-general (with seniority backdated to 17 August 1979).[21] He held those appointments until 30 May 1982,[22] and then became Commander-in-Chief United Kingdom Land Forces on 1 July 1982 with local rank of general.[23]

As is traditional for senior officers of the British Army, Kitson held a number of more honorary positions, Colonel Commandant of 2nd Battalion, Royal Green Jackets 1 January 1979–1 January 1987;[24][25] Honorary Colonel to the University of Oxford Officer Training Corps 21 July 1982–21 July 1987;[26][27] Aide-de-Camp General to the Queen 14 February 1983–1985.[28] In 1985 he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE). He was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant of Devon on 19 June 1989.[29]

[edit] Writings

His earlier published work on counter-gangs and measures of deception, including the use of defectors, continues to provoke strong opinions. Although sometimes wrongly credited with inventing concepts of pseudo-gangs and pseudo-operations (for example, used earlier in the Huk Insurrection[30] in the Philippines), his writing gave the issue a wider audience.[citation needed] In retirement he has given evidence to the Saville Inquiry into Bloody Sunday in Northern Ireland.[13]

[edit] Selected bibliography

  • Gangs and Counter-gangs (1960), Barrie and Rockliff
  • Low Intensity Operations: Subversion, Insurgency and Peacekeeping (1971), Faber and Faber - reprint 1991 ISBN 0-571-16181-2
  • Bunch of Five (1977)
  • Prince Rupert: Admiral and General-at-sea (1998), Constable and Robinson
  • Old Ironsides: The Military Biography of Oliver Cromwell (2004), Weidenfeld Military

[edit] See also

  • False flag operations (similar to pseudo-operations)

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37510, page 1526, 22 March 1946. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  2. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38256, page 2260, 6 April 1948. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  3. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40046, page 6928, 18 December 1953. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  4. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40372, page 53, 31 December 1954. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  5. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41392, page 3238, 20 May 1958. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  6. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 41727, page 3704, 5 June 1959. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  7. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 42219, page 8625, 13 December 1960. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  8. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 43371, page 5715, 30 June 1964. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  9. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44223, page 310, 6 January 1967. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  10. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 44484, pages 6–7, 29 December 1967. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  11. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45013, page 215, 5 January 1970. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  12. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45138, page 7186, 26 June 1970. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  13. ^ a b Bloody Sunday Inquiry website—Statement of General Sir Frank Kitson. Retrieved 2008-05-28.
  14. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 45598, page 1895, 15 February 1972. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  15. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46807, page 1289, 26 January 1976. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  16. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 46868, page 5053, 5 September 1976. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  17. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47474, page 2580, 27 February 1978. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  18. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47480, page 2897, 6 March 1978. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  19. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48100, page 2631, 18 February 1980. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  20. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48041, page 2, 28 December 1979. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  21. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48130, page 4156, 17 March 1980. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  22. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 48995, page 7221, 31 May 1982. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  23. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49055, page 9457, 19 July 1982. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  24. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 47745, page 656, 15 January 1979. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  25. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 50799, page 452, 12 January 1987. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  26. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49069, page 10133, 2 August 1982. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  27. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 51009, page 9573, 27 July 1987. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  28. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 49265, page 2218, 14 February 1983. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  29. ^ London Gazette: no. 51802, page 7903, 6 July 1989. Retrieved on 2008-05-28.
  30. ^ Cline, Lawrence E. (2005) Pseudo Operations and Counterinsurgency: Lessons from other countries, Strategic Studies Institute, page 1
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