Thomas Corbett (Indian Army officer)
| Thomas William Corbett | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 June 1888 |
| Died | 30 December 1980 |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1908 - 1943 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands held |
2nd Lancers (Gardner's Horse) Sialkot Brigade 31st Indian Armoured Division IV Corps 7th Indian Infantry Division |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
CB (1 January 1941) MC (3 June 1918) MC (7 November 1918) |
Lieutenant-General Thomas William Corbett CB MC and bar (2 June 1888 – 30 December 1980) was a British Indian Army officer who commanded IV Corps during World War II.
Military career
Corbett was commissioned into the Indian Army in 1908 and served with 9th Hodson's Horse in World War I,[1] landing in France on 7 November 1914. He was wounded on 21 December 1914.[2] He became Staff Captain of the Ambala Brigade on 4 April 1916,[3] Brigade Major for 1st Cavalry Brigade on 8 June 1917,[3] and Brigade Major for the Ambala Brigade on 23 February 1918.[3] He served in France until 31 March 1918 when transferred to serve in Palestine. He was wounded on 23 May 1918 leading a trench raid there for which he was awarded a bar to his MC.[2][4] He was also mentioned in despatches twice.[5][6]
After the War Corbett became Brigade Major for the 160th Infantry Brigade, Egyptian Expeditionary Force from 2 August 1918[3] and went on to be Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General for 4th Cavalry Division of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force on 7 August 1919[3] before becoming a General Staff Officer on 23 July 1920.[7][7][7] He became an instructor at the Staff College, Quetta on 14 January 1930[7] and transferred to 2nd Lancers on 12 May 1930.[7] He served as Commanding Officer of 2nd Lancers from 31 October 1933 to 7 April 1935[8] and then served in the post of Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General from 8 April 1935 to 5 September 1935.[7] He served as an Instructor at the Staff College, Quetta from 6 September 1935 to 27 June 1938 and as Commander of the Sialkot Brigade from 2 August 1938 to 28 January 1940.[7][9]
Corbett served in World War II as a Brigadier responsible for the Cavalry at Army Headquarters India and then as Inspector of Cavalry Army Headquarters India from 29 Jan 1940 to 31 Aug 1940 [7] before becoming General Officer Commanding 1st Indian Armoured Division 1 September 1940 (later known as 31st Indian Armoured Division.[9][10]He was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in January 1941.[11] He went on to be Commander of IV Corps from January to March 1942 in Iraq[12] before being appointed Chief of Staff in the Middle East later that year.[1] Corbett was dismissed in the 'Cairo purge' in August 1942. He was then General Officer Commanding 7th Indian Infantry Division in India until July 1943 when he handed command over to Frank Messervy before retiring as a Major General 23 October 1943.[1][13]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Cardew, Major F. G., O.B.E., Hodson`s Horse 1857-1922
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 Quarterly Army List for quarter ending 31 March 1922
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 30997. p. 13137. 5 November 1918. Retrieved 2 October 2011.
- ↑ London Gazette 1 January 1916
- ↑ London Gazette 15 May 1917
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 7.2 7.3 7.4 7.5 7.6 7.7 Indian Army List Supplement 1941
- ↑ Indian Army List April 1934 & Indian Army List Supplement 1941
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Generals.dk
- ↑ Half Yearly Army List 1941
- ↑ London Gazette 1 January 1941
- ↑ Army Commands
- ↑ London Gazette 31 December 1943
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Francis Nosworthy |
GOC, IV Corps January 1942–March 1942 |
Succeeded by Noel Irwin |