Major-General Arthur William Purser OBE, MC (21 September 1884 – 21 December 1953) was a British Army officer.
Arthur Purser | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 September 1884 |
| Died | 21 December 1953 (aged 69) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1903−1940 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Service number | 3885 |
| Unit | Royal Field Artillery |
| Commands | 1st Heavy Brigade, Royal Artillery 66th Infantry Division |
| Battles / wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross |
Military career
editEducated at Marlborough College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,[1] Purser was commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery on 15 July 1903[2] and saw service in France during the First World War, where he was awarded the Military Cross in 1917 while serving as an adjutant to a RFA brigade.[3][4][1]
Remaining in the army during the interwar period and, after serving for several years at the Royal School of Artillery, Larkhill, Purser became commander of the 1st Heavy Brigade, Royal Artillery in 1931, an instructor at the Senior Officers' School, Sheerness in 1935 and Brigadier, Royal Artillery at Eastern Command in 1937.[1] The following year saw him promoted to the rank of major-general.[1]
In September 1939, the month the Second World War began, he went on to be General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the newly raised 66th Infantry Division, a Territorial Army (TA) formation. His command of the division was destined to be short-lived, however, as ill-health forced him into retirement from the army, after more than thirty-six years of service, in January 1940, with Alan Cunningham succeeding him in command of the 66th Division.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e Smart 2005, p. 258.
- ^ "No. 27583". The London Gazette. 4 August 1903. p. 4900.
- ^ "No. 29886". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1916. p. 40.
- ^ "Major-General Arthur William Purser". The Saleroom. Retrieved 1 July 2020.
Bibliography
edit- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.