Basil Eugster
General Sir Basil Oscar Eugster, KCB, KCVO, CBE, DSO, MC & Bar (15 August 1914 – 5 April 1984) was a senior British Army officer who served as Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces from 1972 to 1974.
Sir Basil Oscar Eugster | |
|---|---|
| Born | 15 August 1914 |
| Died | 5 April 1984 (aged 69) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1935–74 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | UK Land Forces Southern Command British Forces in Hong Kong London District 4th Division 3rd Infantry Brigade 1st Battalion Irish Guards 3rd Battalion Irish Guards |
| Battles/wars | Arab revolt in Palestine Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross & Bar Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star (Austria) |
Army career
A British soldier of Swiss descent,[1] Basil Eugster attended Beaumont College. In 1935 he joined the Irish Guards.[2] He served with his regiment through the Second World War and fought in the Narvik Campaign in Norway in 1940.[2] He was Commanding Officer of the 3rd Battalion Irish Guards in 1945, and again in 1947, and of the 1st Battalion Irish Guards from 1951 to 1954.[2]
Eugster served as Commander of 3rd Infantry Brigade in Cyprus from 1959 to 1962 and was then General Officer Commanding 4th Division in Germany from 1963 to 1965.[2] He went on to become Major-General commanding the Household Brigade and General Officer Commanding London District from 1965 to 1968 and Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong from 1968 to 1970.[2] He was then General Officer Commanding Southern Command from 1971 to 1972.[2] He served as the Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces from 1972 to 1974 when he retired.[2] In 1966, Eugster was awarded the Austrian Grand Decoration of Honour in Gold with Star.[3]
Later career
He was Colonel of the Regiment of the Irish Guards until his death in 1984, aged 69.[4]
External links
References
- Beat de Fischer, 2000 Ans De Presence Suisse En Angleterre: L'etonnante epopee Des Suisses D'Outre-Manche, De L'epoque Romaine a La Communaute Europeenne
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
- "Reply to a parliamentary question" (pdf) (in German). p. 26. Retrieved 4 October 2012.
- Irish Guards: History
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Jean Allard |
General Officer Commanding the 4th Division 1963–1965 |
Succeeded by Michael Forrester |
| Preceded by Sir John Nelson |
GOC London District 1965–1968 |
Succeeded by Lord Michael Fitzalan-Howard |
| Preceded by Sir John Worsley |
Commander of British Forces in Hong Kong 1968–1970 |
Succeeded by Sir Richard Ward |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Carver |
GOC-in-C Southern Command 1971–1972 |
Succeeded by Post disbanded |
| Preceded by New post |
Commander in Chief, UK Land Forces 1972–1974 |
Succeeded by Sir Roland Gibbs |