Brian Kimmins

Kimmins was born in Hendon, Middlesex (now North London), the son of psychologist Charles William Kimmins and Dame Grace Kimmins. He was the older brother of Anthony Kimmins.[2]

Kimmins was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1917 during the latter phases of World War I.[3]

After the War he served in India and Egypt and became Aide-de-Camp to the High Commissioner for Egypt and the Sudan in 1928.[3] He became Adjutant at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1930 and Brigade Major for 147 Infantry Brigade in 1935.[3]

He served in World War II initially as a General Staff Officer with the British Expeditionary Force in France before becoming an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley in 1940.[3] He was appointed Deputy Director of Military Training at the War Office in 1941 and became a Brigadier on the General Staff of Southern Command in 1942.[3] He became Commander Royal Artillery for the Guards Armoured Division in 1943 and Director of Plans for South East Asia Command in 1944.[3] He was finally Assistant Chief of Staff at the Headquarters of the Supreme Allied Commander South East Asia in 1945.[3]

After the Second World War he became Chief of Staff at Headquarters Combined Operations in 1946 and Director of Quartering at the War Office in 1947.[3] He was appointed General Officer Commanding Home Counties District and GOC 44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division in 1950 and Director of the Territorial Army and Cadets in 1952.[3] His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland District in 1955.[3]

Kimmins retired in 1958.[3] He died at the Somerset Nuffield Hospital in Taunton on 15 November 1979, leaving a wife and three children.[4]

• At Your Service - a belated autobiography of Lieutenant General Sir Brian Kimmins KBE CB DL, Foreword by Field Marshal Lord Guthrie GCB LVO OBE DL