James Renton
Major General James Malcolm Leslie Renton CB DSO OBE (1898–1972) was a senior British Army officer who briefly commanded the 7th Armoured Division ("The Desert Rats") during the Second World War.
James Malcolm Leslie Renton | |
|---|---|
| Nickname(s) | "Wingy"[1] |
| Born | 1898 |
| Died | 1972 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/ | British Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1948 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) |
| Commands held | 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade (Prince Consort's Own) 7th Motor Brigade 7th Armoured Division 199th Infantry Brigade |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
Military career
Renton was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1916 and served in World War I.[2] He was appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant General for the Iraq Levies in 1922.[2] He also served in World War II as Commander of 2nd Bn the Rifle Brigade from 1940 (leading it and losing an arm at the Battle of Sidi Saleh in 1941)[1] and as Commander of the Support Group of 7th Motor Brigade from 1942 (leading it at the Battle of Gazala).[1] He was appointed General Officer Commanding 7th Armoured Division later that year.[2] He went on to serve at the Senior Officers' School from 1943 before becoming Head of the British Military Mission and Inspector General of the Iraqi Army in 1944 and retiring in 1948.[2]
References
- "Divisional Commanders". Archived from the original on 12 May 2006.CS1 maint: unfit URL (link)
- Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Frank Messervy |
GOC 7th Armoured Division June 1942 – September 1942 |
Succeeded by John Harding |