John Aldam Aizlewood

John Aldan Aizlewood was commissioned into 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards on 12 August 1914.[1][2]

He served in World War I on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Cross twice while serving with the Machine Gun Corps.[1] After the war he became a Brigade Major in India in 1927[1] and attended the Staff College, Quetta from 1932 to 1933, alongside future generals John Grover and Edmund Hakewill-Smith. From 1938 to 1939 he was Commanding Officer of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards.

He was promoted colonel 1 August 1939 with seniority 25 May 1939.[2]

He also served in World War II initially becoming Commander of 3rd (Meerut) Cavalry Brigade in 1939.[1] In August 1941 as part of Paiforce (formerly Iraqforce), Brigadier Aizlewood commanded Hazelforce and the 2nd Indian Armoured Brigade Group[1] during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. He moved on to be Commander of 30th Armoured Brigade in August 1942 and then took responsibility for completing the conversion of 42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division into a mechanised unit as 42nd Armoured Division in December 1942.[1]

Returning to the UK he was appointed Commander of Essex and Suffolk District in late 1943 and acting General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Eastern Command in 1944 while Sir Alan Cunningham was away: he retired 9 May 1945 as an honorary major general.[1][2]

In retirement he was Colonel of the 4th/7th Royal Dragoon Guards from 1948 to 1958.[1]

• British Army Officers 1939−1945
• Generals of World War II