Michael Forrester

Major-General Michael Forrester CB CBE DSO & Bar MC & Bar (31 August 1917 - 15 October 2006) was a British Army officer who served with distinction in World War II and later commanded the 4th Division.

Michael Forrester
Born31 August 1917
Portsmouth, Hampshire, England
Died15 October 2006 (aged 89)
Alton, Hampshire, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1938−1970
RankMajor-General
Service number69349
UnitQueen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
Parachute Regiment
Commands held1/6th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey)
2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment
16th Parachute Brigade Group
4th Division
Battles/warsArab revolt in Palestine
World War II
Mau Mau Uprising
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Military Cross & Bar
Mentioned in dispatches

Early life and military career

Educated at Haileybury,[1] Forrester was commissioned into the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey) in 1938[2] and, serving with the 2nd Battalion of his regiment, then commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Robert Ross, took part in the response to the Arab revolt in Palestine in 1939.[1]

World War II

He served in World War II in Greece and in the Western Desert before becoming Commanding Officer of the 1/6th Battalion, Queen's Royal Regiment in 1943; in that role he secured the key bridge at Scafati in Italy and then took part in the Normandy landings before being wounded there in October 1944.[1]

Postwar

He was appointed CO of the 2nd Battalion, Parachute Regiment and served in Cyprus and Egypt during 1951 and 1952.[2] He was made Director of Staff at the Staff College, Camberley in 1953, a General Staff Officer at General Headquarters East Africa in 1955 during the Mau Mau Uprising[1] and Commanding Officer of 3rd Battalion, Parachute Regiment in 1957.[2] He went on to be Colonel, Military Operations at the War Office in 1960, Commander of 16th Parachute Brigade Group in 1961 and General Officer Commanding 4th Division in Germany in 1965.[2] His last appointment was as Director of Infantry at the Ministry of Defence in 1968 before he retired in 1970.[2]

Family

In 1947 he married Pauline Fisher (the marriage was dissolved in 1960); they had two sons.[1]

References

Military offices
Preceded by
Basil Eugster
GOC 4th Division
19651967
Succeeded by
Vernon Erskine-Crum
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