Major General Archibald (Archie) Cull Birtwistle, CB

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established o ...

DL (19 August 1927 — 18 March 2009) was a British military signals officer. Born in

Northwich {{Infobox UK place , static_image_name = Northwich - Town Bridge.jpg , static_image_caption = Town Bridge, the River Weaver and the spire of Holy Trinity Church , official_name = Northwich , country ...

, Cheshire, Birtwistle was educated at

Sir John Deane's College Sir John Deane's Sixth Form College is a sixth form college in Northwich, Cheshire, UK. It was formerly Sir John Deane's Grammar School, which was founded in 1557. History Sir John Deane (in the 16th century, the title indicated a presbyter ...

(then SJD's Grammar School). Birtwistle completed his officer training at the

Mons Officer Cadet School Mons Officer Cadet School was a British military training establishment for officer cadets in Aldershot from 1942 to 1972, when it was closed and all officer training concentrated at Sandhurst. Until 1960, it was known as the Mons Officer Cadet ...

in Aldershot, and upon receiving his commission was posted to 1 Training Regiment and subsequently to 1 Commonwealth Division Signal Regiment. He was

mentioned in dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

for his service in the

Korean War , date = {{Ubl, 25 June 1950 – 27 July 1953 (''de facto'')({{Age in years, months, weeks and days, month1=6, day1=25, year1=1950, month2=7, day2=27, year2=1953), 25 June 1950 – present (''de jure'')({{Age in years, months, weeks a ...

. Promoted to

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

in 1979, he was appointed Chief Signal Officer

BAOR There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine (BAOR). Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War and the other after the Second World War. Both formations had areas of responsibility located a ...

, and a year later Signal Officer-in-Chief (Army). He was awarded a CB in the

1983 New Year Honours The New Year Honours 1983 were appointments by most of the Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries, and honorary ones to citizens of other countries ...

, and retired from active service a year later. Birtwistle married Sylvia Elleray, with whom he had two sons and a daughter. She died in 2021.Birtwistle, Sylvia (née Elleray)
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References

1927 births 2009 deaths People educated at Sir John Deane's College Military personnel from Cheshire British Army personnel of the Korean War British Army major generals Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Companions of the Order of the Bath Deputy Lieutenants of North Yorkshire Graduates of the Mons Officer Cadet School People from Northwich Royal Corps of Signals officers {{UK-army-bio-stub