Eastern Command was a Command of the

British Army The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...

Nineteenth century

Great Britain was divided into

military district Military districts (also called military regions) are formations of a state's armed forces (often of the Army) which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and ...

s on the outbreak of war with France in 1793. In the first half of the 19th century the command included the counties of

Essex Essex () is a county in the East of England. One of the home counties, it borders Suffolk and Cambridgeshire to the north, the North Sea to the east, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent across the estuary of the River Thames to the south, and Grea ...

, Suffolk,

Norfolk Norfolk () is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in East Anglia in England. It borders Lincolnshire to the north-west, Cambridgeshire to the west and south-west, and Suffolk to the south. Its northern and eastern boundaries are the No ...

Cambridgeshire Cambridgeshire (abbreviated Cambs.) is a county in the East of England, bordering Lincolnshire to the north, Norfolk to the north-east, Suffolk to the east, Essex and Hertfordshire to the south, and Bedfordshire and Northamptonshire to the ...

Huntingdonshire Huntingdonshire (; abbreviated Hunts) is a non-metropolitan district of Cambridgeshire and a historic county of England. The district council is based in Huntingdon. Other towns include St Ives, Godmanchester, St Neots and Ramsey. The popu ...

and Hertfordshire. It was based in

Colchester Colchester ( ) is a city in Essex, in the East of England. It had a population of 122,000 in 2011. The demonym is Colcestrian. Colchester occupies the site of Camulodunum, the first major city in Roman Britain and its first capital. Colch ...

. Disbanded after the

Napoleonic Wars The Napoleonic Wars (1803–1815) were a series of major global conflicts pitting the French Empire and its allies, led by Napoleon I, against a fluctuating array of European states formed into various coalitions. It produced a period of Fren ...

, the Eastern District Command was re-created in 1866 and was based at Flagstaff House in Colchester. In January 1876 a ‘Mobilization Scheme for the forces in Great Britain and Ireland’ was published, with the ‘Active Army’ divided into eight army corps based on the District Commands. 1st Corps was to be formed within Eastern Command, based in

. This scheme disappeared in 1881, when the districts were retitled ‘District Commands’.

Twentieth century

The 1901 Army Estimates introduced by

St John Brodrick William St John Fremantle Brodrick, 1st Earl of Midleton, KP, PC, DL (14 December 185613 February 1942), styled as St John Brodrick until 1907 and as Viscount Midleton between 1907 and 1920, was a British Conservative and Irish Unionist Alli ...

allowed for six army corps based on six regional commands. As outlined in a paper published in 1903, IV Corps was to be formed in a reconstituted Eastern Command, with HQ at London. Lieutenant General Lord Grenfell was appointed acting General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOCinC) of IV Corps in April 1903.

First World War

Army Order No 324, issued on 21 August 1914, authorised the formation of a 'New Army' of six Divisions, manned by volunteers who had responded to

Earl Kitchener Earl Kitchener, of Khartoum and of Broome in the County of Kent, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1914 for the famous soldier Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener, 1st Viscount Kitchener of Khartoum. He had alread ...

's appeal (hence the First New Army was known as 'K1'). Each division was to be under the administration of one of the Home Commands, and Eastern Command formed what became the

12th (Eastern) Division The 12th (Eastern) Division was an infantry division raised by the British Army during the First World War from men volunteering for Kitchener's New Armies. The division saw service in the trenches of the Western Front from June 1915 to the ...

. It was followed by

18th (Eastern) Division The 18th (Eastern) Division was an infantry division of the British Army formed in September 1914 during the First World War as part of the K2 Army Group, part of Lord Kitchener's New Armies. From its creation the division trained in England ...

of K2 in September 1914. During the First World War, HQ Eastern Command was in

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary dow ...

: initially at Horse Guards, then (from February 1916) at 50

Pall Mall, London Pall Mall is a street in the St James's area of the City of Westminster, Central London. It connects St James's Street to Trafalgar Square and is a section of the regional A4 road. The street's name is derived from pall-mall, ...

; in 1919 it moved to 41 Queen's Gardens, Bayswater.

Second World War

At the outbreak of the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

, the headquarters was again located at Horse Guards,Patriot Files
/ref> but by October 1939 it had moved to

Hounslow Barracks Cavalry Barracks is a former British Army installation located north of Hounslow Heath in Hounslow, west London. Hounslow was one of 40 new barracks established around the country in the wake of the French Revolution, to guard against the dual t ...

. At that time Regular Troops reporting to the Command included 4th Infantry Division. In 1941, the Command relocated to

Luton Hoo Luton Hoo is an English country house and estate near Luton in Bedfordshire and Harpenden in Hertfordshire. Most of the estate lies within the civil parish of Hyde, Bedfordshire. The Saxon word Hoo means the spur of a hill, and is more common ...

Bedfordshire Bedfordshire (; abbreviated Beds) is a ceremonial county in the East of England. The county has been administered by three unitary authorities, Borough of Bedford, Central Bedfordshire and Borough of Luton, since Bedfordshire County Council ...

. During the war, the 76th Infantry (Reserve) Division was assigned to the command as its training formation.

Post War

After the War the command moved back to

Hounslow Hounslow () is a large suburban district of West London, west-southwest of Charing Cross. It is the administrative centre of the London Borough of Hounslow, and is identified in the London Plan as one of the 12 metropolitan centres in ...

. When the Territorial Army was reformed in 1947, 54th (East Anglian) was not reconstituted as a field division, but 161st Infantry Brigade was reformed as an independent infantry brigade in Eastern Command. From 1947 to 1956 101 Coast Brigade supervised RA TA coastal defence regiments, until the disestablishment of all coastal artillery. In 1952 the Command was reported to include 48 Field Regiment RA, Kirkee Barracks, Colchester; 49 Field Regiment RA, Canterbury; 47 Coast Regiment RA, Dover; 36 Army Engineer Regiment, Maidstone; and 1st Battalion, The

Devonshire Regiment The Devonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that served under various titles and served in many wars and conflicts from 1685 to 1958, such as the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Second World War. In 1958 ...

, at Colchester. In 1954 a single-storey blockhouse was built at

Wilton Park Wilton Park is an executive agency of the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office providing a global forum for strategic discussion. Based since 1951 at Wiston House in Sussex, it organises over 70 dialogues a year in the UK and overs ...

in Beaconsfield, to provide a protected Eastern Command headquarters for use in the event of war; however in 1957 this provision was superseded by plans for Regional Seats of Government. In 1968, Eastern Command was dissolved and merged into a reconfigured Southern Command. The new HQ Southern Command was established at Hounslow, and the last GOCinC Eastern Command took over as GOCinC Southern Command. In 1972, Southern Command, together with the other two geographic commands, was merged with

Army Strategic Command The Army Strategic Reserves Command ( id, Komando Cadangan Strategis Angkatan Darat; abbreviated ) is a combined-arms formation of the Indonesian Army. Kostrad is a Corps level command which has up to 35,000 troops. It also supervises operationa ...

to form a new command: UK Land Forces (UKLF).

Command Training Centres

Between 1941 and 1943, each regional command of the

formed at-least one training centre which trained those recruits preparing to move overseas. The centres which were based within the command were: * Essex Infantry Training Centre,

Warley Barracks Warley Barracks was a military installation at Warley near Brentwood in Essex. History The local common was used as a military camp in 1742, with thousands of troops camped there during the summer months. It was an ideal base, as it was less th ...

, became No.1 Training Centre on 14 August 1941 — affiliated with the City of London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) and

Essex Regiment The Essex Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 to 1958. The regiment served in many conflicts such as the Second Boer War and both World War I and World War II, serving with distinction in all three. ...

** From 2 July 1941 included No.51 Physical Training Wing * Norfolk Infantry Training Centre, Britannia Barracks, became No.2 Training Centre on 14 August 1941 — affiliated with the

Royal Norfolk Regiment The Royal Norfolk Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army until 1959. Its predecessor regiment was raised in 1685 as Henry Cornwall's Regiment of Foot. In 1751, it was numbered like most other British Army regiments and named ...

and

Northamptonshire Regiment The Northamptonshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence from 1881 until 1960. In 1960, it was amalgamated with the Royal Lincolnshire Regiment to form the 2nd East Anglian Regiment (Duchess of Gloucester's O ...

** From 2 July 1941 included No.52 Physical Training Wing * Suffolk Infantry Training Centre, Gibraltar Barracks, became No.3 Training Centre on 14 August 1941 — affiliated with the Suffolk Regiment and

Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment The Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment was the final title of a line infantry regiment of the British Army that was originally formed in 1688. After centuries of service in many conflicts and wars, including both the First and Second World W ...

** From 2 July 1941 included No.53 Physical Training Wing

General Officers Commanding-in-Chief

GOCs and GOCinCs have included:
General Officer Commanding Eastern District *1795 – 1800 General

Sir William Howe William Howe, 5th Viscount Howe, KB PC (10 August 172912 July 1814) was a British Army officer who rose to become Commander-in-Chief of British land forces in the Colonies during the American War of Independence. Howe was one of three bro ...

*1801 – 1802 General the

Marquess Cornwallis Earl Cornwallis was a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1753 for Charles Cornwallis, 5th Baron Cornwallis. The second Earl was created Marquess Cornwallis but this title became extinct in 1823, while the earldom and its ...

*1802 – 1805 Major General Sir James Craig *1805 – 1806 Major General Sir

James Pulteney General Sir James Murray Pulteney, 7th Baronet PC (c. 1755 – 26 April 1811) was a Scottish soldier and British politician. Background and education Born James Murray, he was the eldest son of Colonel Sir Robert Murray, 6th Baronet and his ...

*1806 – 1814 Lieutenant General Lord Chatham *1815 – 1819 Major General Sir

John Byng Admiral John Byng (baptised 29 October 1704 – 14 March 1757) was a British Royal Navy officer who was court-martialled and executed by firing squad. After joining the navy at the age of thirteen, he participated at the Battle of Cape Pass ...

*1866 – 1869 Major General Thomas Tidy *1869 – 1870 Major General Richard Farren *1870 – 1872 Lieutenant General Freeman Murray *1872 Lieutenant General the Hon. Alexander Hamilton-Gordon *1872 – 1877 Major General Sir

Edward Greathed General Sir Edward Harris Greathed KCB (8 June 1812 – 19 November 1881) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding Eastern District. Military career He was born in London, one of the five sons of Edward Harris and Mary ...

*1877 – 1878 Lieutenant General Sir Richard Kelly *1878 – 1882 Lieutenant General

William Pollexfen Radcliffe General Sir William Pollexfen Radcliffe (22 December 1822 – 23 March 1897) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding Eastern District. Military career Radcliffe was commissioned as an ensign in the 20th Regiment of F ...

*1882 Major General the Hon. Sir Henry Clifford *1882 – 1886 Lieutenant General Robert White *1886 – 1889 Major General Sir Evelyn Wood *1889 – 1892 Major General Henry Buchanan *1892 – 1896 Lieutenant General John Glyn *1896 – 1898 Major General Charles Burnett *1898 – 1899 Major General Sir William Gatacre *1899 – 1900 Major General Henry Abadie *1900 – 1903 Major General Sir William Gatacre (also commander 10th Division and 19th Brigade from 1 April 1903) *1903 – 1904 Major General

Herbert Plumer Field Marshal Herbert Charles Onslow Plumer, 1st Viscount Plumer, (13 March 1857 – 16 July 1932) was a senior British Army officer of the First World War. After commanding V Corps at the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915, he took command ...

*1904 – 1905 Major General Arthur Wynne 10th Division was renamed 6th Division in 1905. Commander 4th Army Corps Home District at Horse Guards, Eastern District at Colchester, Thames District at Chatham and Woolwich District were grouped under 4th Army Corps in 1903. * 1 April 1903: General the Lord Grenfell * 6 June 1904: General the Lord Methuen 4th Army Corps was renamed Eastern Command 1 June 1905. General Officer Commanding Eastern Command *1905 – 1908 Lieutenant General Lord Methuen *1908 – 1912 Lieutenant General Sir Arthur Paget *1912 – 1914 Lieutenant General Sir James Grierson *1914 – 1915 Lieutenant General Sir

Charles Woollcombe Lieutenant General Sir Charles Louis Woollcombe (23 March 1857 – 6 May 1934) was a British Army General during World War I. Early life and education Woollcombe was born in Devon, the eldest son of Rev. Louis Woollcombe, Rector of Petrocksto ...

*1915 – 1916 Lieutenant General Sir

Leslie Rundle General Sir Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle, (6 January 1856 – 19 November 1934) was a British Army general during the Second Boer War and the First World War. Military career Born in Newton Abbot, Devon, to Captain Joseph Sparkhall Rundle, a Roy ...

*1916 – 1917 Lieutenant General Sir

James Wolfe Murray Lieutenant-General Sir James Wolfe Murray (13 March 1853 – 17 October 1919) was a British Army officer who served in the Fourth Anglo-Ashanti War, Second Boer War and First World War. He became Chief of the Imperial General Staff three months ...

*1917 – 1918 Lieutenant General Sir

Henry Wilson Henry Wilson (born Jeremiah Jones Colbath; February 16, 1812 – November 22, 1875) was an American politician who was the 18th vice president of the United States from 1873 until his death in 1875 and a senator from Massachusetts from 1855 to ...

*1918 General Sir William Robertson *1918 – 1919 Lieutenant General Sir

*1919 – 1923 General Lord Horne *1923 – 1926 Lieutenant General Sir

George Milne Field Marshal George Francis Milne, 1st Baron Milne, (5 November 1866 – 23 March 1948) was a senior British Army officer who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) from 1926 to 1933. He served in the Second Boer War and during ...

*1926 – 1927 Lieutenant General Sir

Walter Braithwaite General Sir Walter Pipon Braithwaite, (11 November 1865 – 7 September 1945) was a British Army officer who held senior commands during the First World War. After being dismissed from his position as Chief of Staff for the Mediterranean Expedi ...

*1927 – 1931 General Sir Robert Whigham *1931 – 1933 General Sir

Webb Gillman General Sir Webb Gillman, (26 October 1870 – 20 April 1933) was a British Army general during the First World War. Personal life Webb Gillman was born on 26 October 1870 in Galle, Ceylon, the second son of Herbert Webb Gillman CCS and Anni ...

*1933 – 1936 Lieutenant General Sir

Cyril Deverell Field Marshal Sir Cyril John Deverell (9 November 1874 – 12 May 1947) was a British Army officer who served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), the professional head of the British Army, from 1936 to 1937. Prior to his becoming CIGS, ...

*1936 – 1938 Lieutenant General Sir

Edmund Ironside Edmund Ironside (30 November 1016; , ; sometimes also known as Edmund II) was King of the English from 23 April to 30 November 1016. He was the son of King Æthelred the Unready and his first wife, Ælfgifu of York. Edmund's reign was marred by ...

*1938 – 1941 Lieutenant General Sir Guy Williams *1941 – 1942 Lieutenant General Laurence Carr *April 1942 – August 1942 Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Anderson *September 1942 – January 1944 Lieutenant General Sir

James Gammell Lieutenant-General Sir James Andrew Harcourt Gammell (26 September 1892 – 1 September 1975) was a British Army officer who fought during both the First and the Second World Wars. Early life and military career Born in Edinburgh on 26 Septemb ...

*January 1944 – December 1944 Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Anderson *December 1944 – August 1945 Lieutenant General Sir Alan Cunningham *1945 – 1947 Lieutenant General Sir

Oliver Leese Lieutenant-General Sir Oliver William Hargreaves Leese, 3rd Baronet, (27 October 1894 – 22 January 1978) was a senior British Army officer who saw distinguished active service during both the world wars. He is probably most notable during the ...

*1947 – 1950 General Sir

Evelyn Barker General Sir Evelyn Hugh Barker (22 May 1894 – 23 November 1983) was a British Army officer who saw service in both the First World War and the Second World War. During the latter, he commanded the 10th Brigade during the Battle of France in ...

*1950 – 1952 General Sir

Gerald Templer Field Marshal Sir Gerald Walter Robert Templer, (11 September 1898 – 25 October 1979) was a senior British Army officer. He fought in both the world wars and took part in the crushing of the Arab Revolt in Palestine. As Chief of the Imperi ...

*1952 – 1953 Lieutenant General Sir

George Erskine General Sir George Watkin Eben James Erskine (23 August 1899 – 29 August 1965) was a senior British Army officer who is most notable for having commanded the 7th Armoured Division from 1943 to 1944 during World War II, and leading major cou ...

*1953 – 1954 Lieutenant General Sir Geoffrey Bourne *1954 – 1956 Lieutenant General Sir

Francis Festing Francis may refer to: People *Pope Francis, the head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State and Bishop of Rome *Francis (given name), including a list of people and fictional characters *Francis (surname) Places *Rural Mu ...

*1956 – 1959 Lieutenant General Sir Charles Coleman *1959 – 1960 Lieutenant General Sir James Cassels *1960 – 1961 General Sir

Gerald Lathbury General Sir Gerald William Lathbury, (14 July 1906 – 16 May 1978) was a senior British Army officer who fought during the Second World War, serving with distinction with the British Army's airborne forces, commanding the 1st Parachute Briga ...

*1962 – 1965 Lieutenant General Sir Roderick McLeod *1965 – 1966 Lieutenant General Sir George Cole *1966 – 1968 Lieutenant General Sir

David Peel Yates Lieutenant General Sir David Peel Yates KCB CVO DSO OBE (10 July 1911 – 8 October 1978) was a senior British Army officer who served in the Second World War and reached high office during the 1960s. Early life and education Peel Yates was ...

References

Sources

* * * * {{British armies, commands, and corps during the Second World War Commands of the British Army Military units and formations disestablished in 1972