General A general officer is an Officer (armed forces), officer of highest military ranks, high rank in the army, armies, and in some nations' air forces, space forces, and marines or naval infantry. In some usages the term "general officer" refers t ...

Sir John Chaddesley Westall, ( 2 July 1901 – 30 September 1986) was a New Zealand

Royal Marines The Corps of Royal Marines (RM), also known as the Royal Marines Commandos, are the UK's special operations capable commando force, amphibious light infantry and also one of the five fighting arms of the Royal Navy. The Corps of Royal Marine ...

officer who served as

Commandant General Royal Marines The Commandant General Royal Marines is the professional head of the Royal Marines. The title has existed since 1943. The role is held by a General who is assisted by a Deputy Commandant General, with the rank of brigadier. This position is not t ...

from 1952 to 1955.

Military career

Born in Napier, New Zealand, Westall joined the

in 1919.Sir John Chaddesley Westall
Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives He served in 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 opposin ...

as a Staff Officer in intelligence activities in Singapore and Malaya from 1939 and as a Staff Officer in intelligence activities in India and Burma from 1942, before becoming a Staff Officer at the Director of Naval Intelligence Department in the

Admiralty Admiralty most often refers to: *Admiralty, Hong Kong *Admiralty (United Kingdom), military department in command of the Royal Navy from 1707 to 1964 *The rank of admiral *Admiralty law Admiralty can also refer to: Buildings * Admiralty, Traf ...

in 1944. After the war he became commander of the Infantry Training Centre, Royal Marines and then a Staff Officer in intelligence activities in

Cape Town Cape Town ( af, Kaapstad; , xh, iKapa) is one of South Africa's three capital cities, serving as the seat of the Parliament of South Africa. It is the legislative capital of the country, the oldest city in the country, and the second largest ...

from 1947. He was appointed Chief Staff Officer at

Plymouth Plymouth () is a port city and unitary authority in South West England. It is located on the south coast of Devon, approximately south-west of Exeter and south-west of London. It is bordered by Cornwall to the west and south-west. Plymouth ...

in 1948, commander of the Royal Marine Barracks at Plymouth in 1949 and commander of the Royal Marine Barracks at

Deal A deal, or deals may refer to: Places United States * Deal, New Jersey, a borough * Deal, Pennsylvania, an unincorporated community * Deal Lake, New Jersey Elsewhere * Deal Island (Tasmania), Australia * Deal, Kent, a town in England * Deal, ...

in 1950. He went on to be chief of staff to the

in 1951, and Commandant General Royal Marines in 1952 before retiring in 1955.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Westall, John 1901 births 1986 deaths People from Napier, New Zealand Royal Marines generals Royal Marines personnel of World War II Commanders of the Order of the British Empire New Zealand Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath