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 Ashton Gerard Oswald Mosley Mayne GCB

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 ...

DSO (24 April 1889 – 17 December 1955) was a senior

British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

officer An officer is a person who has a position of authority in a hierarchical organization. The term derives from Old French ''oficier'' "officer, official" (early 14c., Modern French ''officier''), from Medieval Latin ''officiarius'' "an officer," f ...

active in both the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and

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 ...

, where he commanded Eastern Command, India.

Early career

Born on 24 April 1889 and educated at

Wellington College Wellington College may refer to: *Wellington College, Berkshire, an independent school in Crowthorne, Berkshire, England ** Wellington College International Shanghai ** Wellington College International Tianjin * Wellington College, Wellington, Ne ...

and the

Royal Military College, Sandhurst The Royal Military College (RMC), founded in 1801 and established in 1802 at Great Marlow and High Wycombe in Buckinghamshire, England, but moved in October 1812 to Sandhurst, Berkshire, was a British Army military academy for training infantry a ...

, Mayne was commissioned as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

on to the Unattached List,

Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian Armed Forces. The President of India is the Supreme Commander of the Indian Army, and its professional head is the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), who is a four- ...

on 9 September 1908.Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
/ref> He arrived in

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

on 9 December 1908. After spending a year first attached to 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 ...

East Lancashire Regiment The East Lancashire Regiment was, from 1881 to 1958, a line infantry regiment of the British Army. The regiment was formed in 1881 under the Childers Reforms by the amalgamation of the 30th (Cambridgeshire) Regiment of Foot and 59th (2nd Nott ...

then the

6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons The 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1689 as Sir Albert Cunningham's Regiment of Dragoons. One of the regiment's most notable battles was the Battle of the Boyne in July 1690. It became the ...

he was accepted for the Indian Army on 9 December 1909 and appointed to the

13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) The 6th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse), and was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by amalgama ...

. He was promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations. The meaning of lieutenant differs in different militaries (see comparative military ranks), but it is often sub ...

on 9 December 1910. The regiment was stationed at

Risalpur Risalpur (Pashto/ ur, رسالپور) is a city in Nowshera District, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan, on the Nowshera-Mardan Road. It is nearly 45 km from Peshawar and 18 km from Mardan and is located at 34°4'52N 71°58'21E. In a basin so ...

in 1914 for service, if needed, on the North West Frontier. On the outbreak of the

in 1914 the officer who held the appointment of

adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

was posted away and Mayne was temporarily appointed to the role. On 8 May 1915 the appointment was made permanent. He saw action against the

Mohmand The Mohmand ( ps, مومند) or Mohmand is a prominent tribe of Pashtun people. They are based primarily in the Mohmand territory, which is located in Nangarhar, Afghanistan and Mohmand Agency, Pakistan. Most people of the Mohmand tribe spe ...

s and the Swatis on the North West Frontier between August and October 1915, was promoted to temporary

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on 1 September 1915 and having his first taste of staff work being appointed temporary Staff Captain in India from 23 to 30 September 1915. The regiment was sent to

Mesopotamia Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the F ...

in July 1916, Mayne arriving on 25 August. He was to serve in Mesopotamia until the end of the war against Turkey on 31 October 1918 and was wounded. He was promoted to substantive captain during this period, his seniority later being antedated to 1 September 1915. He was made a companion of the

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...

for service in Mesopotamia in the London Gazette, 25 August 1917. He was additionally

mentioned in despatches 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 ...

in the London Gazettes of 15 August 1917, 18 February 1919 and 5 June 1919. He was first appointed to the staff as a General Staff Officer III (GSO3) on 27 March 1918 on the staff of the 3rd Army Corps,

Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, troops from Britain, Australia and the vast majority from British India, against the Central Po ...

remaining there until 11 September 1918. He was then appointed a temporary

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

on the staff of the General Officer Commanding (GOC) the Cavalry Division, Mesopotamia Expeditionary Force from 26 September to 31 December 1918, then a GSO II with G.H.Q., Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force 1 January to 8 June 1919. He was appointed a

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

major (London Gazette 3 June 1919) for his services in Mesopotamia.

Between the wars

He was posted back to India as a Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General Army Headquarters India from 9 June 1919 to 15 May 1920. He then went to England where he attended the

Staff College, Camberley Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army and the presidency armies of British India (later merged to form the Indian Army). It had its origins in the Royal Military College, High Wycombe, founded in 1799, which i ...

from 1921 to 1922. His regiment amalgamated with the

16th Cavalry The 6th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse), and was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by amalgama ...

in 1921 to form the

6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse) The 6th Lancers is an armoured regiment of the Pakistan Army. Previously, it was known as the 6th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (Watson's Horse), and was a regular cavalry regiment in the British Indian Army. It was formed in 1921 by amalgamati ...

. He was appointed a General Staff Officer 2nd grade 15 February 1922 to 11 June 1923 at Army Headquarters followed by appointment as an instructor at the Cavalry School,

Saugor Sagar is a city, municipal corporation and administrative headquarter in Sagar district of the state of Madhya Pradesh in central India. Situated on a spur of the Vindhya Range, above sea-level. The city is around northeast of state capital ...

from 12 December 1923 to 10 November 1924. He was on leave on a medical certificate for one year to 19 September 1925. He served as a General Staff Officer 2nd grade at the War Office in London from 22 January 1927 to 22 January 1931. Promoted to Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 1 July 1930, he attended the

Imperial Defence College The Royal College of Defence Studies (RCDS) instructs the most promising senior officers of the British Armed Forces, His Majesty's Diplomatic Service and Civil Service in national defence and international security matters at the highest level ...

in 1933 and transferred to the

9th Royal Deccan Horse The Deccan Horse or 9 Horse is one of the oldest and most decorated armoured regiments of the Indian Army. The Royal Deccan Horse (9th Horse), which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army was formed from the amalgamation of t ...

on 29 August 1933 as second in command and then was appointed lieutenant colonel and commanding officer (CO) of the regiment from 4 August 1934 to 2 June 1936. He was promoted to local

Brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. In ...

whilst officiating as Director Military Operations & Intelligence 18 March 1936 to 3 June 1936 and temporary Brigadier whilst appointed as Director Military Operations & Intelligence from 3 June 1936 to 17 September 1938, and retained the temporary rank when appointed to command the 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade on 17 September 1938. The 4th (Secunderabad) Cavalry Brigade was disbanded in July 1940 and he was appointed commander of the 9th Indian Infantry Brigade.

Second World War

From September 1940, the 9th Indian Brigade fought in the East African Campaign as part of 5th Indian Infantry Division where in battles at

Agordat Agordat; also Akordat or Ak'ordat) is a city in Gash-Barka, Eritrea. It was the capital of the former Barka province, which was situated between the present-day Gash-Barka and Anseba regions. History Excavations in Agordat uncovered pottery re ...

and Keren they saw fighting said by commentators to be as fierce as any seen during the war. Mayne was promoted to General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the 5th Indian Division in April 1941. As a newly promoted

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 ...

, he succeeded Major General

Lewis Heath Lieutenant General Sir Lewis Macclesfield Heath, (23 November 1885 – 10 January 1954) was an officer in the British Indian Army during the early to mid-twentieth century. Early life and family Heath was born 23 November 1885, the son o ...

who had been posted to command III Indian Corps in Malaya. Under Mayne's command the major fighting was concluded by 5th Indian Division and took the Italian Commander-in-Chief's surrender. At the end of June 1941, 5th Indian Division left East Africa. During the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Iran it was in

Kirkuk Kirkuk ( ar, كركوك, ku, کەرکووک, translit=Kerkûk, , tr, Kerkük) is a city in Iraq, serving as the capital of the Kirkuk Governorate, located north of Baghdad. The city is home to a diverse population of Turkmens, Arabs, Kurds, ...

Iraq Iraq,; ku, عێراق, translit=Êraq officially the Republic of Iraq, '; ku, کۆماری عێراق, translit=Komarî Êraq is a country in Western Asia. It is bordered by Turkey to Iraq–Turkey border, the north, Iran to Iran–Iraq ...

but was not involved with the fighting. In September 1941, Mayne's division relieved the British 50th Infantry Division in

Cyprus Cyprus ; tr, Kıbrıs (), officially the Republic of Cyprus,, , lit: Republic of Cyprus is an island country located south of the Anatolian Peninsula in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. Its continental position is disputed; while it is geo ...

. In June 1942, Mayne was promoted to command XXI Indian Corps which became part of

Persia and Iraq Command The Persia and Iraq Command was a command of the British Army established during the Second World War in September 1942 in Baghdad. Its primary role was to secure from land and air attack the oilfields and oil installations in Persia (officially ...

's Tenth Army based in

Baghdad Baghdad (; ar, بَغْدَاد , ) is the capital of Iraq and the second-largest city in the Arab world after Cairo. It is located on the Tigris near the ruins of the ancient city of Babylon and the Sassanid Persian capital of Ctesiphon ...

. In August 1943, XXI Corps was disbanded and Mayne returned to India to become General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) Eastern Command, India in October 1943 to December 1944, being promoted full

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 ...

in April 1944. In January 1945, Mayne was appointed

Military Secretary to the India Office The Military Secretary to the India Office was responsible for the recruitment of British and other European nationals to the officer ranks of the Indian Army The Indian Army is the land-based branch and the largest component of the Indian A ...

and, after 37 years of military service, retired from the army after the war in 1947.

Honours

Between 1944 and 1947 Mayne held the honorary title of ADC General to the King. He was appointed Companion of the

Order of the Bath The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I of Great Britain, George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate medieval ceremony for appointing a knight, which involved Bathing#Medieval ...

and Commander of the

Order of the British Empire 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 ...

in 1941, Knight Commander in 1944, and Knight Grand Cross (GCB) in 1947.

Personal

Mayne was married in 1916 to Phyllis Tweddell who died in 1949. His only son pre-deceased him, killed in action in 1943 in the Italian campaign. He was friends with Indian army officers like

Joyanto Nath Chaudhuri General (India), General Jayanto Nath Chaudhuri (Bengali Language, Bengali: জয়ন্তনাথ চৌধুরী; 10 June 1908 – 6 April 1983) was a General Officer in the Indian Army. He served as the 6th Chief of the Army Staff ( ...

and actively promoted them to higher positions.''Disastrous Twilight'' by

Syed Shahid Hamid Major General Syed Shahid Hamid ( ur, ) HJ (17 September 1910 – 12 March 1993) was a two-star general in the Pakistan Army, and a close associate of President Ayub Khan. Hamid was the first Master General of Ordnance (MGO) of the Pakis ...

He died on 17 December 1955.

References

;Notes ;Sources * London Gazette (various dates) * Indian Army List (various dates) * John Gaylor, Sons of John Company * Obituary, The Times (London, England), Wednesday, 28 Dec 1955; pg. 11; Issue 53413

Bibliography

External links

British Military History Biographies M

, - , - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Mayne, Mosley 1889 births 1955 deaths Indian Army personnel of World War I Indian Army generals of World War II Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley East Lancashire Regiment officers 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons officers People from Wincanton People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire British Indian Army generals Military personnel from Somerset