GODWIN-AUSTEN, Gen Sir Alfred Reade (1889-1963)

Scope and Content

Papers relating to his service in Somaliland, 1940, notably including typescript copies of telegrams to Lt Gen Arthur Francis Smith, Deputy Chief of General Staff, [GHQ Middle East], giving a brief account of the attack by Italian troops on British forces at Tug Argan, 11 Aug 1940, dated 12 Aug 1940, and to [Gen Sir Archibald Percival Wavell] giving an appreciation of the current situation in Somaliland, 14 Aug 1940.

Administrative / Biographical History

Born in 1889; educated at St Lawrence College, Ramsgate and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; joined South Wales Borderers, 1909; served at Gallipoli and in Mesopotamia, 1915-1919, on Staff of 40 Infantry Bde and 13 Div; Staff College, Camberley, 1923-1925; staff appointments, War Office, Royal Military College, Sandhurst and Egypt; publication of The Staff and the Staff College (Constable and Co, London, 1927); commanded 2nd Bn, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, 1936-1937; employed with British Military Mission to Egyptian Army, 1937-1938; commanded 14 Infantry Bde in Palestine Rebellion, 1938-1939; Maj-Gen, 1939; Commanded 8th Division, 1939; served in East Africa, Abyssinia, and Libya; Director of Research, War Office, 1942-1943; Vice Quartermaster General, War Office, 1943-1944; Quartermaster General, India Command, New Delhi, 1945; Principal Administrative Officer, India Command, New Delhi, 1945-1946; Lt-Gen 1946; Gen, 1946; retired pay, 1947; died in 1963.

Arrangement

1 file.

Access Information

Open, subject to signature of reader's undertaking form.

Acquisition Information

Presented to the Centre by the family in 1965.

Other Finding Aids

Summary guide entry on-line at http://www.kcl.ac.uk/iss/archives/cats/, and detailed catalogue available in hard copy in the Centre's reading room.

Conditions Governing Use

Copies, subject to the condition of the original, may be supplied for research use only. Requests to publish original material should be submitted to the Trustees of the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, attention of the Director of Archive Services.

Geographical Names