Ivor Thomas (British Army officer)

General Sir Gwilym Ivor Thomas, GCB, KBE, DSO, MC & Bar (23 July 1893 – 29 August 1972) was a senior British Army officer who saw active service in both World Wars.[2][3] Thomas fought in the First World War, arriving on the Western Front from India with II Battery, XIII Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, part of the 7th (Meerut) Division, in October 1914.[1] By this time Thomas's division had been selected to participate in the Allied invasion of Normandy, then scheduled to take place in May 1944, as part of the newly formed British Second Army (initially under Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Anderson but later replaced in January 1944 by Lieutenant General Miles Dempsey), and training in all-arms co-operation, already at a very high standard due to Thomas's energetic and ruthless methods, intensified, and he demanded only the very highest standards.However, casualties had already been sustained, by the 43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance Regiment, commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Francis Lane Fox−who "Von Thoma" later sacked−which suffered severe losses before it even landed in Normandy.[21] Carver later described Thomas as, "a small, fiery, very determined and grim gunner, without a spark of humour, he would bite the head off anyone who attempted to disagree with him or question his orders.Thomas was closely involved in Operation Berlin to rescue the British 1st Airborne Division, and lead the ad hoc force in the defence of the Nijmegen salient early in October.[23] From 27 December 1944 until 28 January 1945, during the Battle of the Bulge in which the 43rd Division played no part, Thomas was temporarily given command of XXX Corps by Montgomery, while Horrocks, the GOC, was away in England to rest.
Field Marshal Sir Bernard Montgomery poses for a group photograph with his staff, together with his army, corps and division commanders, at Walbeck, Germany, 22 March 1945. Pictured standing in the second row, third from the right, is Major General Ivor Thomas.
MaryleboneSalisburyRhodesiaBritish ArmyGeneralService numberRoyal Field ArtilleryRoyal ArtilleryAnti-Aircraft CommandI Corps43rd (Wessex) Infantry DivisionFirst World WarSecond World WarKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the BathKnight Commander of the Order of the British EmpireDistinguished Service OrderMilitary CrossMentioned in DespatchesOfficer of the Legion of HonourCroix de guerreKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Orange-NassauCommander of the Order of Leopold IIJohn ThomasWorld Warscampaign in Western EuropeVictory in Europe DayQuartermaster-General to the ForcesLondonQueen VictoriaKing Edward VIICheltenham CollegeGloucestershireRoyal Military Academy, WoolwichcommissionedWestern Front7th (Meerut) DivisionlieutenantcaptainactingWar Officeinterwar periodadjutantTerritorial Army48th (South Midland) DivisionStaff College, Camberleybrigade major1st Infantry DivisionAldershot CommandGeneral staff Officer Grade 2Sir David CampbellGovernor and Commander-in-Chief of Maltalieutenant colonelRoyal Naval College, GreenwichcolonelbrigadierCommander Royal Artillery2nd Infantry Divisionfought in FranceBritish Expeditionary ForceNoel IrwinDaril WatsonGeneral Officer CommandingCharles Allfrey130th Infantry BrigadesWest Countryanti-invasion dutiesXII CorpsLieutenant GeneralJames GammellMontagu StopfordNeil RitchieManley James25th Tank Brigade34th Tank BrigadeHubert Essame214th Infantry BrigadeAlliedinvasion of NormandyBritish Second ArmySir Kenneth AndersonMiles DempseySir Bernard Montgomery43rd (Wessex) Reconnaissance RegimentFrancis Lane FoxSir Richard O'ConnorVIII CorpsOperation Epsom3rd DivisionOperation JupiterMichael Carver4th Armoured BrigadeSecond Battle of the Odonpanzer divisionsOperation Market GardenOperation BerlinBritish 1st Airborne Divisiondefence of the Nijmegen salientBattle of the BulgeOperation BlackcockHarry CrerarFirst Canadian ArmyOperation VeritableI Corps DistrictBritish Army of the RhinePolish Armed Forces in the WestGeneral Officer Commanding-in-ChiefThe London GazetteBarnsleySouth YorkshirePen and Sword BooksCollins, James LawtonChandler, David G.GOC 43rd (Wessex) Infantry DivisionGeorge ErskineSidney KirkmanGOC I CorpsSir Otto LundGOC-in-C Anti-Aircraft CommandCharles LoewenSir Sidney KirkmanSir Ouvry Roberts