Giffard, George James (1886-1964)

Giffard had long experience in West Africa, where he had fought during the First World War. However, he also served on the staff of 2 Division in 1933-1935, when it was commanded by Wavell. Wavell was sufficiently impressed with Giffard that he requested him to take command of Commonwealth forces in east India following the loss of Burma and the failure of the first Arakan campaign. Giffard applied himself to the task of restoring morale in Eastern Army by improving medical care and rations and revising personnel policies. Slim, who also thought very highly of him, described him as a man who kept himself in top physical and mental condition and who genuinely disliked publicity, who was thoughtful of others (including his men), and who had a deep understanding of how war should be waged.

However, Mountbatten judged him too stolid and unimaginative, and Giffard, who openly resented serving under the youthful Mountbatten, found himself caught between two dynamic officers who thought much alike. The final straw came when Giffard objected to Mountbatten questioning his rotation policy for the divisions under his command. Mountbatten recommended that a new overall land forces commander be appointed for SEAC, but it took six months for the Americans and British to agree on who the officer should be. According to Mountbatten, during this difficult period Giffard "behaved ... in a perfectly courteous and loyal manner.... If he could have behaved this way earlier, I might never have had to ask for his relief" (Lewin 1976).

Service record

References

Corrigan (2010)

Generals.dk (accessed 2008-11-4)

Lewin (1976)

Marston (2005)

Pettibone (2006)

queensroyalsurreys.org.uk (accessed 2010-12-17)

Slim (1956)

The Pacific War Online Encyclopedia © 2008, 2010. 2012 by Kent G. Budge. Index

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