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{{Short description|British Army general (1880–1949)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2012}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}
{{other people||William Herbert (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| name =William Norman Herbert
| name =William Herbert
| image =Major-general W N Herbert Cb, Cmg, Dso and Bar Art.IWMARTLD405.jpg
| image =Major-general W N Herbert Cb, Cmg, Dso and Bar Art.IWMARTLD405.jpg
| image_size =200px
⚫
| caption =William Norman Herbert
| birth_date = 1880
| caption =
| birth_date = 26 August 1880<ref name="armylists">''UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962''</ref>
| death_date = 1949
| death_date = 26 April 1949 (aged 68)<ref name="probate">''England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995''</ref>
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =
| placeofburial =
| birth_place =[[Fillongley]], Warwickshire<ref name="1881census">''1881 England Census''</ref>
| birth_place =
| death_place =
| death_place =[[Cheltenham]], Gloucestershire
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| nickname =
| nickname =
⚫
| birth_name =William Norman Herbert
| allegiance ={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
| allegiance ={{flag|United Kingdom}}
| branch =[[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
| branch ={{army|United Kingdom}}
| serviceyears =
| serviceyears =1900–1939<br/>1939–1940
⚫
| rank =[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]]
| servicenumber =22797
| unit =
⚫
| rank =[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]]
| commands =
| battles =[[World War I|First World War]]
| unit =[[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]]
| commands =1st Battalion, [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]]<br/>[[10th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|10th Brigade]]<br/>[[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]]<br/>[[23rd (Northumbrian) Division]]
⚫
| awards =[[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br>[[Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George]]<br>[[Distinguished Service Order|Distinguished Service Order & Bar]]
| battles =[[Second Boer War]]<br/>[[World War I]]<br/>[[World War II]]
⚫
| awards =[[Order of the Bath|Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Order of St Michael and St George|Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order|Distinguished Service Order & Bar]]
| relations =
| relations =
| laterwork =
| laterwork =
}}
}}
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] '''William Norman Herbert''' [[Order of the Bath|CB]], [[Order of St Michael and St George|CMG]], [[Distinguished Service Order|DSO & Bar]] (1880–1949) was a [[British Army]] officer who served as colonel of the [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]].
[[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major General]] '''William Norman Herbert''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|CB|CMG|DSO1|DL}} (26 August 1880 – 26 April 1949) was a senior [[British Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]] who served as [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] of the [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]] and commanded the [[23rd (Northumbrian) Division]] in the [[Battle of France]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]].


==Military career==
==Military career==
Herbert entered the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] where he was [[Officer (armed forces)|commissioned]] as a [[second lieutenant]] into the [[British Army]]'s [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]] on 11 August 1900.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27219|page=4947|date=10 August 1900}}</ref> He saw active service in the [[Second Boer War]] from later that year, and was promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 12 December 1901.<ref>Hart's Army list, 1903</ref> Following the end of the war in June 1902, he returned to the United Kingdom on the SS ''Europan'' which arrived at Southampton in early September.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Army in South Africa – Troops returning home|date=28 August 1902 |page=9 |issue=36858}}</ref>
Herbert was commissioned into the [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]] on 11 August 1900.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=27219|supp=yes|startpage=4947|date=10 August 1900}}</ref> He served in the [[World War I|First World War]] as commanding officer if the 1st Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers in which capacity he captured an enemy position together with fifty-nine prisoners and was awarded a bar to his [[Distinguished Service Order]] in January 1919.<ref>{{LondonGazette|issue=31119|supp=yes|startpage=578|date=10 January 1919}}</ref> He became commander of [[10th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|10th Brigade]] in March 1932 and General Officer Commanding [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]] in February 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf|title=Senior Army Commands|accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> He was appointed colonel of the [[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Northumberland Fusiliers]] in July 1935.<ref name=empire>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/northumberlandcolonel.htm|title=Colonels|publisher=British Empire|accessdate=6 February 2016}}</ref> Although he retired in 1936, he was recalled as General Officer Commanding [[23rd (Northumbrian) Division]] to lead the deployment of that formation as part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] in France in April 1940.<ref>[http://www.patriotfiles.com/index.php?name=Sections&req=viewarticle&artid=6691&page=1 Northern Command 3 September 1939 at Patriot Files]</ref>

He served in the [[World War I|First World War]] as [[commanding officer|Commanding Officer]] (CO) of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in which capacity he captured an enemy position together with fifty-nine prisoners for which he was awarded a bar to his [[Distinguished Service Order]] in January 1919, the citation for which reads:

{{Quote|He commanded his battalion with marked ability and skill, and when one of his advanced posts had been captured he organised and led a counter-attack, after a personal reconnaissance, whereby the position was recaptured, together with fifty-nine prisoners. Later, after an assaulting battalion had been held up by heavy machine-gun fire and his battalion was in reserve, he was ordered to clear the situation, which, after a close reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun fire, he did with complete success and slight casualties.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31119|supp=y|page=578|date=10 January 1919}}</ref>}}

After attending the [[Staff College, Camberley]],{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=149}} he became a [[Staff (military)|staff officer]] at [[Northern Command (United Kingdom)|Northern Command]] in 1930,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Herbert/William_Norman/Great_Britain.html|title=William Norman Herbert|publisher=Generals.dk|accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> commander of [[10th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|10th Brigade]] in March 1932 and [[General officer commanding|General Officer Commanding]] (GOC) [[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]] in February 1935.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf|title=Senior Army Commands|accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> He was appointed a [[Order of the Bath|Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 1 January 1935<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34238|supp=y|page=3|date=1 January 1935}}</ref> and [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] of the Northumberland Fusiliers on 5 July 1935.<ref name=empire>{{cite web|url=http://www.britishempire.co.uk/forces/armyunits/britishinfantry/northumberlandcolonel.htm|title=Colonels|publisher=British Empire|accessdate=6 February 2016}}</ref>

Although he retired in February 1939, he was recalled during the [[World War II|Second World War]] as GOC [[23rd (Northumbrian) Division]] to lead the deployment of that formation as part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF) in the [[Battle of France]] in April 1940.<ref name=unit>{{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/units_british/23InfDiv.html |title=23rd (Northumbrian) Division|publisher=Unit Histories|accessdate=7 February 2016}}</ref> He retired for a second time when the division was disbanded on 30 June 1940.<ref name=unit/>

He settled in [[Worcestershire]], and became [[deputy lieutenant]] for the county from 1946 until his death three years later in 1949.{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=150}}


==References==
==References==
{{reflist}}
{{reflist}}


==Bibliography==
⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herbert, William}}
*{{cite book|first=Nick|last=Smart|title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War|isbn=1844150496|year=2005|location=[[Barnsley]], [[South Yorkshire]]|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ogTMDwAAQBAJ}}

==External links==
*[https://generals.dk/general/Herbert/William_Norman/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

{{s-start}}
{{s-hon}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Percival Spearman Wilkinson|Sir Percival Wilkinson]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Royal Northumberland Fusiliers|Colonel of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers]]|years=1935–1947}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Harold de Riemer Morgan|Harold Morgan]]}}
|-
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=[[Richard Pope-Hennessy]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division|GOC 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division]]|years=1935–1939}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Giffard Le Quesne Martel|Giffard Martel]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=New post}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[23rd (Northumbrian) Division|GOC 23rd (Northumbrian) Division]]|years=1939–1940}}
{{s-aft|after=Post disbanded}}
{{s-end}}

{{authority control}}

⚫
{{DEFAULTSORT:Herbert, William Norman}}
[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1880 births]]
[[Category:1949 deaths]]
[[Category:1949 deaths]]
[[Category:British Army generals]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Warwickshire]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order and Bar]]
[[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
[[Category:British Army generals of World War I]]
[[Category:British Army generals of World War II]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
[[Category:Royal Northumberland Fusiliers officers]]
[[Category:Deputy lieutenants of Worcestershire]]
[[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
[[Category:People from the Borough of North Warwickshire]]
[[Category:British Army major generals]]
[[Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War]]

Latest revision as of 08:49, 13 August 2024

For other people with the same name, see William Herbert (disambiguation).
William Herbert
Birth nameWilliam Norman Herbert
Born26 August 1880[1]
Fillongley, Warwickshire[2]
Died26 April 1949 (aged 68)[3]
Cheltenham, Gloucestershire
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1900–1939
1939–1940
RankMajor General
Service number22797
UnitNorthumberland Fusiliers
Commands1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers
10th Brigade
50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
23rd (Northumbrian) Division
Battles / warsSecond Boer War
World War I
World War II
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order & Bar

Major General William Norman Herbert CB CMG DSO & Bar DL (26 August 1880 – 26 April 1949) was a senior British Army officer who served as colonel of the Northumberland Fusiliers and commanded the 23rd (Northumbrian) Division in the Battle of France during the Second World War.

Military career

[edit]

Herbert entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the British Army's Northumberland Fusiliers on 11 August 1900.[4] He saw active service in the Second Boer War from later that year, and was promoted to lieutenant on 12 December 1901.[5] Following the end of the war in June 1902, he returned to the United Kingdom on the SS Europan which arrived at Southampton in early September.[6]

He served in the First World War as Commanding Officer (CO) of the 1st Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers in which capacity he captured an enemy position together with fifty-nine prisoners for which he was awarded a bar to his Distinguished Service Order in January 1919, the citation for which reads:

He commanded his battalion with marked ability and skill, and when one of his advanced posts had been captured he organised and led a counter-attack, after a personal reconnaissance, whereby the position was recaptured, together with fifty-nine prisoners. Later, after an assaulting battalion had been held up by heavy machine-gun fire and his battalion was in reserve, he was ordered to clear the situation, which, after a close reconnaissance under heavy machine-gun fire, he did with complete success and slight casualties.[7]

After attending the Staff College, Camberley,[8] he became a staff officer at Northern Command in 1930,[9] commander of 10th Brigade in March 1932 and General Officer Commanding (GOC) 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division in February 1935.[10] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 1 January 1935[11] and colonel of the Northumberland Fusiliers on 5 July 1935.[12]

Although he retired in February 1939, he was recalled during the Second World War as GOC 23rd (Northumbrian) Division to lead the deployment of that formation as part of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in the Battle of France in April 1940.[13] He retired for a second time when the division was disbanded on 30 June 1940.[13]

He settled in Worcestershire, and became deputy lieutenant for the county from 1946 until his death three years later in 1949.[14]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962
  2. ^ 1881 England Census
  3. ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995
  4. ^ "No. 27219". The London Gazette. 10 August 1900. p. 4947.
  5. ^ Hart's Army list, 1903
  6. ^ "The Army in South Africa – Troops returning home". The Times. No. 36858. London. 28 August 1902. p. 9.
  7. ^ "No. 31119". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 January 1919. p. 578.
  8. ^ Smart 2005, p. 149.
  9. ^ "William Norman Herbert". Generals.dk. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  10. ^ "Senior Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  11. ^ "No. 34238". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1935. p. 3.
  12. ^ "Colonels". British Empire. Retrieved 6 February 2016.
  13. ^ a b "23rd (Northumbrian) Division". Unit Histories. Retrieved 7 February 2016.
  14. ^ Smart 2005, p. 150.

Bibliography

[edit]
[edit]
Honorary titles
Preceded by Colonel of the Royal Northumberland Fusiliers
1935–1947 		Succeeded by
Military offices
Preceded by GOC 50th (Northumbrian) Infantry Division
1935–1939 		Succeeded by
Preceded by
New post
 GOC 23rd (Northumbrian) Division
1939–1940 		Succeeded by
Post disbanded
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