Editing Gerald Templer (section)

==Second World War==
At the outbreak of the [[Second World War]] in September 1939 Templer was an [[Acting (rank)|acting]] [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant-colonel]], and, on 4 September, the day after war was declared, he was chosen to be one of two GSO1s to the DMI of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War II)|British Expeditionary Force]] (BEF), [[Major-general (United Kingdom)|Major-General]] [[Noel Mason-MacFarlane]], replacing the original choice, [[Kenneth Strong]].<ref>Cloake, p. 70</ref><ref name="Mead453">Mead, p. 453</ref> He soon found himself in France.{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=274}} Templer's duties were mainly concerned with counter-intelligence and security. The [[German Army (Wehrmacht)|German Army]] [[Battle of France|attacked in the West]] on 10 May 1940, although Templer himself was then on leave but was back in France and discovered Mason-MacFarlane was in [[Brussels]], with the intelligence staff moving behind him but was a long distance from GHQ BEF, resulting in poor communications.<ref name="Mead453"/> On 17 May [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort|Lord Gort]], the BEF's [[Commander-in-chief|Commander-in-Chief]] (C-in-C), feared for the BEF's right flank along the [[Scarpe (river)|River Scarpe]] and, due to a shortage of troops, ordered Mason-MacFarlane to form "Macforce" to hold the river with whatever troops could be found.<ref name="Mead453"/> Templer subsequently became GSO1 of "Macforce". The only unit of any size then available was [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier]] [[Sir John Smyth, 1st Baronet|John Smyth]]'s [[127th (Manchester) Brigade|127th Brigade]], detached from its parent [[42nd (East Lancashire) Infantry Division|42nd Division]], which was soon strengthened by armoured cars of Lieutenant-Colonel [[George Hopkinson]]'s "Hopkinson Mission", and some scattered artillery and engineer units.<ref>Cloake, pps. 74–75</ref> The 127th Brigade was soon replaced by the [[139th (Sherwood Foresters) Brigade|139th Brigade]] (also detached its parent [[46th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|46th Division]]) and "Macforce" continued taking on scattered units and, after a few small skirmishes but no major engagements, was eventually disbanded. With the BEF [[Battle of Dunkirk|retreating to Dunkirk]], both Mason-MacFarlane and Templer were evacuated to England, arriving there on 27 May.<ref name="Mead453"/><ref>Cloake, pps. 77–80</ref>

[[File:The British Army in the United Kingdom 1939-45 H8404.jpg|thumb|left|[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]] inspecting men of the 7th Battalion, [[Suffolk Regiment]], at Sandbanks near Poole, 22 March 1941. Also pictured, to his right wearing a [[peaked cap]], is Brigadier Gerald Templer.]]

Soon after returning to England Templer was, in mid-June, ordered to [[Chichester]] to raise the 9th Battalion of the [[Royal Sussex Regiment]], one of many then being raised in the aftermath of Dunkirk.<ref>Cloake, p. 83</ref> The battalion was to be based around a small [[Cadre (military)|cadre]] of [[Standing army|Regular]] soldiers from the 2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex who, like Templer, had recently returned from France, and the rest of the battalion was to consist of newly called up [[Conscription in the United Kingdom|conscripts]], most of whom were in their late twenties with no previous military experience.<ref name="Mead453"/> The battalion moved to [[Ross-on-Wye]] soon after its official formation on 4 July 1940. The task was made more difficult by the lack of rifles and other necessary equipment but Templer tried his best to train his men instil in them a regimental pride.<ref>Cloake, pps. 84–86</ref>

In early November he was given the command of the [[210th Independent Infantry Brigade (Home)]], composed of five battalions, all less than six months old, in [[Dorset]], with responsibility for the defence of the coast in the event of a [[Operation Sea Lion|German invasion]] between [[Lyme Regis]] and [[Poole]].<ref>Cloake, p. 87</ref><ref name="Mead453" />{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=274}} The brigade was then serving under [[V Corps (United Kingdom)|V Corps]], commanded by [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] [[Bernard Montgomery]], one of Templer's instructors at the Staff College, who thought highly of him and the two, who shared similar outlooks on training and waging war, established a close working relationship. Captain Michael Joseph, a [[company commander]] in the 9th Battalion, [[Queen's Own Royal West Kent Regiment]], part of the 210th Brigade, claimed Templer "understood the difficulties and the problems of the platoon commander, which is more than can be said of some others".<ref>Cloake, p. 88</ref> Work on the beach defences combined with training and continued throughout the winter and into the spring, and in late April 1941 the brigade, now with a slightly different composition, came under the command of the [[Dorset County Division]], one of the newly created [[British County Divisions]] formed specifically for static defence.<ref name="Mead453" /> However, on 7 April Montgomery was promoted to the command of [[XII Corps (United Kingdom)|XII Corps]] in [[Kent]] and [[Sussex]] and recommended to the War Office that Templer be the [[Staff (military)|Brigadier General Staff]] (BGS) of V Corps, which now came under the command of Lieutenant-General [[Edmond Schreiber]].<ref>Cloake, p. 89</ref>{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=274}} Like Montgomery, Schreiber formed a high opinion of Templer and they got along well together. The summer was spent mainly on numerous [[Military exercise|exercises]]. In early March 1942 Schreiber was promoted to command of "Force 110", later redesignated as the [[First Army (United Kingdom)|First Army]], and V Corps passed to Lieutenant-General [[Charles Walter Allfrey|Charles Allfrey]]. Soon afterwards, however, Templer received note that he was to take over the command of a division.<ref>Cloake, p. 91</ref> Templer was promoted to substantive [[Colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]] on 6 October 1941, with seniority from 1 July.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35360 |supp=y|page=6826|date=25 November 1941}}</ref>

Templer became [[General officer commanding|General Officer Commanding]] (GOC) of the [[47th (London) Infantry Division]], based in [[Winchester]], [[Hampshire]] as an acting major-general on 10 April 1942, serving under V Corps.<ref name="Mead454">Mead, p. 454</ref> The division – comprising the [[25th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|25th]], [[140th (4th London) Brigade|140th]] and [[141st (5th London) Brigade|141st Infantry Brigade]]s and supporting units – was a second-line TA formation, formerly the 2nd London Division, redesignated the 47th Division in November 1940. Placed on the Lower Establishment in December 1941, the division was understrength in manpower and equipment and men were constantly posted as drafts overseas, but the men were well-trained, due to their previous GOC, Major-General [[John Utterson-Kelso]], one of the best trainers in the British Army.<ref name="Mead454"/> According to a battalion commander, Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Darling, commanding the 11th Battalion, [[Royal Fusiliers]], Templer "inspired the Division with enthusiasm, keenness and efficiency", and "made them believe they were going to meet the Germans – and beat them. He inculcated a tremendous fighting spirit". Another junior staff officer, [[Edward Warburton Jones|Edward Jones]], believed Templer to be very nervy but keen, claiming he never slept during an exercise, no matter the length and believed he would burn himself out.<ref>Cloake, p. 94</ref>

He did not remain there for much longer, however, as, in September 1942, he was promoted to become GOC [[II Corps (United Kingdom)|II Corps]]{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=275}} as the British Army's youngest acting lieutenant-general.<ref name="Mead454"/><ref name=odnb/> However, the corps was actually II Corps District, a static formation, with responsibility for the defence of northern [[East Anglia]] against invasion.<ref name="Mead454"/> By this time, the threat of invasion had much receded and, by early 1943, much of Templer's command had been posted away, the [[History of the British 1st Division during the World Wars|1st Division]] moving to [[North Africa]] and the [[76th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|76th Division]] being reduced to a reserve division, leaving Templer with little more than 30 [[Home Guard (United Kingdom)|Home Guard]] battalions.<ref>Cloake, p. 98</ref> Then, in April 1943, he took command of [[XI Corps (United Kingdom)|XI Corps]], with the [[54th (East Anglian) Infantry Division|54th]] and [[61st Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|61st Division]]s and numerous smaller units under command, after II Corps was disbanded. His corps responsibility was for the defence of all of East Anglia.{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=275}}<ref name="Mead454"/> Despite this, Templer was growing impatient at training troops and wished for a field command. To this end, in July, he approached [[General (United Kingdom)|General]] [[Bernard Paget|Sir Bernard Paget]], the [[Commander-in-Chief, Home Forces]] (and formerly one of Templer's instructors at the Staff College), and offered to give up his rank of acting lieutenant-general so that he could command a division on active service.<ref name="Mead454"/> His offer was accepted and, together with [[Gerard Bucknall]] (a fellow student at the Staff College who, like Templer, had risen rapidly but was presumably sharing his mindset), Templer, reverting to major-general on 30 July, flew out to [[Algiers]], arriving there the day after.<ref>Cloake, p. 99</ref>

Templer became GOC of the 1st Infantry Division, which had come under his command while he was GOC II Corps, on 31 July 1943.<ref name="Mead454"/> The division, with the [[2nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|2nd]], [[3rd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|3rd Infantry Brigade]]s and the [[24th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|24th Guards Brigade]] and supporting units, was based south of [[Tunis]] and had recently fought, with great distinction, in the final phases of the [[Tunisian campaign]], where it had gained three [[Victoria Cross]]es (VC) in the space of a week.<ref name="Mead454"/> The division was then training for future participation in the [[Italian campaign (World War II)|Italian campaign]].<ref>Cloake, p. 102</ref><ref name="Mead454"/> In late August General [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Sir Harold Alexander]], commanding the Allied [[15th Army Group]], along with numerous and senior US and British generals, arrived to present the VC to [[Lance corporal|Lance Corporal]] [[John Kenneally]] of the 1st Battalion, [[Irish Guards]].<ref name="Cloake103">Cloake, p. 103</ref> Shortly afterwards, the division was involved in a divisional parade, with [[General (United States)|General]] [[Dwight D. Eisenhower|Dwight "Ike" Eisenhower]], the [[Supreme Allied Commander]] in the theatre, reviewing the entire division.<ref name="Cloake103"/> Templer himself wrote about the moment, saying:

{{Quote|I think it was the proudest moment of my life. In his address Ike said, 'When it gives me, your Supreme Commander and an American general, as proud to see you, the 1st Division of the British Army, on parade today as if you were the [[1st Infantry Division (United States)|1st Division of the American Army]], then we are really getting somewhere!' It was a magnificent parade, and as far as I know, unique.<ref name="Cloake103"/>}}

Despite managing to concentrate the division and get it training in [[mountain warfare]], Templer was not destined to lead the 1st Division into battle, although he was later to meet it again in Italy.<ref name="Mead454"/>

On 10 October 1943, Major-General [[Douglas Alexander Graham|Douglas Graham]], the GOC of the [[56th (London) Infantry Division]], then fighting in Italy, was seriously injured when his jeep tumbled into a shell crater and Templer was ordered to Italy to replace him.<ref name="Mead454"/>{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=275}} He arrived in Italy on 15 October, when the division was in the middle of crossing the [[Volturno]].<ref>Cloake, p. 105</ref> The division, a first-line TA formation, with the [[167th (1st London) Brigade|167th]], [[168th (2nd London) Brigade|168th]] and [[169th (3rd London) Brigade|169th Infantry Brigade]]s and supporting troops, along with the [[22nd Guards Brigade|201st Guards Brigade]] under Brigadier [[Julian Gascoigne]] temporarily attached, had taken part in the [[Allied invasion of Italy]] at [[Salerno]] the month before as part of [[X Corps (United Kingdom)|British X Corps]], under Lieutenant-General [[Richard McCreery]] (a fellow student of Templer's at the Staff College in the late 1920s), and had suffered heavy casualties, and the division was still understrength.<ref name="Mead454"/>

In February 1944, the division, now under [[VI Corps (United States)|U.S. VI Corps]], fought in the [[Battle of Anzio]] where Templer temporarily commanded the British 1st Infantry Division after the GOC, Major-General [[Ronald Penney]], was wounded by [[Artillery|shellfire]].{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=275}} He was appointed a [[Order of the Bath|Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 24 August 1944 in recognition of his services in Italy.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=36668 |supp=y|page=3917|date=22 August 1944}}</ref>

[[File:The Life and work Edward G Malindine, Photojournalist and Official Army Photographer 1906 - 1970 HU102819.jpg|thumb|right|[[Field Marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] [[Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein|Sir Bernard L. Montgomery]] poses for a group photograph with his staff, corps and divisional commanders at Walbeck, Germany, 22 March 1945. Pictured sitting on the ground, fourth on the right, is Major-General G. W. R. Templer.]]

In late July 1944, Templer briefly became GOC [[6th Armoured Division (United Kingdom)|6th Armoured Division]] before being severely injured by a land mine in August, after being GOC for twelve days.<ref name="Page275">Heathcote, Anthony pg 275</ref> Promoted to major-general on 17 April 1945,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37056 |supp=y|page=2282|date=27 April 1945}}</ref> he spent the rest of the war on intelligence duties in [[21st Army Group]] HQ as well as briefly heading the German Directorate of the [[Special Operations Executive]] (SOE).{{sfn|Heathcote|1999|p=275}} He was [[mentioned in dispatches]] on 8 November 1945 in recognition of his services in North West Europe.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37340 |supp=y|page=5434|date=6 November 1945}}</ref>