Frank Messervy

Sir Frank Walter Messervy
Sir Frank Walter Messervy
	Messervy as the GOC of the 7th Indian Infantry Division during the Second World War
Nickname(s)	"The Bearded Man"
Born	9 December 1893; Trinidad
Died	2 February 1974 (aged 80); Heyshott, West Sussex, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Indian Army
Years of service	1913–1948
Rank	General
Unit	9th Hodson's Horse
Commands	Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army (1947–48); Northern Command, India (1946–47); Malaya Command (1945–46); IV Corps (1944–45); 7th Indian Infantry Division (1943–44); 43rd Indian Armoured Division (1942–43); 7th Armoured Division (1942); 1st Armoured Division (1942); 4th Indian Infantry Division (1941–42); 9th Indian Infantry Brigade (1941); Gazelle Force (1941); 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (1938–39)
Battles / wars	First World War; Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India; Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire; Companion of the Order of the Bath; Distinguished Service Order & Bar; Mentioned in Despatches (3); Order of the Nile (Egypt); Legion of Merit (United States)
Other work	Honorary Colonel, 16th Light Cavalry (1945–48); Honorary Colonel, The Jat Regiment (1947–55); Deputy Chief Scout (1949–50); Berkshire County Councillor (1953–56)

General Sir Frank Walter Messervy, KCSI, KBE, CB, DSO & Bar (9 December 1893 – 2 February 1974) was a British Indian Army officer in the First and Second World Wars. Following its independence, he was the first commander-in-chief of the Pakistan Army from August 1947 to February 1948.^[11] Previously, he had served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Northern Command, India in 1946 and 1947.

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^ "No. 37977". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1947. p. 2574.
^ "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1941. p. 7333.
^ "No. 36477". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 April 1944. p. 1815.
^ "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1941. pp. 7339–7353.
^ "No. 37015". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 April 1945. p. 1819.
^ "No. 37184". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1945. pp. 3746–3753.
^ "No. 31736". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 1920. pp. 698–700.
^ "No. 37238". The London Gazette. 24 August 1945. p. 4299.
^ "No. 38431". The London Gazette. 15 October 1948. p. 5447.
^ "No. 40738". The London Gazette. 23 March 1956. p. 1736.
^ A letter catalogued by MJF^[who?], dated 23 March 1948, refers to Sir Douglas David Gracey as Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army at that date; but the International Who's Who states that Messervy was Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army until August the same year.

[2] "No. 37977". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1947. p. 2574.

[3] "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1941. p. 7333.

[4] "No. 36477". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 April 1944. p. 1815.

[5] "No. 35396". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 December 1941. pp. 7339–7353.

[6] "No. 37015". The London Gazette (Supplement). 3 April 1945. p. 1819.

[7] "No. 37184". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1945. pp. 3746–3753.

[8] "No. 31736". The London Gazette (Supplement). 13 January 1920. pp. 698–700.

[9] "No. 37238". The London Gazette. 24 August 1945. p. 4299.

[10] "No. 38431". The London Gazette. 15 October 1948. p. 5447.

[11] "No. 40738". The London Gazette. 23 March 1956. p. 1736.

[12] A letter catalogued by MJF^[who?], dated 23 March 1948, refers to Sir Douglas David Gracey as Commander-in-Chief, Pakistan Army at that date; but the International Who's Who states that Messervy was Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army until August the same year.

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Sir Frank Walter Messervy
Messervy as the GOC of the 7th Indian Infantry Division during the Second World War
Nickname(s)	"The Bearded Man"^[a]
Born	(1893-12-09)9 December 1893 Trinidad
Died	2 February 1974(1974-02-02) (aged 80) Heyshott, West Sussex, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Indian Army
Years of service	1913–1948
Rank	General
Unit	9th Hodson's Horse
Commands	Commander-in-Chief of the Pakistan Army (1947–48) Northern Command, India (1946–47) Malaya Command (1945–46) IV Corps (1944–45) 7th Indian Infantry Division (1943–44) 43rd Indian Armoured Division (1942–43) 7th Armoured Division (1942) 1st Armoured Division (1942) 4th Indian Infantry Division (1941–42) 9th Indian Infantry Brigade (1941) Gazelle Force (1941) 13th Duke of Connaught's Own Lancers (1938–39)
Battles / wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India^[1] Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order^[2] & Bar^[3] Mentioned in Despatches (3)^[4]^[5]^[6] Order of the Nile (Egypt)^[7] Legion of Merit (United States)
Other work	Honorary Colonel, 16th Light Cavalry (1945–48)^[8]^[9] Honorary Colonel, The Jat Regiment (1947–55)^[10] Deputy Chief Scout (1949–50) Berkshire County Councillor (1953–56)

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Frank Messervy

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