John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort
Field Marshal John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort, VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC (10 July 1886 – 31 March 1946) was a senior British Army officer. As a young officer during the First World War, he was decorated with the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Battle of the Canal du Nord. During the 1930s he served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff (the professional head of the British Army). He is best known for commanding the British Expeditionary Force that was sent to France in the first year of the Second World War, only to be evacuated from Dunkirk the following year. Gort later served as Governor of Gibraltar and Malta, and High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan.
Field Marshal The Right Honourable The Viscount Gort VC, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MVO, MC | |
|---|---|
| High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan | |
| In office 1 November 1944 – 5 November 1945 | |
| Monarch | George VI |
| Preceded by | Sir Harold MacMichael |
| Succeeded by | Sir Alan Cunningham |
| Governor of Malta | |
| In office 7 May 1942 – 26 September 1944 | |
| Monarch | George VI |
| Preceded by | William Dobbie |
| Succeeded by | Edmond Schreiber |
| Governor of Gibraltar | |
| In office 14 May 1941 – 31 May 1942 | |
| Monarch | George VI |
| Preceded by | Clive Gerard Liddell |
| Succeeded by | Noel Mason-Macfarlane |
| Personal details | |
| Born | John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker 10 July 1886 Westminster, London, England |
| Died | 31 March 1946 (aged 59) Southwark, London, England |
| Spouse |
Corinna Vereker
(m. 1911; div. 1925) |
| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | John Vereker, 5th Viscount Gort Eleanor Surtees |
| Relatives | William Philip Sidney, 1st Viscount De L'Isle (son-in-law) |
| Nickname | "Tiger" |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1905–1945 |
| Rank | Field Marshal |
| Commands | British Expeditionary Force Chief of the Imperial General Staff Staff College, Camberley Guards Brigade 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards 4th Battalion, Grenadier Guards |
| Battles/wars | First World War Second World War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Member of the Royal Victorian Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (9) |
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