Robert Sturges
British Army general (1891-1970)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Robert Grice Sturges, KBE, CB, DSO (14 July 1891 – 12 September 1970) was a senior Royal Marines officer who fought in both the First World War and Second World War.
Royal Marines (1912–1946)
Sir Robert Sturges | |
|---|---|
 Sir Robert Sturges in April 1944. | |
| Born | 14 July 1891 Borough of Wokingham, England |
| Died | 12 September 1970 (aged 79) Exeter, England |
| Military career | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | Royal Navy (1908–1912) Royal Marines (1912–1946) |
Service years | 1908–1946 |
Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Commands | Special Service Group (1943–1945) Royal Marines Division (1940) |
Conflicts | First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Military career
Sturges joined the Royal Navy in 1908.[1] Commissioned a sub-lieutenant on 15 May 1912,[2] he transferred to the Royal Marines as a lieutenant from the same date (confirmed on 19 December 1914).[1][3]
He served in the First World War, seeing action in the Gallipoli campaign and the Battle of Jutland, and receiving promotion to captain on 30 January 1917.[4][5] He was officially transferred to the Royal Marine Light Infantry on 30 January 1917.[6]
Between the wars, he was promoted to major on 17 June 1929,[7] and to lieutenant colonel on 1 April 1936.[8] He was brevetted colonel and promoted to colonel on 3 April 1939 (seniority 31 December 1938).[9]
During the Second World War he was the commander of the British occupation of Iceland in May 1940. He was promoted to acting colonel commandant and temporary brigadier on 4 June,[10] and was mentioned in despatches in July.[11] He was Commander of the British occupation of Madagascar in 1942.[1] He went on to be Commander of the Special Service Group (Commandos) in 1943.[1] He was described as "intrepid in action, ruddy in countenance, and forcefully bucolic in language".[12] He retired in 1946.[1]