World War II
Giffard served in World War II initially as Military Secretary at the War Office and then, from 1940, as General Officer Commanding Palestine & Trans-Jordan.
In 1941 he became Commander-in-Chief of West Africa Command. While the Mediterranean was barred to British shipping by German and Italian naval and air force units, West Africa was an important link in Allied lines of communication to the Middle East and Far East. In addition to organising the logistic infrastructure, Giffard's major achievement was the reorganisation of the units of the Royal West African Frontier Force into two field infantry divisions, capable of serving as independent forces in rough terrain. Initially, this was in response to a potential threat from Vichy French forces in Senegal and Niger. Later, these two divisions, 81st (West Africa) Division and 82nd (West Africa) Division served with distinction in the Burma Campaign.
He was made General Officer Commanding Eastern Army, India in August 1943. This army faced the Japanese army which had occupied Burma. Several sources, notably Field Marshal William "Bill" Slim, testified to his contribution to the improvement in morale and effectiveness in Eastern Army during this period.
In 1943 he was appointed Commander in Chief of 11th Army Group in Burma. His period of command here was less happy, mainly because of difficulties with the US General Joseph Stilwell. The two men disliked each other, and Stilwell held so many appointments that any working arrangement had to be an awkward compromise. (As commander of the Northern Combat Area Command, Stilwell was Giffard's subordinate, but as Deputy Supreme Commander of the South East Asia Command, he was Giffard's superior.) Nevertheless, this period was marked by the victories in the Arakan, and at Imphal and Kohima, to which Giffard contributed greatly. Late in 1944, 11th Army Group was replaced by the Allied HQ, ALFSEA and Giffard was replaced by General Oliver Leese.
He was also Aide-de-Camp General to the King from 1943 to 1946. He retired in 1946.
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