Gerald Templer - Second World War

Second World War

At the outbreak of World War II Templer was an acting lieutenant-colonel in military intelligence, serving on the staff of the British Expeditionary Force. After evacuating from France he oversaw the raising of the 9th Battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment and then commanded the 210th Infantry Brigade in Dorset from November 1940. He was assigned as a staff officer to V Corps in May 1941 and promoted to colonel on 6 October 1941.

In April 1942 Templer took over command of 47th Infantry Division based in Winchester as an acting major-general, five months later taking command of II Corps as the Army's youngest acting lieutenant-general. Then in April 1943 he took command of XI Corps based in East Anglia. He then requested a field command and was reduced to major-general and posted to command the 1st Infantry Division in North Africa in July 1943 before commanding the 56th Infantry Division in October 1943 during the Italian Campaign. His division got as far as Monte Camino before suffering heavy losses and being withdrawn. He was appointed CB on 24 August 1944 in recognition of his services in Italy.

Templer briefly commanded the 6th Armoured Division before being severely injured by a land mine in August 1944. Promoted to major-general on 17 April 1945, 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. He was mentioned in despatches on 8 November 1945 in recognition of his services in North West Europe.

On 17 October 1946, Templer was awarded the Legion of Merit in the Degree of Commander by the President of the United States for his conduct during the War. He was also appointed a Commander of the Order of Leopold II of Belgium and Croix de Guerre and a Knight Grand Officer of the Order of Orange Nassau of the Netherlands with Swords.

He served as Deputy Chief of Staff for the British Element of the Allied Control Commission in Germany after World War II for which he was appointed CMG in the King's Birthday Honours 1946. He first came to public notice after firing the mayor of Cologne, the later German chancellor Konrad Adenauer, for "laziness and inefficiency".

Templer became Director of Military Intelligence at the War Office in March 1946 and Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff in February 1948 and, having been promoted to lieutenant-general on 5 April 1948 and appointed KBE in the New Year Honours 1949, moved on to be General Officer Commanding Eastern Command on 18 February 1950. He was promoted to full general on 4 June 1950, advanced to KCB in the King's Birthday Honours 1951 and appointed ADC to the King on 30 August 1951. He also became a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John.