Bertram Armstrong
Bertram Frank Armstrong | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1893 |
| Died | 1972 (aged 78–79) |
| Allegiance |  Republic of South Africa |
| Service | South African Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands |
|
| Battles / wars | Western Desert Campaign |
| Awards |  |
Major General Bertram Frank Armstrong DSO[1] (1893 – 1972) was a South African General officer. He was the commanding officer of the 5th South African Brigade in the Western Desert Campaign in North Africa during World War II.[2]
Military career
[edit]General Armstrong joined the Natal Police in 1910 and was transferred to the South African Mounted Rifles in 1913.[1]
He served in the British Army during World War I, but returned to the Union Defence Force in 1919. In 1923 he was shifted to the Garrison Artillery, and became the commanding officer in 1933.[1]
At the outbreak of World War II, he served as Major General and commander of Natal Command and later as commander of 5th South African Brigade in North Africa. During this period he was taken prisoner of war. After his escape in 1944, he served as commander of Witwatersrand Command.[1][3]
He later served as Quartermaster-General and Chief of the General Staff.[1]
He retired on 28 January 1953.[1]
Awards and decorations
[edit]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leiers Deur die Jare (1912–1982)" (Online). Scientia Militaria: South African Journal of Military Studies (in Afrikaans). 12 (2). doi:10.5787/12-2-631. ISSN 2224-0020.
- ^ "The Orders of Battle for Totensontag, 23 November 1941". veridical. Retrieved 1 January 2015.
- ^ Hancock, William Keith (2007). Van Der Poel, Jean (ed.). Selections from the Smuts Papers Volume III August 1945 - October 1950 (annotated ed.). Cambridge University Press. ISBN 9780521033701. Retrieved 24 December 2014.