Field Marshal Sir Archibald James Halkett Cassels GCB, KBE, DSO (28 February 1907 – 13 December 1996) was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. As well as being a first-class cricket player, he served in World War II, commanded the 1st Commonwealth Division in the Korean War and was Director of Operations in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. He later advised the British Government on the implementation of the 1...
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Field Marshal Sir Archibald James Halkett Cassels GCB, KBE, DSO (28 February 1907 – 13 December 1996) was Chief of the General Staff, the professional head of the British Army. As well as being a first-class cricket player, he served in World War II, commanded the 1st Commonwealth Division in the Korean War and was Director of Operations in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency. He later advised the British Government on the implementation of the 1966 Defence White Paper.
Born the son of General Sir Robert Cassels and Florence Emily Cassels (née Jackson) and educated at Rugby School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Cassels was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders on 30 August 1926. He was posted to Central India in 1928 and, having been promoted to lieutenant on 20 August 1929, was appointed aide-de-camp to his father in May 1930. He became adjutant of the 2nd battalion of his regiment in March 1934 and was promoted to captain on 22 March 1938.
A right-handed batsman and...
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