Major-General Charles Alexander Phipps Murison CB

CBE The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

MC (7 October 1894 − 31 October 1981) was a Canadian-born

British Army The British Army is the principal Army, land warfare force of the United Kingdom. the British Army comprises 73,847 regular full-time personnel, 4,127 Brigade of Gurkhas, Gurkhas, 25,742 Army Reserve (United Kingdom), volunteer reserve perso ...

officer who served in both

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

and

World War II World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

Military career

Born in

Grenfell, Saskatchewan Grenfell (Canada 2016 Census population 1,098.5) is a town in List of communities in Saskatchewan, Southern Saskatchewan, Canada. It is situated at the junction of Saskatchewan Highway 47, Highway 47 and the Saskatchewan Highway 1, Trans-Canada ...

, Canada in October 1894, where he was raised and received his initial education at

Trinity College School Trinity College School (TCS) is a co-educational, independent boarding and day school located in Port Hope, Ontario, Canada. TCS was founded on May 1, 1865, more than two years before Canadian Confederation. It includes a Senior School for ...

and

McGill university McGill University (French: Université McGill) is an English-language public research university in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. Founded in 1821 by royal charter,Frost, Stanley Brice. ''McGill University, Vol. I. For the Advancement of Learning, ...

. Murison was commissioned into the

Royal Field Artillery The Royal Field Artillery (RFA) of the British Army provided close artillery support for the infantry. It was created as a distinct arm of the Royal Regiment of Artillery on 1 July 1899, serving alongside the other two arms of the regiment, the ...

of the

in 1914, shortly after the outbreak of the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. His service during the war was spent overseas in Belgium and France where, in addition to being wounded, he was

mentioned in dispatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face of t ...

and awarded the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level until 1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) Other ranks (UK), other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth of ...

(MC). In common with a number of men of his generation who came to enjoy soldiering, he decided to remain in the army during the difficult

interwar period In the history of the 20th century, the interwar period, also known as the interbellum (), lasted from 11 November 1918 to 1 September 1939 (20 years, 9 months, 21 days) – from the end of World War I (WWI) to the beginning of World War II ( ...

and was married in 1920. Spending the majority of the first few years of his military career between the wars in

India India, officially the Republic of India, is a country in South Asia. It is the List of countries and dependencies by area, seventh-largest country by area; the List of countries by population (United Nations), most populous country since ...

, he went to England to attend the Staff College at Camberley from 1928 to 1929. Ten years on from that, he was promoted to lieutenant colonel, after having served as an instructor at the

Royal Military College of Canada The Royal Military College of Canada (), abbreviated in English as RMC and in French as CMR, is a Military academy#Canada, military academy and, since 1959, a List of universities in Canada#Ontario, degree-granting university of the Canadian ...

from 1933 to 1934. 1940, the year after the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

began, saw Murison promoted again, this time to

brigadier Brigadier ( ) is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore (rank), commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several t ...

. He saw service with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) in France, where he was an Assistant Quartermaster-General (QMG). After being evacuated from Dunkirk, he was promoted to acting major general on 1 January 1942, and became Director-General of Army Equipment at the

War Office The War Office has referred to several British government organisations throughout history, all relating to the army. It was a department of the British Government responsible for the administration of the British Army between 1857 and 1964, at ...

in June 1942, Deputy Quartermaster-General (Army Equipment) at the War Office in February 1943, a month after his major general's rank was made temporary, and Chief Administration Officer at Northern Command in 1945. On account of his contribution at Dunkirk, he was appointed a

Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding valuable service in a wide range of useful activities. It comprises five classes of awards across both civil and military divisions, the most senior two o ...

on 16 July 1940 and on account of his considerable contribution to equipping the British Army during the Second World War he was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregi ...

in the

1944 Birthday Honours The 1944 King's Birthday Honours, celebrating the official birthday of King George VI, were announced on 2 June 1944 for the United Kingdom and British Empire, New Zealand, and South Africa. The recipients of honours are displayed here as they ...

. He contributed to numerous articles to military journals throughout his life. He eventually retired back to his native Canada where his last remaining years were spent.

References

Bibliography

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Murison, Charles Alexander Phibbs British Army personnel of World War I British Army generals of World War II Recipients of the Military Cross Companions of the Order of the Bath Commanders of the Order of the British Empire War Office personnel in World War II Royal Field Artillery officers Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley Canadian military personnel from Saskatchewan Academic staff of the Royal Military College of Canada McGill University alumni British Army major generals 1894 births 1981 deaths