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{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2021}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
|name=Noel Irwin
|honorific_prefix= [[Lieutenant general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]]
|image=File:Noel-MacKintosh-Stuart-Irwin.jpg
|name= Noel Irwin
|image_size=175px
|honorific_suffix= {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CB|DSO2|MC}}
|caption=
|image=  
|birth_date=24 December 1892
|image_size= 175px
|death_date=21 December 1972 (aged 79)
|alt=
|birth_place=[[Motihari]], [[British Raj|British India]]
|caption=
|death_place=[[Holford]], [[Somerset]], [[England]]
|nickname=  
|placeofburial=
|birth_date= {{birth date|1892|12|24|df=yes}}
|nickname=
|birth_place= [[Motihari]], [[British Raj|British India]]
|allegiance={{flag|United Kingdom}}
|death_date= {{death date and age|1972|12|21|1892|12|24|df=yes}}
|branch={{army|United Kingdom}}
|death_place= [[Holford]], [[Somerset]], England
|serviceyears=1911–1948
|placeofburial=  
|rank=[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]]
|allegiance= United Kingdom
|servicenumber=4987
|branch= [[British Army]]
|unit=[[Essex Regiment]]<br>[[Border Regiment]]
|serviceyears= 1911–1948
|commands=[[West Africa Command]]<br/>[[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Army, India]]<br/>[[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]]<br/>[[XI Corps (United Kingdom)|XI Corps]]<br/>[[38th (Welsh) Infantry Division]]<br/>[[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Infantry Division]]<br/>[[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Infantry Brigade]]<br/>8th Battalion, [[Royal Leicestershire Regiment|Leicestershire Regiment]]<br/>2nd Battalion, [[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment|Lincolnshire Regiment]]<br/>1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
|rank= [[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]]
|battles=[[World War I]]<br/>[[World War II]]
|servicenumber= 4987
|awards= [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]] & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]]<br/>[[Military Cross]]<br/>[[Mentioned in dispatches]] (4)<br/>[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] (France)
|unit= [[Essex Regiment]]<br/>[[Border Regiment]]
|commands= [[West Africa Command]] (1946–1948)<br/>East Scotland District (1944–1945)<br/>[[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Army, India]] (1942–1943)<br/>[[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]] (1942)<br/>[[XI Corps (United Kingdom)|XI Corps]] (1941–1942)<br/>[[38th (Welsh) Infantry Division]] (1940–1941)<br/>[[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Infantry Division]] (1940)<br/>[[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Infantry Brigade]] (1939–1940)<br/>1st Battalion, [[Royal Lincolnshire Regiment|Lincolnshire Regiment]] (1918–1919)<br/>8th Battalion, [[Royal Leicestershire Regiment|Leicestershire Regiment]] (1918)<br/>2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (1917–1918)
|battles= [[First World War]]<br/>[[Second World War]]
|awards= [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]] & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]]<br/>[[Military Cross]]<br/>[[Mentioned in Despatches]] (4)<br/>[[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] (France)
|relations=  
|relations=  
|laterwork=  
|laterwork=  
}}
}}
[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant General]] '''Noel Mackintosh Stuart Irwin''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CB|DSO}} & [[Medal bar|Two Bars]], [[Military Cross|MC]] (24 December 1892 – 21 December 1972) was a senior [[British Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]], who played a prominent role in the British Army after the [[Dunkirk evacuation]], and in the [[Burma campaign]] during the [[World War II|Second World War]]. He was also instrumental in some reforms to the training and equipment of British soldiers after the [[Battle of France|defeat in France]] in 1940, intended to meet the demands of modern warfare.
[[Lieutenant-general (United Kingdom)|Lieutenant-General]] '''Noel Mackintosh Stuart Irwin''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CB|DSO2|MC}} (24 December 1892 – 21 December 1972) was a senior [[British Army]] [[Officer (armed forces)|officer]], who played a prominent role in the British Army after the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] and in the [[Burma campaign]] during the [[Second World War]]. He was also instrumental in some reforms to the training and equipment of British soldiers after the [[Battle of France|defeat in France]] in 1940, intended to meet the demands of modern warfare.


==Early life and First World War==
==Early life and First World War==
Noel Irwin was the eldest son of William Stuart Irwin of [[Motihari]], [[Bihar and Orissa]], [[British India|India]]. He was educated at [[Marlborough College]], before entry into the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]].<ref name="Officers of the British Army">{{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_I01.html#Irwin_NMS|title=British Army officer histories|publisher=Unit Histories|accessdate=2017-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Smart169">Smart, p. 169</ref>
Noel Irwin was the eldest son of William Stuart Irwin of [[Motihari]], [[Bihar and Orissa]], [[British India|India]]. He was educated at [[Marlborough College]], before entry into the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]].<ref name="Officers of the British Army">{{cite web|url=http://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_I01.html#Irwin_NMS|title=British Army officer histories|publisher=Unit Histories|accessdate=2017-09-06}}</ref><ref name="Smart169">Smart, p. 169</ref> He was married twice; first in 1918 to Margaret Maud Bavin who died in 1963, and in 1966 to Mrs Elizabeth Collier (née Fröhlich). He had one son by his first wife.<ref name="Officers of the British Army" />


He was married twice; first in 1918 to Margaret Maud Bavin who died in 1963, and in 1966 to Mrs Elizabeth Collier (née Fröhlich). He had one son by his first wife.<ref name="Officers of the British Army" />
Irwin graduated from Sandhurst in 1912 and was appointed as a second lieutenant in the [[Essex Regiment]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28641|page=6537|date=3 September 1912}}</ref> During the First World War, Irwin saw action on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]], initially serving with his battalion, then part of the [[12th Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|12th Brigade]] of the [[4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|4th Division]], in most of the major battles of 1914 and 1915, before serving in the final two years as the [[commanding officer]] of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the [[Lincolnshire Regiment]] and the 8th Battalion of the [[Leicestershire Regiment]].<ref name=lh>{{cite web|url=http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/IRWIN1.shtml|title=Irwin, Noel|publisher= Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070731211838/http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/IRWIN1.shtml |archive-date=31 July 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="Smart169"/> Still a second lieutenant upon war's outbreak, Irwin advanced quickly in rank, being promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 24 September 1914,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28977|page=9405|date=17 November 1914}}</ref> [[Acting (rank)|temporary]] [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 9 May 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29226|page=6811|date=9 July 1915|supp=y}}</ref> captain on 7 November 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30045|page=4184|date=1 May 1917|supp=y}}</ref> acting major on 10 March 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30045|page=4184|date=1 May 1917|supp=y}}</ref> and acting [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]] on 27 April 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30112|page=5497|date=1 June 1917|supp=y}}</ref> before reverting to acting major on 1 June 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30193|page=7411|date=20 July 1917|supp=y}}</ref> He was again made an acting lieutenant colonel on 23 August 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30333|page=10552|date=12 October 1917|supp=y}}</ref> He was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 6 April 1918,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30818|page=8977|date=26 July 1918|supp=y}}</ref> and again temporary lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31220|page=3257|date=7 March 1919|supp=y}}</ref>


Irwin graduated from Sandhurst in 1912 and was appointed as a second lieutenant in the [[Essex Regiment]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28641|page=6537|date=3 September 1912}}</ref> He was posted to the regiment's 2nd Battalion, with which he remained until the outbreak of the [[First World War]] almost two years later, in August 1914.
Irwin was awarded the [[Military Cross]] on 3 July 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29215|page=6536|date=2 July 1915|supp=y}}</ref> the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) on 1 January 1918<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13186|page=28|date=2 January 1918|city=e}}</ref> with two [[Medal bar|bar]]s, awarded respectively on 24 September 1918<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13327|page=3566|date=26 September 1918|city=e}}</ref> and 11 January 1919,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13385|page=224|date=13 January 1919|city=e}}</ref> and was four times [[mentioned in despatches]], on 1 January 1916,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29422|page=46|date=31 December 1915|supp=y}}</ref> on 22 May 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30093|page=5159|date=22 May 1917|supp=y}}</ref> 21 December 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30441|page=13365|date=18 December 1917|supp=y}}</ref> and 28 December 1918,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31085|page=15155|date=27 December 1918|supp=y}}</ref> in addition to the French [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] in November 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13350|page=4174|date=12 November 1918|city=e}}</ref>
 
Irwin's record of service during the war was outstanding. He saw action on the [[Western Front (World War I)|Western Front]] throughout the conflict, initially serving with his battalion, then part of the [[12th Armoured Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|12th Brigade]] of the [[4th Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|4th Division]], in most of the major battles of 1914 and 1915, before serving in the final two years as the [[Commanding Officer]] (CO) of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the [[Lincolnshire Regiment]] and the 8th Battalion of the [[Leicestershire Regiment]].<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/IRWIN1.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref><ref name="Smart169"/> Still a second lieutenant upon war's outbreak, Irwin advanced quickly in rank, being promoted to [[Lieutenant (British Army and Royal Marines)|lieutenant]] on 24 September 1914,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28977|page=9405|date=17 November 1914}}</ref> [[Acting (rank)|temporary]] [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 9 May 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29226|page=6811|date=9 July 1915|supp=y}}</ref> captain on 7 November 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30045|page=4184|date=1 May 1917|supp=y}}</ref> acting major on 10 March 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30045|page=4184|date=1 May 1917|supp=y}}</ref> and acting [[Lieutenant colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel]] on 27 April 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30112|page=5497|date=1 June 1917|supp=y}}</ref> before reverting to acting major on 1 June 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30193|page=7411|date=20 July 1917|supp=y}}</ref> He was again made an acting lieutenant colonel on 23 August 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30333|page=10552|date=12 October 1917|supp=y}}</ref> He was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 6 April 1918,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30818|page=8977|date=26 July 1918|supp=y}}</ref> and again temporary lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31220|page=3257|date=7 March 1919|supp=y}}</ref>
 
He was awarded the [[Military Cross]] on 3 July 1915,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29215|page=6536|date=2 July 1915|supp=y}}</ref> the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) on 1 January 1918<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13186|page=28|date=2 January 1918|city=e}}</ref> with two [[Medal bar|bar]]s, awarded respectively on 24 September 1918<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13327|page=3566|date=26 September 1918|city=e}}</ref> and 11 January 1919,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13385|page=224|date=13 January 1919|city=e}}</ref> and was four times [[mentioned in dispatches]], on 1 January 1916,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29422|page=46|date=31 December 1915|supp=y}}</ref> on 22 May 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30093|page=5159|date=22 May 1917|supp=y}}</ref> 21 December 1917,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30441|page=13365|date=18 December 1917|supp=y}}</ref> and 28 December 1918,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31085|page=15155|date=27 December 1918|supp=y}}</ref> in addition to the French [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] in November 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=13350|page=4174|date=12 November 1918|city=e}}</ref>


==Between the wars==
==Between the wars==
Following the end of the war, Irwin was promoted to the [[Brevet (military)|brevet rank]] of major on 3 June 1919.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31370|page=6815|date=30 May 1919}}</ref> He later attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]] as a student from 1924 to 1925, his fellow students including [[Alfred Reade Godwin-Austen|Reade Godwin-Austen]], [[Ivor Thomas (British Army officer)|Ivor Thomas]], [[Douglas Graham (British Army officer)|Douglas Graham]], [[Noel Beresford-Peirse]], [[Humfrey Gale]], [[Archibald Nye]] and [[Willoughby Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie|Willoughby Norrie]], [[Daril Watson]], [[Vyvyan Pope]], [[Thomas Riddell-Webster]] and [[Otto Marling Lund|Otto Lund]]. Following this, he served on the staff of the [[British Army of the Rhine]]. Between 1920 and 1932, he served in regimental and depot duties and transferred to the [[Border Regiment]] in 1927.
Following the end of the war, Irwin was promoted to the [[Brevet (military)|brevet rank]] of major on 3 June 1919.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31370|page=6815|date=30 May 1919}}</ref> He later attended the [[Staff College, Camberley]] as a student from 1924 to 1925, his fellow students including [[Alfred Reade Godwin-Austen|Reade Godwin-Austen]], [[Ivor Thomas (British Army officer)|Ivor Thomas]], [[Douglas Graham (British Army officer)|Douglas Graham]], [[Noel Beresford-Peirse]], [[Humfrey Gale]], [[Archibald Nye]] and [[Willoughby Norrie, 1st Baron Norrie|Willoughby Norrie]], [[Daril Watson]], [[Vyvyan Pope]], [[Thomas Riddell-Webster]] and [[Otto Marling Lund|Otto Lund]]. Following this, he served on the staff of the [[British Army of the Rhine]]. Between 1920 and 1932, he served in regimental and depot duties and transferred to the [[Border Regiment]] in 1927.<ref name="Officers of the British Army"/> In 1933, he was appointed as Chief Instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst serving for three years.<ref name=lh/> In 1937, he served briefly as General Staff Officer, Grade 1 (GSO1) for British troops stationed in China.<ref name=lh/>
 
In 1933, he was appointed as Chief Instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst serving for three years.<ref name=lh/> In 1937, he served briefly as General Staff Officer, Grade 1 (GSO1) for British troops stationed in China.<ref name=lh/>


==Second World War==
==Second World War==
At the start of the [[Second World War]] in September 1939, Irwin, promoted to temporary [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]] on 15 March 1939,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34617|page=2588|date=18 April 1939}}</ref> headed the [[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Infantry Brigade]],<ref name=lh/> part of the [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Division]]. On 20 May 1940, he was promoted to acting major-general<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34875|page=3685|date=14 June 1940|supp=y}}</ref> and took command of the division during the retreat to Dunkirk in the [[Battle of France]].<ref name=lh/>
At the start of the [[Second World War]] in September 1939, Irwin, promoted to temporary [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|brigadier]] on 15 March 1939,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34617|page=2588|date=18 April 1939}}</ref> headed the [[6th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|6th Infantry Brigade]],<ref name=lh/> part of the [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Division]]. On 20 May 1940, he was promoted to acting major-general<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34875|page=3685|date=14 June 1940|supp=y}}</ref> and took command of the division during the retreat to Dunkirk in the [[Battle of France]].<ref name=lh/>


Following the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] in May 1940, Irwin was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 11 July 1940.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34893|page=4244|date=9 July 1940|supp=y}}</ref> From 28 October he commanded the [[38th (Welsh) Infantry Division]] in Britain. His rank of major-general was made permanent on 29 March 1941 (with seniority backdated to 22 November 1940).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35157|page=2648|date=6 May 1941|supp=y}}</ref> On 7 November 1941 Irwin, promoted to the acting rank of lieutenant-general,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35345|page=6563|date=11 November 1941}}</ref> commanded the [[XI Corps (United Kingdom)|XI Corps]], which was based in [[East Anglia]] and had substantial responsibilities for the defence of Britain in the event of a German invasion.
Following the [[Dunkirk evacuation]] in May 1940, Irwin was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] on 11 July 1940.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34893|page=4244|date=9 July 1940|supp=y}}</ref> From 28 October he commanded the [[38th (Welsh) Infantry Division]] in Britain. His rank of major-general was made permanent on 29 March 1941 (with seniority backdated to 22 November 1940).<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35157|page=2648|date=6 May 1941|supp=y}}</ref> On 7 November 1941 Irwin, promoted to the acting rank of lieutenant-general,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35345|page=6563|date=11 November 1941}}</ref> commanded the [[XI Corps (United Kingdom)|XI Corps]], which was based in [[East Anglia]] and had substantial responsibilities for the defence of Britain in the event of a German invasion.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://kclpure.kcl.ac.uk/portal/files/2928115/DX199711.pd |title=British planning and preparations to resist invasion on land, September 1939 - September 1940|last1=Newbold |first1=David John |publisher=King's College, University of London|page=262}}</ref>


He was transferred to the Middle East in 1942, to command of the [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]] in Iraq.<ref name=lh/> The Corps HQ was subsequently transferred to India after the [[Japanese conquest of Burma]]. Irwin became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Army, India]] in July 1942. Eastern Army had wide responsibilities for defending eastern frontier of India against the Japanese, and maintaining security in large areas of India.<ref name=lh/> His rank of lieutenant-general was made temporary on 23 November 1942.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35800|page=5143|date=24 November 1942|supp=y}}</ref>
He was transferred to the Middle East in 1942, to command of the [[IV Corps (United Kingdom)|IV Corps]] in Iraq.<ref name=lh/> The Corps HQ was subsequently transferred to India after the [[Japanese conquest of Burma]]. Irwin became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief [[Eastern Command (India)|Eastern Army, India]] in July 1942. Eastern Army had wide responsibilities for defending eastern frontier of India against the Japanese, and maintaining security in large areas of India.<ref name=lh/> His rank of lieutenant-general was made temporary on 23 November 1942.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=35800|page=5143|date=24 November 1942|supp=y}}</ref>


For the minor attack in [[Burma Campaign 1942-1943#First Arakan campaign|Arakan]] late in 1942, Irwin and Eastern Army HQ bypassed [[XV Corps (India)|XV Corps]] HQ after disagreements with the local commander, [[Bill Slim]], and took command of the operation.<ref name=lh/> The attack failed, with severe effects on Allied morale and prestige. On 6 April 1943, Irwin gave a press conference in which he criticised the equipment, training and motivation of the Allied armies in India.<ref>Christoper Bayly and Tim Harper, ''Forgotten Armies'', Penguin Books (2005), {{ISBN|0-14-029331-0}}, pp.274–275</ref> Although his observations were admitted to be largely correct, Irwin's refusal to admit that any blame attached to himself and his staff was resented. He was relieved of his appointment and returned to Britain on sick leave.
For the minor attack in [[Burma Campaign 1942-1943#First Arakan campaign|Arakan]] late in 1942, Irwin and Eastern Army HQ bypassed [[XV Corps (India)|XV Corps]] HQ after disagreements with the local commander, [[Bill Slim]], and took command of the operation.<ref name=lh/> The attack failed, with severe effects on Allied morale and prestige. On 6 April 1943, Irwin gave a press conference in which he criticised the equipment, training and motivation of the Allied armies in India.<ref>Christoper Bayly and Tim Harper, ''Forgotten Armies'', Penguin Books (2005), {{ISBN|0-14-029331-0}}, pp.274–275</ref>


In 1944, he was appointed the General Officer Commanding East Scotland District in his substantive rank of major general (a significant step-down from his previous three jobs),<ref name="Mead222">Mead, p. 222.</ref> and remained in this post until the end of the war. After three years as Commander-in-Chief of British forces of the [[West Africa Command]],<ref name=lh/> during which time he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant general, he retired to private life in 1948.<ref name=lh/>
In 1944, he was appointed the General Officer Commanding East Scotland District in his substantive rank of major general (a significant step-down from his previous three jobs),<ref name="Mead222">Mead, p. 222.</ref> and remained in this post until the end of the war. After three years as Commander-in-Chief of British forces of the [[West Africa Command]],<ref name=lh/> during which time he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant general, he retired to private life in 1948.<ref name=lh/>
In the 1952 Kenyan general election, [[Agnes Shaw]] defeated Noel Irwin by 632 votes to 317.<ref>"Nominations for the General Election in Kenya", ''East Africa and Rhodesia'', 20 August 1956, p1866</ref>


==Honours and awards==
==Honours and awards==
During his military career, Irwin was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]], was awarded the [[Military Cross]] and the [[Distinguished Service Order]] with two [[Medal bar|Bars]]. He was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] four times but significantly, he never received the [[knighthood]] which would normally be expected to accrue to an officer of substantive lieutenant general rank.<ref name="Mead222"/>
During his military career, Irwin was made a [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]], was awarded the [[Military Cross]] and the [[Distinguished Service Order]] with two [[Medal bar|Bars]]. He was [[Mentioned in Despatches]] four times but significantly, he never received a [[knighthood]], which would normally be expected for an officer of substantive lieutenant general rank.<ref name="Mead222"/>


* [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] (11 July 1940)
* [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] (11 July 1940)
* [[Distinguished Service Order]] (1 January 1918, 24 September 1918 For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the whole of his battalion front was heavily attacked and all communications with his forward companies were cut, this officer personally organised his headquarters and stragglers, and formed a defensive flank so as to obtain touch with the brigade on the right. This flank he held for eight hours against all attacks, organising two counter-attacks against the enemy during this period, thus averting a critical situation. It was greatly due to his able conduct that the holding of their battle position by his brigade was possible throughout the day. His courage, energy and quick decision inspired the greatest confidence in his men, 1919)
* [[Distinguished Service Order]] (1 January 1918, 24 September 1918 For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the whole of his battalion front was heavily attacked and all communications with his forward companies were cut, this officer personally organised his headquarters and stragglers, and formed a defensive flank so as to obtain touch with the brigade on the right. This flank he held for eight hours against all attacks, organising two counter-attacks against the enemy during this period, thus averting a critical situation. It was greatly due to his able conduct that the holding of their battle position by his brigade was possible throughout the day. His courage, energy and quick decision inspired the greatest confidence in his men, 1919)
* [[Military Cross]] (3 July 1915: On 2 May 1915, east of Ypres, when in reserve trenches with his company, seeing that the men in the front trenches were overcome by gas and were retiring, with great initiative and courage and under heavy fire, he at once advanced with his company and seized the front trenches before the Germans could occupy them, and drove back the enemy's attack. On 13 May in the counter-attack he handled his company with great skill and determination.)
* [[Military Cross]] (3 July 1915: On 2 May 1915, east of Ypres, when in reserve trenches with his company, seeing that the men in the front trenches were overcome by gas and were retiring, with great initiative and courage and under heavy fire, he at once advanced with his company and seized the front trenches before the Germans could occupy them, and drove back the enemy's attack. On 13 May in the counter-attack he handled his company with great skill and determination.)
* [[Mention in Despatches]] (1 January 1916, 22 May 1917, 21 December 1917, 28 December 1918
* [[Mention in Despatches]] (1 January 1916, 22 May 1917, 21 December 1917, and 28 December 1918)
* [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] (France)
* [[Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (France)|Croix de guerre]] (France)


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|30em}}
{{reflist}}


==Bibliography==
==Bibliography==
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*Liddell Hart, Basil, and Constance Kritzberg, Henry, ''A History of the Second World War''. New York: Putnam, 1971. {{ISBN|0-306-80912-5}}
*Liddell Hart, Basil, and Constance Kritzberg, Henry, ''A History of the Second World War''. New York: Putnam, 1971. {{ISBN|0-306-80912-5}}
*Malkasian, Carter. ''A History of Modern Wars of Attrition''. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2002. {{ISBN|0-275-97379-4}}
*Malkasian, Carter. ''A History of Modern Wars of Attrition''. Westport, Connecticut: Greenwood Press, 2002. {{ISBN|0-275-97379-4}}
*{{Cite book| first=Richard| last=Mead| title=Churchill's Lions: a biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II| year=2007| publisher=Spellmount| location=Stroud (UK)| isbn=978-1-86227-431-0}}
*{{Cite book|first=Richard|last=Mead|title=Churchill's Lions: a biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II|year=2007|publisher=Spellmount|location=[[Stroud]], [[Gloucestershire]]|isbn=978-1-86227-431-0}}
*{{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart| title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War| isbn=1844150496| year=2005| location=Barnesley| publisher=Pen & Sword}}
*{{cite book|first=Nick|last=Smart|title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War|isbn=1844150496|year=2005|location=[[Barnsley]], [[South Yorkshire]]|publisher=[[Pen and Sword Books]]|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=ogTMDwAAQBAJ}}


==External links==
==External links==
* [http://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_I01.html#Irwin_NMS British Army Officers 1939–1945]
*[http://www.generals.dk/general/Irwin/Noel_Mackintosh_Stuart/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]
* [http://www.generals.dk/general/Irwin/Noel_Mackintosh_Stuart/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]


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[[Category:Alumni of the Royal College of Defence Studies]]
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[[Category:People educated at Marlborough College]]
[[Category:People educated at Marlborough College]]
[[Category:People from Motihari]]
[[Category:People from Motihari]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:British recipients of the Croix de Guerre 1914–1918 (France)]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
[[Category:British people in colonial India]]
[[Category:British people in British India]]

Latest revision as of 00:43, 30 January 2026


Lieutenant-General

Noel Irwin

CB DSO & Two Bars MC
Born(1892-12-24)24 December 1892
Motihari, British India
Died21 December 1972(1972-12-21) (aged 79)
Holford, Somerset, England
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1911–1948
RankLieutenant-General
Service number4987
UnitEssex Regiment
Border Regiment
Commands heldWest Africa Command (1946–1948)
East Scotland District (1944–1945)
Eastern Army, India (1942–1943)
IV Corps (1942)
XI Corps (1941–1942)
38th (Welsh) Infantry Division (1940–1941)
2nd Infantry Division (1940)
6th Infantry Brigade (1939–1940)
1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (1918–1919)
8th Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment (1918)
2nd Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment (1917–1918)
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsCompanion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (4)
Croix de guerre (France)

Lieutenant-General Noel Mackintosh Stuart Irwin, CB, DSO & Two Bars, MC (24 December 1892 – 21 December 1972) was a senior British Army officer, who played a prominent role in the British Army after the Dunkirk evacuation and in the Burma campaign during the Second World War. He was also instrumental in some reforms to the training and equipment of British soldiers after the defeat in France in 1940, intended to meet the demands of modern warfare.

Early life and First World War[edit | edit source]

Noel Irwin was the eldest son of William Stuart Irwin of Motihari, Bihar and Orissa, India. He was educated at Marlborough College, before entry into the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1][2] He was married twice; first in 1918 to Margaret Maud Bavin who died in 1963, and in 1966 to Mrs Elizabeth Collier (née Fröhlich). He had one son by his first wife.[1]

Irwin graduated from Sandhurst in 1912 and was appointed as a second lieutenant in the Essex Regiment.[3] During the First World War, Irwin saw action on the Western Front, initially serving with his battalion, then part of the 12th Brigade of the 4th Division, in most of the major battles of 1914 and 1915, before serving in the final two years as the commanding officer of the 1st and 2nd Battalions of the Lincolnshire Regiment and the 8th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment.[4][2] Still a second lieutenant upon war's outbreak, Irwin advanced quickly in rank, being promoted to lieutenant on 24 September 1914,[5] temporary captain on 9 May 1915,[6] captain on 7 November 1915,[7] acting major on 10 March 1917,[8] and acting lieutenant colonel on 27 April 1917,[9] before reverting to acting major on 1 June 1917.[10] He was again made an acting lieutenant colonel on 23 August 1917.[11] He was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 6 April 1918,[12] and again temporary lieutenant colonel on 1 July 1918.[13]

Irwin was awarded the Military Cross on 3 July 1915,[14] the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 1 January 1918[15] with two bars, awarded respectively on 24 September 1918[16] and 11 January 1919,[17] and was four times mentioned in despatches, on 1 January 1916,[18] on 22 May 1917,[19] 21 December 1917,[20] and 28 December 1918,[21] in addition to the French Croix de guerre in November 1918.[22]

Between the wars[edit | edit source]

Following the end of the war, Irwin was promoted to the brevet rank of major on 3 June 1919.[23] He later attended the Staff College, Camberley as a student from 1924 to 1925, his fellow students including Reade Godwin-Austen, Ivor Thomas, Douglas Graham, Noel Beresford-Peirse, Humfrey Gale, Archibald Nye and Willoughby Norrie, Daril Watson, Vyvyan Pope, Thomas Riddell-Webster and Otto Lund. Following this, he served on the staff of the British Army of the Rhine. Between 1920 and 1932, he served in regimental and depot duties and transferred to the Border Regiment in 1927.[1] In 1933, he was appointed as Chief Instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst serving for three years.[4] In 1937, he served briefly as General Staff Officer, Grade 1 (GSO1) for British troops stationed in China.[4]

Second World War[edit | edit source]

At the start of the Second World War in September 1939, Irwin, promoted to temporary brigadier on 15 March 1939,[24] headed the 6th Infantry Brigade,[4] part of the 2nd Division. On 20 May 1940, he was promoted to acting major-general[25] and took command of the division during the retreat to Dunkirk in the Battle of France.[4]

Following the Dunkirk evacuation in May 1940, Irwin was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath on 11 July 1940.[26] From 28 October he commanded the 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division in Britain. His rank of major-general was made permanent on 29 March 1941 (with seniority backdated to 22 November 1940).[27] On 7 November 1941 Irwin, promoted to the acting rank of lieutenant-general,[28] commanded the XI Corps, which was based in East Anglia and had substantial responsibilities for the defence of Britain in the event of a German invasion.[29]

He was transferred to the Middle East in 1942, to command of the IV Corps in Iraq.[4] The Corps HQ was subsequently transferred to India after the Japanese conquest of Burma. Irwin became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Army, India in July 1942. Eastern Army had wide responsibilities for defending eastern frontier of India against the Japanese, and maintaining security in large areas of India.[4] His rank of lieutenant-general was made temporary on 23 November 1942.[30]

For the minor attack in Arakan late in 1942, Irwin and Eastern Army HQ bypassed XV Corps HQ after disagreements with the local commander, Bill Slim, and took command of the operation.[4] The attack failed, with severe effects on Allied morale and prestige. On 6 April 1943, Irwin gave a press conference in which he criticised the equipment, training and motivation of the Allied armies in India.[31]

In 1944, he was appointed the General Officer Commanding East Scotland District in his substantive rank of major general (a significant step-down from his previous three jobs),[32] and remained in this post until the end of the war. After three years as Commander-in-Chief of British forces of the West Africa Command,[4] during which time he was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant general, he retired to private life in 1948.[4]

In the 1952 Kenyan general election, Agnes Shaw defeated Noel Irwin by 632 votes to 317.[33]

Honours and awards[edit | edit source]

During his military career, Irwin was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, was awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order with two Bars. He was Mentioned in Despatches four times but significantly, he never received a knighthood, which would normally be expected for an officer of substantive lieutenant general rank.[32]

  • Companion of the Order of the Bath (11 July 1940)
  • Distinguished Service Order (1 January 1918, 24 September 1918 For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When the whole of his battalion front was heavily attacked and all communications with his forward companies were cut, this officer personally organised his headquarters and stragglers, and formed a defensive flank so as to obtain touch with the brigade on the right. This flank he held for eight hours against all attacks, organising two counter-attacks against the enemy during this period, thus averting a critical situation. It was greatly due to his able conduct that the holding of their battle position by his brigade was possible throughout the day. His courage, energy and quick decision inspired the greatest confidence in his men, 1919)
  • Military Cross (3 July 1915: On 2 May 1915, east of Ypres, when in reserve trenches with his company, seeing that the men in the front trenches were overcome by gas and were retiring, with great initiative and courage and under heavy fire, he at once advanced with his company and seized the front trenches before the Germans could occupy them, and drove back the enemy's attack. On 13 May in the counter-attack he handled his company with great skill and determination.)
  • Mention in Despatches (1 January 1916, 22 May 1917, 21 December 1917, and 28 December 1918)
  • Croix de guerre (France)

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "British Army officer histories". Unit Histories. Retrieved 6 September 2017.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smart, p. 169
  3. ↑ "No. 28641". The London Gazette. 3 September 1912. p. 6537.
  4. ↑ 4.00 4.01 4.02 4.03 4.04 4.05 4.06 4.07 4.08 4.09 "Irwin, Noel". Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. Archived from the original on 31 July 2007.
  5. ↑ "No. 28977". The London Gazette. 17 November 1914. p. 9405.
  6. ↑ "No. 29226". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1915. p. 6811.
  7. ↑ "No. 30045". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1917. p. 4184.
  8. ↑ "No. 30045". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 May 1917. p. 4184.
  9. ↑ "No. 30112". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 June 1917. p. 5497.
  10. ↑ "No. 30193". The London Gazette (Supplement). 20 July 1917. p. 7411.
  11. ↑ "No. 30333". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 October 1917. p. 10552.
  12. ↑ "No. 30818". The London Gazette (Supplement). 26 July 1918. p. 8977.
  13. ↑ "No. 31220". The London Gazette (Supplement). 7 March 1919. p. 3257.
  14. ↑ "No. 29215". The London Gazette (Supplement). 2 July 1915. p. 6536.
  15. ↑ "No. 13186". The Edinburgh Gazette. 2 January 1918. p. 28.
  16. ↑ "No. 13327". The Edinburgh Gazette. 26 September 1918. p. 3566.
  17. ↑ "No. 13385". The Edinburgh Gazette. 13 January 1919. p. 224.
  18. ↑ "No. 29422". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1915. p. 46.
  19. ↑ "No. 30093". The London Gazette (Supplement). 22 May 1917. p. 5159.
  20. ↑ "No. 30441". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 December 1917. p. 13365.
  21. ↑ "No. 31085". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 December 1918. p. 15155.
  22. ↑ "No. 13350". The Edinburgh Gazette. 12 November 1918. p. 4174.
  23. ↑ "No. 31370". The London Gazette. 30 May 1919. p. 6815.
  24. ↑ "No. 34617". The London Gazette. 18 April 1939. p. 2588.
  25. ↑ "No. 34875". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 June 1940. p. 3685.
  26. ↑ "No. 34893". The London Gazette (Supplement). 9 July 1940. p. 4244.
  27. ↑ "No. 35157". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 May 1941. p. 2648.
  28. ↑ "No. 35345". The London Gazette. 11 November 1941. p. 6563.
  29. ↑ Newbold, David John. "British planning and preparations to resist invasion on land, September 1939 - September 1940". King's College, University of London. p. 262.
  30. ↑ "No. 35800". The London Gazette (Supplement). 24 November 1942. p. 5143.
  31. ↑ Christoper Bayly and Tim Harper, Forgotten Armies, Penguin Books (2005), ISBN 0-14-029331-0, pp.274–275
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 Mead, p. 222.
  33. ↑ "Nominations for the General Election in Kenya", East Africa and Rhodesia, 20 August 1956, p1866

Bibliography[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

Military offices
Preceded by
Charles Loyd 		GOC 2nd Infantry Division
May–August 1940 		Succeeded by
Daril Watson
Preceded by
Aubrey Williams 		GOC 38th (Welsh) Infantry Division
1940–1941 		Succeeded by
Arthur Dowler
Preceded by
Hugh Massy 		GOC XI Corps
1941–1942 		Succeeded by
John Crocker
Preceded by
Thomas Corbett 		GOC IV Corps
April–July 1942 		Succeeded by
Geoffry Scoones
Preceded by
Sir Charles Broad 		GOC-in-C Eastern Army, India
1942–1943 		Succeeded by
Sir George Giffard
Preceded by
Brocas Burrows 		GOC West Africa Command
1946–1948 		Succeeded by
Sir Cameron Nicholson
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