The Cooler King

Field Marshal Dill

Field Marshal [b]Sir John Greer Dill[/b], GCB, CMG, DSO (25 December 1881 – 4 November 1944) was a British commander in the First and Second World Wars. From May 1940 to December 1941 he was the Chief of the Imperial General Staff, the professional head of the British Army, and subsequently in Washington, as Chief of the British Joint Staff Mission and then Senior British Representative on the Combined Chiefs of Staff, played a significant role during the Second World War in the formation of the "Special Relationship" between the United Kingdom and the United States. Dill served in Washington until his death from Apalastic Anaemia in November 1944. His funeral arrangements reflected the great professional and personal respect and affection that he had earned. A memorial service was held in Washington National Cathedral and the route of the cortege was lined by some thousands of troops, following which he was interred in Arlington, where a simple service was conducted at the graveside. A witness recorded that "[i]I have never seen so many men so visibly shaken by sadness. Marshall's face was truly stricken ...[/i]". He was sorely missed by the American Joint Chiefs of Staff, who sent a fulsome message of condolence to their British colleagues

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Field Marshal Dill
The Cooler King, Jun 15, 2015