Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : General

Army Number : 12844

Unit : 2nd Bn, 1st Bn

Biography :

Educated at Uppingham School and the RMC Sandhurst, Clive Liddell was commissioned into The Leicestershire Regiment in 1902. He served initially in the 2nd Bn. He was a fine Rugby player, playing for Blackheath, and at athletics he won the Army officers' mile race in 1904 and was second in 1905. Having been one of three officers responsible for the formation of the Army Rugby Union (ARU) in 1906, he became a founder member of its Executive Committee, before being Adjutant of the 2nd Bn in India for three years from 1908. He was promoted Captain on 17.10.1908. He was a member of the 1st Leicesters Rugby XV which won the Army Cup in 1912. After a spell as Staff Captain in HQ 6th District, he returned to Regimental duty in October 1914 in France. Shortly afterwards he became DAA & QMG in HQ I Corps, and was awarded the D.S.O. in 1915 after the First Battle of Ypres. He was AA & QMG of HQ 55th (West Lancashire) Div (TF) in 1916 during the Battle of the Somme. In early 1917 he became an AAG in the Directorate of Organization at the War Office for two years, being appointed C.M.G. in 1918 and C.B.E. in 1919. He was also Mentioned in Dispatches six times.
From 1919-22 he was an instructor at the Staff College, whereafter for two years he was Deputy Administrator of the British Empire Exhibition, earning Brevet Lieutenant Colonel. After serving with 1st Bn in Egypt in 1926, he was awarded the Royal Humane Society‘s Bronze Medal on 12 Oct 1926 for saving the lives of 3 people from drowning at St Lunaire, France, on 26 Aug 1926; this green medal was worn on his right breast. In 1927 he was a student of the Imperial Defence College before spending three years as a Colonel in the Directorate of Military Operations and Intelligence. In 1931 he took over command of 8th Infantry Brigade at Devonport, before being promoted Major General in 1933 and becoming GOC 47th (2nd London) Division (TA) in 1935. That year he was appointed C.B. and also GOC 4th Division. In 1937 he was recalled to the War Office to be Adjutant General to the Forces at the time when the Army was expanding. He was appointed K.C.B. in January 1939 and in July became Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Gibraltar, putting the defences in a fine state of preparedness at the beginning of the Second World War. On 5.9.1941 he was promoted General and that year he became Inspector-General of Forces training at home, and retired from the Army aged 59 on 1.11.1942. From 1943-27.10.49 he was Governor of The Royal Hospital Chelsea and Director of St John Ambulance. He was made a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John of Jerusalem on 25.6.1943.
He was Colonel of The Royal Leicestershire Regiment from 22.3.1943-1.5.1948. He died in 1956, aged 73 years.
His medals are in the possession of Leicester Arts & Museum Service.

This page was last edited on 27.8.2019.

Date of Birth : 1.5.1883

Place of Birth : Huddersfield, Yorkshire

Date of Death : 9.9.1956

Place of Death : London

Civil Occupation : public servant

Period of Service : 1902-42; 1943-48

Conflicts : WW1, WW2

Places Served : GB, India, France & Flanders, Egypt, Gibraltar