Clement West

Clement Arthur West was born on 13 August 1892 in Manmad, British India, the only son of Clement West. He went to England where he was educated at The King's School, Canterbury and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.{{cite web|url=https://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_W01a.html#West_CA|title=British Army officer histories|publisher=Unit Histories|access-date=2022-01-12}} After passing out from Woolwich, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Royal Engineers of the British Army on 19 July 1912. Noel Martin, Colin Jardine, Harold Price-Williams and Bernard Young, all future general officers, were among his fellow graduates.{{London Gazette|issue=28634|date=9 August 1912|page=5920}}{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=329}}

He first saw active service on the Western Front between 1914 and 1918, during which he was wounded, received the Military Cross and was twice mentioned in dispatches. Promoted to lieutenant on 27 August 1914,{{London Gazette|issue=28886|date=1 September 1914|page=6899}} he ended the war with the rank of captain, having been promoted to that rank on 26 June 1917.{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=329}}

Between 1919 and 1922, West was Assistant Instructor Survey at the Royal School of Military Engineering, before working at the War Office until 1927. He then attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1927 to 1928. While there he received a promotion to major on 25 September 1928. From 1930 to 1932 he served as brigade major on the North-West Frontier and from 1932 to 1934 worked for the General Staff of the British Indian Army. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1932.{{London Gazette|issue=33823|date=6 May 1932|page=2958}}

Between October 1934 and January 1936 West was Deputy Assistant Military Secretary at the War Office. In 1936 he attended the Imperial Defence College in London. In 1937 he was commander, Royal Engineers in the 3rd Division.

During the Second World War, West worked in various staff positions in the United Kingdom until December 1942 when he was made Commanding Officer, East Central District, Home Forces. Promoted to the acting rank of major-general on 4 December 1942,{{London Gazette|issue=35826|date=15 December 1942|page=5499|supp=y}} (made temporary on 4 December 1943){{London Gazette|issue=36274|date=3 December 1943|page=5325|supp=y}} between April 1943 and 1945 he served as a major-general on the Imperial General Staff in numerous positions. From 1945 until his retirement in 1946, West was major-general in charge of Administration, Southern Command.

{{Reflist|30em}}

• {{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}}

• [http://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_W01a.html#West_CA British Army Officers 1939−1945]
• [http://www.generals.dk/general/West/Clement_Arthur/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

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Category:1892 births

Category:1972 deaths

Category:Graduates of the Royal College of Defence Studies

Category:British Army personnel of World War I

Category:British Army generals of World War II

Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order

Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath

Category:Graduates of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich

Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley

Category:Military personnel of British India

Category:People educated at The King's School, Canterbury

Category:Recipients of the Military Cross

Category:Royal Engineers officers

Category:War Office personnel in World War II

Category:British Army major generals

Category:British people in colonial India