Frederick Hubert Vinden facts for kids

Frederick Hubert Vinden (born 1895, died 1977) was an important officer in the British Army. He helped create new ways to choose officers for the army. These methods were called the War Office Selection Boards.

Later, he worked around the world. He helped set up the Indian Civil Service after India became independent in 1947. He also worked for big international groups like the UN, UNESCO, and the OECD.

Early Life and Education

Frederick Vinden was born in 1895. He grew up in a town called Exeter in England. He went to Exeter School and later studied at the Sorbonne in Paris, France.

Military Career

Vinden started his army career during World War I. He joined the 20th Battalion Royal Fusiliers. He served on the Western Front starting in November 1915. Later, he became an officer in the Suffolk Regiment. He fought in major battles like the Battle of the Somme and the Battle of Arras.

After the war, Vinden went to the Army Staff College, Camberley. He also taught at an officer training school in Bath.

Service in Ireland

In the 1920s, Vinden served in Ireland during the Irish War of Independence. He worked at the Curragh Camp, which was a camp for holding prisoners. He found this job difficult because he felt he was too young and there were many problems. He tried different ways to stop prisoners from escaping.

World War II and Officer Selection

During the 1930s, Vinden helped test a new weapon for the British Army called the Bren Gun. After that, he became the Director of Intelligence in the Far East. In this role, he wrote reports about the safety of Singapore and Malaya.

During World War II, Vinden became an Assistant Adjutant General. This meant he was in charge of making sure there were enough officers for the army. He noticed there weren't enough officers, especially for places like the Middle East and India.

To fix this, Vinden worked with experts like Eric Wittkower and Thomas Ferguson Rodger. They used ideas from other armies to create a new way to pick officers for the British Army. This new system was called the War Office Selection Boards (WOSBs). In 1943, Vinden took these new selection methods to the Indian Army.

International Service

After leaving the British Army, Vinden worked for the Indian Home Department for two years. When India became independent in 1947, he became a Joint Secretary for the Indian Government. He played a big part in helping Jawaharlal Nehru set up the Indian Civil Service. This service helps run the country.

In the early 1950s, Vinden helped find people to work for the UN Technical Assistance Programme. After that, he worked for UNESCO, which is an organization that promotes education and culture. In the 1960s, he worked for the OECD, which helps countries work together on economic issues. He also helped with the selection committee for Voluntary Service Overseas, a program where young people volunteer abroad. He also helped the National Foundation for Educational Research.

Personal Life

Frederick Vinden was married to Rose, who passed away in 2005. They had a son named Anthony John Vinden.