George Gater facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Brigadier-General
Sir George Gater
|
|
|---|---|
| Born | 26 December 1886 |
| Died | 14 January 1963 (aged 76) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1914 - 1919 |
| Rank | Brigadier-General |
| Commands held | 6th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment 62nd Brigade |
| Battles/wars | First World War |
| Awards | Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order and bar Croix de guerre Mentioned in Dispatches |
Sir George Henry Gater (born December 26, 1886 – died January 14, 1963) was an important officer in the British Army. He later became a high-ranking government worker. He was known for his brave actions during the First World War and for helping to improve schools in England.
Early Life and Education
George Gater was born in Southampton, England. His father, William Henry Gater, was a lawyer. George went to Twyford School and then to Winchester College, which are both well-known schools. After that, he studied at New College, Oxford University. He earned a degree in history in 1909. He also got a special diploma to become a teacher.
In 1911, he started working as the Director of Education for Nottinghamshire County Council. This meant he was in charge of schools in that area.
Serving in the First World War
When the First World War began in 1914, George Gater joined the army. He started as a "second lieutenant" in the Sherwood Foresters regiment. This was his local army group. He quickly moved up in rank.
- In 1915, he became a "captain."
- He was sent to Gallipoli, a place where a big battle was happening.
- While there, he was promoted to "major."
- His unit left Gallipoli in December 1915. They then moved to the Western Front in France in 1916.
During the Battle of the Somme in October 1916, he showed great bravery. He was given the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) award. This award is for officers who show outstanding leadership in battle. In the same month, he became a "lieutenant colonel." He was then put in charge of the 6th Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment.
At the Messines in 1917, he was hit by a shell splinter. It wounded his mouth and ear. But he kept fighting and stayed with his unit. Because of his courage, he received a "bar" to his DSO. This means he got the award a second time.
On November 1, 1917, George Gater was chosen to lead the 62nd Brigade. This was a very important job. It was unusual because he had only been in the army for three years. He led his brigade during the German spring offensive in 1918. He refused to give up his position, even when German forces surrounded them.
During the war, he was wounded twice. He was also "mentioned in dispatches" four times. This means his name was officially noted for his brave actions. He received the French Croix de guerre award in November 1918. He was also made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG). When the war ended in 1919, he was given the honorary rank of "brigadier general."
Life After the War
After the war, George Gater became a "civil servant." This means he worked for the government.
From 1919 to 1924, he was the Director of Education in Lancashire. He was in charge of 4,000 teachers and 118,000 children in the schools there. In 1924, he moved to London. He became the Director of Education for the London County Council. He was responsible for 480,000 children in London's schools. He spent a lot of time reorganizing and rebuilding the school system. He also supported the idea of developing the Bloomsbury area for the University of London.
In 1933, he became the Clerk to the London County Council. This was a very senior role. In 1936, he was knighted, which means he was given the title "Sir."
During the Second World War, he held several important government jobs. He worked for the Ministry of Home Security, which dealt with protecting people during wartime. He also worked for the Colonial Office, which managed Britain's colonies around the world. He was involved in important government discussions about the future of different regions.
He received more high honors for his work:
- In 1941, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB).
- In 1944, he became a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG).
Sir George Gater also stayed involved with education. He became a Fellow at Winchester College in 1936. From 1951 to 1959, he was the Warden of Winchester College. He was also a Justice of the Peace, which means he helped with local legal matters.
He married Irene Nichols in 1926. They had one son. Sir George Gater passed away on January 14, 1963.
