Gwilym Ivor Thomas

Sir Ivor Thomas
Born	23 July 1893 Marylebone, London, England
Died	29 August 1972 (aged 79) Salisbury, Rhodesia
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1912–1952
Rank	General
Unit	Royal Artillery
Commands held	43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division I Corps Anti-Aircraft Command
Battles/wars	World War I World War II
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order Military Cross

General Sir Gwilym Ivor Thomas GCB KBE DSO MC (23 July 1893 – 29 August 1972) was a senior British Army officer who saw active service in both World War I and World War II, where he commanded the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division throughout the campaign in Western Europe from June 1944 until Victory in Europe Day in May 1945.

Thomas attended Cheltenham College, Gloucestershire and later the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the British Army's Royal Artillery in 1912 and fought in World War I, serving on the Western Front where he was awarded the Military Cross and the Distinguished Service Order.

He was appointed Deputy Director for Recruiting and Organisation at the War Office in 1939 and then Director of Organisation at the War Office in 1940.

During World War II he became General Officer Commanding (GOC) 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division in early March 1942 and led his division throughout the campaign in North-West Europe, from June 1944 until May 1945. He was closely involved in Operation Berlin to rescue the British 1st Airborne Division once Allied forces had been overwhelmed at the Battle of Arnhem, part of Operation Market Garden, in September 1944.

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