We have a number of Templers who we like to think are famous:
Field Marshall Sir Gerald Templer
After a distinguished career in both the WW1 and WW2 where he became one of the youngest Generals in the British Army, he was given the dubious job of Director of Military Government in the British zone of war torn Germany. In October 1951, High Commissioner Gurney of Malaya was assassinated by communist guerrillas. Gerald Templer was sent out by the British Government to take over as High Commissioner and for the next four years he organized the defense of Malaya and then the total collapse of the communist guerillas. In the period of wars with the communists in South East Asia, this was one of the few occasions where the communists were totally beaten. His nickname became Templer Tiger of Malaya and I believe that he is well remembered in Malaya to this day
Gerald Templer became Chief of the Imperial General Staff of the British Army, the highest position in Her Majesty's Armed Forces.
1938
– 1939
General Staff Officer 2 War Office
1939
– 1940
General Staff Officer 1 British Expeditionary Force, France
1940
General Staff Officer 1 Macforce, France
1940
Commanding Officer 9th Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment
1940
– 1941
Commanding Officer 210th Independent Brigade
1941
– 1942
Brigadier General Staff V Corps
1942
General Officer Commanding 47th Division
1942 – 1943 General Officer Commanding II Corps
1943
General Officer Commanding XI Corps
1943
– 1944
General Officer Commanding 56th Division, Italy - North Africa
1944
Temporary
General Officer Commanding 1st Division, Italy
1944 General Officer Commanding 6th Armored Division, Italy
1944
Wounded
1945
– 1946
Director Allied Military Gov'nt British Zone of Occupation Germany
1946
– 1948
Director of Military Intelligence, War Office
1948
– 1950
Vice Chief Imperial General Staff, War Office
1950
– 1952
General Officer Commander in Chief Eastern Command
1952
– 1954
High Commissioner & Commander in Chief - Malaya
1955 – 1958 Chief Imperial General Staff, War Office
A very good history of Gerald Templer is written in "Templer Tiger of Malaya" by John Cloake ISBN 0 245 54204 3 although I suspect it is out of print.
