Alexander Godley

All you want to know about Alexander Godley

Sir Alexander John Godley
4 February 1867 – 6 March 1957
General Sir Alexander Godley
Place of birth	Chatham, Kent, England
Place of death	Oxford, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1886 - 1933
Rank	General
Commands held	New Zealand Expeditionary Force I Anzac Corps II Anzac Corps
Battles/wars	Second Boer War Siege of Mafeking World War I Gallipoli Campaign Western Front
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Mention in Despatches (10)

General Sir Alexander John Godley GCB, KCMG (1867-1957) was a First World War general, best known for his role as commander of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and British XXII Corps, although he was also Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force, and had been in 1910, when he was appointed on the advice of Lord Kitchener. During the Battle of Gallipoli he commanded the New Zealand and Australian Division.

Alexander Godley was born in Chatham, Kent, England, on 4 February 1867, the son of William Godley, a British Army captain of Irish heritage. He attended Sandhurst Military Academy and, after graduating in 1886, was commissioned in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers. He married Louisa Fowler in 1898 before serving in the Boer War. During his time in South Africa, Godley served with the Irish Guards.

After attending the Staff College, he was dispatched by Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, to command the military of New Zealand for five years, with the rank of major-general. He led the New Zealand army to Egypt, where its training continued before the landing at Anzac Cove. After the Gallipoli campaign, Godley was appointed to command the First ANZAC Corps, although before it saw any action, he was swapped with General Birdwood, commanding the Second ANZAC Corps, though he later commanded the British XXII Corps.

After the War, Godley served in the Occupation of the Rhine, then as Military Secretary to the Secretary of State for War, before returning to the Rhine as Commander of the Occupational forces.

During World War II he commanded a platoon of the British Home Guard.

Over his career, General Godley was Mentioned in Despatches at least ten times. He died in Oxford.

He was a nephew of John Robert Godley, the founder of Canterbury, New Zealand.

Military offices
Preceded by New Command	Commander, New Zealand Expeditionary Force May 1915–11 November 1919	Succeeded by ???
Preceded by New Command (Part of Anzac Corps)	Commander, I Anzac Corps February 1916–March 1916	Succeeded by General William Birdwood
Preceded by General William Birdwood	Commander, II Anzac Corps March 1916–1917	Succeeded by None
Preceded by ???	Commander, British XXII Corps 1917–1919	Succeeded by ???
Political offices
Preceded by Sir Charles Carmichael Monro,	Governor of Gibraltar 1928–1932	Succeeded by Sir Charles Harington Harington

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