Philip Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode
Field Marshal
Philip Walhouse Chetwode, 1st Baron Chetwode, 7th Baronet of Oakley,
GCB,
GCSI,
KCMG,
OM,
DSO (
21 September,
1869–
1950) was a British cavalry officer during
World War I.
He served on the
Western Front in smaller
cavalry commands receiving little distinction. In
1917 he was transferred to
Palestine where he commanded a Cavalry Division at the
First Battle of Gaza and the
Second Battle of Gaza.
When
Edmund Allenby took command of the Allied forces in Palestine, Chetwode was promoted to command of the
XX Corps. He led the corps with distinction at the
Third Battle of Gaza. He led the main attack at the
Battle of Jerusalem, capturing the city after one day of fighting. The next year he again led his corps with distinction at the
Battle of Megiddo.
After the war Chetwode was made
Field Marshal and
Commander-in-Chief, India.
He was portrayed in
Lawrence of Arabia, albeit very briefly, by John Robinson, during the British staff officer's meeting in
Syria.
The main building and its central hall at the
Indian Military Academy is named after him.