Ernest Squires

Lieutenant General Ernest Ker Squires CB, DSO, MC (18 December 1882 – 2 March 1940) was a senior officer in the Australian Army who served as Chief of the General Staff (1939–1940).

Ernest Ker Squires
Born	18 December 1882 Poona, India
Died	2 March 1940 (aged 57) Melbourne, Australia
Allegiance	United Kingdom Australia
Service/branch	British Army Australian Army
Years of service	1903–1940
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Chief of the General Staff
Battles/wars	First World War Third Anglo-Afghan War Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches (6)

Biography

Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Squires was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1903.[1] He transferred to the 3rd Sappers and Miners in India in 1905.[1] In 1912 he married Ethel Elsie Risley.[1]

He served in the First World War and was wounded at Givenchy in 1914 and at Ypres in 1915.[1] Later that year he saw action again – this time in Mesopotamia.[1] In 1932 he was made brigadier on the General Staff of Southern Command.[2]

He became Director of Staff Duties at the War Office in 1939, Inspector General of the Australian Army in 1938,[3] and Chief of the General Staff in 1939.[1] His health failed him and he died early the following year.[1]

References

1. Lodge, A. B. (1990). Squires, Ernest Ker (1882–1940). Australian Dictionary of Biography. Vol. 12. Melbourne University Press. pp. 41–42.
2. Ernest Squires Generals.dk
3. Inspector General selected Canberra Times, 19 May 1938