Chief of the Imperial General Staff - Definition and Overview

Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS) was the title of the professional head of the British Army from 1908 to 1964. Prior to that period, the professional head of the army was entitled the Commander-in-Chief of the Forces (although briefly it had been Chief of the General Staff). Since 1964, the title of the head of the Army has been Chief of the General Staff.

Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff

• Field Marshal Sir William Nicholson 1908-1912
• Field Marshal Sir John French 1912-1914
• General Sir Charles Douglas 1914
• General Sir James Murray 1914-1915
• General Sir Archibald Murray 1915
• General Sir William Robertson 1915-1918
• Field Marshal Sir Henry Wilson 1918-1922
• General Frederick Lambart, 10th Earl of Cavan 1922-1926
• Field Marshal Sir George Milne 1926-1933
• Field Marshal Sir Archibald Montgomery-Massingberd 1933-1936
• Field Marshal Sir Cyril Deverell 1936-1937
• General John Vereker, 6th Viscount Gort 1937-1939
• Field Marshal Sir Edmund Ironside 1939-1940
• Field Marshal Sir John Dill 1940-1941
• Field Marshal Sir Alan Brooke 1941-1946
• Field Marshal Bernard Law Montgomery, 1st Viscount Montgomery of Alamein 1946-1948
• Field Marshal Sir William Slim 1948-1952
• Field Marshal Sir John Harding 1952-1955
• Field Marshal Sir Gerald Templer 1955-1958
• Field Marshal Sir Francis Festing 1958-1961
• General Sir Richard Hull 1961-1964