Sir Philip Woolcott Game
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, December 1935
NPG x167732
Air of Authority - A History of RAF Organisation
Philip
Woolcott b:
30 Mar 1876
r: 1 Jan 1929
d: 4 Feb 1961
GCB
- 2 May 1945 (KCB - 3 Jun 1924, CB - 1
Jan 1919), GCVO -11 May 1937, GBE -
1 Jan 1929, KCMG - 3 Jun 1935,
DSO - 23 Jun 1915,
MiD
- 31 Dec 1918,
Cwn, Off - 26 May 1917, LoH, O -
17 Dec
1917. RUSI Essay Gold Medallist -
1910
(Army):
- 2 Lt: 2 Nov 1895, Lt: 2
Nov 1898, Capt: 3 Jun 1901, Maj:
15 Feb 1912, (T) Lt Col:
18 Jul 1915,
(B) Col: xx xxx 1917,
(RAF):
- (T) Brig-Gen [Col]: 1 Apr 1918, Act
Maj-Gen:14 Oct 1918, Act
Brig-Gen: 31 Mar 1919, A/Cdre: 1 Aug 1919, AVM:
1 Jan 1922 [1 Aug 1919].
Photograph © Crown Copyright
Sir Philip Woolcott Game
by Walter Stoneman
bromide print, December 1935
NPG x167732
28 Sep 1893: Gentleman
Cadet (5281), RMA Woolwich.
2 Nov 1895: Officer, Royal Artillery.
xx Oct 1897: Served in India
1 Jul 1902: Adjutant, Royal Artillery (Supernumerary Captain)
12 Sep 1905: Reverted to the establishment of the Royal Artillery.
22 Jan 1908: Attended Army Staff College.
8 Oct 1908: Staff Captain Royal Artillery, 4th Division, Eastern Command
22 Jan 1910: Reverted to the establishment of the Royal Artillery.
31
Dec 1910: GSO III,
War Office .
7
Sep 1913:
GSO II,
Directorate
of Military Training
30
Nov 1914:
GSO
II, HQ 4th Army Corps
18
Jul 1915:
GSO
I, HQ 46th Division.
19
Mar 1916:
GSO I, HQ RFC in the Field.
16 Oct 1916: GSO I, General Staff
25 Oct 1916: Senior Staff Officer (GSO I), HQ RFC in the Field.
8-10 Jan 1918: Temporary duty in UK
12-13 Jan 1918: Temporary duty in Paris
1 Apr 1918: Senior Staff Officer, HQ RAF in the Field
13-15 May 1918: Temporary duty in UK
2 Oct 1918: Returned to Home Establishment
14
Oct 1918:
GOC, South Western Area.
31 Mar 1919: Director of Training and Organisation.
1 Aug 1919: Awarded Permanent Commission as a Colonel
1 Aug 1919: Appointed Director
7 Dec 1922: Supernumerary, RAF India (pending appointment as AOC)
31
Dec 1922:
AOC, RAF India.
27
Nov 1923:
Air Member for Personnel.
In early 1916 he transferred to the RFC when
Trenchard requested an experienced
Staff Officer to improve the staff function in his HQ.
He was initially very dissatisfied with this move and he found himself at
unease with the technical nature of the post. However, his early doubts soon disappeared and he eventually
became Trenchard's right hand, being able to convert his rambling thoughts into cohesive
minutes and memorandum, even going to the extreme of taking flying lessons.
Following retirement from the RAF, at his own request,
he spent five years as Governor of New
South Wales in Australia becoming involved in some controversy with the state
government and suffering some severe criticism of his handling of the situation
before returning to Britain in 1935 to take up the post of Commissioner of the
Metropolitan Police, a post recently vacated by his old 'boss' Trenchard,
remaining at it’s head until 1945. One
of his earliest tasks as Commissioner was the organisation of the crowd control
measures for the funeral of King George V.
This must have brought back memories as he had been the officer in charge
of the gun carriage, which had borne the coffin of Queen Victoria at her funeral
in 1901.
Recommendation for the award of Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
"GAME, Philip Woolcott, AVM, CB,
In recognition of distinguished service, first as Director of Training and Organisation at the Air Ministry, and later as Air Officer Commanding the Royal Air Force in India, and as Air Member for Personnel on the Air Council."
(Source - Air 30/58)
Citation for the award of Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire
"GAME, Philip Woolcott, AVM, KCB
In recognition of services of outstanding distinction in connection with the organisation, development and administration of the Royal Air Force since its inception."
(Source - Air 30/72)
This page was last updated on 11/08/23
A N Gallehawk