Michael West

General Sir Michael Montgomerie Alston-Roberts-West, (27 October 1905 – 14 May 1978), better known as Sir Michael M.A.R. West, was a senior British Army officer who achieved high office in the 1960s. He served in the Second World War and the Korean War, where he commanded the 1st Commonwealth Division and later became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) for Northern Command. West was a witty and unconventional soldier, with a taste for partying and jazz. Early life and military career West was the son of Captain Harry Charles John Alston-Roberts-West, RN, and Olive Molyneux-Montgomerie. West was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, British Army, in 1925. He went to India, serving with the 2nd Battalion, in 1935. He served in the Second World War (1939–1945), initially as a brigade major for the 163rd Infantry Brigade. He was then appointed Commanding officer (CO) of the 2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment and was deployed to Madagascar in 1942. He became Deputy Commander of the 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade in 1943 and Commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade in Burma in 1944.