PHANTOM Astor, John Jacob (the Hon.) (Jakie)

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
Astor
  • FORENAME
John Jacob (the Hon.) (Jakie)
  • UNIT
F Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment, R.A.C. (attached SAS Brigade)
  • RANK
Major
  • NUMBER
86211
  • AWARD
Member of the Order of the British Empire, Legion dHonneur(Fr), Croix de Guerre(Fr)
  • PLACE
N.W. Europe 1944-45
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
parent unit Life Guards
born 29.8.1918
son of 2nd Viscount Astor
educated Eton College
educated New College, Oxford
J + F Squadrons
Conservative M.P. postwar
died 20.9.2000
London Gazette 36917, 30th January 1945, Page 672 (MBE)
 

CITATION:

Member of the Order of the British Empire : Major Astor commands F Squadron GHQ Liaison Regiment which has been lent to the SAS Brigade to provide communications in the field.

In order to carry out this task he has had entirely to reorganise his squadron and retrain them on new equipment. The signal layout for this formation is extremely complex.

The whole signals set up was organised, planned and trained in the two months prior to 'D' Day but in spite of this extreme haste the communications have exceeded all expectations, and have been consistently reliable.

SAS operations are largely dependent on good signal communications without which resupply is impossible. I consider that the highly satisfactorily results obtained are entirely due to the ability, hard work, and enthusiasm displayed by Major Astor, who is not a trained Royal Corps of Signals officer but who has dealt with extremely complicated signal problems with outstanding success.

WEB LINKS:

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/36917/supplement/672 (MBE)
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7388019

NATIONAL ARCHIVES:

https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D7388019
Last edited by a moderator:
John Jacob (the Hon.) (Jakie) Astor

This information has been taken from GHQ Liaison Regiment: A Nominal Roll with Short Biographies, by Asher CJ Pirt, MA

http://pirtonline.org/newpublication.aspx
http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/ghq-liaison-regiment-a-nominal-roll-with-short-biographies/8334070
 
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