Claude Liardet

Major-General Sir Claude Francis Liardet KBE, CB, DSO, TD, DL (1881 – 1966) was a businessman and long-serving artillery officer in Britain's part-time Territorial Army before becoming the first Commandant General of the RAF Regiment.

Early life
Claude Liardet was born on 26 September 1881, the son of Commander Henry Maughan Lairdet of Her Majesty's Indian Navy. He was educated at Bedford School.

Military career
Liardet joined the Lancashire Artillery in 1899. He transferred to the Lancashire and Cheshire Royal Garrison Artillery in 1905 and served in World War I, during which he was Mentioned in dispatches five times and awarded a DSO. He became Commanding Officer (CO) of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coast Brigade of the Royal Artillery in 1919, and CO of 106 (Lancashire Yeomanry) Brigade, Royal Field Artillery in 1923.

In 1929 Liardet became CO of 64th (7th London) Field Brigade, RFA, serving in 47th (2nd London) Division and in 1934 he was promoted to Commander Royal Artillery (CRA) of that division. When the 47th Division was disbanded in 1936 he transferred as CRA to 56th (1st London) Division. Liardet was promoted to command 56 Division in the rank of major-general in 1938, and held that post during the early part of World War II.

In 1941 Liardet was appointed Inspector General of Aerodrome Defence and Director General of Ground Defence at the Air Ministry. In 1942 he became  Commandant-General of the RAF Regiment until the end of the War, when he retired.

Business career
Liardet was a director of the Lloyd's of London insurance brokers Bevington, Vaizey, and Foster Ltd.

Family life
Liardet married, firstly, on 11 January 1906, Dorothy Hopper, daughter of Dr A.R. Hopper. They had two children: He married secondly, on 25 May 1928, Dorothy Clare Borrett, OBE, daughter of Admiral George Holmes Borrett. They had one child: Claude Liardet died in 1966.
 * Major-General Henry Maughan Liardet, CBE, DSO, Royal Tank Regiment
 * Dorothy Mary Liardet
 * John Borrett Liardet.

Honours

 * KBE 1944
 * DSO 1917
 * CB 1937
 * TD
 * Honorary Colonel of 64 (7th London) Field Brigade, RA (TA), (became 264 Field Regiment after World War II), 1937

External Sources

 * British Military History


 * Rafweb


 * Generals.dk