James Joseph Kingstone

Brigadier James Joseph "Joe" Kingstone DSO & Bar MC CBE (26 August 1892 − 20 September 1966) was an officer in the British Army during the First and Second World Wars.

Military career
James Joseph Kingstone was born in Milton Lilbourne, Wiltshire, England, on 26 August 1892, the son of William John Kingstone. He was educated at Sherborne School and then entered the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from where he was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays). His service number was 4968.

During World War I he was a 2nd Lieutenant (temporary Lieutenant) in the 2nd Dragoon Guards. He was appointed Adjutant in his regiment on 1 May 1915. He was mentioned in dispatches on 30 November 1915. On 11 January 1916 he was awarded the Military Cross (MC) and promoted to Lieutenant on 21 January. On 6/7/17 as a Captain was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for action in Flanders. He was also twice mentioned in dispatches during World War I.

Moved with Queens Bays to India in 1922 and then appointed staff officer grade three.

In 1932 appointed Lieutenant Colonel in 9th Queen's Royal Lancers and in 1936 as Colonel commanded 5th Cavalry Brigade.

1938 Appointed Temporary Brigadier - Commandant School of Equitation, Weedon.

In 1941 during the Anglo-Iraqi War, Brigadier Kingstone was under the command of Major General J. G. W. Clark and was part of his relieving Habforce which included the 4th Cavalry Brigade, a battalion of The Essex Regiment, the Arab Legion Mechanised Regiment, a field artillery battery and a troop of anti-tank guns. Kingstone commanded a flying column named Kingcol in his honor.

One of his victories was to lead a column to Baghdad and force the city to surrender. This action is commemorated in the book The Golden Carpet, Somerset De Chair (Faber ) This force was known as KingCol.

Habforce and Kingcol, parts of Iraqforce, attacked from the British Mandate of Palestine to relieve the forces defending RAF Habbaniya.

Kingstone was again under Clark's command during the Syria-Lebanon Campaign.

Command history

 * Commandant, School of Equitation, Weedon (demolished 1960)
 * Commanding Officer, 4th Cavalry Brigade, UK and Middle East - 1939 to 1940
 * Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Cavalry Division, Middle East - 1940
 * Commanding Officer, 4th Cavalry Brigade, Middle East - 1940 to 1941
 * Acting General Officer Commanding, 1st Cavalry Division, Middle East - 1941
 * Commanding Officer, 4th Cavalry Brigade, Middle East - 1941
 * Commanding Officer, 30th Armoured Brigade, UK - 1941 to 1942