Alan Jolly

General Sir Alan Jolly, (12 November 1910 – 15 September 1977) was a senior officer of the British Army who served as Quartermaster-General to the Forces from 1966 to 1969.

Early career Jolly joined the British Army and was commissioned into the Royal Tank Corps in 1931. He served on the North-West Frontier in India from 1936 to 1937.

Second World War During the Second World War Jolly was appointed commanding officer of the 144th Regiment Royal Armoured Corps (144 RAC, previously the 8th Battalion of the East Lancashire Regiment) on 10 April 1944, and led it throughout the campaign in North-West Europe. Casualties to 144 RAC had been heavy and after the battle Jolly wrote a detailed report to highlight the tactical lessons learned.

On 8 September 1944 RAC supported the 51st (Highland) Division in the assault on the German-held French port of Le Havre (Operation Astonia). This difficult operation was successful. In October, Jolly was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order. In January 1945, 144 RAC cooperated with the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the British counter-attacks against the northern side of the 'Bulge' developed by the German Ardennes offensive.

In January 1945, 144 RAC became part of 79th Armoured Division, which operated specialist armoured vehicles, and the regiment re-equipped with Buffalo LVT amphibious vehicles to begin training for the assault crossing of the Rhine. Jolly took the salute at the final parade of 144 RAC on 28 February, having arranged for the band of the East Lancashire Regiment to play the regimental march (144 RAC had originally been the 8th Battalion of the East Lancs).

Postwar career Jolly was appointed Deputy Quartermaster General for British Army of the Rhine in 1957, General Officer Commanding (GOC) the 5th Division in 1959 and GOC 1st Division in 1960. He became Quartermaster-General to the Forces in 1966 and retired in 1969.