Charles Scott Napier

Second World War As the Deputy Assistant Director of Transportation, Napier planned the movement of the men and vehicles of the British Expeditionary Force to France. After the Second World War broke out, he moved to the Movements Directorate, where he oversaw the process, which involved the despatch of 160,000 personnel, 25,000 vehicles and of stores. It was accomplished in accordance with the plan in five weeks and without any casualties. Due to the risk of air attack, personnel were landed at Cherbourg and Le Havre, while vehicles and cargo went through ports in Brittany. He became a temporary brigadier on 8 August 1941, and colonel on 8 August 1943. He was granted the acting rank of major-general on 30 December 1943.

In early 1944, Napier was appointed the Chief of the Movement and Transportation Branch of the G-4 Division (the one responsible for logistics) on the Supreme Headquarters, Allied Expeditionary Force (SHAEF). In this role he coordinated the shipping and build-up of forces in Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of France in June 1944. For his services, Napier was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1940 Birthday Honours, and a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1944 New Year Honours. On 2 August 1945, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath. His citation, written by Lieutenant-General Sir Humfrey Gale, the Chief Administrative Officer at SHAEF, read:

He was also made a Commander of the Legion of Merit by the United States, and awarded the French Legion of Honour and Croix de Guerre. He accepted a position with the Allied Control Council in the hope that agreement could be reached between the former Allies on transportation matters which in turn would lead to wider cooperation, but he died suddenly in London on 16 June 1946. He left a widow, Ada Kathleen (nee Dovetil).