The title Surgeon-General has been used for different purposes at different times in the United Kingdom. Initially it was the designation of a director of the Army's medical services. Subsequently it was a senior rank in the Army Medical Department (and, briefly, in the Royal Navy). Having lapsed after the First World War , the title was again revived in the late 20th century for the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces . Currently, it pertains to a senior uniformed medical officer, working under the Director General Defence Medical Services .
20-455: Surgeon General William George Nicholas Manley , VC CB (17 December 1831 – 16 November 1901) was a British Army officer, surgeon and a recipient of the Victoria Cross , the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. He received awards from several other countries, and is the only person to have been awarded both
40-546: A more ad hoc basis by individual regiments). In Ireland, a Physician-General was appointed in 1660, and a Surgeon-General in 1661. In 1664 the King's Physician-in-Ordinary and Serjeant Surgeon took on a similar role informally, before being appointed 'Surgeon General of all the Forces in England and Wales', in 1664. In 1685, a Physician-General was also appointed; together, they directed
60-606: A serving military medical officer, Air Marshal Clare Walton , has been appointed to the three-star post of Director General Defence Medical Services; but the title Surgeon General has remained attached to the two-star position. As of 2024, the responsibilities of the DGDMS include: The responsibilities of the Surgeon General include: For Directors General Defence Medical Services, see Defence Medical Services#List of Directors General since 2019 Temple Dinsley Preston
80-446: A three-star military medical officer; but in July 2019 a civilian was appointed to the role for the first time, Peter Homa , whose job title was Director General Defence Medical Services ( DGDMS ). Under Peter Homa as DGDMS, Air Vice-Marshal Alastair Reid (who had been appointed to the two-star position of Defence Medical Director in 2018) was designated Surgeon-General. Subsequently,
100-575: Is a village and civil parish about 3 miles (4.8 km) south of Hitchin in Hertfordshire, England. At the 2011 Census the population was 420. The village grew up around the Templar holdings at Temple Dinsley . The first church was mentioned in 1252, when six acres (24,000 m ) of land was given to nuns from Elstow , Bedfordshire. Temple Dinsley passed on to the Knights Hospitaller after
120-502: The Société française de secours aux blessés militaires . His medals are on display in the medals gallery of Firepower - The Royal Artillery Museum in Woolwich, south east London. Surgeon-General (United Kingdom) With the formation of a standing army in the 1660s, there was a need for greater co-ordination of the provision of medical services (which had previously been arranged on
140-732: The Royal Regiment of Artillery serving in Crimea . He was present for the Siege of Sevastopol during the Crimean War . He was later posted with his regiment in New Zealand. Manley was 32 years old, and an assistant surgeon in the Royal Regiment of Artillery during the Waikato-Hauhau Maori War, New Zealand when the following deed took place on 29 April 1864 near Tauranga , New Zealand, during
160-643: The Army's medical services. These two offices lapsed following the establishment of the Army Medical Department in 1810. In 1873, following the abolition of the regimental system of appointing and supervising medical officers, the title of surgeon-general was used for the highest rank of medical officers in Army Medical Department (replacing that of inspector-general of hospitals and signifying their broader authority). The rank of deputy surgeon-general
180-789: The British Ambulance Corps caring for the wounded of the 22nd Division in the actions of Chateau-neuf and Bretoncelle, on 18th and 21st December 1870, and the battles of Orleans and Cravant, on 10th December 1870. In 1878–79 he served with the Quetta Field force in the Second Anglo-Afghan War , and in 1882 he was in Egypt for the Anglo-Egyptian War as Principal Medical officer of the Second Division under Sir Edward Hamley and
200-818: The VC and the Iron Cross . Manley was born in Dublin , Ireland, on 17 December 1831, the second son of the Reverend William Nicholas Manley, his mother being a daughter of Dr. Brown of the Army Medical Staff. He was educated at the Blackheath Proprietary School and became a member of the Royal College of Surgeons of England in 1851. In 1854 Manley joined the army medical staff, and was attached to
220-526: The assault on the rebel pā ("pah") Gate Pā , for which he was awarded the VC. For his conduct during the assault on the Rebel Pah, near Tauranga, New Zealand, on the 29th of April last, in most nobly risking his own life, according to the testimony of Commodore Sir William Wiseman, Bart., C.B., in his endeavour to save that of the late Commander Hay, of the Royal Navy, and others. Having volunteered to accompany
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#1732880303835240-573: The dissolution of the Templars. When the Hospitallers were in turn dissolved in 1542, the manor went to Sir Ralph Sadleir . The current house at Temple Dinsley dates from 1714, and became Princess Helena College in 1935. The college closed in 2021. In the 17th century the village became linked with John Bunyan , who used to hold services in a natural amphitheatre now called Bunyan's Dell. Prior to 1894, Preston and neighbouring Langley were part of
260-538: The parish of Hitchin, together forming a long salient to the south of the town itself. Preston and Langley became separate civil parishes as a result of the Local Government Act 1894 , with effect from the first parish meeting on 4 December 1894. Preston civil parish was then included in the Hitchin Rural District between 1894 and 1974, when it became part of North Hertfordshire. The parish of Preston
280-548: The storming party into the Pah, he attended on that Officer when he was carried away, mortally wounded, and then volunteered to return, in order to see if he could find any more wounded. It is stated that he was one of the last Officers to leave the Pah. He also served in the same war under Sir Trevor Chute , and was present at the assault and capture of the Okotukou , Putahi , Otapawe, and Waikohou Pahs. For his services on these occasions he
300-599: The three Armed Services , the post of Surgeon General was created anew for the most senior uniformed medical officer in the British Armed Forces (the first holder being Sir Cameron Moffat , who served concurrently as Director General Army Medical Services ). Latterly, the role was described as "professional head of Defence Medical Services and the Defence Authority for end to end Defence healthcare and medical operational capability". It had always been held by
320-463: The titles of officers of the medical, accountant and naval instructor branches of the Navy were revised "in order to indicate more clearly their status as Officers of [His] Majesty's Naval Service"; thenceforward surgeons-general were styled surgeon rear-admirals and deputy surgeons-general were styled surgeon captains. In 1985, as part of a move toward greater co-ordination between the medical departments of
340-653: Was again mentioned in dispatches and promoted to staff surgeon . When the Franco-Prussian War broke out in 1870 he proceeded with the British Ambulance Corps , and was attached to the 22nd division of the Prussian Army. He was present for several battles, and received several decorations including the Iron Cross (second class) on the recommendation of the German Crown Prince : For services with
360-595: Was also introduced, although it was redesignated surgeon-colonel from 7 August 1891. In 1918, the title again went into abeyance when medical officers were given military rank: surgeon-general was redesignated as the standard Army rank of major-general , except for the most senior surgeon-general, who was redesignated a lieutenant-general . In July 1911, the titles of inspector-general of hospitals and fleets and deputy inspector-general of hospitals and fleets were replaced by surgeon-general, Royal Navy, and deputy surgeon-general, Royal Navy, respectively. In November 1918,
380-680: Was awarded 18 medals by several countries, and was the only recipient of both the VC and the Iron Cross, the highest medals of the United Kingdom and Prussia (later part of the German Empire). Among his awards were: During his time in New Zealand he also received the bronze medal of the Royal Humane Society for rescuing a man from drowning, and after the siege of Paris he received the Cross of
400-1005: Was present at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir . After this war he was promoted to Deputy Surgeon-General. Manley was awarded the honorary rank of surgeon general and retired from the army in 1884 with a distinguished service pension. Upon retirement he was made a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John of Jerusalem and a Companion of the Order of the Bath . He died in Cheltenham , Gloucestershire , on 16 November 1901. Manley married Miss M. E. Darton, daughter of Thomas Hartwood Darton, of Temple Dinsley , Hertfordshire . They had one daughter and five sons, including Lieutenant G. E. D. Manley, who died while on service in China shortly before his father's death in 1901. Manley
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