Frederick E. Morgan

Who was Frederick E. Morgan?

Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Edgeworth Morgan KCB was a British Army officer who fought in both world wars. He is best known as the Chief of Staff to the Supreme Allied Commander, the original planner of Operation Overlord.

A graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Morgan was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery in 1913. During the First World War he served on the Western Front as an artillery subaltern and staff officer. Afterwards he served two long tours with the British Army in India.

Shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War in 1939, Morgan was promoted to brigadier and assumed command of the 1st Support Group of the 1st Armoured Division, which he led during the Battle of France. In May 1942 he was became a lieutenant-general and given command of the I Corps. Morgan's headquarters was designated Force 125, and given the task of dealing with a German thrust through Spain to Gibraltar that never occurred. In March 1943 he was appointed chief of staff to the Supreme Allied Commander, or COSSAC. As COSSAC he directed the planning for Operation Overlord.