Gerald Hopkinson


Gerald Charles Hopkinson CB DSO OBE MC was a British Army officer who commanded 4th Division.

Early life

Hopkinson was born in Wellington, Somerset to Captain Charles Reginald Thompson Hopkinson of the East Surrey Regiment, who was killed in action in September 1914, and Beryl Mary Stewart.

Military career

Educated at Haileybury, Hopkinson was commissioned in to the Royal Tank Corps in 1930. He served in World War II as Commanding Officer of 44th Battalion Royal Tank Regiment and then, briefly, as acting Commander of 4th Armoured Brigade in early 1945. He became Commanding Officer of 1st Royal Tank Regiment in 1952. He was appointed Commander of 33rd Armoured Brigade in 1953, General Officer Commanding 4th Division in 1957 and Director of the Royal Armoured Corps in 1959 before retiring in 1962.