John Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton

For other people named John Harding, see John Harding (disambiguation).

Field Marshal The Right Honourable The Lord Harding of Petherton GCB CBE DSO & Two Bars MC
Born	(1896-02-10)10 February 1896 South Petherton, Somerset, England
Died	20 January 1989(1989-01-20) (aged 92) Nether Compton, Dorset, England
Burial place	Nether Compton (St. Nicholas) Churchyard, Nether Compton
Relatives	John Harding (son) Dido Harding (granddaughter)
Military career
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Branch	British Army
Service years	1914–1955
Rank	Field Marshal
Service number	12247
Unit	London Regiment Machine Gun Corps Somerset Light Infantry
Commands	Chief of the Imperial General Staff (1952–1955) British Army of the Rhine (1951–1952) Far East Land Forces (1948–1951) Southern Command (1947–1948) XIII Corps (1945) VIII Corps (1943–1944) 7th Armoured Division (1942–1943) 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry (1939–1940)
Conflicts	First World War Second World War Malayan Emergency Cyprus Emergency
Awards	Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Distinguished Service Order & Two Bars Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches Commander of the Legion of Merit (United States)

Field Marshal Allan Francis Harding, 1st Baron Harding of Petherton, GCB, CBE, DSO & Two Bars, MC (10 February 1896 – 20 January 1989), known as John Harding, was a senior British Army officer who fought in both the First World War and the Second World War, served in the Malayan Emergency, and later advised the British government on the response to the Mau Mau Uprising. He also served as Chief of the Imperial General Staff (CIGS), the professional head of the British Army, and was Governor of Cyprus from 1955 to 1957 during the Cyprus Emergency. His administration of Cyprus was controversial for its authoritarian treatment of suspected insurgents and civilians.