Major General Ali Friend CB CBE MC

Street: Friend Way
Rank: Major General
Full Name: Arthur Leslie Ivor Friend
Nickname: “Ali”
Honours: CB, CBE, MC
Born: Isle of Thanet, Kent
Date of Death: 12 August 1961
Funeral: 16 August 1961, St Mary’s Church, High Halden, Kent
Unit: Royal Pioneer Corps
Role: Director of Labour (1939-1946), Colonel Commandant (1945-1948)
Previous Service: Royal Fusiliers (1908), 7th Dragoon Guards (1911), 11th Hussars (1921-1932)
WWI Service: France - Military Cross, Mentioned in Despatches

About Major General Friend

Major General Arthur Leslie Ivor “Ali” Friend CB, CBE, MC served as Director of Labour (commanding the Pioneer Corps) from 1939 to 1946, overseeing its extraordinary growth to become one of the largest corps in the British Army. He subsequently served as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Pioneer Corps from 1945 to 1948. He died on 12 August 1961.

Full Biography

Major General Ali Friend CB, CBE, MC was the Director of Labour (i.e., in charge of the Pioneer Corps) from shortly after the Corps was formed in 1939 until 1946. From its original small number, the strength of the Corps in May 1945 was probably one of the largest in the Army and included 12,000 officers, 166,000 UK personnel, and 400,000 Pioneers from other parts of the Commonwealth. In addition, the Corps was responsible for a civilian labour force of 1.7 million and a prisoners of war force peaking at 173,000.

Military Career

The fourth son of James Taddy Friend, of Northdown, Isle of Thanet, he was educated at Malvern and Hertford College, Oxford. He joined the Royal Fusiliers in 1908, transferred to the 7th Dragoon Guards in 1911, and served in the First World War in France, winning a Military Cross and being mentioned in despatches.

He was promoted Major in the 11th Hussars in 1921 and commanded the regiment from 1928-32, during which time he mechanized it—a significant modernization achievement. He was promoted Colonel in 1932 and commanded the Cavalry Brigade in Egypt from 1934-38, retiring in the latter year.

He was re-employed during the Second World War and from 1940 to 1945 served as Director of Labour at the War Office. Under his leadership, the Pioneer Corps expanded dramatically to meet the demands of global warfare. From 1945 to 1948 he served as Colonel Commandant of the Royal Pioneer Corps.

Leadership & Legacy

In a message to the Pioneers of the Rhine Army, Major General Friend expressed pride in their achievements:

“As Colonel Commandant of the Pioneer Corps, I am proud to pay this tribute to all Pioneers who have served or are still serving with Rhine Army. From D-Day onwards, you have done a magnificent job of work, often under the most difficult and unpleasant conditions, but always with an unfailing sense of cheerfulness and high devotion to duty.”

This acknowledgment highlights the vital role the Pioneer Corps played in operations such as D-Day and the subsequent campaigns in Northwest Europe.

Personal Life