After attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1919 to 1920,[3] Platt was GSO1 of the 37th Division. In 1920, he once more became a brigade major,[14] this time of the 12th Brigade, Eastern Command and then, until 1922, Galway Brigade, Irish Command, after which he returned to regimental duties.[15] Platt's permanent rank was advanced to major in January 1924,[16] simultaneous with the award of brevet lieutenant-colonel status.[17]
In March 1924, Platt once again received an appointment as brigade major,[18] this time for two years in Egypt. In late 1927, Platt returned to the War Office in London, taking the post of Deputy Assistant Adjutant General on the Adjutant-General's staff.[19] His promotion to substantive lieutenant-colonel rank came in 1930 simultaneous with his transfer to the Wiltshire Regiment to command its 2nd Battalion.[20] On completion of this tour of duty in January 1933 Platt was promoted full colonel,[21] and appointed as the GSO1 of the 3rd Division, Bulford.[22]
In October 1934, Platt was given command of 7th Infantry Brigade in the rank of temporary brigadier.[23] From 1937[24] to 1938, he was aide-de-camp to the King and in late 1938 Platt was promoted to major-general[25] to take up the appointment as Commandant of the Sudan Defence Force.[26] In this role he carried the Arabic title of al-qa'id al-'amm ("the Leader of the Army") and was often referred to simply as "the Kaid".[27] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1939.[28]
Second World War
As a result of the threat from Italian forces in Italian East Africa, Platt's modest forces in Sudan were reinforced in late 1940 and early 1941, primarily by the arrival of the Indian 4th Infantry Division and the Indian 5th Infantry Division. In recognition of his larger corps-sized command he was promoted acting lieutenant-general in January 1941.[29]
He commanded the forces invading Italian East Africa from Sudan during the East African Campaign. After re-taking the abandoned Kassala railway junction in Sudan on 18 January 1941, Platt advanced into Eritrea and captured Agordat on 28 January. He next faced strong Italian resistance at Keren. From 3 March to 1 April, Platt's leadership played a large part in the successful outcome of the Battle of Keren.[citation needed]
The Eritrean capital, Asmara, was taken by the Indian 5th Infantry Division on 1 April while Keren was still being mopped up by the Indian 4th Infantry Division. After the battle of Keren, Platt lost the Indian 4th Infantry Division which returned to Egypt. On 8 April, the port city of Massawa surrendered. The forces still under Platt then marched on Amba Alagi.[citation needed]
Platt's forces, advancing from the Sudan, met the forces of Lieutenant-General Alan Cunningham, advancing from Kenya, at Amba Alagi. A large Italian force under Amedeo, Duke of Aosta, was dug in at Amba Alagi in what it considered impregnable positions. The Battle of Amba Alagi started on 3 May. On 18 May, the Duke of Aosta surrendered his embattled force and the campaign in East Africa was all but over.[citation needed]
From 1941 to 1945, Platt was the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief of the East Africa Command, which although no longer a theatre of war was an important source of manpower. Platt raised seventeen new battalions of the King's African Rifles.[30] From 1942[31] to 1954, Platt was the honorary colonel of the Wiltshire Regiment. His lieutenant-general rank was made permanent in May 1941[32] and he was promoted to general in January 1943.[33] He retired from the army in April 1945.[34]
Mackenzie, Compton (1951). Eastern Epic: September 1939 – March 1943 Defence. Vol. I. London: Chatto & Windus. OCLC1412578.
Mead, Richard (2007). Churchill's Lions: a biographical guide to the key British generals of World War II. Stroud (UK): Spellmount. ISBN978-1-86227-431-0.
Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN1844150496.
