Nick Bierman

Jacobus Nicolaas "Nick" Bierman
SSA SM CBE
Born (1910-02-13)13 February 1910[1]
Potchefstroom
Died 8 June 1977(1977-06-08) (aged 67) [2]
Potchefstroom
Allegiance South Africa
Service/branch South African Army
Years of service 1934-1967
Rank Lieutenant General
Service number 105970V
Commands held
  • Army Chief of Staff
  • Inspector-General
  • GOC Joint Combat Forces
Awards

Lieutenant-General Jacobus Nicolaas "Nick" Bierman SSA SM CBE (1910–1977) was a South African military commander. He played one Rugby Test Match for the Springbok team in 1931[2][3]:89

Military career

He joined the South African Army in 1934.[3]:89 During World War II he served in North Africa, and commanded the artillery of the South African 6th Armoured Division in Italy.

He served as Army Chief of Staff from 1958 to 1959,[3]:89 as Inspector-General from 1959 to 1960,[3]:89 as Director of Planning and Operations from 1960 to 1965,[3]:89 and as General Officer Commanding Joint Combat Forces (GOCJCF), co-ordinating Army and Air Force operations and training, from 1965 to 1967. As GOCJCF, he was the third-highest-ranking officer in the South African Defence Force's Supreme Command.

Awards and Decorations

In 1945 then Brigadier Bierman was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire. The notice in the London Gazette reads as follows:

The KING has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following promotions in, and appointments to, the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire, in recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Italy:
To be Additional Commanders of the Military Division of the said Most Excellent Order:
Brigadier (temporary) Jacobus Nicolas Bierman (105970V), South African Forces.[4]

He was also awarded the Bronze Star[5]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Uys, Ian (1992). South African Military Who's Who 1452-1992. Fortress Publishers. p. 19. ISBN 0-9583173-3-X.
  2. 1 2 http://www.espnscrum.com/southafrica/rugby/player/3916.html
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "LEIERS DEUR DIE JARE (1912-1982)" (Online). Scientia Militaria - South African Journal of Military Studies (in Afrikaans). 12 (2): 89–98. doi:10.5787/12-2-631. ISSN 2224-0020. Retrieved 2 January 2015.
  4. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37039. p. 2067. April 1945.
  5. ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 38459. p. 6060. November 1948.
Military offices
Preceded by
Pieter Grobbelaar		 Chief of the South African Army
1958 – 1959 		Succeeded by
Sybrand Engelbrecht
Preceded by
Brig Jock B. Kriegler		 OC Western Transvaal Command
1950 – 1953 		Succeeded by
Col GN Nauhaus
Preceded by
Lt Col Frank Harpur		 OC 4 Field Regiment
1945 – 1947 		Succeeded by
Lt Col GP Jacobs


This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the 10/10/2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.