NOTES ON INFANTRY MACHINE-GUNS

Lt. Gen. George Noble Molesworthwas an officer commissioned into the British Army serving in India and saw active service in the Third Anglo-Afghan War. He later transferred to the British Indian Army and rose to oversee intelligence and to be Deputy Chief of General Staff of Army Headquarters India. He also served as Military Secretary to the India Office. He was born on 14 July 1890, the eldest son of Henry B. Molesworth and grandson of Sir Guildford Molesworth. He was educated at Bradfield College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Molesworth was commissioned into the Somerset Light Infantry as a second lieutenant in March 1910. After this time he served in Malta, North China and India. He served during the First World War in India with his battalion and served as Adjutant of the 2nd battalion from 1916 to 1919. He saw action during the Third Anglo-Afghan War, where he was Mentioned in Despatches. He also served as Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at Army Headquarters India during 1919 and 1921 and in 1924 and was made Brigade Major in 1925. Between the years 1926 and 1927 he served as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at Army Headquarters India.

After attending the Staff College, Quetta from 1921 to 1922, in 1927 he transferred to the Indian Army and the 1st battalion 15th Punjab Regiment. He served as instructor at the Staff College, Quetta, from 1929 to 1933. He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel in 1932. Two years later, in 1934, was appointed to command the 4th battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment; he also attended the Imperial Defence College in 1935. From October 1936 to September 1938, he served as Deputy Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at Army Headquarters India before being promoted to Director of Military Operations and Intelligence in September 1938. He became Deputy Chief of General Staff at Army Headquarters India, a role he held until April 1943. From July 1943 to December 1944, he served as Military Secretary to the India Office; he retired in February 1945. He was Colonel of the 4th battalion, 15th Punjab Regiment from 1941 to 1960.