John Vereker Blue Plaque

About This Blue Plaque

Field Marshal Viscount Gort, born John Standish Surtees Prendergast Vereker in 1886, was a distinguished British Army officer who played a pivotal role during World War II. He is best known for his leadership as Commander-in-Chief of the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) during the Battle of France and the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940.

Gort’s military career began when he was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in 1905. He served with distinction during World War I, earning the Victoria Cross, Britain’s highest military decoration for valor, for his actions during the Battle of the Canal du Nord in 1918. Between the wars, Gort held various staff and command positions, including serving as Chief of the Imperial General Staff from 1937 to 1939.

During his tenure as Commander-in-Chief of the BEF in 1940, Gort faced the daunting task of leading his troops against the overwhelming German invasion of France. Despite the odds, he skillfully directed the withdrawal of British forces to the port of Dunkirk, enabling the miraculous evacuation of over 300,000 Allied soldiers across the English Channel. This plaque at 34 Belgrave Square in Westminster commemorates Gort’s residence here from 1920 to 1926, during his interwar service. The Borough of Westminster, in the heart of London, has been home to numerous influential figures throughout history.

Following his return from France, Gort served as Governor of Gibraltar and later as High Commissioner for Palestine and Transjordan. He retired from the army in 1942 and was elevated to the peerage as Viscount Gort. Field Marshal Viscount Gort passed away in 1946, leaving behind a legacy of courageous leadership and service to his country in its darkest hour.