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Talk:Frank Messervy

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Not many people know this but, Gen Messervy was born in the island of Trinidad in the British West Indies! he is also the first cousin to Dr Eric Williams the first Prime Minister of an Independent Trinidad and Tobago, he (Messervy) is of French stock, settlers who came to the island before British rule began in 1791.

"Messervy" as a surname appears to be exclusive to the Isle of Jersey. His ancestry is more likely Norman than French (though it is not impossible that a Jerseyman may have moved to France at some poimt). The Jade Knight 01:28, 12 December 2005 (UTC)[reply]
As a cousin of Frank Messervy and a genealogist, I can tell you that the Messervy lineage went back to Normandy. Jim Pleiades Hawkins 16:31, 14 December 2018 (ACDT)

Messervy's mother was Myra De Boissiere. The De Boissiere family was of French origin and owned the Champs Elysees Estate in Trinidad. His ancestor Jean Valleton de Boissière was born in Bergerac in France in 1733. Jean Valleton's son Jean emigrated to Trinidad in the 1790s with his wife Claire. Messervy was the second cousin to Dr Eric Williams whose mother was Eliza Boissiere, descended from Henri Boissiere, son of Jean, and a colored mistress. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 181.188.4.199 (talk) 00:24, 14 November 2018 (UTC)[reply]

A Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion

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The following Wikimedia Commons file used on this page has been nominated for deletion:

Participate in the deletion discussion at the nomination page. Community Tech bot (talk) 22:07, 6 July 2018 (UTC)[reply]

Seconded?

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@Abraham, B.S.: do you have any source for this claim that "Messervy was seconded to the Pakistan Army, not a member of it"? -- Kautilya3 (talk) 19:50, 7 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]

This is already supported by a number of references in the article. The London Gazette, for example, refers to Messervy's appointment "to command the land forces of Pakistan". This was authorised under the India Office, since Messervy was an officer of the British Indian Army. Similarly, when Messervy retired at the end of his appointment in Pakistan, the London Gazette notice records him as being on the "Special List" of the British Army as an "Ex-Indian Army" officer. The retirement notice does not mention the Pakistan Army because Messervy was not a commissioned officer of it; he was appointed to its command in his capacity as a British Indian Army officer. This was consistent with British practice elsewhere in the Commonwealth. Senior military appointments, for instance, were filled by British officers following Confederation in Canada, Federation in Australia and Malaysia, and independence in India. In each of these cases, the officer remained a member of the British forces and was seconded for the local appointment. Messervy being a British officer in Pakistan—and not an officer of the Pakistan Army itself—is further supported by the following sources: [1], [2] and [3]. Cheers, Abraham, B.S. (talk) 11:47, 8 April 2024 (UTC)[reply]