A. G. V. Paley
Quick Facts
Biography
Major General Alexander George Victor Paley (1903–1976) was a British Army officer who became the first Chief of the Defence Staff of Ghana.
Army career
His first commanding position was as Commanding Officer of the 3rd Libyan Arab Battalion between 1941 and 1942. He subsequently served in Iraq, and Germany among others between 1942 and 1954. He also had a stint as the Aide-de-Camp to the Queen of Britain.
World War II
In October 1944, during the Second World War, he served as the commanding officer of the 22nd Armoured Brigade, while only ranked as a Lieutenant Colonel. He was later one of the officers on the British delegation on the Allied Control Authority during World War II with the rank of Brigadier.
Ghana Armed Forces
Paley was appointed as the first General Officer Commanding between 1957 and 1959, when his appointment covered only the army. He was effectively the Chief of Defence Staff however when the Ghana Navy and Ghana Air Force were created. His tour of duty ended on 11 January 1960 when he was replaced by Major General Henry Alexander.