View source for Hastings Ismay 1st Baron Ismay

{{Short description|British army officer and diplomat (1887–1965)}}
{{featured article}}
{{EngvarB|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2021}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix = [[The Right Honourable]]
| name = The Lord Ismay
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|KG|GCB|CH|DSO|PC|DL}}
| image = The Lord Ismay.jpg
| caption = Ismay in 1945
| imagesize =
| order = 1st [[Secretary General of NATO]]
| term_start = 24 March 1952
| term_end = 16 May 1957
| predecessor = ''Post created''
| successor = [[Paul-Henri Spaak]]
| order2 = [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations]]
| term_start2 = 28 October 1951
| term_end2 = 12 March 1952
| primeminister2 = [[Winston Churchill]]
| predecessor2 = [[Patrick Gordon Walker]]
| successor2 = [[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury]]
| office3 = [[Member of the House of Lords]]<br> [[Lords Temporal|Lord Temporal]]
| term_start3 = 6 February 1947
| term_end3 = 17 December 1965<br> [[Hereditary peer]]age
| predecessor3 = ''[[Baron Ismay|Peerage created]]''
| successor3 = ''[[Baron Ismay|Peerage extinct]]''
| birth_name = Hastings Lionel Ismay
| birth_date = {{birth date|1887|6|21|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Nainital]], [[North-Western Provinces]], [[British India]]<br>(now Nainital, [[Uttarakhand]], India)
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1965|12|17|1887|6|21|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Wormington Grange]], [[Stanton, Gloucestershire|Stanton]], [[Gloucestershire]], England
| spouse = Laura Kathleen Clegg
| parents = [[Stanley Ismay]]<br />Beatrice Read
<!-- |Infobox Military Person -->| nickname = Pug
| allegiance = United Kingdom
| branch = [[Indian Army (1895–1947)|British Indian Army]]<br />[[British Army]]
| serviceyears = 1905–1946
| rank = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
| battles = [[First World War]]<br />[[Second World War]]
| mawards = [[Knight of the Order of the Garter]]<br />[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br />[[Order of the Companions of Honour]]<br />[[Distinguished Service Order]]<br />[[Mentioned in Despatches]]
}}

'''Hastings Lionel Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay''' {{post-nominals|country=GBR|sep=,|KG|GCB|CH|DSO|PC|DL}} (21 June 1887 – 17 December 1965), was a diplomat and [[General (United Kingdom)|general]] in the [[British Indian Army]] who was the first [[Secretary General of NATO]]. He also was [[Winston Churchill]]'s chief military assistant during the [[Second World War]]. 

Ismay was born in [[Nainital]], India, in 1887, and educated in the United Kingdom at [[Charterhouse School]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]. After Sandhurst, he joined the [[Indian Army (1895–1947)|Indian Army]] as an officer of the [[11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)|21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry]]. During the [[First World War]], he served with the [[Somaliland Camel Corps|Camel Corps]] in [[British Somaliland]], where he joined in the British fight against the "Mad Mullah", [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan]]. In 1925, Ismay became an Assistant Secretary of the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]] (CID). After being promoted to the rank of [[colonel]], he served as the [[Military Secretary (United Kingdom)|military secretary]] for [[Lord Willingdon]], the [[Viceroy of India]], then returned to the CID as Deputy Secretary in 1936.

On 1 August 1938, shortly before the outbreak of the Second World War, Ismay became the Committee's Secretary and began planning for the impending war. In May 1940, when Winston Churchill became [[Prime Minister of the United Kingdom]], he selected Ismay as his chief military assistant and [[staff officer]]. In that capacity, Ismay served as the principal link between Churchill and the [[Chiefs of Staff Committee]]. Ismay also accompanied Churchill to many of the [[List of World War II conferences|Allied war conferences]]. For Ismay's advice and aid, "Churchill owed more, and admitted that he owed more" to him "than to anybody else, military or civilian, in the whole of the war."<ref name=colville161>Colville, p. 161.</ref>

After the end of the war, Ismay remained in the army for another year, and helped to reorganise the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]]. He then retired from the military and served as [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]]'s Chief of Staff in India, helping to oversee its [[partition of India|partition]]. From 1948 to 1951, he served as chairman of the council of the [[Festival of Britain]], helping to organise and promote the event. Then, in 1951, when Churchill again became Prime Minister, he appointed Ismay [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations]]. 

Ismay accepted the position, but resigned after only six months to become the first [[Secretary General of NATO]] in 1952. While Secretary General, Ismay is also credited as having been the first person to say that the purpose of NATO was "to keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=NATO |title=Nato - Lord Ismay |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_137930.htm}}</ref> a saying that has since become a common way to describe the dynamics of NATO.<ref>Joffe.</ref><ref>Schorr.</ref> He served in this role until 1957, and helped establish and define the position. After retiring from NATO, Ismay wrote his memoirs, ''The Memoirs of General Lord Ismay'', served on a variety of corporate boards, and co-chaired the Ismay–Jacob Committee, which reorganised the Ministry of Defence once again. He died on 17&nbsp;December 1965, at his home, [[Wormington Grange]], [[Gloucestershire]].

==Early life==
Ismay was born in [[Nainital]], Kumaon, India, on 21 June 1887. His father, Sir [[Stanley Ismay]], was a member of the [[Viceroy of India|Viceroy]]'s Legislative Council, and his mother, Beatrice Ellen, was the daughter of an Army colonel.<ref>Oxbury, p. 180.</ref> Ismay began his education in Britain at the [[Charterhouse School]], and his parents hoped that after completing his education there he would attend [[University of Cambridge|Cambridge]] and enter the civil service.<ref name=ismay3>Ismay, p. 3.</ref>

Ismay, however, "had a sneaking desire to be a cavalry soldier", and after doing poorly on his final examinations at Charterhouse, he was not eligible to attend Cambridge. As a result, he entered the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], in 1904.<ref name=ismay3/> Ismay would later write: "Sandhurst never meant nearly so much to me as Charterhouse had", but he enjoyed his time at the college and studied alongside many men who went on to become important military officers, including [[Lord Gort]], [[Edgar Ludlow-Hewitt]] and [[Cyril Newall]].<ref name=ismay4>Ismay, p. 4.</ref>

===Indian Army===
After completing the course at Sandhurst, Ismay was placed fourth overall in its examinations and was commissioned as a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Indian Army (1895–1947)|Indian Army]].<ref name=ismay4/> Ismay was then attached to the [[Gloucestershire Regiment]] of the [[British Army]] in [[Ambala]], where he served a one year mandatory apprenticeship. After leaving the regiment, Ismay did not immediately find a place in the Indian cavalry, so he spent nine months floating among positions with various British and Indian units.<ref>Ismay, p. 5.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 4.</ref>

In 1907, Ismay found a permanent position in the Indian cavalry, joining the [[11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)|21st Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry]],<ref name=lewin438>Lewin, p. 438.</ref> based at [[Risalpur]]. Ismay thoroughly enjoyed his time with the regiment, describing it as "blissful."<!-- period is part of the original quote --><ref>Ismay, p. 9.</ref> In 1908, he saw his first action with the regiment, when it was sent into Afghanistan, pursuing [[Mohmand]] raiders who had taken several Hindu women as hostages.<ref>Ismay, pp. 12–13.</ref> Immediately after Ismay's regiment returned from action, he was hospitalised in [[Peshawar]] due to [[heat stroke]], but he recovered quickly and, along with the rest of his regiment, received the [[India General Service Medal (1909)|India General Service Medal]].<ref>Ismay, pp. 14–15.</ref>

In 1910, after a reorganisation of the Indian Army, Ismay's regiment moved from Risalpur to [[Jhelum (city)|Jhelum]], further from the frontier. Shortly thereafter, Ismay was appointed the [[adjutant]] of his regiment, a position which he held for four years, during which time he also read voraciously and developed a great admiration for [[Winston Churchill]], whom he sought to emulate.<ref>Ismay, pp. 16–17.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 7.</ref>

==Somaliland==
In early 1914, just before Ismay's appointment as adjutant was set to expire, he met C. A. L Howard, another British officer serving in India, who told him about an opportunity to serve with the [[King's African Rifles]] in [[British Somaliland]]. Ismay decided that this was "just the sort of job that [he] wanted," and applied immediately.<ref>Ismay, p. 18.</ref> Due to his reputation "as a thorough and dependable officer of sound judgement,"<!-- comma in original --> Ismay was appointed second in command of the [[Somaliland Camel Corps]], a cavalry unit led by [[Thomas Cubitt (British Army officer)|Thomas Cubitt]].<ref name=beachey>Beachey, p. 106.</ref>
[[File:Ismay citation.png|thumb|A medal card showing Ismay's entitlement to the [[British War Medal]].]]

Ismay left India for Somaliland in late July 1914, and arrived on 9 August, shortly after the outbreak of the [[First World War]] in Europe.<ref>Ismay, p. 19.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 9.</ref> Like other officers in Somaliland, Ismay was "unhappy at being left out of the great war"<ref>Ismay, p. 24.</ref> and repeatedly asked for a transfer to the European front.<ref>Ismay, pp. 35–36.</ref> In the end, however, Ismay's superiors decided that he was "so indispensable that, despite his longing for action in Europe, he was retained in Somaliland until 1920."<!-- period in original--><ref name=beachey/>

In Somaliland, the Camel Corps and other British soldiers were ordered to subdue an uprising by [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan]], known by the British as the "Mad Mullah", who had been fighting against them for more than twenty years. Ismay's commander, [[Thomas Cubitt (British Army officer)|Thomas Cubitt]], was determined to end the rebellion forcefully and quickly, so on 17 November 1914, he launched a major assault against Hassan's fortress at [[Shimber Berris]].<ref>Ismay, pp. 24–25.</ref> In the attack, Ismay fought closely alongside [[Adrian Carton de Wiart]], later an important British officer in both World Wars.<ref>Beachey, p. 109.</ref> Not long after the attack on Shimber Berris, however, the Camel Corps received orders from London "forbidding all offensive operations in Somaliland", due to the misfortunes of the Army elsewhere.<ref>Ismay, p. 28.</ref> As a result of this order, British operations were limited for the duration of the First World War, and Ismay's unit undertook no further major offensives.<ref>Ismay, pp. 28–29.</ref>

Despite limited British activity, a few operations combined with the effort of local forces led to "a drastic weakening" of Hassan's forces by 1918.<ref>Beachey, p. 124.</ref> Thus, after the [[Armistice with Germany (Compiègne)|armistice]] ending the First World War, the government sent [[Major General (United Kingdom)|Major General]] [[Arthur Hoskins]] to take control of the forces in Somaliland and defeat Hassan conclusively in battle.<ref>Ismay, p. 29.</ref> After Hoskins arrived, his initial plan for dealing with Hassan focussed on the use of the newly formed [[Royal Air Force]], so Ismay and the Camel Corps were consigned to a minor role. Hoskins's plans, however, were found "overscaled and far too costly", so they were shelved throughout most of 1918 and 1919.<ref>Beachey, pp. 124–125.</ref>

In October 1919, plans for Hoskins's operation were finally approved,<ref>Beachey, p. 130.</ref> and on 21 January 1920, [[1920 conflict between British forces and Somaliland dervishes|the attack against Hassan]] commenced.<ref>Beachey, p. 133.</ref> After several days of bombing, Ismay was ordered to lead an assault by the Camel Corps against Hassan's fortress at [[Jid Ali]].<ref>Beachey, p. 136.</ref> On {{Nowrap|27 January}}, Ismay's forces first attempted the attack and were repulsed by strong resistance. That night, however, Hassan and his forces fled Jid Ali to take refuge in the countryside.<ref>Ismay, p. 31.</ref> Ismay was assigned to track down and capture Hassan, but he "had no idea of where he was", and was forced to begin a large search.<ref>Ismay, p. 32.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 10.</ref> 

Ismay pursued Hassan for nearly two weeks, and managed to capture many members of his family and people close to him, including seven of his sons.<ref>Ismay, p. 34.</ref> Hassan himself managed to evade Ismay and on {{Nowrap|12 February}}, the effort to capture him was called off.<ref>Beachey, p. 142.</ref> Though Hassan was never captured, his power was broken, and he died in December 1920 of influenza.<ref>Beachey, p. 153.</ref> For his service in the effort against Hassan, Ismay received the [[Distinguished Service Order]]<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32142 |supp=y |page=11777 |date=26 November 1920 }}</ref> and was twice [[mentioned in despatches]].<ref name=successors>"Sir M. Hankey's Successors".</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32107 |supp=y |pages=10595–10596 |date=29 October 1920 }}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue= 32247 |pages=1791–1792 |date=4 March 1921 }}</ref>

==Interwar years==
In April 1920, Ismay left Somaliland for England. While en route, he received word that he had been nominated for a place at the Indian Army's [[Staff College, Quetta]].<ref>Wingate, pp. 12–13.</ref> Depressed by the loss of life and destruction of the First World War, Ismay turned down the nomination, and "was even seriously thinking of resigning [his] commission" in the Army.<ref>Ismay, p. 36.</ref> After arriving in London, Ismay was given twelve months of medical leave, and decided to stay in the army.<ref>Ismay, p. 37.</ref> He then attempted to reclaim his seat at the Staff College, but was told that it had already been given to someone else.<ref>Wingate, p. 13.</ref>

===Marriage and Service in India===
While on medical leave, Ismay met Laura Kathleen Clegg, with whom he quickly fell in love.<ref name=lewin438/> The two were engaged only three weeks after meeting.<ref>Wingate, pp. 14–15.</ref> After four months, however, Ismay was proclaimed fit for duty, despite his remaining eight months of leave, and ordered back to India, where he rejoined his old regiment. His time back in India was relatively quiet, as there was "no serious fighting" in the area of his regiment at the time. In February 1921, Ismay took the qualifying exam for the Staff College in [[Rawalpindi]], and passed, earning himself a seat for the next year.<ref>Ismay, p. 38.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 15.</ref>

In April, Ismay returned to London on leave, and married Clegg, with whom he eventually had three daughters.<ref name=lewin438/> Ismay remained in London until February 1922, when he entered the Staff College at Quetta.<ref name=ismay39>Ismay, p. 39.</ref> Ismay excelled at the Staff College, and its commandant called him "one of the two best, if not the best, of the students who have passed through my hands."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref name=lewin438/><ref>Wingate, pp. 16–17.</ref> In his final thesis at the Staff College, Ismay correctly predicted that the next European war would be a [[total war]], but he incorrectly predicted that cavalry would continue to play a role in future warfare.<ref name=ismay39/>

After the Staff College, Ismay became Deputy Assistant [[Quartermaster General]] of the Indian Army.<ref>"Lord Ismay, Ex-Churchill Aide, Leader in NATO, Is Dead at 78".</ref> In that position, he worked closely with [[Claude Auchinleck]], beginning a long-standing personal and professional relationship between the two.<ref>Ismay, p. 40.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 17.</ref> Ismay found that his work as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General "was a valuable experience", but did not enjoy it.<ref name=ismay41>Ismay, p. 41.</ref>

===Service in England===
[[File:Maurice Hankey.jpg|thumb|right|[[Maurice Hankey]], Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence]]
In 1924, [[Air Vice-Marshal]] [[Philip Game]] suggested to Ismay that he apply for a seat at the [[RAF Staff College, Andover]]. Although Ismay "had no desire to learn to be a pilot", he was happy for the opportunity to return to England, and went to study at the college.<ref name=ismay41/><ref>Wingate, p. 18.</ref> After completing the programme, he was approached about the possibility of serving as an Assistant Secretary of the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]] (CID) under [[Maurice Hankey]]. Ismay gladly accepted the position, starting work in December 1925.<ref>Ismay, pp. 41–42.</ref> In the six months between finishing the Staff College and beginning at the CID, Ismay returned to India and held a staff position at the headquarters of the Indian Army in [[Shimla|Simla]].<ref>Wingate, p. 19.</ref>

As Assistant Secretary, Ismay directed several of the CID's subcommittees, including those for Censorship and War Emergency Legislation, Principal Supply Officers, and Co-ordination of Departmental Action.<ref>Ismay, p. 53.</ref> As the Secretary of the Committee for the Co-ordination of Departmental Action, Ismay "was responsible for seeing that all plans and preparations made by Government Departments or sub-committees of the CID to meet the eventuality of war, were incorporated under appropriate headings in a document known as the War Book."<ref>Ismay, pp. 55–56.</ref> This task ended up consuming most of Ismay's time as Assistant Secretary, and gave him "exceptional insight into the ways of [[Whitehall]]."<ref name=lewin438/>

While serving as Assistant Secretary, Ismay made important friends and gained the backing of Hankey, by whom he was "greatly valued". Largely through Hankey's influence, Ismay was nominated as a [[Order of the Bath|Companion of the Order of the Bath]] in the Civil Division,<ref>Roskill (Volume 1), p. 531.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 23.</ref> an honour which he received in 1931.<ref name=lewin439>Lewin, p. 439.</ref>

===Lord Willingdon and the War Office===
In December 1930, after five years, Ismay left his position at the CID.<ref>Ismay, p. 63.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 22.</ref> He was promoted [[colonel (United Kingdom)|colonel]]<ref name=lewin439/> and hoped to take command of the [[12th Cavalry (Frontier Force)|12th Cavalry]].<ref>Ismay, p. 64.</ref> Instead, he became the military secretary for [[Lord Willingdon]], the newly appointed [[Viceroy of India]].<ref name=lewin439/>

In this role, Ismay served as the "unofficial link" between Willingdon and the Indian Army. He also led Willingdon's personal staff, and organised his many trips throughout India. Ismay was also responsible for Willingdon's safety, and took precautions after he was threatened by assassins.<ref>Ismay, p. 66.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 24.</ref> In December 1932, Ismay was informed that his service with Willingdon was over and that he was expected to take up a position in the [[War Office]] during the next year.<ref>Ismay, p. 68.</ref>

At the War Office, Ismay served as an intelligence officer with responsibility for the Middle East, Far East, the Americas, the [[Soviet Union]], [[Poland]] and the [[Baltic States]]. Ismay enjoyed his work, and wrote that "intelligence is perhaps the most interesting of all Staff work."<ref>Ismay, p. 69.</ref> During his three years in the position, Ismay worked directly under Sir [[John Dill]], who would later serve as the [[Chief of the Imperial General Staff]].<ref>Wingate, p. 29.</ref>

==Committee of Imperial Defence==
In 1936, Maurice Hankey became determined to "bring Ismay in as his deputy and eventual successor" at the CID.<ref>Roskill (Volume 3), p. 205.</ref> Hoping that the appointment would "strengthen the organization of the CID" and enhance its influence, Hankey offered Ismay the position of Deputy Secretary.<ref>Naylor, p. 243.</ref> Although the appointment meant that Ismay would probably never command troops again, he viewed it as an important opportunity and "accepted with scarcely a moment's hesitation."<!-- punctuated in original--> A week thereafter, Ismay received a letter offering him the command of a cavalry [[brigade]] in India, but declined, solidifying his choice to remain a staff officer.<ref>Ismay, p. 70.</ref>

As Deputy Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, Ismay had broad responsibilities, and was "concerned with every aspect of planning and preparation for a war which seemed imminent."<!-- punctuated in original --><ref>Ismay, p. 77.</ref> Ismay dealt extensively with a variety of matters and focussed much of his attention on the preparation of [[anti-aircraft]] defences<ref>Ismay, p. 80.</ref> and co-ordination among the military services.<ref>Ismay, p. 84.</ref> As the crisis in Europe escalated, however, Hankey announced his intention to retire in June 1938.<ref>Ismay, p. 89.</ref> Hankey hoped that one person, preferably Ismay, would inherit all of the positions he had occupied, including Secretary of the CID, clerk of the [[Privy Council]], and Secretary to the Cabinet, but the Prime Minister, [[Neville Chamberlain]], decided that the positions should be split and assigned to different people.<ref>Naylor, p. 261.</ref>

In the end, Ismay was named only to the position of Secretary of the Committee of Imperial Defence, effective 1 August 1938.<ref name=successors/> Ismay assumed the position scarcely more than a year before the outbreak of the [[Second World War]], and the war totally dominated his time in office. Soon after Ismay took office, Hitler initiated a [[German occupation of Czechoslovakia|crisis over the Sudetenland]]. While Chamberlain was at the [[Munich Conference]] attempting to resolve the crisis, Ismay ordered the digging of trenches in London as protection against air attacks, should war occur.<ref>Ismay, p. 91.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 38.</ref> Ismay later said that he thought Britain should have gone to war at Munich instead of waiting, but said nothing at the time.<ref name=colville165>Colville, p. 165.</ref> As it became increasingly clear that war was inevitable in 1939, Ismay also prepared for a "smooth, simple and practically instantaneous" transition from the Committee of Imperial Defence to the [[War Cabinet]], or whatever other wartime authority the government might choose.<ref>"Advice on Defence: Imperial Committee in Peace and War".</ref>

==Second World War==
With the outbreak of the Second World War, the CID was immediately absorbed into the War Cabinet as Ismay had planned.<ref>Naylor, p. 268.</ref> In the midst of the turmoil, Ismay was promoted to [[Major-General]],<ref name=lewin439/> and began to work closely with Chamberlain, accompanying him on a visit to France in December 1939.<ref>Ismay, p. 103.</ref> Ismay disagreed with several Allied strategic choices, including the decision to try to stop the German advance in Belgium, but kept his doubts to himself.<ref>Ismay, p. 104.</ref>

===Chiefs of Staff Committee===
[[File:Churchill and Generals.jpg|thumb|Winston Churchill with the Chiefs of Staff in 1945, including Ismay (standing on the right)]]
In April 1940, [[Winston Churchill]] took control of the Military Co-ordination Committee, charged with overseeing all of the military services. He selected Ismay as his chief staff officer, which also gave Ismay the additional responsibility of serving on the [[Chiefs of Staff Committee]].<ref name=lewin439/> While serving under Churchill had been a life-long dream for Ismay, he was initially sceptical about the duties of his new position, which seemed unclear and poorly defined.<ref>Ismay, p. 113.</ref>

On 10 May, after the beginning of the [[Battle of France]], Chamberlain resigned, and Churchill became both Prime Minister and Minister of Defence.<ref>Ismay, p. 115.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 44.</ref> Ismay, who later called Churchill "the greatest War Prime Minister in our history", was "thrilled" by this development, and continued to act as Churchill's chief staff officer and military adviser.<ref>Ismay, p. 117.</ref> According to Churchill, the two developed a close "personal and official connection [that] was preserved unbroken and unweakened" throughout the war.<ref>Churchill (1948), p. 645.</ref> 

As part of this relationship, not long after Churchill became Prime Minister, he arranged for Ismay to be appointed [[Order of the Bath|Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] in June 1940.<ref>"Knighthoods for the Services".</ref> From the very moment he became Prime Minister, Churchill "relied heavily on General Pug Ismay," who provided a crucial bridge to the military establishment.<ref>Lamb, p. 45.</ref> Ismay served as the "principal assistant to Mr. Churchill in his capacity as Minister of Defence", continued to serve as the Secretary of the Imperial Defence Chiefs of Staff Committee,<ref name=ReferenceA>"Prime Minister in the United States".</ref> and became Deputy Secretary of the War Cabinet.<ref name=generalismaypromoted>"General Ismay Promoted".</ref> 

Ismay was crucial to running the war effort, as he was able to effectively link the military and civilian leadership. [[Jock Colville]], Churchill's private secretary, wrote that Ismay had the "tact, patience, and skill in promoting compromise" needed to keep the war running smoothly."<ref name=colville161/> Ismay had the additional advantage of being admired by the Service Chiefs for his long and distinguished record as a soldier.<ref>Colville, pp. 161–162.</ref>

In his role, Ismay handled "nearly all military messages" from Churchill to the Service Chiefs.<ref>Churchill (1949), p. 22.</ref> Ismay also gave Churchill advice on military matters, and often "begged him to be reasonable"<ref>Gilbert, p. 662.</ref> when he contemplated foolish actions, believing that Churchill's greatest fault was his "impetuous nature and impatience with opposition."<ref name=colville165/> When the Chiefs of Staff found Churchill's demands unfeasible, Ismay took the role of "converting the Prime Minister" to their viewpoint.<ref>Colville, p. 163.</ref>

===Allied conferences===
As Churchill's chief military adviser, Ismay frequently attended wartime conferences and meetings of the [[Allies of World War II|Allies]] and accompanied other British leaders, such as Foreign Minister [[Anthony Eden]], on their travels. Ismay's travel to the conferences began in 1941, when he went with [[Lord Beaverbrook]] to the [[Moscow Conference (1941)|first Moscow Conference]].<ref name=ReferenceA/> Because British participation in the conference was a secret, Ismay faked influenza to explain his absence from London while it was taking place.<ref>Ismay, p. 230.</ref> The Conference was also the first time that Ismay worked closely with the Americans, whom he found "quite congenial."<ref>Ismay, p. 235.</ref>

Ismay would continue to work closely with the Americans throughout the remainder of the war, and he accompanied Churchill on his 1942 trip to the United States.<ref name=ReferenceA/> Shortly after their return, US General [[Dwight D. Eisenhower]] arrived in Britain to command the American forces. He established close relations with Ismay, who liked him greatly, and assisted him in co-ordinating with both British forces and the Cabinet.<ref>Ismay, pp. 259–260.</ref> Eisenhower thought highly of Ismay, remembering him for his "stalwart support", and noting, "He was one of those men whose great ability condemned him throughout the war to a staff position. Consequently his name may be forgotten; but the contributions he made to the winning of the war were equal to those of many whose names became household words."<ref>Eisenhower, Dwight, p. 487.</ref> 

Not long after Eisenhower arrived, on 16 August 1942, Ismay was promoted to the rank of [[Lieutenant-General]].<ref name=generalismaypromoted/> Around the same time, his good relations with the Americans were recognised by others in the government. Thus, in November 1942, when [[Eleanor Roosevelt]] visited Britain, Lady Ismay was chosen to host her for one night of her stay.<ref>"Women's Part in the War".</ref>

===1943 conferences===
[[File:Bundesarchiv Bild 183-S68745, Konferenz von Casablanca.jpg|thumb|right|200px|Ismay (top left) with [[Franklin D. Roosevelt|Roosevelt]], [[Winston Churchill|Churchill]] and [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Admiral Mountbatten]] at the [[Casablanca Conference]]]]

In January 1943, Ismay accompanied Churchill to the [[Casablanca Conference]].<ref>"Mr. Churchill Meets Mr. Roosevelt".</ref> Ismay attended nearly all of the proceedings of the Conference, and helped work towards consensus where the Americans and British disagreed on issues.<ref>Ismay, pp. 286–287.</ref> Ismay was also appointed to the committee which wrote the formal report of the conference.<ref>US Department of State Historical Office, p. 640.</ref> After the conference, Ismay visited the American headquarters in [[Algiers]] to meet with Eisenhower, and helped resolve some differences of opinion between Eisenhower and his British colleagues.<ref>Ismay, p. 291.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 90.</ref>

After Casablanca, Ismay accompanied Churchill to the [[Washington Conference (1943)|third Washington Conference]] in May 1943.<ref>Ismay, p. 293.</ref> At the conference, Ismay first met the American Admiral [[William D. Leahy]], who is often described as his American counterpart. The two developed a friendly relationship, and Leahy wrote in his memoirs: "General Sir Hastings Ismay became my favorite, perhaps because his position closely paralleled my own".<ref>Leahy, p. 163.</ref>

After the Washington Conference came the [[Quebec Conference, 1943|Quebec Conference]] in August 1943. Once again, Ismay attended along with Churchill.<ref>"The Prime Minister in Canada".</ref> The Quebec Conference was the first time that the Allied leaders discussed the full details of [[Operation Overlord]], so Ismay spent much of his time explaining details of the operation to Churchill and other leaders.<ref>Ismay, p. 310.</ref> During the conference, Ismay also observed that [[Dudley Pound]] "had had a breakdown". He took the information to Churchill who demanded Pound's resignation a week later.<ref>Ismay, p. 316.</ref>

Shortly after returning from Quebec, Ismay participated in his next conference, travelling with Anthony Eden to the [[Moscow Conference (1943)|Moscow Conference]] in October and November, where he served as Eden's top military adviser.<ref>"Mr. Eden at Kremlin".</ref> At the conference, Ismay handled all of the Soviet questions about the planning for Operation Overlord,<ref>Ismay, p. 327.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 102.</ref> and met [[Joseph Stalin]] personally for the first time.<ref>"Mr. Eden sees Marshal Stalin".</ref> After the conference, Ismay wrote that he "was optimistic about [sic] post-war relations with Russia", showing his belief that the meeting had gone well.<ref>Ismay, p. 328.</ref>

Only four days after returning from the Moscow Conference, Ismay left England again for the [[Cairo Conference (1943)|Cairo Conference]] and [[Teheran Conference]] with Churchill.<ref>Ismay, p. 332.</ref> One major source of conflict at the Cairo Conference was an American proposal to appoint an overall commander for the [[strategic bombing]] of Germany. Ismay and the British were strongly opposed, and Ismay wrote a long paper against the idea, which became the basis of British policy on the subject.<ref>Sainsbury, p. 208.</ref> At Teheran, Ismay helped to argue the case for Operation Overlord, but immediately after the conference he developed [[bronchitis]] and returned to England by ship, scrapping his other plans for the trip.<ref>Ismay, p. 342.</ref>

===1944–1945===
In the first several months of 1944, Ismay spent almost all of his time planning for the [[Normandy Landings]].<ref>Ismay, p. 343.</ref> As part of the planning, Ismay personally coordinated the plans for [[Operation Bodyguard]] and [[Operation Fortitude]], which were designed to deceive the Germans about the planned Normandy landings.<ref>Wingate, pp. 107–109.</ref> In March, [[Duncan Sandys]], Churchill's son-in-law, told Ismay that [[Basil Liddell Hart]], a noted strategist and historian, had somehow discovered the secret plans for the Normandy landings. This development had the potential to compromise the entire operation, so Ismay personally interviewed Liddell Hart, who claimed to have simply "worked it all out for himself" without any access to secret information.<ref>Evans.</ref> After their interview, Ismay directed the matter to the [[MI5]], who never found evidence of wrongdoing, although it is suspected that Liddell Hart may in fact have received information from military planners.<ref>"Other subjects of Security Service enquiries".</ref>

[[File:Ismay and Simon.jpg|thumb|Ismay with [[Sir John Simon]] in 1945]]

On 20 May 1944, less than a month before the Normandy Landings were scheduled to take place, Ismay was promoted to the rank of full [[general (United Kingdom)|general]].<ref>"Sir H Ismay Promoted".</ref> After the successful D-Day landings, King [[George&nbsp;VI]] decided to visit the troops in Normandy, and selected Ismay to accompany him on the visit.<ref>"Allied Chiefs with The King".</ref> In September, Ismay accompanied Churchill to the [[Second Quebec Conference]].<ref>Ismay, p. 372.</ref> Ismay also accompanied Churchill on his visits to Moscow and Paris in late 1944.<ref>Ismay, p. 376.</ref>

In February 1945, Ismay attended the [[Yalta Conference]]. He found the conference different from the previous ones where "the military element had been the prima donna, occupying the centre of the stage."<ref name=ismay387>Ismay, p. 387.</ref> Instead, at Yalta, political issues took precedence, leaving Ismay and other military advisers "waiting for calls that never came".<ref name=ismay387/><ref>Wingate, p. 122.</ref>

On [[VE Day]], Ismay found it "quite impossible to be completely happy about the future," due to the lingering Japanese threat, and the rising threat of the [[Soviet Union]].<ref>Ismay, p. 395.</ref> Nonetheless, he was happy to be one of only three men to hold the same high government position throughout the war in Europe, along with [[Edward Bridges, 1st Baron Bridges]] and the King.<ref>Ismay, pp. 395–396.</ref>

==Post-war military service==
After VE Day, Ismay accompanied Churchill to the [[Potsdam Conference]]. Like Yalta, the conference focussed primarily on political issues, so there was little for Ismay to do.<ref>Ismay, p. 399.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 124.</ref> After [[Clement Attlee]] defeated Churchill in the [[1945 United Kingdom general election|1945 election]], becoming Prime Minister, Ismay kept his position, working with Attlee at the conference, but remained loyal to Churchill.<ref>Ismay, pp. 403–404.</ref> Ismay and Churchill remained friends for the remainder of their lives, and Ismay even helped Churchill write his memoirs, reviewing and commenting on each chapter of his manuscript.<ref>Wingate, p. 178.</ref>

Shortly after the Potsdam Conference, the war in Asia ended on [[VJ Day]]. After this victory, Ismay "would have liked to retire at once",<ref name=ismay404>Ismay, p. 404.</ref> but at Attlee's request he remained in the military for another year.<ref name=ismay404/> Before continuing work, however, Ismay travelled to New York on 6 September, for a six-week vacation; he received a warm welcome.<ref>"The Queen Mary Sails with 15,000 Troops".</ref>

Over the next year, Ismay worked largely on the issue of reform for the Ministry of Defence. From December 1945 to February 1946, Ismay worked with a small committee to draft the ''Statement Relating to Defence'', which formed the basis of reforms implemented by Attlee later that year.<ref>Johnson, p. 18.</ref> For his role, Ismay became known as the "'chief architect' of [[Ministry of Defence (1947–1964)|the post-war Ministry of Defence]]."<ref>Johnson, p. 67.</ref>

During the year following the war, Ismay received many honours for his service. In August 1945, as part of [[1945 Prime Minister's Resignation Honours|Churchill's resignation honours]], he was appointed to the [[Order of the Companions of Honour]], an honour rarely bestowed on soldiers.<ref>Wingate, p. 127.</ref><ref>"Resignation Honours".</ref> The next January, he received the [[Legion of Merit]] from the United States.<ref>"British Officers Decorated".</ref> He was promoted [[Order of the Bath|Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] in June.<ref>"The Birthday Honours".</ref> Finally, he was named the Chairman of the Council of the [[Royal National Institute for the Blind]].<ref>"News in Brief".</ref>

In November 1946, Ismay announced his intention to retire.<ref>Ismay, p. 406.</ref> Attlee accepted his retirement, effective on 31 December 1946.<ref>"Cabinet Staff Change".</ref> Immediately after retiring, in the 1947 New Year Honours, Ismay was created a [[baron]]<ref>"The New Years Honours List".</ref> taking the title '''Baron Ismay''', of Wormington in the County of Gloucester.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37860 |page=411 |date=21 January 1947 }}</ref> He accepted the barony and took his seat in the [[House of Lords]] in February.<ref>"House of Lords".</ref>

==Partition of India==
[[File:Mountbatten Jinnah.jpg|thumb|[[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]], the last [[Viceroy of India]], with his wife and Pakistani leader [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]]]]
Shortly after Ismay's retirement, [[Louis Mountbatten, 1st Earl Mountbatten of Burma|Lord Mountbatten of Burma]] was appointed as the last British [[Viceroy of India]] and Ismay offered to serve as his chief of staff.<ref>Ismay, pp. 409–410.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 138.</ref> Thus, in March 1947, Ismay left with Mountbatten for India to help preside over its transition to independence.<ref>"New Viceroy in Delhi".</ref> After arriving in India, Ismay soon came to the conclusion that the situation there was dire, heading for civil war, and told Mountbatten that "India was a ship on fire in mid-ocean with ammunition in her hold."<!--punctuation in original --><ref>Collins, p. 95.</ref>

When Ismay and Mountbatten arrived, they were committed to preserving a unified India, but Ismay soon realised "that the Moslem League would not agree to any plan which did not provide for the creation of Pakistan as an independent sovereign state."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref>Ismay, p. 419.</ref> In April, after several unsuccessful meetings with [[Muhammad Ali Jinnah]], Mountbatten came to the same conclusion and began drawing up plans for the partition.<ref>Collins, p. 120.</ref> 

Over the next month Mountbatten finalised his partition plan, and on {{Nowrap|2 May 1947}}, he sent Ismay back to London to present it to the British government.<ref>Collins, p. 134.</ref> Ismay presented the plan to the Prime Minister and Cabinet, casting partition as a [[Hobson's choice]].<ref>Ismay, pp. 420–421.</ref><ref>Wingate, p. 154.</ref> Ismay stayed in England for the next month, and helped to alter the plan based on the cabinet's suggestions, before returning to India on {{Nowrap|31 May}}.<ref>Ismay, pp. 421–422.</ref>

Once the partition plan had been accepted, Ismay worked on implementing the details. In particular, Ismay dealt with the issue of dividing the Indian Army. Based on his own experiences and love of the Indian Army, Ismay did his "utmost to persuade" the leaders of the new Indian and Pakistani states not to separate the army immediately. His efforts failed due to the opposition of Jinnah.<ref>Ismay, p. 428.</ref>

Ismay also travelled to [[Kashmir]] to ask [[Hari Singh]] to hold an immediate referendum over whether his territory would join India or Pakistan. Once again, Ismay was unsuccessful and Singh "changed the subject" each time that Ismay tried to discuss the referendum.<ref>Ismay, p. 433.</ref> Throughout the period immediately following independence, Ismay also tried to ensure that stories printed in the Indian and Pakistani press about the partition were accurate, but once again he was largely unsuccessful.<ref>Ismay, p. 442.</ref>

The situation in India continued to deteriorate throughout the summer and autumn of 1947. Nevertheless, Ismay and Mountbatten had agreed that Ismay would remain in his position for only three to four months after partition. In December 1947, he left India to return to England.<ref>Ismay, pp. 445–446.</ref> Shortly after his return, Ismay served briefly on the British delegation to the United Nations to deal with the Kashmir issue. Ismay played only a limited role, as the Pakistanis suspected him of pro-Indian sympathies.<ref>Ismay, p. 447.</ref><ref>Wingate, pp. 176–177.</ref>

==Festival of Britain==
Shortly after Ismay returned from the United Nations, Prime Minister Attlee asked him to become the Chairman of the Council of the [[Festival of Britain]], scheduled to take place in 1951.<ref>Ismay, p. 448.</ref><ref>Wingate, pp. 177–178.</ref> Ismay accepted the offer, and on 10 March 1948, he officially took the position of chairman.<ref>"Lord Ismay Appointed".</ref> The appointment was largely symbolic, and Ismay "was at least partly appointed to forestall potential criticism by his friend Winston Churchill."<!-- punctuation in original --> The Council, however, wielded "slight, but not insignificant influence" and Ismay took his duties seriously.<ref>Leventhal, p. 447.</ref>

Ismay helped to ensure that the festival would be truly national in character, rather than just confined to London. As such, in June 1949, he called together all of the mayors in Britain to discuss the festival; this was the first meeting of all British mayors since 1916.<ref>Conekin, p. 153.</ref> Ismay also publicly defended the large cost of the festival, and emphasised its historic nature, saying, "We are consciously and deliberately determined to make history."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref>"Scope of 1951 Festival".</ref> Once the festival opened, Ismay hosted various notable guests, including [[Margaret Truman]], the daughter of US President [[Harry Truman]].<ref>"Miss Truman at South Bank Exhibition".</ref>

==Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations==
In the [[1951 United Kingdom general election|1951 general election]] held shortly after the conclusion of the Festival of Britain, Churchill's [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]] once again won a majority in Parliament, making Churchill Prime Minister for a second time. The day after the election, Churchill asked Ismay to become the [[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations]] in his cabinet. Ismay "was overjoyed at the prospect of serving under Churchill again" and accepted the post immediately.<ref name=ismay453>Ismay, p. 453.</ref> Although not a politician, Ismay was well-suited for the position because of his close relationships with the leaders of the commonwealth countries, largely the result of his work during the war.<ref>Wingate, p. 188.</ref>

As a result of his military background and experience, Ismay became "more closely involved in defence matters than is usual for a Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations," and often served as de facto Minister of Defence and serving as temporary Minister of Defence until the permanent appointee, [[Harold Alexander, 1st Earl Alexander of Tunis|Harold Alexander]], was able to take office.<ref name=ismay453/><ref>Wingate, pp. 188–189.</ref> Through his close involvement in defence matters, Ismay began to be involved with the [[North Atlantic Treaty Organization]]. In January 1952, he accompanied Churchill to a meeting in Ottawa about the alliance,<ref>"Discussions in Ottawa".</ref> and in February 1952 he attended the NATO Lisbon Conference as the British Ministry of Defence representative.<ref>"Meeting of Foreign Ministers".</ref> When leaving the conference, Ismay remarked to [[Alfred Gruenther]], "this is the first that I have seen of NATO, and thank heaven it's the last."<ref>Ismay, p. 460.</ref>

==Secretary General of NATO==
At the Lisbon Conference, the members of NATO agreed to appoint a [[Secretary General of NATO|Secretary General]] who would direct the organisation's staff and serve as Vice-Chairman of the [[North Atlantic Council]]. The position was initially offered to Sir [[Oliver Franks]], but he declined.<ref>Daniel (28 February 1952).</ref> As such, the allies scrambled to find someone else to take the position. Two weeks later, the countries agreed to ask Ismay to become Secretary General at the suggestion of Churchill and [[Anthony Eden]].<ref name=wingate192>Wingate, p. 192.</ref>

Eden asked Ismay to accept the position, but his response "was an immediate and emphatic negative," as he saw NATO as an overly bureaucratic and inefficient organisation<ref name=ismay461>Ismay, p. 461.</ref> and complained that the position of Secretary General was "divided and ill-defined."<ref name=wingate192/> Churchill then personally asked Ismay to accept the position, telling him that "NATO provided the best, if not the only, hope of peace in our time."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref name=ismay461/> After further urging, Ismay reluctantly agreed to take the job. On {{Nowrap|12 March 1952}}, the Atlantic Council officially passed a resolution appointing Ismay Secretary General,<ref name=secgen>"N.A.T.O. Secretary General".</ref> and he started work on {{Nowrap|24 March}}.<ref>"Atlantic Council Deputies".</ref>

Ismay's appointment to the position was well-received, enjoying the unanimous support of all the NATO members. The press and public also responded favourably. ''[[The Times]]'' wrote: "of all the candidates whose names have been mentioned, Lord Ismay would seem to have the strongest qualifications for the post."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref name=secgen/> ''[[The New York Times]]'' applauded his "vast experience in military planning, strategy, and administration,"<ref>Daniel (13 March 1952).</ref> and ''[[The Washington Post]]'' wrote that Ismay would bring NATO "great authority, experience and energy and a personal charm that can dissolve difficulties."<!-- in original --><ref>"Secretary Ismay".</ref>

As the first Secretary General, Ismay was "assuming an entirely new role in the history of international organizations," <!-- in original --> and as such he helped to define the position itself.<ref>Jordan, p. 3.</ref> While Ismay "deemed it wise not to step too boldly in a political role" in disputes among the members, he asserted himself strongly on issues relevant to the organisation of NATO.<ref name=obituary>"Obituary: Lord Ismay".</ref> From the very beginning of his time in office, Ismay worked to empower the permanent representatives to NATO, and emphasised that they had the same legal authority to make decisions as the NATO foreign ministers.<ref name=obituary/>

Ismay was also a proponent of NATO expansion, saying that NATO "must grow until the whole free world gets under one umbrella."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref>Jordan, p. 65.</ref>
However, before [[Warsaw Pact]] was even put in place, he opposed the request to join NATO made by the USSR in 1954<ref>[http://www.nato.int/60years/doc/5-Soviet-Union-s-request-to-join%20NATO/Soviet%20request%20English.pdf Text of Soviet Note, p. 6]. 1 April 1954.</ref>
<ref>{{cite news| url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2001/jun/17/russia.iantraynor | location=London | work=The Guardian | first=Ian | last=Traynor | title=Soviets tried to join Nato in 1954 | date=17 June 2001}}</ref> saying that "the Soviet request to join NATO is like an unrepentant burglar requesting to join the police force"<!-- punctuation in original --><ref>[http://www.nato.int/60years/doc/5-Soviet-Union-s-request-to-join%20NATO/Transcript%20of%20Lord%20Ismay%27s%20Memo.pdf Russian Admission to NATO]</ref> thus making apparent that NATO alliance ("the police force") was directed against the USSR. As stated in the official NATO website "the request tested the limits of NATO's willingness to admit new members"<!-- punctuation in original -->.<ref>[http://www.nato.int/history/nato-history-did-you-know.html NATO History homepage].</ref>

As Secretary General, Ismay also worked to encourage closer political co-ordination among the members of the alliance. During the [[Suez Crisis]] he offered his good offices to help resolve issues among members of the alliance.<ref>"Dulles Gives Pledge to Save Allied Unity".</ref> Ismay also offered to help mediate disputes over [[Cyprus]].<ref name=obituary/>

In December 1956, Ismay decided to retire from NATO. He told the press that "he was not giving up his position for personal reasons, but because he felt it needed a fresh hand and a fresh brain."<!-- i original --><ref name=spaak>"M Spaak to Succeed Lord Ismay".</ref> [[Paul-Henri Spaak]] was immediately chosen as his successor, but Ismay remained in office until May 1957, when he left with "the affection and respect" of all the NATO members.<ref name=spaak/> While Secretary General, Ismay is also credited as having been the first person to say that the purpose of NATO was "to keep the Soviet Union out, the Americans in, and the Germans down,"<ref>{{Cite web |last=NATO |title=Nato - Lord Ismay |url=https://www.nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_137930.htm}}</ref><!-- As whether or not he said this is a matter of dispute (and has not been documented), the punctuation in the original is largely irrelevant, and including the punctuation within the quote leads to the best structural flow --> a saying that has since become a common way to quickly describe the alliance.<ref>Joffe.</ref><ref>Schorr.</ref>

==Retirement==
[[File:Tewkesbury Abbey Lord Ismay Garter Banner 01.JPG|thumb|[[Order of the Garter|Garter]] [[heraldic banner|banner]] of the late Lord Ismay in [[Tewkesbury Abbey]]]]
Immediately after leaving NATO, Ismay was honoured by [[Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom|Queen Elizabeth&nbsp;II]] with an appointment to the [[Order of the Garter]]. His youngest daughter Mary had married George Seymour, equerry to [[Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother]], and their daughter Katharine is a god-daughter of [[Princess Margaret, Countess of Snowdon|Princess Margaret]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://users.uniserve.com/~canyon/godchildren.htm#Margaret |title=Yvonne's Royalty Home Page |publisher=Users.uniserve.com |access-date=25 April 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120502185803/http://users.uniserve.com/~canyon/godchildren.htm#Margaret |archive-date=2 May 2012 |url-status=dead  }}</ref>

He was appointed to boards of several corporations including the [[Ashanti Goldfields Corporation]].<ref>"Court Circular" (16 May 1957).</ref><ref>"Commodity Markets".</ref> Ismay also began writing his memoirs, ''The Memoirs of General Lord Ismay'', which were published in 1960 by [[Viking Press]]. In his memoirs, Ismay focussed principally on his Second World War service, and as such, one reviewer called them "a most significant addition to the literature of the Second World War."<!-- punctuation in original --><ref>O'Dea, p. 300.</ref>

In 1963, Ismay was asked to again assist in a review of the organisation of the British military along with Sir [[Ian Jacob]].<ref>"Ismay to Study Service Unity".</ref> Although Ismay was ill throughout most of the review and did relatively little of the work, "his influence was strong", and the final product of the review largely reflected his opinions.<ref>Johnson, p. 110.</ref> In the end, the Ismay–Jacob Report recommended strengthening the central power of the Ministry of Defence substantially, and in 1964, Parliament implemented its recommendations.<ref>Johnson, p. 115.</ref>

Ismay died on 17 December 1965 at his home [[Wormington Grange]], Gloucestershire, at the age of 78. As he had no male heir, his title became extinct.<ref>"First Chief of NATO, Lord Ismay, 78, Dies".</ref>

==In popular culture==
* In the television drama ''[[Churchill and the Generals]]'' by [[Paul Hardwick]].
* In ''[[Lord Mountbatten: The Last Viceroy]]'' by [[Nigel Davenport]].
* In the 2017 film [[Darkest Hour (film)|''Darkest Hour'']], by [[Richard Lumsden]].
* In the 2017 film ''[[Viceroy's House (film)|Viceroy's House]] '' by [[Michael Gambon]].

==Arms==
{{Emblem table
|image = Coat of Arms of Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay, KG, GCB, CH, DSO, PC, DL.png
|escutcheon = Azure a Cross Crosslet Or on a Chief Argent a Maunch Sable between two pairs of Cavalry Swords in saltire proper
|crest = Two Cavalry Swords in saltire proper in front of a Crescent between two Annulets Gules
|supporters = Dexter: A Private of the Somaliland Cavalry Corps; Sinister: A Sowar of the Indian Cavalry, both in field service dress proper
|motto = Have No Fear <ref>{{Cite web | url=http://www.cracroftspeerage.co.uk/ismay1947.htm |title = Ismay, Baron (UK, 1947–1965)}}</ref>}}

== Citations ==
{{Reflist|25em}}

== General references==

===Books===
* {{cite book|title = The Road to War| first = Richard| last = Overy| location = London| publisher = Macmillan| year = 1989}}
* {{cite book|title = The Warrior Mullah| first = Ray| last = Beachey| location = London| publisher = Bellew Publishing| year = 1990| isbn = 0-947792-43-0|oclc = 60081063}}
* {{cite book|title = The Gathering Storm| first = Winston| last = Churchill| publisher = Houghton Mifflin Company| location = Boston| year = 1948| series = The Second World War| volume = 2| oclc = 3025315}}
* {{cite book| title = Winston Churchill and His Inner Circle| first = John| last = Colville| publisher = Wyndham Books| location = New York| year = 1981| isbn = 0-671-42583-8| oclc = 7283766| url = https://archive.org/details/winstonchurchill00colv}}
* {{cite book|title = The Autobiography of a Nation: The 1951 Festival of Britain| first = Becky| last = Conekin| location = Manchester| publisher = Manchester University Press| year = 2003| isbn = 0-7190-6060-5| oclc = 50783359}}
* {{cite book|title = Freedom at Midnight|first1 = Larry| last1= Collins| first2 = Dominique|last2= LaPierre| publisher = Simon & Schuster| location = New York| year = 1975| isbn = 0-671-22088-8|oclc = 1366307}}
* {{cite book|title = Crusade in Europe| first = Dwight| last = Eisenhower| year = 1949|edition= 3rd | publisher = William Heinemann| location = London| oclc = 394251}}
* {{cite book| title = Allies: Pearl Harbor to D-Day| first = John| last = Eisenhower| year = 1982| publisher = Doubleday| location = Garden City, New York| isbn = 0-385-11479-6| oclc = 7672682| url = https://archive.org/details/alliespearlharbo00eise}}
* {{cite book| title = Churchill: A Life| first = Martin| last = Gilbert| publisher = Henry Holt and Company| location = New York| year = 1991| isbn = 0-8050-0615-X| oclc = 24011440| url = https://archive.org/details/churchilllife00gilb}}
* {{cite book | url = http://archives.nato.int/nato-first-5-years-1949-1954-by-lord-ismay-secretary-general-of-north-atlantic-treaty-organization;isad | title = NATO: The First Five Years | first = Hastings | last = Ismay | publisher = NATO | year = 1954 | url-status = dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170315234941/http://archives.nato.int/nato-first-5-years-1949-1954-by-lord-ismay-secretary-general-of-north-atlantic-treaty-organization%3Bisad | archive-date = 15 March 2017 | df = dmy-all }}
* {{cite book|title = The Memoirs of General Lord Ismay|first = Hastings| last = Ismay| location = New York| publisher = Viking Press| year = 1960| isbn = 978-0-8371-6280-5|oclc = 827892}}
* {{cite book|title = Defence by Ministry|first = Franklyn| last = Johnson|year = 1980| publisher = Holmes & Meier Publisher, Inc| location = New York| isbn = 0-8419-0598-3|oclc = 5889060}}
* {{cite book|title = The NATO International Staff/Secretariat 1952–1957|first = Robert| last = Jordan| publisher = Oxford University Press| location = London| year = 1967| oclc = 59029584}}
* {{cite book| title = Churchill as War Leader| first = Richard| last = Lamb| publisher = Caroll & Graff Publishers, Inc| location = New York| year = 1991| isbn = 0-88184-937-5| oclc = 27340277| url = https://archive.org/details/churchillaswarle00rich}}
* {{cite book|title = I Was There| first = William| last = Leahy| publisher = Whittlesey House| location = New York| year = 1950| oclc = 397109}}
* {{cite book|title = Oxford Dictionary of National Biography| last = Lewin| first = Ronald| editor1-first = H.C.G|editor1-last = Matthew| editor2-first = Brian| editor2-last = Harrison| volume = 29| year = 2004| location = Oxford| publisher = Oxford University Press| chapter = Hastings Lionel Ismay|isbn = 0-19-861379-2|oclc = 226159003}}
* {{cite book|title = A man and an institution|first = John| last = Naylor| publisher = Cambridge University Press| location = Cambridge| year = 1984| isbn = 0-521-25583-X}}
* {{cite book|title = Great Britons|first = Harold| last = Oxbury| location = Oxford| publisher = Oxford University Press| year = 1985| isbn = 0-19-211599-5| oclc = 11533077}}
* {{cite book|title = Hankey: Man of Secrets| first = Stephen| last = Roskill| location = London| publisher = Collins| year = 1972| volume = 1|isbn = 0-00-211330-9| oclc = 226236422}}
* {{cite book|title = Hankey: Man of Secrets| first = Stephen| last = Roskill| location = London| publisher = Collins| year = 1972| volume = 2|isbn = 0-00-211330-9| oclc = 226236422}}
* {{cite book| title = The Turning Point| first = Keith| last = Sainsbury| publisher = Oxford University Press| location = Oxford| year = 1985| isbn = 0-19-215858-9| oclc = 10823797| url = https://archive.org/details/turningpoint00keit}}
* {{cite book|title = Foreign Relations of the United States: Conferences at Washington, 1941–1942, and Casablanca, 1943|author = US Department of State Historical Office| year = 1968| publisher = Government Printing Office| location = Washington, DC| oclc = 1444030}}
* {{cite book|title = Lord Ismay: A Biography|url = https://archive.org/details/lordismaybiograp0000wing|url-access = registration| first = Ronald| last = Wingate| author-link = Ronald Wingate| publisher = Hutchinson of London| location = London| year = 1970| isbn = 0-09-102370-X| oclc = 102756}}

===Articles===
* {{cite news|title = Advice on Defence: Imperial Committee in Peace and War| work = [[The Times]]| date = 12 January 1939|page = 12e}}
* {{cite news|title = Allied Chiefs with the King| work = The Times| date = 17 June 1944|page = 4d}}
* {{cite news|title = Atlantic Council Deputies| work = The Times| date = 20 March 1952|page = 3a}}
* {{cite news|title = British Officers Decorated| date = 17 January 1946|work = The Times|page = 7c}}
* {{cite news|title = Cabinet Staff Change| date = 17 December 1946| work = The Times|page = 4g}}
* {{cite news|title = Franks Rejection of Post Confirmed| first = Clifton| last = Daniel| work = The New York Times| date = 28 February 1952}}
* {{cite news|title = Ismay Named Civilian Chief of Atlantic Pact Organization| first = Clifton| last = Daniel| work = The New York Times| date = 13 March 1952}}
* {{cite news|title = Commodity Markets| work = The Times| date = 22 May 1957|page =16g}}
* {{cite news|title = Court Circular| work = The Times| date = 16 May 1957|page =14b}}
* {{cite news|title = Discussions in Ottawa| date = 15 January 1952| work = The Times|page =4a}}
* {{cite news|title = Dulles Gives Pledge to Save Allied Unity| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = 10 December 1956}}
* {{cite news|title = Army writer came close to exposing secrets of D-Day| work = The Times| date = 4 September 2006|first = Michael| last = Evans| url = http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article627313.ece| access-date = 13 April 2009 | location=London}}
* {{cite news|title = First Chief of NATO, Lord Ismay, 78, Dies| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = 19 December 1965}}
* {{cite news|title = General Ismay Promoted| work = The Times| date = 7 November 1942|page =4e}}
* {{cite news|title = House of Lords|date = 6 February 1947| work = The Times|page =8a}}
* {{cite news|title = Ismay to Study Service Unity| newspaper = The Washington Post| date = 13 January 1964}}
* {{cite magazine|title = NATO: Soldiering On| first = Josef| last = Joffe| magazine = [[Time (magazine)|Time]]| url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1886470,00.html| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090323193506/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1886470,00.html| url-status = dead| archive-date = 23 March 2009| date = 19 March 2009| access-date = 13 February 2009}}
* {{cite news|title = Knighthoods for the Services| work = The Times| date = 11 July 1940|page =5g}}
* {{cite journal|title = A Tonic to the Nation: The Festival of Britain, 1951| first = F.M.| last = Leventhal| journal = Albion|date=Autumn 1995| volume = 27| issue = 3| pages = 445–453| doi = 10.2307/4051737| jstor = 4051737}}
* {{London Gazette|issue=32142 |supp=y|page=1|date=26 November 1920}}
* {{London Gazette|issue=37860 |supp=y|page=411|date=21 January 1947}}
* {{cite news|title = Lord Ismay Appointed| work = The Times| date = 11 March 1948|page =4c}}
* {{cite news|title = Lord Ismay, Ex-Churchill Aide, Leader in NATO, Is Dead at 78| work = The New York Times| date = 18 December 1965}}
* {{cite news|title = M Spaak to Succeed Lord Ismay| work = The Times| date = 15 December 1956|page =6a}}
* {{cite web|title = 4 September 2006 releases: Other subjects of Security Service enquiries| author = MI5| url = http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/other-subjects-of-security-service-inquiries.html| access-date = 14 April 2009|archive-url=http://webarchive.nationalarchives.gov.uk/20090213235640/http://www.mi5.gov.uk/output/other-subjects-of-security-service-inquiries.html|archive-date=13 February 2009|url-status=dead}}
* {{cite news|title = Miss Truman at South Bank Exhibition| work = The Times| date = 5 June 1951|page =4c}}
* {{cite news|title = Mr. Eden at Kremlin| work = The Times| date = 30 October 1943|page =4d}}
* {{cite news|title = Mr. Eden Sees Marshal Stalin| work = The Times| date = 28 October 1943|page =4c}}
* {{cite news|title = N.A.T.O. Secretary General| work = The Times| date = 13 March 1952|page =4e}}
* {{cite news|title = New Viceroy in Delhi| work = The Times| date = 23 March 1947|page =6e}}
* {{cite news|title = New Years Honours List| date = 1 January 1947| work = The Times|page =4f}}
* {{cite news|title = News in Brief| work = The Times| date = 26 July 1946|page =3a}}
* {{cite news|title = Obituary: Lord Ismay| work = The Times| date = 18 December 1965|page =9a}}
* {{cite news|title = Prime Minister in the United States| work = The Times| date = 19 June 1942|page =4a}}
* {{cite news|title = Resignation Honours| date = 14 August 1945| work = The Times|page =4g}}
* {{cite news|title = Secretary Ismay| date = 15 March 1952| newspaper = The Washington Post}}
* {{cite news|title = With No Clear Mission, NATO Has Little Power| first = Daniel| last = Schorr| work = [[NPR]]| date = 1 April 2009| url = https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102618942| access-date = 13 April 2009}}
* {{cite news|title = Scope of 1951 Festival| work = The Times| date = 9 June 1949|page =3a}}
* {{cite news|title = Sir H. Ismay Promoted| work = The Times| date = 20 May 1944|page =7g}}
* {{cite news|title = Sir M. Hankey's Successors| work = The Times| date = 2 June 1938|page =14c}}
* {{cite news|title = The Birthday Honours| date = 13 June 1946| work = The Times|page =8a}}
* {{cite news|title = The Prime Minister in Canada| work = The Times| date = 11 August 1943|page =4a}}
* {{cite news|title = The Queen Mary Sails with 15,000 Troops|work = The Times| date = 6 September 1945|page =2c}}
* {{cite news|title = Women's Part in the War| work = The Times| date = 9 November 1942|page =2a}}

==External links==
{{commons category|Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron Ismay}}
* [http://nato.int/cps/en/natohq/declassified_137930.htm NATO Declassified – Lord Ismay (biography)]
* [http://www.unithistories.com/officers/IndianArmy_officers_I01.html#Ismay_HL Indian Army Officers 1939–1945]
* [http://www.generals.dk/general/Ismay_of_Wormington/Hasting_Lionel/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]

{{s-start}}
|-
{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=C. W. G. Walker}}
{{s-ttl|title=Assistant Secretary to the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]]|years=1925–1930}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Gordon Macready|G. N. Macready]]}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=C. O. Harvey}}
{{s-ttl|title=Military Secretary to the [[Viceroy of India]]|years=1931–1933}}
{{s-aft|after=A. H. H. Muir}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Henry Pownall|H. R. Pownall]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Deputy Secretary to the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]]|years=1936–1938}}
{{s-aft|after=Unknown}}
|-
{{s-bef|before=[[Maurice Hankey, 1st Baron Hankey|Sir Maurice Hankey]]}}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary to the [[Committee of Imperial Defence]]|years=1938–1939}}
{{s-non|reason=None<br>'''Responsibilities transferred to the [[War Cabinet]]}}
|-
{{s-off}}
{{succession box| before=[[Patrick Gordon Walker]]| title=[[Secretary of State for Commonwealth Relations]]| years=1951–1952| after=[[Robert Gascoyne-Cecil, 5th Marquess of Salisbury|The Marquess of Salisbury]]}}
|-
{{s-dip}}
{{s-new}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Secretary General of NATO]]|years=1952–1957}}
{{s-aft|after=[[Paul-Henri Spaak]]}}
|-
{{s-reg|uk}}
{{s-new | creation}}
{{s-ttl
 | title = [[Baron Ismay]]
 | years = 1947–1965
}}
{{s-non | reason = Extinct }}
{{s-end}}
{{NATOSecGens}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ismay, Hastings Ismay, 1st Baron}}
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