Major-GeneralArthur William PurserOBE,MC (21 September 1884 – 21 December 1953) was aBritish Army officer.

Arthur Purser
Born	21 September 1884
Died	21 December 1953 (aged 69)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/ branch	British Army
Years of service	1903−1940
Rank	Major-General
Service number	3885
Unit	Royal Field Artillery
Commands	1st Heavy Brigade,Royal Artillery 66th Infantry Division
Battles / wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross

Educated atMarlborough College and theRoyal Military Academy, Woolwich,^[1] Purser wascommissioned into theRoyal Field Artillery on 15 July 1903^[2] and saw service in France during theFirst World War, where he was awarded theMilitary Cross in 1917 while serving as anadjutant to a RFA brigade.^[3][4][1]

Remaining in the army during theinterwar period and, after serving for several years at theRoyal School of Artillery, Larkhill, Purser became commander of the 1st Heavy Brigade,Royal Artillery in 1931, an instructor at theSenior Officers' School, Sheerness in 1935 and Brigadier, Royal Artillery atEastern Command in 1937.^[1] The following year saw him promoted to the rank ofmajor-general.^[1]

In September 1939, the month theSecond World War began, he went on to beGeneral Officer Commanding (GOC) of the newly raised66th Infantry Division, aTerritorial Army (TA) formation. His command of the division was destined to be short-lived, however, as ill-health forced him into retirement from the army, after more than thirty-six years of service, in January 1940, withAlan Cunningham succeeding him in command of the 66th Division.^[1]

• Smart, Nick (2005).Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword.ISBN 1844150496.

• Generals of World War II