jerrard tickell was born in dublin and educated in tipperary and, from 1919 until 1922 at highgate school in london. he joined the royal army service corps in 1940 and was commissioned in 1941, when he was appointed to the war office. between 1943 and 1945 his official duties took him to africa, the middle east, washington dc, canada, the west indies and europe. he was appointed to the general staff in 1945.