Major General William Henry Evered Poole, CB, CBE, DSO, KStJ, LOM (USA) (8 October 1902 – 9 March 1969) was a senior South African Army commander during the Second World War and later a diplomat.

In 1920, while a public servant, Poole joined the 9th Infantry Regiment (Cape Peninsula Rifles)[2] of the Active Citizen Force as a private.

In June 1935, he was granted the temporary rank of lieutenant colonel and was attached to the British Brigade of Guards at Aldershot, in London, and at Pirbright until September 1935.

Following the Union's entry into the Second World War in September 1939, Poole organised the greatly expanded facilities at the college, including the huge 'B' Mess dining halls seating 500 officer cadets.

[4] Poole was appointed General Service Officer Grade 1 (GSO1) of 1st South African Infantry Division, with the rank of colonel, on its formation in August 1940.

He returned temporarily to South Africa as officer commanding Cape Fortress until rejoining his brigade at El Alamein in August 1942.

Poole assumed command, with the rank of major general, of the 6th South African Armoured Division on its formation in February 1943.

At the end of the war, he became General Officer Administration of all South African troops in the Allied Central Mediterranean Force until their repatriation on 2 March 1946.

In 1948, Poole was passed over as Chief of Staff by the newly elected National Party government of Dr D. F. Malan and posted to Berlin to head the South African military mission there.