David Tennant Cowan
Encyclopedia
Major General
David Tennant Cowan CB
, CBE
, DSO
& Bar
, MC
(1896–1983), also known as "Punch" Cowan, was an officer in the British Army
and British Indian Army
in World War I
and World War II
. He was distinguished for leading the Indian 17th Infantry Division during almost the entire Burma Campaign
.
during which he was awarded the Military Cross
and mentioned in despatches, he joined the 6th Gurkha Rifles. Between the wars, he served on the north-west frontier (where he was again mentioned in despatches for service in Waziristan
) and in various staff positions. From 1932 to 1934, he was the Chief Instructor at the Indian Military Academy
and in 1937 he was once more mentioned in despatches during a further tour of duty in Waziristan. By the outbreak of World War II
, he was in command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment.
He remained in command of the division for the rest of the Burma Campaign
: during the retreat into India, the fighting around Tiddim in 1943, the Battle of Imphal
in 1944 and the drive into Central Burma in 1945. Early in 1945, his son was killed whilst serving as an officer in Cowan's old unit (1/6 Gurkha Rifles). He fought the decisive Battle of Meiktila
having suffered this loss, although only a few close friends were aware of it. For his leadership in Burma he was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Order
.
He was intended to lead the Indian army contingent of the Commonwealth Corps
being tentatively formed to participate in the planned invasion of Japan. The surrender of Japan changed these plans, and Cowan instead led the joint British-Indian division BRINDIV, part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
, in Japan. In 1947, he handed over command of this force and retired from the army.
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
David Tennant Cowan CB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, CBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
& Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
(1896–1983), also known as "Punch" Cowan, was an officer in the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
and British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He was distinguished for leading the Indian 17th Infantry Division during almost the entire Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
.
Early career and inter-war years
After serving in World War IWorld War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
during which he was awarded the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
and mentioned in despatches, he joined the 6th Gurkha Rifles. Between the wars, he served on the north-west frontier (where he was again mentioned in despatches for service in Waziristan
Waziristan
Waziristan is a mountainous region near the Northwest of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . The area is entirely populated by ethnic Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto...
) and in various staff positions. From 1932 to 1934, he was the Chief Instructor at the Indian Military Academy
Indian Military Academy
The Indian Military Academy, Dehradun is the officer training school of the Indian Army. IMA was established in 1932.-Demands for an Indian military training academy:...
and in 1937 he was once more mentioned in despatches during a further tour of duty in Waziristan. By the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, he was in command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment.
World War II
Promoted brigadier, he was Deputy Director of Military Training in India. When the Japanese invaded Burma, he was posted to Rangoon, initially as a staff officer in Burma Army HQ with rather ill-defined duties, but took command of the Indian 17th Infantry Division when its commander was relieved after a bridge was blown behind the retreating division and much of it was cut off.He remained in command of the division for the rest of the Burma Campaign
Burma Campaign
The Burma Campaign in the South-East Asian Theatre of World War II was fought primarily between British Commonwealth, Chinese and United States forces against the forces of the Empire of Japan, Thailand, and the Indian National Army. British Commonwealth land forces were drawn primarily from...
: during the retreat into India, the fighting around Tiddim in 1943, the Battle of Imphal
Battle of Imphal
The Battle of Imphal took place in the region around the city of Imphal, the capital of the state of Manipur in North-East India from March until July 1944. Japanese armies attempted to destroy the Allied forces at Imphal and invade India, but were driven back into Burma with heavy losses...
in 1944 and the drive into Central Burma in 1945. Early in 1945, his son was killed whilst serving as an officer in Cowan's old unit (1/6 Gurkha Rifles). He fought the decisive Battle of Meiktila
Battle of Meiktila / Mandalay
The concurrent Battle of Meiktila and Battle of Mandalay were decisive battles near the end of the Burma Campaign. Collectively, they are sometimes referred to as the Battle of Central Burma. Despite logistical difficulties, the Allies were able to deploy large armoured and mechanised forces in...
having suffered this loss, although only a few close friends were aware of it. For his leadership in Burma he was twice awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
.
He was intended to lead the Indian army contingent of the Commonwealth Corps
Commonwealth Corps
The Commonwealth Corps was the name given to a proposed British Commonwealth army formation, which was scheduled to take part in the planned Allied invasion of Japan in during 1945 and 1946. The corps was never formed however, as the Japanese surrender obviated any need for it...
being tentatively formed to participate in the planned invasion of Japan. The surrender of Japan changed these plans, and Cowan instead led the joint British-Indian division BRINDIV, part of the British Commonwealth Occupation Force
British Commonwealth Occupation Force
The British Commonwealth Occupation Force , was the name of the joint Australian, Canadian, British, Indian and New Zealand military forces in occupied Japan, from 21 February 1946 until the end of occupation in 1952...
, in Japan. In 1947, he handed over command of this force and retired from the army.
Career summary
- Commissioned 3rd Battalion Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (1915)
- Transferred to 6th Gurkha Rifles, British Indian Army (1917)
- Attended Command and Staff CollegeCommand and Staff CollegeThe Command and Staff College was established in 1907 at Quetta, Balochistan, British Raj, now in Pakistan, and is the oldest and the most prestigious institution of the Pakistan Army. It was established in 1905 in Deolali and moved to its present location at Quetta in 1907 under the name of Quetta...
, QuettaQuettais the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
(1927–1928) - Assistant Military Secretary, IndiaIndiaIndia , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
(1930–1932) - Chief Instructor at Indian Military Academy (1932–1934)
- General Staff Officer 2, India, Waziristan (1936–1938)
- Commanding Officer 1st Battalion 6th Gurkha Rifles (1939–1940)
- General Staff Officer 1, India (1940–1941)
- Deputy Director of Military Training, India (1941–1942)
- General Officer Commanding Indian 17th Infantry DivisionIndian 17th Infantry DivisionThe 17th Infantry Division is a formation of the Indian Army. During World War II, it had the distinction of being continually in combat during the three-year long Burma Campaign .-Second World War:...
, Burma (1942) - General Officer Commanding 17th Indian Light Division, Burma (1942–1944)
- General Officer Commanding 17th Indian Division, Burma (1944–1945)
- General Officer Commanding Force152 (1945)
- General Officer Commanding BRINJAP Division, Japan (1945–1947)
- Retired (1947)