Lancelot Perowne
Encyclopedia
Major-General Lancelot Edgar Connop Mervyn Perowne CBE
(11 June 1902 – 24 March 1982) was a British Army
officer who commanded 17th Gurkha Division
.
and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Perowne was commissioned into the Royal Engineers
in 1923. He served in World War II
with the Commando
s in France
and then as Commander of 69th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from 1942, 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from 1943 and 23rd Infantry Brigade in India
and Burma from later in 1943. As Commander of 23rd Brigade he fought a successful campaign in the Naga hills
. He was present at the reoccupation of Malaya
in 1945.
After the War he became Commander of the Penang
Sub-Area and of 74th Indian Infantry Brigade
in Malaya
. He was appointed Commander of 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade
in 1946, Commandant of the School of Combined Operations in 1947 and Commander of 151st Northumberland and Durham Light Infantry Brigade in 1949. He went on to be Commander of the British Military Mission to Greece
in 1951 and General Officer Commanding
the South Malaya District and 17th Gurkha Division
and Major General commanding the Brigade of Gurkhas
in 1952 before he retired in 1955.
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...
(11 June 1902 – 24 March 1982) was a 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...
officer who commanded 17th Gurkha Division
17th Gurkha Division
The 17th Gurkha Division was a British military formation that saw active service during Malayan Emergency.-History:The Division was formed in 1952 in response to the Malayan Emergency. It pepetuated the traditions of the former 17th Indian Infantry Division which had used a Black Cat as its emblem...
.
Military career
Educated at Wellington CollegeWellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Perowne was commissioned into the Royal Engineers
Royal Engineers
The Corps of Royal Engineers, usually just called the Royal Engineers , and commonly known as the Sappers, is one of the corps of the British Army....
in 1923. He served in 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...
with the Commando
Commando
In English, the term commando means a specific kind of individual soldier or military unit. In contemporary usage, commando usually means elite light infantry and/or special operations forces units, specializing in amphibious landings, parachuting, rappelling and similar techniques, to conduct and...
s in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and then as Commander of 69th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from 1942, 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from 1943 and 23rd Infantry Brigade in India
India
India , 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...
and Burma from later in 1943. As Commander of 23rd Brigade he fought a successful campaign in the Naga hills
Naga hills
Naga hills, reaching a height of around 3825 metres, lie on the border of India and Burma . These hills are part of a complex mountain system, and the parts of the mountain ranges inside the Indian state of Nagaland and the Burmese region of Sagaing are called the Naga Hills.In British India, the...
. He was present at the reoccupation of Malaya
Malaya
-Geographic/former political entities:* The Malay Peninsula* Malay Archipelago, the broader macroregion.-Malaya including Singapore:* British Malaya , a loose collection of British-controlled states...
in 1945.
After the War he became Commander of the Penang
Penang
Penang is a state in Malaysia and the name of its constituent island, located on the northwest coast of Peninsular Malaysia by the Strait of Malacca. It is bordered by Kedah in the north and east, and Perak in the south. Penang is the second smallest Malaysian state in area after Perlis, and the...
Sub-Area and of 74th Indian Infantry Brigade
74th Indian Infantry Brigade
The 74th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in July 1942, in India. The brigade was assigned to the 25th Indian Infantry Division and fought in the Burma Campaign.-Formation:...
in Malaya
Malaya
-Geographic/former political entities:* The Malay Peninsula* Malay Archipelago, the broader macroregion.-Malaya including Singapore:* British Malaya , a loose collection of British-controlled states...
. He was appointed Commander of 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade
72nd Indian Infantry Brigade
The 72 Independent Infantry Brigade was formed in the United Kingdom in January 1941. On 1 June 1943 it was re-designated British 72nd Infantry Brigade...
in 1946, Commandant of the School of Combined Operations in 1947 and Commander of 151st Northumberland and Durham Light Infantry Brigade in 1949. He went on to be Commander of the British Military Mission to Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
in 1951 and General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
the South Malaya District and 17th Gurkha Division
17th Gurkha Division
The 17th Gurkha Division was a British military formation that saw active service during Malayan Emergency.-History:The Division was formed in 1952 in response to the Malayan Emergency. It pepetuated the traditions of the former 17th Indian Infantry Division which had used a Black Cat as its emblem...
and Major General commanding the Brigade of Gurkhas
Brigade of Gurkhas
The Brigade of Gurkhas is the collective term for units of the current British Army that are composed of Nepalese soldiers. The brigade, which is 3,640 strong, draws its heritage from Gurkha units that originally served in the British Indian Army prior to Indian independence, and prior to that of...
in 1952 before he retired in 1955.