Cecil Toovey

Major General Cecil Wotton Toovey CB, CBE, MC & Bar (17 April 1891 - 23 February 1954) was a senior British Indian Army officer who commanded the North Western Army, India during the Second World War.

Cecil Toovey
Born	17 April 1891
Died	23 February 1954 (aged 62) Surrey, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army British Indian Army
Years of service	1913–1947
Rank	Major General
Unit	Middlesex Regiment 82nd Punjabis 1st Punjab Regiment
Commands held	3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment Rawalpindi District North Western Army
Battles/wars	First World War Second World War
Awards	Companion of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross and Bar

Military career

Toovey was educated at Malvern College and commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 9th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment from the Inns of Court Officers Training Corps on 3 May 1913.[1] He served with his regiment during the early part of the First World War and then transferred to the Indian Army in 1917.[2] He was attached to the 82nd Punjabis. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC) for organising and leading a counterattack when in command of his battalion in 1919 on the North West Frontier.[1][3]

After attending the Staff College, Quetta from 1924 to 1925,[4] he was awarded a bar to his MC for gallantry during operations on the North West Frontier during 1930–31.[5] He was appointed Commanding Officer (CO) of the 3rd Battalion, 1st Punjab Regiment in January 1937 then Assistant Adjutant-General at GHQ India in April 1939.[1]

He served in the Second World War as Indian Army Liaison Officer at Middle East Command from May 1940, Commanding Officer, Lines of Communication Eritrea from April 1941 and Deputy Adjutant General at GHQ India from October 1941.[1] He went on to be General Officer Commanding (GOC) Rawalpindi District in November 1943 and General Officer Commanding-in-Chief (GOC-in-C) North Western Army in June 1945.[1]

He reverted to command of the Rawalpindi District in October 1945.[1] He retired in January 1947[6] and died on 23 February 1954.[1]

References

1. "British Military History" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2015-09-23. Retrieved 2013-06-01.
2. London Gazette 8 March 1918
3. London Gazette 27 September 1920
4. Smart, p. 311
5. London Gazette 6 May 1932.
6. Generals.dk

Bibliography

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

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Henry Finnis	GOC-in-C, North Western Army, India June – October 1945	Succeeded by Sir Richard O'Connor