Ernest Down
Lieutenant-General Sir Ernest Edward Down KBE CB (1902–1980) was a senior officer of the British Army, who saw active service during World War II.
Sir Ernest Down | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1902 |
| Died | 1980 (aged 78) |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Unit | Dorset Regiment |
| Commands held | 2nd Parachute Brigade 1st Airborne Division 9th Indian Airborne Division 44th Indian Airborne Division 2nd Indian Airborne Division 4th Infantry Division British Troops in Greece 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division Southern Command |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath |
Military career
Ernest Down was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Dorset Regiment in February 1923.[1]
He served in the Second World War, being appointed Commander of the 2nd Parachute Brigade, then serving in North Africa in 1942.[2] He went on to be General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Airborne Division, taking over from Major-General George F. Hopkinson who had been killed in action, in September 1943, in the early stages of the Allied invasion of Italy.[2] He was then GOC of 9th Indian Airborne Division which itself became the 44th Indian Airborne Division in 1944 and GOC of 2nd Indian Airborne Division in 1945.[2]
After the War he was appointed GOC of 4th Infantry Division in Greece before becoming GOC of all British Troops in Greece.[2] Then in 1948 he became head of the British Military Mission to Greece.[2] Returning to the United Kingdom he was appointed District Officer Commanding Mid-West District and GOC 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division in 1950 and GOC-in Chief of Southern Command in 1952, a post from which he retired in 1955.[2]
He was also Colonel of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry from 1955 to 1957.[3]
References
- "No. 32792". The London Gazette. 2 February 1923. p. 807.
- "Down, Ernest". Generals.dk. Retrieved 9 June 2020.
- "Succession of Colonels 1755 - 1963". British Armed Forces. Archived from the original on 20 July 2012. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
External links
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by George F. Hopkinson |
General Officer Commanding 1st Airborne Division 1943–1944 |
Succeeded by Roy Urquhart |
| Preceded by Colin Callander |
General Officer Commanding the 4th Division 1946–1947 |
Succeeded by Division Disbanded (Post next held by Reginald Hewetson) |
| Preceded by George Wood |
General Officer Commanding 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division 1950–1952 |
Succeeded by Edric Bastyan |
| Preceded by Sir Ouvry Roberts |
GOC-in-C Southern Command 1952–1955 |
Succeeded by Sir George Erskine |