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Military Wiki
Edward Colville
Born 1 September 1905
Died 10 January 1982
Place of birth St George Hanover Square, London
Place of death Stoughton, West Sussex
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Rank Major-General
Commands held 2nd Bn, Gordon Highlanders
227th Infantry Brigade
128th Infantry Brigade
51st (Highland) Division
Battles/wars Second World War
Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Bar

Major-General Edward Charles Colville CB DSO* DL (1 September 1905 – 10 January 1982) was a senior British Army officer.

Military career[]

Born the son of Admiral Sir Stanley Colville and Adelaide Jane Meade, Colville was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders on 3 September 1925.[1] He became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders in August 1943 and commander of 227th Infantry Brigade in North West Europe in July 1944 during the Second World War.[2] He commanded the brigade during Operation Plunder, the crossing of the Rhine, opposite Xanten in March 1945.[3]

After the war he became Defence adviser in Canada in December 1946, commander of 128th Infantry Brigade in November 1949 and Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at British Army of the Rhine in June 1952.[4] He went on to be Chief of Staff at Headquarters Far East Land Forces in June 1954 and General Officer Commanding 51st (Highland) Division in March 1956 before retiring in March 1959.[4]

In retirement he served as a Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex.[2]

Family[]

In 1934 he married Barbara Joan Denny; they had two daughters.[2]

References[]

Sources[]

  • Saunders, Tim (2006), Operation Plunder: Rhine Crossing: The British and Canadian Operations, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, ISBN 1-84415-221-9.
Military offices
Preceded by
James Scott-Elliot
GOC 51st (Highland) Division
1956–1959
Succeeded by
Frederick Graham
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