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Sir Lewis Macclesfield Heath
Nickname 'Piggy'
Born 1885
Died 1954 (aged 68–69) (aged 68 or 69)
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Flag of Imperial India British Indian Army
Years of service 1906 – 1946
Rank Lieutenant-General
Commands held Wana Brigade
5th Indian Division
III Indian Corps
Battles/wars

World War I
World War II

Awards Knight Commander of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Indian Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Military Cross

Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis Macclesfield Heath, KBE, CB, CIE, DSO, MC (1885–1954) was an officer in the British Army and the Indian Army during the pre-World War I years, World War I, the interwar years, and World War II.

Biography[]

Nicknamed "Piggy", Heath achieved some success as GOC 5th Indian Division during the East African Campaign. He was appointed to command III Indian Corps on 11 April 1941 as part of the Malaya Command which then participated in the Battle of Malaya. He was unable to stop the Japanese advance and had conflicting opinions on how to conduct the campaign with his commanding officer, Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival. He was captured during the Battle of Singapore.

Service biography[]

  • Joined Indian Army 1906
  • King's African Rifles (1909–1913)
  • World War I (1914–1918)
  • Afghanistan 1919
  • East Persia (1919–1921)
  • 10/14 Punjab Regiment 1928
  • Commander, 1 Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment (1929–1933)
  • North West Frontier, India 1930
  • North West Frontier, India 1932
  • Instructor, Senior Officers School, Belgaum, India (1934–1936)
  • Commander, Wana Brigade (1936–1939)
  • North West Frontier 1937
  • Commander, Deccan District 1939
  • World War II (1939–1945)
  • Commander, Indian 5th Infantry Division (1939–1941)
  • Commander, Indian III Corps, Malaya (1941–1942)
  • Prisoner of war, Singapore, Formosa, and Manchukuo (Manchuria) (1942–1945)
  • Retired 1946

References[]

  • Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War, Nick Smart. ISBN 1-84415-049-6.

External links[]

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The original article can be found at Lewis Heath and the edit history here.