Major-General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Alan Bruce Blaxland, (17 October 1892 – 2 September 1963) was a senior

British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which cou ...

officer during the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposi ...

Early life and First World War

Born on 17 October 1892, Blaxland was commissioned onto the Unattached List for the Indian Army on 5 August 1914 (the day after Britain's entry into the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...

), with seniority of 21 January 1913, from being a university candidate. He was attached to the 1st Battalion,

Sherwood Foresters The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) was a line infantry regiment of the British Army in existence for just under 90 years, from 1881 to 1970. In 1970, the regiment was amalgamated with the Worcestershire Regiment to ...

in 1914. He later joined the Indian Army. He was a captain when he married Lilian Ann Lucy in India 19 August 1919.

Second World War

Remaining in the army between the wars, he served in the

. As an

acting Acting is an activity in which a story is told by means of its enactment by an actor or actress who adopts a character—in theatre, television, film, radio, or any other medium that makes use of the mimetic mode. Acting involves a broad r ...

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge o ...

he was an Area Commander in the Sudan from 16 January to 15 March 1941.Half Yearly Army List January 1946 He was appointed an acting

brigadier Brigadier is a military rank, the seniority of which depends on the country. In some countries, it is a senior rank above colonel, equivalent to a brigadier general or commodore, typically commanding a brigade of several thousand soldiers. I ...

on 16 March 1941 when he was appointed a brigade commander, an appointment he held until 21 July 1942. As part of Paiforce (formerly

Iraqforce Iraqforce was a British and Commonwealth formation that came together in the Kingdom of Iraq. The formation fought in the Middle East during World War II. Background During World War I, the British Army defeated the Ottoman Army in the Middle Eas ...

), Blaxland commanded the

27th Indian Infantry Brigade The 27th Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in March 1941, at Secundarabad in India and assigned to the 6th Indian Infantry Division. The brigade was used as Line of Co ...

, part of the

6th Indian Infantry Division The 6th Infantry Division was an infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II, created on 1 March 1941 in Secunderabad. On 11 September 1941 it was shipped to the Iraq and later Iran. During 1942 and 1943 it was part of the Tenth Ar ...

, during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. On 22 July 1942, he became General Officer Commanding of the 10th Indian Infantry Division, then serving in the

Middle East The Middle East ( ar, الشرق الأوسط, ISO 233: ) is a geopolitical region commonly encompassing Arabia (including the Arabian Peninsula and Bahrain), Asia Minor (Asian part of Turkey except Hatay Province), East Thrace (Europ ...

until 28 August 1942. He was promoted to an acting

lieutenant general Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

on 29 August 1942 to command XXV Indian Corps but reverted to

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of ...

in August 1943 for his next appointment in India as District Officer Commanding Lahore District. After the war he was the chairman of the Indian National Army court-martials held at the Red Fort at Delhi between November 1945 and May 1946. In recognition of his services, Blaxland was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1945, and awarded the Order of the Cloud and Banner with Special Cravat by China in 1947. He retired as a colonel and honorary major general on 22 May 1947.London Gazette 3 June 1947

References

Bibliography

External links

Generals of World War II
, - {{DEFAULTSORT:Blaxland, Alan Bruce 1892 births 1963 deaths British Army personnel of World War I Companions of the Order of the Bath Indian Army generals of World War II Indian Army personnel of World War I Officers of the Order of the British Empire Sherwood Foresters officers Military personnel from Shropshire British Indian Army generals