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 of ...

Robert Burton Leslie (7 October 1891 – 12 July 1976) was the 8th

Commander of the Ceylon Defence Force Commander of the Ceylon Defence Force was the title of the head of the Ceylon Defence Force. The post was created in 1888, replacing the position of General Officer Commanding, Ceylon, and existed until 1949. List of Commanders See also *Sri Lank ...

. He was appointed on 3 March 1935 until 12 May 1937. He was succeeded by

Gordon Thorne Gordon Calthrop Thorne (3 March 1897 – 2 March 1942) was an English first-class cricketer and British Army officer. Serving for most of his military career with the Royal Norfolk Regiment, Thorne saw action in the First World War from 1916 t ...

. He served in the

Lincolnshire Regiment The Royal Lincolnshire Regiment was a line infantry regiment of the British Army raised on 20 June 1685 as the Earl of Bath's Regiment for its first Colonel, John Granville, 1st Earl of Bath. In 1751, it was numbered like most other Army regiments ...

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and was awarded an MC in the

1916 Birthday Honours The 1916 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, and were ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Lesley, Robert Burton British Army personnel of World War I Commanders of the Ceylon Defence Force Recipients of the Military Cross Royal Lincolnshire Regiment officers 1891 births 1976 deaths Military personnel from Cork (city) British Army brigadiers of World War II British expatriates in British Ceylon 20th-century Irish military personnel