Brigadier Ronald Gervase Mountain (16 January 1897 – 1983) was an officer in the British Indian Army during

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

World War II 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 opposing ...

Biography

Mountain was born in

Caistor Caistor is a town and civil parish in the West Lindsey district of Lincolnshire, England. As its name implies, it was originally a Roman castrum or fortress. It lies at the north-west edge of the Lincolnshire Wolds, on the Viking Way, an ...

, Lincolnshire on 16 January 1897. He attended Quetta Cadet College in India and was commissioned a Second Lieutenant on the Unattached List for the Indian Army on 15 November 1915. He was appointed to the Indian Army 17 November 1915. He was initially posted to the 127th Queen Mary's Own Baluch Light Infantry but by 1916 he was attached to 2nd battalion 124th Duchess of Connaught's Own Baluchistan Infantry. He was promoted Lieutenant 15 November 1916. He served in Mesopotamia between 28 August 1916 and 21 May 1918 and won the

Military Cross The Military Cross (MC) is the third-level (second-level pre-1993) military decoration awarded to officers and (since 1993) other ranks of the British Armed Forces, and formerly awarded to officers of other Commonwealth countries. The MC ...

. He was promoted Acting Captain 11 September to 17 October 1917 and 28 November 1917 to 12 January 1918. He was then attached to 3rd battalion, 153rd Rifles in Palestine and served there from 5 June to 21 October 1918. He was posted to the 130th King George's Own Baluchis on 9 March 1919, and promoted Captain 15 November 1919. After 1922 the 130th King George's Own Baluchis were renamed the 5th battalion, 10th Baluch regiment. He saw much action on the North West Frontier, firstly in Waziristan 1921–24, then the North West Frontier operations of 1930. He was appointed a Company Commander on 30 August 1931 and promoted Major 15 November 1933. He saw action during the Mohmand operations of 1933 and was Mentioned in Despatches and awarded the DSO. He was again in action during the North West Frontier operations of 1936–37. He was promoted Lieut-Colonel and commanding officer of the 10th battalion, 10th Baluch regiment 17 July 1938, a position he held until January 1941. He was promoted Acting Brigadier 1 February 1941 and appointed to command the 25th Indian Brigade of the newly raised

Indian 10th Infantry Division The 10th Indian Infantry Division was a war formed infantry division of the Indian Army during World War II. In four years, the division travelled over from Tehran to Trieste, fought three small wars, and fought two great campaigns: the ...

As part of

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 ...

, he commanded the brigade attached to

during the

Anglo-Iraqi War The Anglo-Iraqi War was a British-led Allied military campaign during the Second World War against the Kingdom of Iraq under Rashid Gaylani, who had seized power in the 1941 Iraqi coup d'état, with assistance from Germany and Italy. The ca ...

and the Syria-Lebanon campaign. As part of Paiforce, he commanded the 25th Indian Brigade attached to the Indian 8th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia. When the

was moved to North Africa in June 1942 he commanded the 25th Indian Brigade stationed at Gambut, halfway between Halfaya and Tobruk. They then retreated to Mersa Matruh where on 26 June they turned to fight. They were bypassed by the enemy and on 28 June the division was ordered to break out. Soon after Brigadier Mountain was taken prisoner of war. He was first interned in Italy then in 1943 was transferred to Germany. He was promoted Colonel on 1 June 1945 with seniority from 17 July 1941. He was Mentioned in Despatches in recognition of gallant and distinguished services as a Prisoner of War in January 1946. He retired a Colonel and honorary Brigadier on 6 July 1947.London Gazette 2 September 1947

Command history

* 1938–1941: Commanding Officer, 10th battalion, 10th Baluch regiment * 1941–1942: Commanding Officer, 25th Indian Brigade

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mountain, Ronald Gervase 1897 births 1983 deaths Indian Army personnel of World War II British Indian Army officers People from Caistor Baloch Regiment officers

Biography

Command history

See also

References