Thomas Acton (British Army officer)

Major-General Thomas Heward Acton, CBE (12 June 1917 – 22 January 1977) was a British Army officer.

Thomas Acton
Born(1917-06-12)12 June 1917
Died22 January 1977(1977-01-22) (aged 59)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1938−1971
RankMajor-General
Service number71213
UnitRifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own)
Commands held126th Infantry Brigade
South West District
Battles/warsWorld War II
The Troubles
AwardsCommander of the Order of the British Empire

Military career edit

Acton was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) in the late 1930s[1] and was mentioned in dispatches for his service during the Second World War.[2] After the war, he became commander of 126th Infantry Brigade in October 1963, General Officer Commanding South West District in February 1967 and then Commander of Land Forces in Northern Ireland in February 1970 during the Troubles.[3] He went on to be Chief of Staff at HQ Northern Ireland in July 1970 before retiring in May 1971.[3]

He was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 1963 Birthday Honours.[4]

References edit

  1. ^ "No. 34545". The London Gazette. 26 August 1938. p. 5476.
  2. ^ "No. 37704". The London Gazette (Supplement). 27 August 1946. p. 4343.
  3. ^ a b "Army Commands" (PDF). Retrieved 4 June 2020.
  4. ^ "No. 37704". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1963. p. 4343.
Military offices
Preceded by GOC South West District
1967–1970
Succeeded by