Battles/wars World War II Service/branch British Army Name Ian Harris Rank Lieutenant-general | Role British Army officer Allegiance United Kingdom Battles and wars World War II | |
Commands held 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles
6th Bn Royal Ulster Rifles
1st Federal Infantry Brigade in Malaya
Singapore Base District
Northern Ireland Died 1999, Dublin, Republic of Ireland Awards Order of the British Empire, Order of the Bath, Distinguished Service Order | ||
Lieutenant General Sir Ian Cecil 'Tommy' Harris KBE CB DSO (1910–1999) was a British Army General who reached high office in the 1960s.
Military career
Ian Harris was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1930.
He served in World War II initially on the North West Frontier of India but became Commanding Officer of 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in 1943.
After the War he became a General Staff Officer with 25th Indian Division and then 7th Division in Burma and Malaya before moving on to India and Pakistan. He was Assistant Quartermaster General at Scottish Command from 1949 to 1951 when he became Commanding Officer of 6th Bn Royal Ulster Rifles. He was appointed Chief of Staff in Northern Ireland in 1952 and then Commander of 1st Federal Infantry Brigade in Malaya in 1954. He was appointed Deputy Director of Staff Duties (Army) at the War Office in 1957 and General Officer Commanding Singapore Base District in 1960 before becoming Chief of Staff for Contingencies Planning at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Brussels in 1963.
He was General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland Command from 1966 until 1969 when he retired.
He was also Colonel of the Royal Ulster Rifles from 1962 to 1968 and of the Royal Irish Rangers from 1968 to 1972. He was the first Colonel of the latter Regiment.