Henry Finnis
General Sir Henry Finnis KCB CSI MC (21 April 1890 – 31 May 1945) was a British officer in the Indian Army.
Sir Henry Finnis | |
|---|---|
| Born | 21 April 1890 Bengal Presidency. India |
| Died | 31 May 1945 Rawalpindi, Bengal Presidency, India |
| Buried | Rawalpindi War Cemetery |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ | Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1909 - 1945 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 3rd Bn 12th Frontier Force Regiment Khojak Brigade North Western Army |
| Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of the Star of India Military Cross |
Military career
Born the son of Colonel Henry Finnis, CSI CBE RE, Finnis was educated at Wellinton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1] He was commissioned on the unattached list for the Indian Army on 8 September 1909.[2] He was appointed to the Indian Army's 72nd Punjabis on 12 November 1910;[3] however he transferred to the 53rd Sikhs 22 February 1911.[4]
During World War I, he served in Egypt from 17 November 1914 to 17 July 1915, Aden from 18 July 1915 to 9 September 1915, Egypt from 10 September 1915 to 1 December 1915 and Mesopotamia from 2 December 1915 to 6 May 1916. During this time, he was wounded, was mentioned in dispatches twice, and was awarded the Military Cross.[3]
From November 1916 to May 1919, he was an instructor at the Wellington Cadet College in India. This was followed by a posting as brigade major from May to October 1919 during the Afghanistan and North West Frontier Operations.[3] He transferred to the 52nd Sikhs (later 2nd Battalion of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment) in 1921. He also saw service during the Waziristan operations between 1921–24, including being a General Staff Officer 2nd grade from 17 March 1922 to 1 June 1923.[3]
He became commanding officer of the 3rd Royal Battalion of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment in November 1934.[5][6] He went on to be instructor at Senior Officers' School in July 1936[7] and commander of the Khojak Brigade in May 1938.[8]
He served in World War II as Military-Secretary at Army Headquarters, India from April 1940[3] and as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief North Western Army from 1943.[6] He died in May 1945, aged 55, and was buried at Rawalpindi War Cemetery in Pakistan.[9]
Family
He married Cecile Violet D'Oyly O'Malley, only daughter of Colonel A. W. D'Oyly O'Malley, CB in 1917.[1]
References
- Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes 1944
- "No. 28286". The London Gazette. 7 September 1909. p. 6750.
- Indian Army List Supplement 1941
- Indian Army List January 1919
- Indian Army List January 1935
- Generals.dk
- Indian Army List October 1936
- Indian Army List January 1939
- The War Graves Photographic Project
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir Edward Quinan |
GOC-in-C, North Western Army, India 1943 – 1945 |
Succeeded by Cecil Toovey |