| Sir Thomas Pearson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1 July 1914 |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Years of service | 1934 - 1974 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade 1st Bn Parachute Regiment 7th Bn Parachute Regiment 45th Parachute Brigade 16th Independent Parachute Brigade 1st Division Far East Land Forces Allied Forces Northern Europe |
| Battles/wars | World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Commander of the Order of the British Empire Distinguished Service Order |
General Sir Thomas (Cecil Hook) Pearson KCB CBE DSO (born 1 July 1914) was Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe.
Educated at Charterhouse School,[1] Pearson was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1934.[2]
Her served in World War II initially as a Staff Captain in the Middle East before becoming Commanding Officer of 2nd Bn Rifle Brigade in 1942.[2] He took part in the Battle of El Alamein, a turning-point in the War.[3]
In 1943 he became a General Staff Officer first Force Headquarters and then in the Middle East.[2] He was appointed Deputy Commander of 2nd Independent Parachute Brigade Group in 1944 and then Deputy Commander of 1st Airlanding Brigade in 1945.[2]
After the War he was made Commanding Officer of 1st Bn Parachute Regiment in 1946 and Commanding Officer of 7th Bn Parachute Regiment in 1947.[2]
He then became a General Staff Officer serving at the War Office, then at Malaya Headquarters and then at Headquarters Far East Land Forces.[2]
He became an Instructor at the Joint Services Staff College in 1953, Commander of 45th Parachute Brigade in 1955 and Commander 16th Independent Parachute Brigade in 1957.[2]
He was appointed Chief of Staff to the Director of Operations in Cyprus in 1960 and Head of the British Military Mission to the Soviet Zone of Germany in 1960.[2] He was made General Officer Commanding 1st Division in 1961 and Chief of Staff for Northern Army Group in 1963.[2] He became General Officer Commanding Far East Land Forces in 1967 and Military Secretary at the Ministry of Defence in 1969.[2] His final appointment was as Commander-in-Chief, Allied Forces Northern Europe in 1972; he retired in 1974.[2]
In June 2009 he was present at the unveiling of an updated display at the Royal Green Jackets Museum.[3]
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Alan Jolly |
General Officer Commanding the 1st Division 1961–1963 |
Succeeded by Miles Fitzalan-Howard |
| Preceded by Sir Michael Carver |
GOC Far East Land Forces 1967–1968 |
Succeeded by Sir Peter Hunt |
| Preceded by Sir Richard Goodwin |
Military Secretary 1969–1972 |
Succeeded by Sir John Sharp |
| Preceded by Sir Walter Walker |
Commander-in-Chief of Allied Forces Northern Europe 1972—1974 |
Succeeded by Sir John Sharpe |