Stuart Greeves

Major-General Sir Stuart Greeves KBE CB DSO and Bar MC and Bar (1897–1989) was a British Indian Army officer.

Born in 1897, Stuart Greeves was educated at Northampton School.

When war broke out in September 1914, Sam Greeves joined 7th Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment as a volunteer.

In 1915, he was deployed to the Western Front where for the next three years he took part in active combat operations with the Northamptonshire Regiment and the Lancashire Fusiliers in France and Belgium. In 1918, he was promoted to Lieutenant, and after the Armistice he opted to join the British Indian Army.

On promotion to Captain in 1922, he served on the North West Frontier. In 1932 he was appointed Brigade Major of the Wana Brigade, North West Frontier, India, 1932-1936:

• Major, Royal Indian Army Service Corps, 1935;
• General Staff Officer Grade 2, Rawalpindi District, 1939;
• General Staff Officer Grade 1, India, 1941;
• Lieutenant Colonel, 1943;

served in Burma, 1943–1945;

• Brigadier (Temp) Burma 1943,
• Colonel 1946,
• Major General, 1947,
• Deputy Adjutant-General India,
• retired, 1957,
• died in 1989.

Citation for Distinguished Service Order

Brigadier (Temporary) Stuart Greeves CBE, DSO, MC

Brigadier Greeves commanded 80th Indian Infantry Brigade of 20th Indian Division. After the capture of Monyra on 22 January 1945, his Brigade was ordered to clear the large area of the Irrawaddy and Chidwin confluence up to the Habet River and deceive the enemy into believing that a crossing was to take place in that area. This difficult task he planned and carried out most admirable and achieved his both his objects by hard fighting and tireless manoeuvre, during which he himself was always right forward, enthusing his troops and setting a wonderful example of fearlessness and dash, at all times completely regardless of his own safety, and quite indifferent to the fire of the enemy artillery, automatics and snipers to which he was subjected in each of the many actions fought by his Brigade.

Later, after a small bridgehead had been established across the Irrawaddy, he disengaged his Brigade with great skill and speed, and crossed over into the bridgehead; and thanks to fine planning, determination and speed, inflicted defeat after defeat on the Japanese, not only in close battle in the bridgehead area itself, but in a lightning sweep which carried his Brigade in four days over 35 miles of difficult country through the enemy’s artillery area, completely disorganizing it and various units of the 31st and 53rd Japanese Divisions to a position to threaten seriously the main Mandalay – Meiktila Road near Kyaukse. His troops killed a great number of the enemy during this drive, destroyed many dumps of ammunition, petrol and supplies, and captured no less than eleven guns most of whose crews fought them to the last. As usual, Brigadier Greeves was in the forefront of all the actions fought. He has throughout shown all the qualities of a great and fearless leader, and has carried out with his Brigade in one month the many difficult tasks given to him in such a brilliant way that he is most thoroughly deserving of the immediate award of a Bar to the Distinguished Service Order.

References