Lancelot Perowne

Who was Lancelot Perowne?

Major-General Lancelot Edgar Connop Mervyn Perowne CBE was a British Army officer who commanded 17th Gurkha Division.

The son of John Thomas Woolrych Perowne, who married Edith Marione Browne in 1896, he was educated at Wellington College and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Perowne was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1923. He served in World War II with the Commandos in France and then as Commander of 69th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from 1942, 37th Anti-Aircraft Brigade from 1943 and 23rd Infantry Brigade in India and Burma from later in 1943. As Commander of 23rd Brigade he fought a successful campaign in the Naga hills. He was present at the reoccupation of Malaya in 1945.

After the War he became Commander of the Penang Sub-Area and of 74th Indian Infantry Brigade in Malaya. He was appointed Commander of 72nd Indian Infantry Brigade in 1946, Commandant of the School of Combined Operations in 1947 and Commander of 151st Northumberland and Durham Light Infantry Brigade in 1949. He went on to be Commander of the British Military Mission to Greece in 1951 and General Officer Commanding the South Malaya District and 17th Gurkha Division and Major General commanding the Brigade of Gurkhas in 1952 before he retired in 1955.