Edward Backhouse (British Army officer)
Edward Backhouse | |
---|---|
Born | 7 February 1895 Bosmere, Ipswich, Suffolk, England |
Died | 20 November 1973 (aged 78) Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, England |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1914–1948 |
Rank | Brigadier |
Service number | 8321 |
Unit | Suffolk Regiment |
Commands held | 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment 54th Infantry Brigade |
Battles/wars | World War I World War II |
Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire Mentioned in despatches |
Other work | Colonel of the Suffolk Regiment |
Early life
Backhouse was born in
Military career
Upon
Following his release after the end of the war, Backhouse returned to service with the Suffolk Regiment. Between 1927 and 1928 he attended the Staff College, Camberley, and from 1929 to 1932 he was a staff captain in Southern Command. He then served as a brigade major of the 10th Infantry Brigade before becoming Officer commanding (OC), Depot Suffolk Regiment in 1934. Between 1936 and 1938 Backhouse held various positions at the War Office, and from 1938 to 1939 he was Commanding officer (CO) of the 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment.[1]
Shortly before the outbreak of the
After training in the United Kingdom for just over two years, the brigade, along with the rest of the 18th Division, was deployed to British Malaya. Backhouse led the 54th Brigade during the fall of Singapore and following the British garrison's surrender was taken as a POW, for the second time in his military career, this time by the Japanese. He was released from capture at the end of the war and in 1946 he was mentioned in dispatches for his leadership during the fall of Singapore in 1942. On 10 February 1948 Backhouse retired from the regular army with the honorary rank of brigadier.[1]
From 1947 to 1957 Backhouse served as the honorary colonel of the Suffolk Regiment, and in 1949 he was made a
Personal life
He married Eileen Noël Newby Jenks in Colchester in 1920; together they had one son, Colin Backhouse, and one daughter, June Backhouse.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "British Army officer histories". Unit Histories. Retrieved 30 October 2017.
- ^ "No. 28806". The London Gazette. 24 February 1914. p. 1550.
- ^ "No. 43746". The London Gazette. 24 August 1965. p. 8077.
- ^ "No. 42231". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 December 1960. p. 8897.