Ian Gleeson

Ian Rimbault Gleeson SSA SD SM
Born	15 August 1934
Allegiance	South Africa
Service/branch	South African Army
Years of service	–1990
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands held	Chief of the Defence Force Staff Chief of Staff Operations Chief of Army Staff Operations GOC 101 Task Force 2 South African Infantry Battalion
Battles/wars	Battle of Cassinga
Awards	Star of South Africa (SSA) Southern Cross Decoration (SD) Southern Cross Medal (SM)
Other work	Author of the "Unknown Force"

Lieutenant General Ian Rimbault Gleeson SSA SD SM (born 1934)^[1] is a retired South African Army officer who served as Chief of the Defence Staff.

He graduated from the Military Academy after attending Christian Brothers College in Pretoria and joined the Army in 1954.^[2][3] He became Officer Commanding 2 South African Infantry Battalion in 1971 and in 1972 OC Walvis Bay military base,^[1] and in July 1976 became GOC 101 Task Force. He then became Chief of Army Staff Operations on 15 January 1978^[1] before taking on the recreated post of Chief of Defence Force Staff.^[3]

He retired in February 1990.^[4]

Awards and Decorations

General Gleeson has been awarded the following:

• Star of South Africa (SSA)

• Southern Cross Decoration (SD)

• Southern Cross Medal (SM)

• Pro Patria Medal

• Good Service Medal, Gold (30 Years)

• Good Service Medal, Silver (20 Years)

• Permanent Force Good Service Medal

References

1. Nöthling, C.J.; Meyers, E.M. (1982). "Leaders through the years (1912-1982)". Scientaria Militaria 12 (2): 93.
2. Visser, Deon (2009). "CIVILIAN-MILITARY INTERACTION ON THE MATIE CAMPUS: THE ‘BATTLE OF WILGENHOF’, 1957". Scientia Militaria, South African Journal of Military Studies 37 (2): 82.
3. "The SADF: Supplement to the Financial Mail" (PDF). Financial Mail: 14. July 1987.
4. "Meiring kry bevel van leër" [Meiring gets command of Army]. Die Burger (in Afrikaans). 1 March 1990. Retrieved 24 October 2014.