William Bain Thomas
| William Thomas | |
|---|---|
| Born | 11 May 1898 |
| Died | 22 November 1967 (aged 69) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1916–1952 |
| Rank | Brigadier |
| Commands held |
1st Battalion, Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) 49th Indian Infantry Brigade Army in India Tactical School Polish Resettlement Corps |
| Battles/wars |
First World War 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine Second World War |
| Awards | Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Distinguished Service Order |
Brigadier William Bain Thomas CBE DSO (11 May 1898 – 22 November 1967) was a British Army officer who commanded the Polish Resettlement Corps after the Second World War.
Thomas was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and commissioned into the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on 7 April 1916.[1] He served on the Western Front from March 1917 until he was wounded in March 1918. Thomas was posted to India with the 2nd Battalion of the regiment, where he saw action in Kurdistan in 1923 and served as Adjutant, Auxiliary Force India between 1927 and 1930. Thomas then had postings in Egypt and saw active service in the 1936–39 Arab revolt in Palestine.[2] He was promoted to major on 1 August 1938.
In 1940 Thomas was Second-in-Command, 1st Battalion, The Cameronians in India, before becoming Commanding Officer, 1st Battalion, The Cameronians between 1940 and 1942.[3] He saw extensive action during the Burma Campaign and in October 1942 became commander of the 49th Indian Infantry Brigade. In the same month he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership during the Battle of Yenangyaung.[4] Between May 1943 and December 1945, Thomas was Commanding Officer, Army in India Tactical School in Poona. He then returned to commanding the 1st Battlaion, Cameronians, in which capacity he accepted the surrender of the Japanese general, Senechi Tazaka, in Singapore on 15 December 1945.[5]
In 1946 Thomas served as commander of the North Malaya Sub-Area in British Malaya, before becoming the commander of the newly formed Polish Resettlement Corps until is disbandment in 1949. In June 1946 he was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire and he retired for the army in February 1952 with the rank of brigadier.[6]
References
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 29537. p. 3684. 6 April 1916. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ↑ 'Thomas, William Bain' in British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 2 July 2015
- ↑ 'Thomas, William Bain' in British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 2 July 2015
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 35763. p. 4688. 28 October 1942. Retrieved 2 July 2015.
- ↑ 'Thomas, William Bain' in British Army Officers 1939-1945 at unithistories.com, accessed 2 July 2015
- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 37598. p. 2768. 13 June 1946. Retrieved 2 July 2015.