Eastern Command (India)

Eastern Command
Eastern Command's insignia today
Active	1920 - Present
Branch	Indian Army
Type	Command
Garrison/HQ	Fort William

The Eastern Command of the Indian Army is one of the seven operational commands of the army. It is headquartered in Fort William in the city of Kolkata in the state of West Bengal. Lt Gen Bikram Singh is the present commander.

History

The Presidency armies were abolished with effect from 1 April 1895 when the three Presidency armies became the Indian Army. The Indian Army was divided into four Commands (Bengal Command, Bombay Command, Madras Command and Punjab Command) each under a lieutenant general.

In 1908, the four commands were merged into two Armies (Northern Army and Southern Army): this system persisted until 1920 when the arrangement reverted to four commands again (Eastern Command, Northern Command, Southern Command and Western Command).

Commanders prior to Independence

Commanders included:
General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Army

• Nov 1920 - Feb 1924 General Sir Havelock Hudson

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command

• Feb 1924 - Apr 1928 General Sir George Barrow
• Apr 1928 - Apr 1932 General Sir John Shea
• Apr 1932 - Apr 1936 General Sir Norman MacMullen
• Apr 1936 - Apr 1940 General Sir Douglas Baird

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Army

• Apr 1940 - Jul 1942 Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Broad
• Jul 1942 - May 1943 Lieutenant-General Noel Irwin
• May 1943 - Oct 1943 General Sir George Giffard

General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command

• Oct 1943 - Dec 1944 General Sir Mosley Mayne
• Jan 1945 - Oct 1945 General Sir Richard O'Connor
• Oct 1945 - Jan 1946 Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Smith
• Jan 1946 - 1947 Lieutenant-General Sir Francis Tuker

Further reading

• Richard A. Renaldi and Ravi Rikhe, 'Indian Army Order of Battle,' Orbat.com for Tiger Lily Books: A division of General Data LLC, ISBN 978-0-9820541-7-8, 2011.