Lewis Heath

Lieutenant-General Sir Lewis Macclesfield Heath, KBE, CB, CIE, DSO, MC (1885–1954) was an officer in the British Army and the Indian Army during the pre-World War I years, World War I, the interwar years, and World War II. Heath's nickname was "Piggy."

Having achieved some success as GOC 5th Indian Division during the East African Campaign, Heath was appointed to command III Indian Corps on April 11, 1941, as part of the Malaya Command which then participated in the Battle of Malaya. He was unable to stop the Japanese advance and had conflicting opinions on how to conduct the campaign with his commanding officer, Lieutenant-General Arthur Percival. He was captured during the Battle of Singapore.

Service biography

• Joined Indian Army 1906
• King's African Rifles (1909–1913)
• World War I (1914–1918)
• Afghanistan 1919
• East Persia (1919–1921)
• 10/14 Punjab Regiment 1928
• Commander, 1 Battalion 11th Sikh Regiment (1929–1933)
• North West Frontier, India 1930
• North West Frontier, India 1932
• Instructor, Senior Officers School, Belgaum, India (1934–1936)
• Commander, Wana Brigade (1936–1939)
• North West Frontier 1937
• Commander, Deccan District 1939
• World War II (1939–1945)
• Commander, Indian 5th Infantry Division (1939–1941)
• Commander, Indian III Corps, Malaya (1941–1942)
• Prisoner of war, Singapore, Formosa, and Manchukuo (Manchuria) (1942–1945)
• Retired 1946

References

• Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War, Nick Smart. ISBN 1-84415-049-6.

External links

• Unit Histories-Officers of the Indian Army