Ian Harris (British Army officer)

Sir Ian Harris
Birth name	Sir Ian Cecil Harris
Born	7 July 1910 Golden, County Tipperary, Ireland
Died	12 March 1999 (aged 88) Dublin, Republic of Ireland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant General
Service number	47584
Commands	2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles 6th Bn Royal Ulster Rifles 1st Federal Infantry Brigade in Malaya Singapore Base District Northern Ireland
Battles / wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant General Sir Ian Cecil 'Tommy' Harris KBE CB DSO (7 July 1910 – 12 March 1999) was an Irish British Army General who reached high office in the 1960s.

Military career

Ian Harris was commissioned into the Royal Ulster Rifles in 1930.

He served in World War II initially on the North West Frontier of India but became Commanding Officer of 2nd Bn Royal Ulster Rifles in 1943.

After the War he became a General Staff Officer with 25th Indian Division and then 7th Division in Burma and Malaya before moving on to India and Pakistan. He was Assistant Quartermaster General at Scottish Command from 1949 to 1951 when he became Commanding Officer of 6th Bn Royal Ulster Rifles. He was appointed Chief of Staff in Northern Ireland in 1952 and then Commander of 1st Federal Infantry Brigade in Malaya in 1954. He was appointed Deputy Director of Staff Duties (Army) at the War Office in 1957 and General Officer Commanding Singapore Base District in 1960 before becoming Chief of Staff for Contingencies Planning at the Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in Brussels in 1963.

He was General Officer Commanding Northern Ireland Command from 1966 until 1969 when he retired.

He was also Colonel of the Royal Ulster Rifles from 1962 to 1968 and of the Royal Irish Rangers from 1968 to 1972. He was the first Colonel of the latter Regiment.