Maj Gen Harry Grimshaw: Maj Gen Ewing Henry Wrigley "Harry" Grimshaw, who has died aged 96, was one of the most experienced British soldiers of his generation.
During the second World War, he served at El Alamein and Kohima, in both places winning medals for courage and leadership. During his post-war career he won awards for bravery in Malaya and east Africa.
At the age of 33, Grimshaw was one of the youngest brigade commanders, promoted by Gen Sir William Slim during the final campaign to defeat the Japanese in Burma.
He commanded his regiment, the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, when they received the freedom of Nairobi, and was the regiment's last colonel. Appointed chief of staff Northern Ireland in 1954, he served in his native country until events took him to Suez in 1956.
Harry Grimshaw was born in 1911 in India, where his father was serving with the first Punjab regiment. His father, Ewing Wrigley Grimshaw, who had been in the Dublin fusiliers, was the son of Dr TW Grimshaw, registrar general of Ireland. His mother, Isabella Geraldine (née Nangle), was from a Co Meath family with strong military connections. The family home was at Carrickmines, Co Dublin.
Educated at Manor School, Fermoy, Co Cork, Brighton College and Sandhurst, he was commissioned into his father's regiment in 1931. He saw service in the tribal territories of the northwest frontier and Chitral, along the Russian-Afghan border with India and later in Bengal.
On the outbreak of war in 1939, Grimshaw rejoined his battalion as adjutant. In Libya he served under field marshal Sir Claude Auchinleck, who had been adjutant to his father when he was killed in Mesopotamia in 1916.
Grimshaw's battalion joined the fourth Indian division and the battles for the western desert. After the withdrawal from Benghazi to Gezala in 1941, his battalion transferred to the 161 Indian infantry (mechanised) brigade, who were positioned in the front line at El Alamein from July to October 1942 with the fourth and fifth Indian divisions.
After the final battle of El Alamein, Grimshaw was posted back to his old brigade as brigade major. He went with them to Burma as part of the fifth Indian division and took part in the first successful operations against the Japanese in the Arakan.
The conduct of the battalion throughout was described as "beyond all praise" and he was awarded a distinguished service order (DSO). A modest man, he attributed the success to the adaptability and loyal commitment of his Indian troops.
Grimshaw was subsequently sent to the 19th Indian division then crossing the Irrawaddy north of Mandalay. Recalled by Slim to the fifth Indian division, he was promoted in the field to brigadier and returned to his old 161 brigade for the advance to Rangoon after which followed the defeat of the Japanese in Burma.
After attending the surrender ceremony in Singapore, he and his brigade were sent to Java when trouble broke out at Sourabaya. He was sent back to India in 1946 and the following year returned to Ireland, after almost nine years of continuous service overseas.
On the independence of India, Grimshaw was transferred to the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, then serving in Hong Kong. In 1948 he went with the Inniskillings to Malaya at the beginning of the communist insurrection, returning there at the height of the conflict in 1951.
There followed postings to the canal zone, Kenya and Cyprus. He led operations to suppress the Mau Mau uprising, for which he was awarded an OBE for gallantry. Grimshaw later led the search in the Limassol area for the National Organisation of Cypriot Fighters (Eoka) leader, Gen George Grivas. In between he was awarded a CBE for his role in the Suez expedition.
Twenty-five years of frontline service ended with his appointment as deputy director of movements at the UK war office. He then went to the Imperial Defence College (now the Royal College of Defence Studies) in London. In 1962 he took command of the 44th division and southeast district and was appointed deputy constable of Dover castle. He was awarded a CB in 1965.
Grimshaw retired from regular service in 1966, and when the Irish regiments amalgamated in 1968 he became deputy colonel of the Royal Irish Rangers. He retired in 1973.
Having learned to fish on the Blackwater river, in later life he indulged his passion for fishing and big game hunting in the Himalayas. He continued to enjoy fishing on Rathlin Island and in Co Galway well into old age.
In 1943, Grimshaw married Hilda, daughter of Dr Robert Allison of Coleraine. They had a daughter and two sons. His wife died in 1993 and his eldest son, Col Ewing Grimshaw, died in 1996. His daughter Hilary and son Roly survive him.
EHW "Harry" Grimshaw: born June 30th, 1911; died November 1st, 2007