*** Welcome to piglix ***

Arthur Ernest Percival

Arthur Ernest Percival
Arthur Percival.jpg
Percival, pictured here as GOC Malaya Command, December 1941.
Born (1887-12-26)26 December 1887
Aspenden, Hertfordshire, England
Died 31 January 1966(1966-01-31) (aged 78)
Westminster, London, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1914–1946
Rank Lieutenant-General
Unit Essex Regiment
Cheshire Regiment
Commands held Malaya Command (1941–42)
44th (Home Counties) Infantry Division (1940–41)
43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division (1940)
2nd Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (1932–34)
7th (Service) Battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment (1918)
Battles/wars

First World War

Russian Civil War

Anglo-Irish War
Second World War

Awards Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross
Mentioned in Despatches (3)
Croix de guerre (France)

First World War

Russian Civil War

Anglo-Irish War
Second World War

Lieutenant-General Arthur Ernest Percival, CB, DSO & Bar, OBE, MC, OStJ, DL (26 December 1887 – 31 January 1966) was a senior British Army officer. He saw service in the First World War and built a successful military career during the interwar period but is most noted for his defeat in the Second World War, when he commanded British Commonwealth forces during the Japanese Malayan Campaign and the subsequent Battle of Singapore.

Percival's surrender to the invading Imperial Japanese Army force, the largest capitulation in British military history, undermined Britain's prestige as an imperial power in East Asia. His defenders, such as Sir John Smyth, have argued that under-funding of Malaya's defences and the inexperienced, under-equipped nature of the Commonwealth army, not Percival's leadership, were ultimately to blame.


...
Wikipedia

...