Ernest Down

Sir Ernest Down
Born	1902
Died	1980 (aged 78)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Lieutenant-General
Unit	Dorset Regiment
Commands held	2nd Parachute Brigade 1st Airborne Division 9th Indian Airborne Division 44th Indian Airborne Division 2nd Indian Airborne Division 4th Infantry Division British Troops in Greece 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division Southern Command
Battles/wars	World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath

Lieutenant-General Sir Ernest Edward Down KBE CB (1902–1980) was a senior officer of the British Army, who saw active service during World War II.

Ernest Down was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Dorset Regiment in February 1923.

He served in the Second World War, being appointed Commander of the 2nd Parachute Brigade, then serving in North Africa in 1942. He went on to be General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Airborne Division, taking over from Major-General George F. Hopkinson who had been killed in action, in September 1943, in the early stages of the Allied invasion of Italy. He was then GOC of 9th Indian Airborne Division which itself became the 44th Indian Airborne Division in 1944 and GOC of 2nd Indian Airborne Division in 1945.

After the War he was appointed GOC of 4th Infantry Division in Greece before becoming GOC of all British Troops in Greece. Then in 1948 he became head of the British Military Mission to Greece. Returning to the United Kingdom he was appointed District Officer Commanding Mid-West District and GOC 53rd (Welsh) Infantry Division in 1950 and GOC-in Chief of Southern Command in 1952, a post from which he retired in 1955.