Henry Finnis
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox military person
| name = Sir Henry Finnis
| image =
| caption =
| birth_date =21 April 1890
| death_date =31 May 1945 (aged 55)
| placeofburial_label =
| placeofburial =Rawalpindi War Cemetery
| birth_place = Bengal Presidency. India
| death_place = Rawalpindi, Bengal Presidency, India
| placeofburial_coordinates =
| nickname =
| allegiance ={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} United Kingdom
| branch =Indian Army
| serviceyears =1909−1945
| rank =General
| unit =
| commands =3rd Battalion, 12th Frontier Force Regiment
Khojak Brigade
North Western Army
| battles =World War I
World War II
|awards =Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of the Star of India
Military Cross
| relations =
| laterwork =
}}
General Sir Henry Finnis {{postnominals|country=GBR|KCB|CSI|MC}} (21 April 1890 – 31 May 1945) was a British officer in the Indian Army.
Military career
Born the son of Colonel Henry Finnis, CSI CBE RE, Finnis was educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.Kelly's Handbook to the Titled, Landed and Official Classes 1944 He was commissioned on the unattached list for the Indian Army on 8 September 1909.{{London Gazette|issue=28286|page=6750|date=7 September 1909}} He was appointed to the Indian Army's 72nd Punjabis on 12 November 1910;Indian Army List Supplement 1941 however he transferred to the 53rd Sikhs 22 February 1911.Indian Army List January 1919
During World War I, he served in Egypt from 17 November 1914 to 17 July 1915, Aden from 18 July 1915 to 9 September 1915, Egypt from 10 September 1915 to 1 December 1915 and Mesopotamia from 2 December 1915 to 6 May 1916. During this time, he was wounded, was mentioned in dispatches twice, and was awarded the Military Cross.
From November 1916 to May 1919, he was an instructor at the Wellington Cadet College in India. This was followed by a posting as brigade major from May to October 1919 during the Afghanistan and North West Frontier Operations. He transferred to the 52nd Sikhs (later 2nd Battalion of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment) in 1921. He also saw service during the Waziristan operations between 1921 and 1924, including being a General Staff Officer 2nd grade from 17 March 1922 to 1 June 1923.
He became commanding officer of the 3rd Royal Battalion of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment in November 1934.Indian Army List January 1935[http://www.generals.dk/general/Finnis/Sir_Henry/Great_Britain.html Generals.dk] He went on to be instructor at Senior Officers' School in July 1936Indian Army List October 1936 and commander of the Khojak Brigade in May 1938.Indian Army List January 1939
He served in World War II as Military-Secretary at Army Headquarters, India from April 1940 and as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief North Western Army from 1943. He died in May 1945, aged 55, and was buried at Rawalpindi War Cemetery in Pakistan.[http://twgpp.org/information.php?id=3178866 The War Graves Photographic Project]{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=103}}
Family
He married Cecile Violet D'Oyly O'Malley, only daughter of Colonel A. W. D'Oyly O'Malley, CB in 1917.
References
{{reflist|30em}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart| title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War| isbn=1844150496| year=2005| location=Barnesley| publisher=Pen & Sword}}
External links
- [https://generals.dk/general/Finnis/Henry/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]
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{{s-mil}}
{{s-bef|before=Sir Edward Quinan}}
{{s-ttl|title=GOC-in-C, North Western Army, India|years=1943 – 1945}}
{{s-aft|after=Cecil Toovey}}
{{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Finnis, Henry}}
Category:British Indian Army generals
Category:Indian Army personnel killed in World War II
Category:Indian Army generals of World War II
Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India
Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath
Category:Recipients of the Military Cross
Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I