Edward Colville

Born the son of Admiral Sir Stanley Colville and Adelaide Jane Meade, Colville was commissioned into the Gordon Highlanders on 3 September 1925.[1] He became commanding officer of the 2nd Battalion, the Gordon Highlanders in August 1943 and commander of 227th Infantry Brigade in North West Europe in July 1944 during the Second World War.[2] He commanded the brigade during Operation Plunder, the crossing of the Rhine, opposite Xanten in March 1945.[3]

After the war he became Defence adviser in Canada in December 1946, commander of 128th Infantry Brigade in November 1949 and Assistant Chief of Staff (Operations) at British Army of the Rhine in June 1952.[4] He went on to be Chief of Staff at Headquarters Far East Land Forces in June 1954 and General Officer Commanding 51st (Highland) Division in March 1956 before retiring in March 1959.[4]

In retirement he served as a Deputy Lieutenant of West Sussex.[2]

In 1934 he married Barbara Joan Denny; they had two daughters.[2]

• Saunders, Tim (2006), Operation Plunder: Rhine Crossing: The British and Canadian Operations, Barnsley: Pen & Sword, ISBN 1-84415-221-9.