# Lechmere Thomas

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[Major-General](/source/Major-general_(United_Kingdom)) **Lechmere Cay Thomas**, (20 October 1897 – 9 May 1981) was a senior [British Army](/source/British_Army) officer who fought in both the [First](/source/First_World_War) and [Second World Wars](/source/Second_World_War).

## Military career

Thomas was the son of Kempson Thomas and he was educated at [Cranleigh School](/source/Cranleigh_School).[1] In 1915 he was mobilised as a member of the [Territorial Force](/source/Territorial_Force), serving in the [East Surrey Regiment](/source/East_Surrey_Regiment) in [France and Belgium](/source/Western_Front_(World_War_I)). On 29 November 1915 he received a temporary [commission](/source/Officer_(armed_forces)) in his regiment.[2] On 12 March 1917 he was awarded the [Military Cross](/source/Military_Cross) (MC) for gallantry for leading a successful raid on German lines. The medal's citation reads:

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a successful raid with great gallantry, and personally accounted for four of the enemy. Later, he skilfully withdrew his party under heavy fire.

He was awarded a [Bar](/source/Medal_bar) to his MC in February 1918.[3]

Following the end of the First World War, Thomas served in the [war in Iraq](/source/Iraqi_revolt_against_the_British), during which he was wounded, and on 2 March 1921 he received a permanent commission in the [Royal Northumberland Fusiliers](/source/Royal_Northumberland_Fusiliers). Between 1925 and 1927 he served with the [King's African Rifles](/source/King's_African_Rifles) (KAR), before being seconded to the [Sudan Defence Force](/source/Sudan_Defence_Force) until 1929. Thomas then returned to the KAR as adjutant and was commanding officer of 2nd Battalion, KAR from 1934 to 1939. In January 1939 he was appointed an [Officer of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Officer_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire).

During the Second World War, Thomas saw active service in France, Malaya, and Burma. He was [commanding officer](/source/Commanding_officer) of the 9th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers from 1940 to 1942. On 22 October 1940 he awarded the [Distinguished Service Order](/source/Distinguished_Service_Order) (DSO).[4] In February, as a [lieutenant colonel](/source/Lieutenant_colonel), Thomas took command of an *ad hoc* formation called "Tomforce" made up of troops from the [18th Infantry Division](/source/18th_Infantry_Division_(United_Kingdom)) during the [Battle of Singapore](/source/Battle_of_Singapore).[5] Later in 1942, Thomas commanded 1st Battalion, [Wiltshire Regiment](/source/Wiltshire_Regiment) and from September 1942 to April 1943 he was in command of the [88th Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/88th_Indian_Infantry_Brigade) during the [Burma Campaign](/source/Burma_Campaign). Between 1943 and 1945 he commanded the [36th Indian Infantry Brigade](/source/36th_Indian_Infantry_Brigade). In 1945 he was appointed a [Commander of the Order of the British Empire](/source/Commander_of_the_Order_of_the_British_Empire) and awarded a Bar to his DSO, ending the war as a colonel.[1]

Between 1945 and 1947 Thomas served as inspector general of the British Army in Burma, before serving as [general officer commanding](/source/General_officer_commanding) of the army in Burma until 1948. That year he was appointed a [Companion of the Order of the Bath](/source/Companion_of_the_Order_of_the_Bath). He retired in August 1948 and was granted the honorary rank of major general.[1]

## Footnotes

1. Thomas, Lechmere Cay in *[British Army Officers 1939–1945](http://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_T01.html)* at unithistories.com. Retrieved 2 July 2015

1. No. 29390. 3 December 1915. p. 12065.

1. No. 30530. 15 February 1918. p. 2158.

1. No. 34975. 18 October 1940. p. 6114.

1. Wigmore 1957, p. 339.

## References

- Wigmore, Lionel (1957). [*The Japanese Thrust*](https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/RCDIG1070203/). Vol. IV. [Australia in the War of 1939–1945](/source/Australia_in_the_War_of_1939%E2%80%931945). Series 1 – Army. Canberra: Australian War Memorial. [OCLC 3134219](https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/3134219)

## External links

- [British Army Officers 1939–1945](http://www.unithistories.com/officers/Army_officers_T01.html#Thomas_LC)
- [Generals of World War II](http://www.generals.dk/general/Thomas/Lechmere_Cay/Great_Britain.html)

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