Colonel Thomas Alexander IRVINE, D.S.O., T.D., D.L. (53100)

Commanded the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment from February 1945 to August 1945.

Thomas Alexander Irvine was a Motherwell man with family connections in the iron and steel industry, and was educated at Hamilton Academy.

Thomas Alexander Irvine was commissioned in to the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) Territorial Army on the 2nd May 1932, and joined the 6th (Lanarkshire) Battalion The Cameronians as a 2nd Lieutenant.

He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 2nd May 1935 and to Captain on the 8th June 1937.

Promoted to rank of Major on the 1st September 1939. He was second-in-command of the 10th Cameronians.

T/Lieut.-Colonel from 10th October 1942 to August 1945.

Took command of the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment at Legyi, Burma on the 8th February 1945 after Lieut.-Colonel C. A. Street had been killed in action at Dawete, Burma earlier that day.

Continued to command the 7th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment to August 1945.

He was awarded the D.S.O. in 1945 for his part in the crossing of the Irrawaddy River which resulted in the taking of Mandalay; he commanded the 7th Battalion, The Worcestershire Regiment, which led the assault. At an investiture in May 1945 he received the the D.S.O. (London gazette date 21st June 1945).

On the 14th March 1946 he was awarded the Territorial Efficiency Decoration and on the 23rd November 1951 was awarded the 1st Clasp.

Given the rank of Honorary Lieut.-Colonel in April 1946 and gained the substantive rank for Lieut.-Colonel on the 1st May 1947.

In 1948 he was transferred from the active list to the T.A. reserve list of officers, and shortly afterwards became commandant of the county cadets. On relinquishing this post he was appointed chairman of T.A.F.A. (Territorial and Aux. Forces' Association) in Lanarkshire.

Colonel T. A. Irvine, D.S.O.
(awaiting photo)

Appointed as Deputy Lieutenant of Lanark on the 26th December 1950.

He was granted the rank of Honorary Colonel on the 22nd August 1962 when he retired from the Army.

A partner in the Glasgow firm of iron and steel merchants, Irvine Brothers, Colonel Irvine resided with his wife and two sons in Cambuslang until 1958, when the family moved to Symington.

Colonel Thomas Alexander Irvine died at his home, "Logandale," Symington, Lanarkshire, on 5th May 1963.

 

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