Henry Finnis

Born the son of Colonel Henry Finnis, CSI CBE RE, Finnis was educated at Wellington College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1] He was commissioned on the unattached list for the Indian Army on 8 September 1909.[2] He was appointed to the Indian Army's 72nd Punjabis on 12 November 1910;[3] however he transferred to the 53rd Sikhs 22 February 1911.[4]

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.[3]

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.[3] 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.[3]

He became commanding officer of the 3rd Royal Battalion of the 12th Frontier Force Regiment in November 1934.[5][6] He went on to be instructor at Senior Officers' School in July 1936[7] and commander of the Khojak Brigade in May 1938.[8]

He served in World War II as Military-Secretary at Army Headquarters, India from April 1940[3] and as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief North Western Army from 1943.[6] He died in May 1945, aged 55, and was buried at Rawalpindi War Cemetery in Pakistan.[9][10]

He married Cecile Violet D'Oyly O'Malley, only daughter of Colonel A. W. D'Oyly O'Malley, CB in 1917.[1]

• Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.

• Generals of World War II