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Firbank, Cecil Llewellyn

Date of birth:
1903 (Oakhill/Somerset, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
1985
Service number:
29072
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel
Unit:
2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, British Army
Awarded on:
March 1st, 1945
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Major
Unit:
2nd Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment, British Army
Awarded on:
June 21st, 1945

Awarded as bar on the ribbon of the first medal
Distinguished Service Order (DSO)
Rank:
Colonel
Awarded on:
June 7th, 1951
Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
Rank:
Brigadier
Awarded on:
June 1st, 1953
Companion of The Most Honourable Order of the Bath (CB)

War Diary mentions

30 January 1945 WO 171/5231 - 2 Lincolnshire Regiment
Maj. L.H.B. Colvin MC assumed command of the Bn during absence on UK Leave of Lt.Col. C.L. Firbank D.S.O.

8 August 1944 WO 171/413 - 3 Infantry Division AQ
T/Lt-Col. GD Browne (34575) Hamps relinquished appointment GSO I & assumed appointment Comd. 9 Br Inf Bde. T/Lt-Col. WFH Kempster (41170) KSLI assumed appointment as GSO I. T/Lt-Col. CF Firbank (28072) Som LI relinquished appointment GSO I (L) on appointment CO 2 Lincolns.

6 October 1944 WO 171/617 - 9 Infantry Brigade
The Bde Comd and Lt Col Firbank are dining with the Corps Comd, Lt Gen Sir RN O'Connor this evening.

12 November 1944 WO 171/617 - 9 Infantry Brigade
Lt Col CL Firbank 2 Lincolns called to this HQ to report full details of the battle at farm mentioned above. The Bde Comd ordered that future OPs of a like nature will always surround their posn with a protective strand of wire for purpose of preventing enemy surprising them.

27 November 1944 WO 171/1334 - 2 Lincolnshire Regiment
General clean up. Kit inspection etc. Batt.Recce party under Lt. Col. C.L. Firbank visited the 2nd Bn. East Yorkshire Regt in the area SMAKT, MAASHEES.

6 December 1944 WO 171/1334 - 2 Lincolnshire Regiment
Changeover between "A" and "C" Coy . Notifications was received to-day of a list of awards. The Commanding Officer Lt- col Firbank received the D.S.O., Maj S.J. Larkin received the MC, Maj C.C.L. Gillaert received the MC, Lt J. Pacey received the MC, Pte W. Evekett received the M.M., Pte C. Woolley received the M.M., Pte Drsitov received the M.M.

11 December 1944 WO 171/617 - 9 Infantry Brigade
Field Marshal Sir B.L. Montgomery K.C.B., D.S.O. held an investiture for 3. Brit Inf Div at GEMERT. The Bde Comd accompanied by the BM attended the ceremony at which in the number of decorations conferred, the bde carried the day. Furthermore 2 Lincolns received more decorations than any other bn in the Div. Among those decorated were Lt.Col. CL Firbank, comd 2 Lincolns on whom was conferred the D.S.O. and Major PHW Clarke, Major GCA Gilbert and Major SJ Larkin each of whom was awarded the MC. Several other offrs and OR of the bde received their decorations at the ceremony.

Sources

Photo