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Garnett, Edward Douglas

Date of birth:
1907 (Cheshire, United Kingdom)
Date of death:
1964
Service number:
39160
Nationality:
British (1801-present, Kingdom)

Biography

Douglas Garnett attended to Charterhouse, then graduated from the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. Following his studies he was commissioned as a 2nd lieutenant at 20 and a lieutenant in 1931. From 1933, he served in India and Pakistan, proficient in Urdu.
Promotions followed:
captain in 1938, major, then lieutenant colonel in 1945.
In 1938 he married Eileen Mary Blois-Brooke, known as Kit, in Meerut, India.
Douglas served in India and Pakistan until 1948. He was then stationed in Dover, went to Hong Kong, had a spell in Northern Ireland and was commandant on troop ships sailing to Korea.

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Period:
Second World War (1939-1945)
Rank:
Temporary Major
Unit:
21st Indian Light Mountain Regiment, 17th Indian Infantry Division, British Indian Army
Awarded on:
October 5th, 1944
Citation:
“On 25 May 1944 at Moirang Crossroads Major Garnett’s battery was supporting the 2/5 RGR (Royal Gurkha Regiment). As it was getting dark the position was attacked by four enemy tanks advancing from the South which...opened very heavy fire with 47mm shells on our positions, causing serious casualties in the first few minutes. Major Garnett at once brought down accurate fire on the tanks.
Ignoring the heavy fire of the tanks, he stood upright on the parapet of the trench in order to spot the flashes of the enemy tank guns...Further accurate fire directed by Major Garnett soon drove off two more tanks and the fourth later struck a mine and blew up.
“Meanwhile, casualties had been heavy and all available S.B.s [secondary batteries] and nursing orderlies were fully employed.
A 3.7 Howitzer of 6 Battery sited in an anti-tank role with the 2/5 Gurkhas had received a direct hit on the Gun Pit, killing the officer and wounding all but the number one. Major Garnett at once went to this gun, organised the dressing and evacuation of the wounded and raised a scratch gun team...At first light this gun was able to bring down effective fire on the enemy.
Throughout the whole night’s action Major Garnett’s outstanding courage, coolness and complete disregard for his personal safety under murderous short range shell fire was an inspiration. The prompt and accurate manner in which he brought down fire on the tanks was most heartening to the morale and was a primary factor in the breaking up of the enemy attack.”
Military Cross (MC)
Citation (general):
"In recognition of gallant and distinguished services in Burma and on
the Eastern Frontier of India."

Sources

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