Colonel L C East DSO OBE
Commanded l./5th Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment from August 1941 to March 19/13 and the 2nd Battalion from January 1947 to September 1948 and the re-named 1st Battalion until October 1948.
Lancelot Crofts East, known as Lance, was born on 22nd May 1901 and educated at Bedford School, and the RMC Sandhurst. He was commissioned in The Queen's Royal Regiment in July 1921 and joined the 2nd Battalion in India with whom he served until 1925 when he was posted to the Depot. He rejoined the 2nd Battalion at Dover in 1929 and was adjutant from 1931 to 1934. In 1935 he was posted to the 1st Battalion in India and was with the Battalion in Quetta during the earthquake. In 1937 he returned to UK and was appointed adjutant of the 5th Battalion. In1939 he became adjutant of the l/5th Battalion and was Mentioned in Despatches for his service in France in 1940.
After being second-in-command he was appointed to command the Battalion in August 1941 and led it in North Africa until March 1943 at Medenine when he was appointed Deputy President. Middle East Officer Selection Board at Cairo and later became President.
He was awarded the DSO for his fine leadership of the Battalion. Early in 1944 he was appointed Provost Marshal for Middle East Land Forces and retained this appointment until July 1946 when he became Provost Marshal of Rhine Army. In 1946 he was made an OBE for his services as Provost Marshal Middle East. In January 1947 he was appointed to command the 2nd Battalion on its return to England and commanded it until Salerno Day 1948 when it became the 1st Battalion. In October 1948 he handed over command of the 1st Battalion and was appointed Provost Marshal BAOR.
He retired from the Army on 19th April 1952. He was a keen sportsman and played hockey for his Battalion and rugby for Richmond RFC and was runner-up in the Army Light Heavyweight Boxing Championship in 1926.
He was a member of the British Pentathlon Team at the Olympic Games in Amsterdam in 1928. He excelled at fencing and was a keen polo player.
Col LC East DSO OBE
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