Major General G A Pilleau CBE MC

Commanded 1/7^th Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment from February 1940 to April 1941.

Gerald Arthur Pilleau was born on 16^th October 1896 and was educated at Wellington College and the RMC Sandhurst.

He was commissioned in The Queen's Royal Regiment in December 1914. He joined the 2^nd Battalion in France in May 1915 and was wounded. In June 1916 he returned to France and served with the 1^st Battalion and later held staff appointments. He was awarded the Military Cross and was Mentioned in Despatches. From 1921 to 1924 he was adjutant of 5^th Bn The East Surrey Regiment (TA). He next served with 1^st Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment and after further staff appointments commanded the Regimental Depot from April 1937 to January 1939. In 1939 he was a GSO II in the B E F and in February 1940 was appointed to command the I/7^th Battalion. In May 1941 he was appointed Commander of 197^th Infantry Brigade.

From 1942 he held staff appointments including GOC British Troops, North Levant in 1946. He retired from the Army on 13^th October 1947. For his services in the 1939-1945 War he was made a CBE and twice Mentioned in Despatches. In addition he was awarded the Norwegian honour of Commander of the Order of St Olaf with Star.

He was a member of the 1^st Battalion's polo team in the 1930s.

He died on 6^th June 1964.

For obituary see Vol. 2 No.2 of the Journal of The Queen's Royal Surrey Regiment page 140.

See also J M A Tamplin's The Lambeth and Southwark Volunteers page 340

 

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