| Honorific Prefix: | Colonel |
| Ernest Clive Atkins | |
| Honorific Suffix: | CB TD DL JP |
| Birth Date: | 13 February 1870 |
| Death Date: | 9 January 1953 |
| Allegiance: |  United Kingdom |
| Rank: | Colonel |
| Commands: | 2/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment |
| Battles: | World War I |
| Awards: | CB TD |
| Laterwork: | High Sheriff of Leicestershire and Justice of the peace |
Colonel Ernest Clive Atkins CB TD DL JP (13 February 1870 – 9 January 1953) was Battalion Commander of the 2/5th Leicestershire Regiment during World War I, High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1931 and Chairman of the Leicestershire Territorial Association in 1938.[1] [2] [3] [4]
Ernest Clive Atkins, the eldest son of Arthur Atkins of Middlefield, Hinckley, was born 13 February 1870.[5] [6] He was educated at Bedford Modern School between 1882 and 1886.[6] [7] [8] [9]
Atkins was commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment on 22 April 1892.[10] He was made Captain in 1896, Major in 1903 and commanded the newly formed 4th Battalion as Lieutenant-Colonel until 1909.[10] [11] In 1914, as Lieutenant-Colonel, he raised and commanded the 2/5th Battalion from 1914 until 1917,[12] including during the Easter Rising of 1916.[5] [10] After 1917, Atkins commanded battalions of the East Surrey Regiment and the Middlesex Regiment.[10]
Atkins was a military member of the TA Association of Leicestershire from 1908, Vice-Chairman between 1934 and 1938 and chairman from 1938 for which he was made CB.[10] In 1940, he was appointed first Honorary Colonel of the 2/5th Battalion of the Leicestershire Regiment.[13]
Atkins was made a Deputy Lieutenant of Leicestershire in 1928,[14] and High Sheriff of Leicestershire in 1931.[2]
In 1900 Atkins married Agnes Pidcock, the daughter of Reverend Benjamin Pidock of Easton, Hampshire.[5] They had three sons and one daughter. Atkins died on 9 January 1953.[5] [3]