Peter Downward Explained

Sir Peter Downward
Birth Date:10 April 1924
Death Date:18 October 2014
Birth Place:Douglas, Isle of Man
Allegiance:United Kingdom
Rank:Major-General
Branch:British Army
Commands:1st Battalion the Lancashire Regiment
Berlin Infantry Brigade
School of Infantry
Wales and Western District
Battles:Second World War
Berlin Airlift
Korean War
Aden Emergency
Awards:Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Flying Cross

Major-General Sir Peter Aldcroft Downward (10 April 1924  - 18 October 2014) was a British Army officer.

Military career

Educated at King William's College, Downward was commissioned into the South Lancashire Regiment in 1943 and served in North West Europe during the Second World War.[1] He also took part in the Berlin Airlift in 1949 and later saw action in the Korean War.[1] He became commanding officer of the 1st Battalion the Lancashire Regiment in 1966 and in that role was deployed to Aden during the Aden Emergency.[1] He went on to be commander of the Berlin Infantry Brigade in 1971, commandant of the School of Infantry in 1974 and General Officer Commanding West Midlands District in 1976 before retiring in 1979.[2]

In 1953 he married Hilda Hinckley Wood; they had two sons.[1] Following the death of his first wife, he married Mary Boykett Proctor (née Allwork).[1]

In retirement he was Lieutenant Governor of the Royal Hospital Chelsea, and then Governor of the Military Knights of Windsor.[1] He died on 18 October 2014.[3]

Notes and References

  1. Who's Who 2010, A & C Black, 2010,
  2. Web site: Army Commands. 2 July 2016.
  3. Web site: Major-General Sir Peter Downward - obituary. The Telegraph. 4 November 2014. 8 January 2019.