Harry Dimoline
Brigadier Harry Kenneth Dimoline, was an officer in the Royal Artillery during the Second World War and a police officer in Malaya during the Malayan Emergency.
Second World War
A part-time officer in the 4th Lancashire [Artillery Volunteers|59th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Brigade, Royal Artillery] of the Territorial Army during the 1920s and 1930s, Dimoline had risen to be second-in-command of the regiment by 1939. He was then charged with raising and commanding a duplicate regiment as the TA rapidly expanded just before the outbreak of the Second World War. He commanded the 68th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Regiment at the Battle of Keren in East Africa and then in the Western Desert. In March 1942 he was promoted toCommander, Royal Artillery in 4th Indian Infantry Division, serving with it in North Africa, Tunisia and Italy; he was also acting commander of the 4th Indian Division during the Second Battle of Monte Cassino. He then served as CRA with 47th (London) Infantry Division in the United Kingdom before taking up the same role with 17th Indian Infantry Division in Burma.
Post-war
Dimoline served as Honorary superintendent Auxiliary Police, Federation of Malaya, during the Malayan Emergency.Career summary
- Commissioned into 59th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Brigade, Royal Garrison Artillery, Territorial Army as second lieutenant
- Promoted lieutenant
- Promoted captain, initially a provisional rank, later confirmed
- Promoted major
- Promoted colonel (United Kingdom)|lieutenant colonel] commanding 68th (4th West Lancashire) Medium Regiment, RA
- Commander Royal Artillery 4th Indian Division, North Africa – Italy
- Acting major general
- Acting General Officer Commanding 4th Indian Division, Italy
- Commander Royal Artillery 47th (London) Infantry Division
- Commander Royal Artillery 17th Indian Infantry Division, Burma
- Substantive colonel
- Supernumerary colonel and honorary brigadier
- Transfer to Territorial Army Reserve of Officers
- Retired