Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Brigadier

Army Number : 18870

Unit : Depot, 4th Bn (TA), 2nd Bn, 1st Bn, 7th Bn

Biography :

William Underhill was commissioned into 20th Deccan Horse (Indian Army) in 1918. Commissioned into The Leicestershire Regiment in 1920. As Lieutenant was serving in the Depot 1924-26. Promoted Captain 10.11.1926, and served as Adjutant of 4th Bn (TA) from 1926-30, the CO being his brother-in-law, Lt Col H W H Tyler MC (later TD DL). Served in 2nd Bn 1930-32, and then became a student at the Staff College, Camberley. Thereafter posted to 1st Bn in India and thence in late 1934 to the staff of Army HQ, India. Appointed DAAG HQ Eastern Command, India, in Feb 1937. Promoted Major 1.8.1938 and rejoined 1st Bn in Waziristan in early 1939 in command of C Company. As its first CO, he commanded the 7th Bn in UK from 4.7.1940 to 27.4.1942 whence he was posted to a staff appointment. He was awarded the O.B.E (L.G. 1.2.1945) for his work in 1944 as Commander, 102 Reinforcement Group, L of C in NW Europe, and later he was awarded Mention in Despatches (L.G. 9.8.1945) as Commander, 16 L of C Sub-Area, Ghent, Belgium, 1944-45, and a second MID (L.G. 4.4.1946) plus the Bronze Star Medal (U.S.A) (L.G. 16.1.1948) for his work as CO, 16 L of C Sub-Area, Belgium, Jan-Jun 1945. He later served on the staff of 7 L of C Area in Hamburg from 1945-48. Retired on 3.11.1948. Editor of 'The History of The Royal Leicestershire Regiment 1928-1956'. He died in 1968, aged 70 years.
He is commemorated on a brass memorial plaque in the Regimental Chapel of Leicester Cathedral.

Date of Birth : 9.1.1898

Place of Birth : Plymouth, Devon

Date of Death : 1968

Civil Occupation : Author

Period of Service : 1917-48

Conflicts : WW1, Waziristan, WW2

Places Served : England, India, France, Belgium, Germany, Northern Ireland