Henry Alleyne Lash

Brigadier Henry Alleyne Lash, OBE was an officer in the British Indian Army.

Life and career
Henry Lash was born in Calcutta, India, the son of Violet Maud (née Keely) and Nicholas Alleyne Lash. He was commissioned as a Second lieutenant onto the Unattached List of the Indian Army on 24 December 1920, joining the Indian establishment on 4 March 1921. He joined the Indian Army and was posted to the 4th Battalion, 39th Royal Gahwal Rifles on the 7 March 1922. This unit later became the 4th Battalion, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles after the 1922 reforms. He was promoted to lieutenant on 24 March 1923.

He saw action in Waziristan during 1923-24 and was Mentioned in Despatches. He transferred to the 3rd Battalion, 18th Royal Garhwal Rifles on 6 April 1925. Between 1 June 1926 and 14 October 1928 he served as an Aide-de-camp.

On 30 April 1928, Henry Lash, a Protestant, married Joan Mary Moore, an Irish Catholic. They had four children, including: novelist and painter Jennifer Lash and Roman Catholic theologian Nicholas Lash. Through his daughter Jennifer, Henry Lash is the grandfather of actor Ralph Fiennes, actor Joseph Fiennes, film maker Martha Fiennes, film maker Sophie Fiennes, and composer Magnus Fiennes.

He was promoted to Captain on 24 December 1928 and was nominated for the Staff College, Quetta, in 1936, graduating in March 1938. He was promoted to Major on 1 August 1938. He was held an officiating appointment in the Adjutant General Branch, Directorate of Organisation from 6 April 1939, being advanced to a Deputy Assistant Adjutant General on 1 September 1939.

He served during the Second World War, being made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire on 6 June 1946, for his service in Burma as an Acting-Colonel. He was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 24 December 1946, and retired with the honorary rank of Brigadier on 11 March 1948.

After leaving India, Henry Lash lived in Bridge End, Churt, Surrey, England.