William Abraham (soldier)

Major-General Sir William Ernest Victor Abraham CBE FGS (21st August 1897 to 6th February 1980) was a British Army officer who served in India and Burma during the Second World War. He was nicknamed 'WEVA'.

Early life and education
Sir William was born in Enniskillen and educated at Methodist College Belfast and the Royal College of Science, Dublin.

Military service
He visited Burma and India as a geologist from 1920 to 1937 with the Burmah Oil Company. Abraham also commanded the Upper Burma Battalion of the Burma Auxiliary Force from 1932-1937 as lieutenant-colonel. In 1940 he rejoined the army as a second lieutenant in the Royal Engineers after the War Office asked him to analyse the events in France. He was awarded an OBE and mentioned in dispatches twice for his service in the Middle East. His actions in Tunisia resulted in him being awarded a CBE in 1942.

In 1945 Sir William was Comptroller General of Military Economy in India.

His report, Summary of the economic developments in the Far East during the six months ending 30th June, 1944 is held in the Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives, King's College London.

Later career
He worked as managing director of Burmah Oil Company until 1955. From 1962 until 1977 Sir William was national chairman of the Burma Star Association.

Personal life
Sir William married Susan Jeanette Bidwell in 1928. They had one son and two daughters. After Susan's death in 1965, Sir William married Rosemary Eustace.