Ernest Down

Lieutenant-General Sir Ernest Edward Down KBE CB (1902–1980) was a British General during World War II.

Military career
Ernest Down was commissioned into the Dorset Regiment in February 1923. He served in World War II being appointed Commander of the 2nd Parachute Brigade in North Africa in 1942. He went on to be General Officer Commanding (GOC) 1st Airborne Division in Italy, taking over from Major-General George Hopkinson who had been killed in action, in 1943. He was then GOC of 9th Indian Airborne Division which itself became the 44th Indian Airborne Division in 1944 and GOC of 2nd Indian Airborne Division in 1945.

After the War he was appointed GOC of 4th Division in Greece before becoming GOC of all British Troops in Greece. Then in 1948 he became head of the British Military Mission to Greece. Returning to the United Kingdom he was appointed District Officer Commanding Mid-West District and GOC 53rd Division in 1950 and GOC-in Chief of Southern Command in 1952, a post from which he retired in 1955.

He was also Colonel of the King's Shropshire Light Infantry from 1955 to 1957.