World War II Database

Contributor: C. Peter Chen

ww2dbaseWilliam Alfred Dimoline was born in 1897 and was educated at Dean Close School, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. In 1914, he was commissioned into the King's Regiment (Liverpool), a Territorial Force unit, as a second lieutenant. In the following year, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant, and in 1917 the rank of captain. In 1920, he was assigned to the East Surrey Regiment, with the peace time rank of second lieutenant. In 1922, he was transferred to the British Army's Royal Corps of Signals. In 1923, he was transferred to the West African Frontier Force with a temporary rank of captain. In 1925, he was transferred to the Colonial Office. In 1927, he was promoted to the permanent rank of captain. Between 1933 and 1934, he studied at the Staff College at Camberley, Surrey, England, United Kingdom. In 1936, he was made a General Staff Officer. In Jan 1937, he was made the Commandant of the Northern Rhodesia Regiment and was appointed to the Northern Rhodesia Legislative Council. In Nov 1938, he was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel.

ww2dbaseAt the start of WW2, Dimoline was serving in the Middle East. In 1941, he was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire. During the British invasion of Italian East Africa of 1940 to 1941, he was the commanding officer of 26th East African Brigade. In Dec 1941, he was promoted to the rank of colonel. In 1942, he was briefly the acting commanding officer of 12th African Division. Later in the same year, he was given command of 26th East African Brigade and then 22nd East African Brigade. With the latter unit, he participated in the invasion of French Madagascar, leading an amphibious landing at Majunga on 10 Sep 1942 and a successful surprise attack on French units at Andriamanalina on 18 Oct 1942; for his successes at Madagascar, he was made Commander of the Order of the British Empire. In 1943, he was made the Commandant of Diego Fortress in Madagascar. Later in 1943, he briefly served in Ceylon at the helm of 21st East African Brigade. In 1944, he returned briefly to the African continent as the commanding officer of 30th East African Brigade, as later in the year he would be back in Ceylon with 28th Independent East African Brigade. With that brigade, he saw action in Burma. He was promoted to the war time rank of major general in 1945 to command 11th (East Africa) Division. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his service in Asia.

ww2dbaseAfter the war, between 1946 and 1948, Dimoline served as the commanding officer of East Africa Command. In 1946, he was made a Companion of the Bath in 1947. Between 1948 and 1951, he was the General Officer Commanding Aldershot District in southern England. Between Sep 1951 and Oct 1953, he served on the United Nations' Military Staff Committee with the title of "The Head of the Service Advisers to The United Kingdom Delegation and United Kingdom Representative on, The Military Staff Committee of The United Nations". After his retirement in 1953, he was made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in 1958. He passed away in Aug 1964.

ww2dbaseWilliam Dimoline's brother, Harry Dimoline, was also an officer in the British Army.

William Dimoline Timeline

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1.  Alan Chanter says:
30 Jul 2015 11:04:47 AM

Royal Corps of Signals (Not Royal Signal Corps)

2.  C. Peter Chen says:
30 Jul 2015 07:03:03 PM

Thanks Alan, I have corrected the Royal Corps of Signals name.