Major-General Charles E Eberhardie MBE MC

Charles Edward Eberhardie was born and raised in Begalum, India. 

After returning to England in the late 1930's he attended Bedford School and was head boy in 1942. He was granted an emergency commission as a 2nd Lt on December 24, 1943, which was extended on April 29, 1944. 

After volunteering for airborne forces,  he was first posted to the 2nd Parachute Battalion on the 13th August 1944, but was sent on a Course whilst Arnhem took place, and was 'classed' as not present with the Unit.  

He was away through to December 1944, re-joining the Battalion early in 1945. He is on the Officers photo taken at Oakham Camp in 1945. In 1945 the 2nd Battalion was tasked with providing re-enforcements to the 5th Parachute Brigade, who were about to deploy to the Far East, and he was one of those selected, and then went to the 12th Battalion.

He was granted a permanent commission as a 2nd Lt on October 25, 1946, backdated to December 22, 1945. 

Whilst he was with the 12th Bn, he was to act as liaison officer between the 12th Bn and the Kido Battalion in Java, Indonesia. Here he formed an unlikely, yet strong bond with Major Kido and they worked very successfully together. Major Eberhardie helped the Japanese Kido Bn with their patrolling techniques, leading deep penetration patrols to destroy enemy bases. 

His mantra was "Fight the battle you're in, not the last one; shoot the enemy nearest to you and - dont't try to intellectualise a slit trench, just dig it." 

Major-General Eberhardie also saw action in Palestine in 1946 with the 12th Parachute Battalion, which disbanded in July. He transferred to the 8th Battalion, where he was involved in a firefight with Arab insurgents (late 1947/early 1948). After carrying a wounded man to safety under fire during this action, he was awarded a mention in despatches, awarded 7 January, 1949. He was also awarded the Military Cross in Korea after executing a daring plan which involved allowing a platoon of his men to be surrounded giving his actual force the element of surprise against the Chinese. He successfully rescued his men and won the day.

Eberhardie was the CO of 2 PARA in April 1965 when B Company were engaged in the battle of Plaman Mapu. Shortly prior to this, Eberhardie had ordered several of his officers and NCOs to attend the jungle warfare school in Singapore, as John 'Patch' Williams recalled. This ensured his men received proper instruction when they arrived in Borneo, which they subsequently protected from Sukarno's invasion. 

Following this Maj Eberhardie commanded 16th Parachute Brigade from 1968-70. A stint at HQ UK Land Forces followed before he became Assistant Chief of Staff (Intelligence) at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe on February 10, 1975. He was made a Major-General on April 26, 1975, backdated to January 1, 1974. He resigned from this job and lived the remainder of his life in Belgium and then France, retiring in 1976. 

Eberhardie was married three times. First to Ann Gems, with whom he had a son and two daughters. Secondly to Janine Heath-Hall, with whom he had a daughter. Finally he was married to Christine Sampson in 1982, who survived him. 

Eberhardie's promotions were as follows: Captain, December 22, 1951; Major, December 22, 1958; MBE, January 1, 1959; Brevet Lt Col, July 1, 1962; Lt Col, November 7, 1964; Colonel, December 9, 1966, backdated to to July 1, 1966; Brigadier, December 31, 1968, backdated to June 30, 1968. 

Major-General Eberhardie passed away on the 3rd October 2015, aged 90.