Denis Ormerod

Brigadier Denis Ormerod CBE
Born	17 February 1922 Republic of Ireland
Died	11 February 2005 High Halden, Kent, England.
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Rank	Brigadier
Unit	British Indian Army, Royal Irish Fusiliers
Commands held	Ulster Defence Regiment
Awards	CBE
Spouse(s)	Frances M. S. Turner

Denis Leonard Ormerod CBE (c. 1923 – 11 February 2005) was a career soldier in the British Army.

He was appointed Brigadier Ulster Defence Regiment in July 1971. He was the first Roman Catholic commander of the regiment which was drawn mainly from the Protestant community of Northern Ireland.

Early life and military career

Ormerod was educated at Downside School in Somerset. He joined the army in 1940 and was commissioned into the British Indian Army, following which he served in Malaya, India, Italy, and Greece with the Gurkhas, eventually reaching the rank of Major. He also served in Malaya and Palestine during internal security operations in the post war period.

Ulster Defence Regiment

Whether or not it was a conscious decision on the part of the British Ministry of Defence was not known but he acknowledged that his religion helped him establish a rapport with the hierarchy of the Roman Catholic Church in Northern Ireland.

Bibliography

Potter, John. A Testimony to Courage - the Regimental History of the Ulster Defence Regiment 1969 - 1992, Pen & Sword Books Ltd, 2001. ISBN 0-85052-819-4. Ryder, Chris. The Ulster Defence Regiment: An Instrument of Peace?, p. 43. 1991 ISBN 0-413-64800-1