1. Major-General Eric Grant Miles CB DSO MC was a senior British Army officer who saw active service during both World War I and World War II, where he commanded the 126th Infantry Brigade in the Battle of France and the 56th Infantry Division in the final stages of the campaign in Tunisia.
Eric Miles later became a staff officer for the rest of the war, remaining on the Western Front throughout the conflict.
On 4 June 1917 Eric Miles was awarded the Distinguished Service Order, "for distinguished service in the field", and, from July 1917 he served as a General Staff Officer Grade 3 until 23 September 1918, during the Hundred Days Offensive and shortly before the end of the war, when he was wounded in action and returned to England, to become a GSO2 at the Staff School, Cambridge.
Eric Miles then attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1921 to 1922.
Still in Malaya when World War II broke out in September 1939, later in the year he returned to England where, promoted to acting brigadier, Eric Miles assumed command in January 1940 of the 126th Infantry Brigade, part of the 42nd Infantry Division, a first-line Territorial Army formation, whose General Officer Commanding was Major General William Holmes.
Eric Miles continued to command the brigade after its return to England, training it in preparation for the expected German invasion of England and at the same time absorbing conscripts to bring the brigade up to strength after its heavy casualties.
Eric Miles became Brigadier General Staff of Home Forces in mid-September before returning to the 42nd Division in late April 1941, this time as its GOC, succeeding Major General Henry Willcox, who in turn had succeeded Major General Holmes the previous June, Miles in turn receiving a promotion to acting major general in May Eric Miles was promoted to permanent major general in June.
On 1 January 1943 Eric Miles was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.
Eric Miles retired from the army, after a career spanning thirty-five years, in September 1946, retaining his permanent rank of major general.
Eric Miles served as Colonel of his old regiment, the King's Own Scottish Borderers, from 19 June 1944 until 19 June 1954.
Eric Miles was Deputy Chairman of the Lichfield Diocesan Board of Finance from 1954 to 1960, becoming Chairman from 1960 to 1971, and became a member of the House of Laity, Church Assembly from 1955 to 1960.
Eric Miles retired to Shropshire, where he lived at Tilstock near Whitchurch before moving in 1956 to his last home, Rope Walk on Lyth Hill near Shrewsbury.