Charles Joseph Weld

Who was Charles Joseph Weld?

Charles Joseph Weld CIE MC was an officer in the British Indian Army during the interwar years, World War II, and post-war.

Weld graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst on 24 August 1912 and was commissioned second lieutenant on the unattached list of the Indian Army. He was in due course attached to the 56th Punjabi Rifles and was promoted lieutenant in November 1914. He was awarded the Military Cross in 1919 by which time he had been promoted captain. In 1929 he was promoted major and after two staff postings he was promoted lieutenant-colonel in January 1936 to take up a staff post in Waziristan on the North West Frontier of India for which service he was mentioned in despatches. When he relinquished this appointment in September 1938 he was promoted to full colonel.

Made temporary brigadier in April 1940 Weld commanded the 21st Indian Brigade of the Indian 10th Infantry Division during the Anglo-Iraqi War and the Syria-Lebanon campaign. 21st Indian Brigade was attached to Hazelforce during the Anglo-Soviet invasion of Persia and Weld was mentioned in despatches for his services in Persia and Iraq.