Date of birth:

September 22nd, 1906

Date of death:

November 2nd, 1997

Service number:

41309

Nationality:

British

Tony Novis studied at Oxford University and played rugby, starring on the wing for Leicester FC, captaining England twice in 1933 and being top try scorer on the British Lions tour of Australia and New Zealand in 1930.
After finishing his education in 1929 he was commissioned in the Leicester Regiment and served with the 2nd Bn in the Western Desert. He commanded the 1st Bn from 7.1.1944 to 30.7.1944 and again from to 8.3.1947.
On June 27th, 2010 a memorial plaque on a wall of the regimental chapel in Leicester Cathedral was unveiled in his honour.

Promotions:
November 15th, 1928: 2nd Lieutenant
February 16th, 1932: Lieutenant
? Captain
February 16th, 1946: Major
October 8th, 1954: retirement and promotion to Honorary Lieutenant-Colonel

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Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Temporary Major

Unit:

"D" Company, 2nd Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment, 16th Infantry Brigade, 8th Division, Corps Palestina

Awarded on:

April 25th, 1941

Citation:
"Capt.(T/Maj.) A.L. Novis commanded "D" Coy in the attack on Sidi Barrani on 10th Dec. 1940.
"D" Coy was ordered to take up a position on an exposed ridge forward with the object of silencing an enemy battery. This they carried out rapidly suffering a number of casualties from flanking M.G. fire. The Coy then advanced with the support of the carriers under heavy enfilade fire and carried the enemy position with the bayonet. During this action Major Novis'brilliant handling of his Coy & timing of the attack enabled them to get in with a minimum of casualties. Later in the day an enemy strong point was encountered in a heavy dust storm. No arty or mortar support was possible an the position was eventually captured after about an hour's resistance, "D" Coy attacking frontally and "C" Coy round the flank. In the later stages of this attack major Novis was seriously wounded. Throughout the day, he hadled his coy brilliantly displaying the greatest gallantry and was an example of calmness and courage under fire to the officers and men under him."

• - The London Gazette Issue 33465 published on the 8 February 1929
  - The London Gazette Issue 33467 published on the 15 February 1929
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 35144 published on the 22 April 1941
  - Second Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 37467 published on the 12 February 1946
  - Supplement to The London Gazette Issue 40295 published on the 8 October 1954
  - The Royal Leicestershire Regiment
  - This is Leicestershire