Soldier
George Pereira was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards and served in China (1900), where he received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his services during the Boxer Rebellion. He later served in South Africa (1902). During the First World War, he served on the Western Front as officer commanding the 47th Brigade (from January 1916 to November 1917) and then the 43rd Brigade (1918). He was one of the great characters of the 16th Division. Known to the men as 'Hoppy' because of lameness after a riding accident, he was an irascible fire-eater and firm disciplinarian; characteristics he combined with an obvious concern for the welfare of his men. 'Every officer and soldier of his brigade swears by him', one of his battalion commanders wrote.
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