Lieutenant Colonel Francis Dias (Retd. 1992 as Lieutenant General, PVSM, AVSM, as Chief of Staff Southern Command). Class of 1948.
Commissioned 1954 into the 11th Gorkha Rifles. During the 1971 Ops. he commanded the 5/11 Gorkha Rifles in the Eastern sector For his gallantry, professional skill and leadership of a high order, he was awarded the VIR CHAKRA. His battalion contributed to a great extent in clearing Bogra Town and taking a large number of prisoners including the Pakistani CO and a number of officers.
In 1978 Brigadier Francis Dias was decorated with the AVSM for displaying distinguished service of an exceptional order, in counter-insurgency. Finally in 1992 Lt. General Dias was decorated with the PVSM for rendering “distinguishing service of an exceptionally high order.