Lieutenant General Sir Ian Henry Freeland GBE, KCB, DSO, DL (14 September 1912 – 2 July 1979) was a senior British Army officer, who served with distinction during World War II and most notably served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) and Director of Operations in security matters in Northern Ireland in the aftermath of rioting in 1969, and the beginning of the Troubles.

[5] Shortly after the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, Freeland was, on 17 January 1940, promoted to the acting rank of captain and made adjutant to his battalion, which in July 1940 returned to England, then under threat of a German invasion.

Despite heavy German fire, Freeland constantly moved around the battlefield to encourage his forward companies, and find the moment to launch his own offensive.

After his battalion's disbandment, Freeland was posted to command the 1/5th Battalion of the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey), part of the 131st Infantry Brigade of Major General Gerald Lloyd-Verney's 7th Armoured Division, through Belgium, and was awarded the Belgian decorations of Chevalier of the Order of the Crown with Palm and the Croix de Guerre 1940 with Palm.

[2] He was promoted major-general on 18 March 1961 (with seniority from 10 February 1961),[16] and appointed General Officer Commanding (GOC) 54th (East Anglian) Division/District of the Territorial Army,[17] holding that post until 17 July 1963.

Freeland had been appointed general officer commanding on 9 July 1969, during a relatively peaceful time in the early Troubles, when just 1,000 British troops were stationed there,[3][30] and was subsequently made director of operations in security matters on 28 August.

[3] He fully expected to be dismissed from his post, but he was supported by the Prime Minister, Harold Wilson, and the Home Secretary, James Callaghan.

[3][33] By June 1970, troop numbers reached 7,000, largely to meet expected trouble arising from the climax of the "marching season", and the release of Bernadette Devlin from jail.

[35] This proved to be a short-lived appointment as Erskine-Crum suffered a heart attack soon afterwards and was replaced, in turn, by Lieutenant-General Harry Tuzo on 2 March.

[36] Freeland was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the British Empire (GBE) in the 1971 Queen's Birthday Honours,[37] and retired from the army on 21 June 1971.