He served as the General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Eastern Command before taking over as the 5th Vice Chief of the Army Staff.

[1] Rawlley graduated from the Indian Military Academy and 1941 was commissioned into the 9th Battalion the 12th Frontier Force Regiment on 15 May.

[1] As part of Operation Zipper, the division was chosen for the invasion of British Malaya in an amphibious role.

Although hostilities ceased, the operation proceeded as planned and 25th Division was the first formation to land in Malaya, occupying the capital, Kuala Lumpur, and then accepting the surrender of the Japanese Army.

[5] He attended the United States Army Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas.

[6] He led the Indian Army team of officers which helped set up the Haile Selassie Military Academy in Harar, Ethiopia.

[10] After the year-long course, he returned to India and was appointed Director of Military Operations (DMO) at Army headquarters.

In November 1970, he received the salute at the passing out parade of the Haile Selassie Military Academy in Ethiopia.

[13] He succeeded Lieutenant General Jagjit Singh Aurora and took over as GOC-in-C Eastern Command at Fort William, Calcutta in February.

On 1 August 1974, Rawlley assumed office of the Vice Chief of the Army Staff from lieutenant General M L Thapan.

[6] In March 1975, the Government of India decided to appoint Lieutenant General Tapishwar Narain Raina the next Chief of the Army Staff superseding Rawlley.