. ▁E . ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 2 . ▁While ▁a ▁colon el ▁in ▁the ▁Indian ▁Army , ▁R ide ▁formed ▁and ▁commanded ▁the ▁British ▁Army ▁A id ▁Group , ▁head qu arter ed ▁in ▁K we il in , ▁K w ang si . ▁This ▁M I 9 ▁unit ▁provided ▁help , ▁medical ▁and ▁otherwise , ▁to ▁P OW ▁escape es ▁from ▁Hong ▁Kong ▁while ▁gather ing ▁intelligence . ▁Due ▁to ▁his ▁out standing ▁leadership ▁after ▁esc aping , ▁' The ▁Sm iling ▁T iger ' ▁as ▁he ▁was ▁nick named , ▁was ▁elev ated ▁to ▁C . ▁B . ▁E . ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 4 . ▁From ▁the ▁formation ▁in ▁ 1 9 4 9 ▁of ▁the ▁Royal ▁Hong ▁Kong ▁Def ence ▁Force ▁ ▁R ide ▁was ▁appointed ▁command ant , ▁first ▁with ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Colonel , ▁subsequently ▁promoted ▁to ▁the ▁rank ▁of ▁Brig ad ier ▁in ▁ 1 9 5 6 , ▁until ▁his ▁ret irement ▁in ▁ 1 9 6 7 . ▁ ▁Life ▁as ▁Vice ▁Chan cell or ▁R ide ▁was ▁appointed ▁vice - chan cell or ▁to ▁a ▁dil ap id ated , ▁post - war ▁University ▁of ▁Hong ▁Kong ▁in ▁April ▁ 1 9 4 9 . ▁ 2 2 ▁new ▁buildings ▁were ▁ere cted ▁and ▁student ▁numbers ▁increased ▁three fold ▁in ▁the ▁ 1 5 ▁years ▁after ▁his ▁appointment . ▁He ▁had ▁been ▁described ▁as ▁decis ive , ▁gen ial ▁and ▁author itar ian ▁all ▁at ▁the ▁same ▁time . ▁R