He served as Force Commander in Democratic Republic of the Congo, Cyprus, Namibia and Zimbabwe. He served in the Indian Army. He received his officer training at the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun and was first commissioned a Second Lieutenant on the Special List on 1 February 1938.
He was attached to the 1st battalion Dorset Regiment 24 February 1938.
He was accepted for the Indian Army and posted to the 5th battalion 10th Baluch Regiment on 24 February 1939. His senority as Second Lieutenant was antedated to 31 January 1937 and he was promoted Lieutenant 30 April 1939.
He served during World World War World War II
Lieutenant General Chand commanded forces during two of their most sensitive peacekeeping operations, and also what is widely acknowledged as the most successful mission in Namibia. Katanga in the Congo (1962)
Lieutenant General Chand commanded troops in the Operation in the Congo in the breakaway Republic of the Congo (Léopoldville) province of Katanga in 1962 during the Congo Crisis.
He was awarded an Indian medal for distinguished service, Vashisht Seva Medal for this operation.
Cyprus (1970-1976)
Lieutenant General Chand commanded forces on the divided island of Cyprus, from 1970 to 1976. He was responsible for organising the escape of Makarios III from Cyprus during the 1974 coup that overthrew him. The same year, he protected Nicosia International Airport from the Turkish invasion of Cyprus.
The United Nations remained in control of the airport (Doyle, Sambanis, 2006, Making War and Building Peace, p 273).
Rhodesia (1977)
The following year, he was called out of retirement to act as the United Nations secretary general"s personal observer in Rhodesia, when discussions began to end Ian Smith"s unilateral declaration of independence. Transition Assistance Group
Later, at the age of 72 in 1989, he was appointed commander of the United Nations transition assistance group for Namibia.
Lieutenant-General Dewan Prem Chand was the commander of the military component of the Transition Assistance Group in Namibia from 1989-1990. On 3 November 2003 he died at the age of 87.