Major General Alan Cathcart, 6th Earl Cathcart, CB, DSO, MC, KStJ (22 August 1919 – 15 June 1999), styled Lord Greenock until 1927, was a British Army officer who served as Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin from 1970 until his retirement in 1973.
The Earl Cathcart | |
|---|---|
| Born | 22 August 1919 |
| Died | 15 June 1999 (aged 79) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1939–1973 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | British Forces in Berlin (1970–73) Yorkshire District (1969–70) 152nd Infantry Brigade (1965–66) 1st Battalion Scots Guards (1957–59) |
| Battles / wars | Second World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Military Cross Mentioned in Despatches Knight of the Order of St. John |
Military career
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The only child of George Cathcart, 5th Earl Cathcart and Vera, Countess Cathcart, Alan was educated at Eton College and Magdelene College, Cambridge,[1] Cathcart was commissioned into the Scots Guards in 1939.[2] He served in the Second World War and went on to be adjutant at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst after the war.[3] He was made adjutant of the Scots Guards in 1951 and Brigade Major for the 4th Guards Brigade in 1954.[3] He was then appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion Scots Guards in 1957.[3]
Cathcart was posted to Scottish Command in 1962 and became commander of the 152nd Infantry Brigade in 1965.[3] He next transferred to the Operations Division of Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe in 1967 and was appointed General Officer Commanding Yorkshire District in 1969.[3] Finally he was appointed Commandant of the British Sector in Berlin in 1970: he retired in 1973.[3]
In retirement from the British Army, Cathcart became a Deputy Speaker of the House of Lords.[3]
Family
editIn 1946 Cathcart married Rosemary Clare Marie Gabrielle Smyth-Osborne. They had one son and two daughters.[1] Following the death of his first wife, he married Marie Isobel Weldon in 1984.[1]
References
edit- ^ a b c Debrett's People of Today 1994
- ^ "No. 34745". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 December 1939. p. 8088.
- ^ a b c d e f g Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives