Sir Chandos Blair | |
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Born | 25 February 1919 |
Died | 22 January 2011 Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland |
(aged 91)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Years of service | 1939–1976 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Commands held | 4th Btn King's African Rifles 2nd Division Scotland |
Battles/wars | World War II |
Awards | Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire Military Cross & Bar |
Lieutenant General Sir Chandos Blair KCVO OBE MC & Bar (25 February 1919 – 22 January 2011) was General Officer Commanding Scotland.
Educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Blair was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders in 1939.[1] He served in World War II with the 2nd and 7th Battalions of his regiment.[1] His regiment was forced to surrender at Dunkirk, and he became a prisoner of war at the Oflag V-B camp at Biberach in Baden-Württemberg.[2] He escaped to Switzerland and from there to Spain and to Gibraltar. As such he was the first officer to return home after escaping from a prisoner of war camp.[3] Blair was awarded the Military Cross for his exploits.[2]
In 1959, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 4th Bn the King's African Rifles.[1] He was made General Officer Commanding 2nd Division in British Army of the Rhine in 1968 and then became Defence Services Secretary in 1970.[1] His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding Scotland and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1972; in that capacity, Prime Minister Harold Wilson dispatched him as a Special Envoy to secure the release of Denis Hills, a British subject held on spying charges by President Idi Amin of Uganda.[4] Blair retired in 1976.[1]
In 1947 he married Audrey Mary Travers; they went on to have one son and one daughter.[1]
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by John Sharp |
General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division 1968–1970 |
Succeeded by Rollo Pain |
Preceded by Sir Henry Leask |
GOC Scotland 1972–1976 |
Succeeded by Sir David Scott-Barrett |