Balfour Oliphant Hutchison
| Sir Balfour Hutchison | |
|---|---|
| Born |
12 February 1889 Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland |
| Died |
26 April 1967 (aged 78) Rendham, Suffolk, England |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1909–1945 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Unit |
Royal Artillery 7th Hussars |
| Commands held | 10th Royal Hussars |
| Battles/wars |
World War I World War II |
| Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire Companion of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in dispatches (10) |
Lieutenant General Sir Balfour Oliphant Hutchison KBE, CB (12 February 1889 – 26 April 1967) was a Scottish soldier active in World War II.
Early life and military career
Born on 12 February 1889, Hutchison was the son of Alexander Hutchison, of Braehead, Kirkcaldy, Fife. His older brother, Robert, later became a politician and a senior officer in the British Army.[1] After attending Uppingham School, Hutchison received a commission in the Royal Artillery Supplementary Reserve in 1909.[2] In 1911 Hutchison transferred to the 7th Hussars and, during World War I, he served with his regiment in Mesopotamian campaign, and was mentioned in dispatches four times.[2]
Between the wars
Remaining in the army during the interwar period, he attended the Staff College, Camberley as a student from 1923 to 1924, and his fellow students included Montagu Stopford, Michael Gambier-Parry, Dudley Johnson, Arthur Percival, Frederick Pile, Edmond Schreiber and John Smyth.[3] From 1935 to 1937 he was Commanding Officer (CO) of the 10th Royal Hussars.[4]
World War II
He was invested as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1940, when he was Deputy Quartermaster-General, Middle East.[4] He was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath in 1941. He gained the rank of major general on 17 January 1942, when he was GOC Sudan & Eritrea.[4] He gained the rank of honorary lieutenant general on 10 December 1945 upon retirement as Quartermaster-General, Army Headquarters India.[4] He was invested as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in 1946.[1]
Personal life
Sir Balfour Hutchison married Audrey Jervis-White-Jervis, daughter of Herbert Jervis-White-Jervis and Beatrice Ruggles-Brise, on 28 January 1920.[2] They had 5 children. He lived at Rendham Court, Rendham, Saxmundham, Suffolk, England, where he also died on 26 April 1967.[1]
References
Bibliography
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.