William Scotter: Difference between revisions

Sir William Scotter
Sir William Scotter
Nickname(s)	Bill
Born	9 February 1922; Birkenhead, Cheshire, England
Died	5 February 1981 (aged 58); Chelsea, London, England
Buried	Aldershot Military Cemetery
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service / branch	British Indian Army; British Army
Years of service	1941–1981
Rank	General
Service number	325998
Unit	Scots Guards; 7th Gurkha Rifles
Commands	British Army of the Rhine (1978–80); 19th Infantry Brigade (1967–69); 1st Battalion King's Own Royal Border Regiment (1965–67)
Battles / wars	Second World War; Malayan Emergency
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath; Officer of the Order of the British Empire; Military Cross

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General Sir William Norman Roy Scotter, KCB, OBE, MC (9 February 1922 – 5 February 1981) was a senior British Army officer who served as commander-in-chief, British Army of the Rhine from September 1978 until October 1980.

Early life and education

William (Bill) Scotter was born in Birkenhead, Wirral on 9 February 1922, the son of Claude Norman Scotter (born Ulverston, Cumbria in 1889, died 1978 in Hampshire) and Hilda Marie Scotter (née Turner; 1892–1948). He had two brothers and one sister. Scotter was the grandson of Canon William Henry Scotter, one time vicar at Ulverston and his wife Emma Gordon Dill. He was also the great-nephew of Sir Charles Scotter, chairman and managing director of the London and South Western Railway. Scotter was educated at St. Bees School, Cumberland.

Military career

Second World War

In June 1941 Scotter enlisted in the British Army and served in ranks of the Scots Guards.^[1] By 1942 he had attained the rank of lance corporal. After attending the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, he was emergency commissioned into the 7th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army on 26 November 1942.^[1] He served with the 7th Gurkha Rifles in India from 1943 until 1944, first as temporary captain, then as lieutenant. He later served in Burma from 1944 until 1945.^[1] It was for his actions in Burma on the night of 28 February 1945 at Meiktila as a company commander, where he was wounded, that he was awarded the Military Cross, serving as a temporary major with 1st battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles.^[2]

Rise to senior command

Having returned to England, Scotter was transferred from the Indian Army to the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment in 1945, as a Regular officer.^[1]^[3] After service in Malaya with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles from 1948 to 1951, and graduating from Staff College, Camberley, he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion King's Own Royal Border Regiment.^[1] By July 1967 he had been promoted to brigadier and been appointed commander of 19th Infantry Brigade.^[1] In 1965 was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, and in 1970 he was promoted to major general and appointed Chief of Staff Headquarters Southern Command.^[1] In 1972 he became Chief of Staff at Headquarters UK Land Forces.^[1] By this time he was also colonel of the King's Own Royal Border Regiment. Later in 1972 he became director of military operations at the Ministry of Defence.^[1]

Scotter was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1975,^[4] and promoted to Vice Chief of the General Staff at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall in the rank of lieutenant general.^[1] In 1976 he became colonel commandant of the Army Physical Training Corps Aldershot. From September 1978 was promoted to general, as commander-in-chief, British Army of the Rhine, a role he held until October 1980,^[1] when he was replaced by General Sir Michael Gow.

Death and memorials

Headstone of Sir William Scotter in Aldershot Military Cemetery

Scotter was appointed to become Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in April 1981. But he died on 5 February before he had the opportunity to take up this appointment. He was buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery with full military honours.

A plaque to Scotter's memory is displayed in the Kings Own Border Regiment Chapel in Carlisle Cathedral. His uniform and medals are displayed in Cumbria's Museum of Military Life in Carlisle Castle.

References

^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
^ London Gazette 2 August 1945
^ London Gazette 27 April 1945
^ "No. 46593". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1975. p. 7370.

External links

Scotter family site

Military offices
Preceded by Sir David Fraser	Vice Chief of the General Staff 1975–1978	Succeeded by Sir John Stanier
Preceded by Sir Frank King	Commander-in-Chief of the British Army of the Rhine 1978–1980	Succeeded by Sir Michael Gow

[lh-1] ^ ^a ^b ^c ^d ^e ^f ^g ^h ⁱ ^j ^k Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives

[2] London Gazette 2 August 1945

[3] London Gazette 27 April 1945

[4] "No. 46593". The London Gazette (Supplement). 6 June 1975. p. 7370.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
+{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2022}}
 {{Infobox military person
 | name          = Sir William Scotter
-| image         =[[Image:WilliamScotterGrave.JPG|250px]]
+| image         =
+| image_size    =
-| caption       =Headstone of Sir William Scotter in Aldershot Military Cemetery
-| birth_date          =1922
+| alt           =
-| death_date          =5 February 1981
+| caption       =
+| nickname      = Bill
-| placeofburial_label =
+| birth_date    = {{birth date|1922|02|09|df=yes}}
-| placeofburial =[[Aldershot Military Cemetery]]
-| birth_place  =[[Birkenhead]], Wirral
+| birth_place   = [[Birkenhead]], [[Cheshire]], England
+| death_date    = {{death date and age|1981|02|05|1922|02|09|df=yes}}
-| death_place  =
+| death_place   = [[Chelsea, London]], England
-| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
+| placeofburial = [[Aldershot Military Cemetery]]
-| nickname      =
-| allegiance    ={{flagicon|United Kingdom}} [[United Kingdom]]
+| allegiance    = United Kingdom
-| branch        =[[Image:Flag of the British Army.svg|23px]] [[British Army]]
+| branch        = [[British Indian Army]]<br/>[[British Army]]
-| serviceyears  =
+| serviceyears  = 1941–1981
-| rank          =[[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
+| rank          = [[General (United Kingdom)|General]]
+| servicenumber = 325998
-| unit          =
+| unit          = [[Scots Guards]]<br>[[7th Gurkha Rifles]]
-| commands      =1st Battalion the [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]]<br>[[19th Light Brigade (United Kingdom)|19th Infantry Brigade]]<br>[[British Army of the Rhine]]
+| commands      = [[British Army of the Rhine]] (1978–80)<br/>[[19th Light Brigade (United Kingdom)|19th Infantry Brigade]] (1967–69)<br/>1st Battalion [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]] (1965–67)
-| battles       =
-| awards        =[[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]]<br>[[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]]<br>[[Military Cross]]
+| battles       = [[Second World War]]<br/>[[Malayan Emergency]]
+| awards        = [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]]<br/>[[Military Cross]]
 | relations     =
 | laterwork     =
+}}
-}}[[General]] '''Sir William Norman Roy Scotter''', [[Order of the Bath|KCB]], [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], [[Military Cross|MC]] (1922 &ndash; February 5, 1981) was [[Commander-in-Chief]], [[British Army of the Rhine]], from September 1978 until October 1980.
+[[General (United Kingdom)|General]] '''Sir William Norman Roy Scotter''', {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|KCB|OBE|MC}} (9 February 1922 – 5 February 1981) was a senior [[British Army]] officer who served as [[commander-in-chief]], [[British Army of the Rhine]] from September 1978 until October 1980.
-==Early years==
+==Early life and education==
-William (Bill) Scotter was born in Birkenhead, Wirral on 2 February 1922, the son of Claude Norman Scotter (born Ulverston, Cumbria in 1889, died 1978 in Hampshire) and Hilda Marie Scotter (née Turner)(1892–1948).  He had two brothers and one sister.  William was the grandson of Canon William Henry Scotter, one time Vicar at Ulverston and his wife Emma Gordon Dill.  William was also the great nephew of Sir Charles Scotter, Baron Walford, Chairman and Managing Director of the London and South Western Railway.
+William (Bill) Scotter was born in [[Birkenhead]], Wirral on 9 February 1922, the son of Claude Norman Scotter (born [[Ulverston]], Cumbria in 1889, died 1978 in Hampshire) and Hilda Marie Scotter ({{nee}} Turner; 1892–1948). He had two brothers and one sister. Scotter was the grandson of Canon William Henry Scotter, one time vicar at Ulverston and his wife Emma Gordon Dill. He was also the great-nephew of [[Scotter baronets|Sir Charles Scotter]], chairman and managing director of the London and South Western Railway. Scotter was educated at [[St. Bees School]], Cumberland.
+==Military career==
-He was educated at [[St. Bees School]], Cumberland. In June 1941 He joined and served in ranks of the [[Scots Guards]].<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/SCOTTER.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> In 1942 attained the rank of [[Lance Corporal]] after attending the Royal Military Academy, [[Dehra Dun]], [[India]], and was commissioned into 7 Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army.<ref name=lh/> He served with the [[Gurkha Rifles]] in India from 1943 until 1944, first as temporary Captain, then as [[lieutenant]].  Then later in [[Burma]] from 1944 until 1945<ref name=lh/> when he was wounded in action. It was for his actions in Burma that he was awarded the [[Military Cross|MC]].
+===Second World War===
+In June 1941 Scotter enlisted in the [[British Army]] and served in ranks of the [[Scots Guards]].<ref name=lh>[http://www.kcl.ac.uk/lhcma/locreg/SCOTTER.shtml Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives]</ref> By 1942 he had attained the rank of [[lance corporal]]. After attending the Indian Military Academy, [[Dehra Dun]], he was emergency commissioned into the [[7th Gurkha Rifles]], Indian Army on 26 November 1942.<ref name=lh/> He served with the 7th Gurkha Rifles in India from 1943 until 1944, first as temporary captain, then as [[lieutenant]]. He later served in [[Burma]] from 1944 until 1945.<ref name=lh/> It was for his actions in Burma on the night of 28 February 1945 at Meiktila as a company commander, where he was wounded, that he was awarded the [[Military Cross]], serving as a temporary major with 1st battalion, 7th Gurkha Rifles.<ref>London Gazette 2 August 1945</ref>
+===Rise to senior command===
-==England==
+[[File:Memorial to General Sir William Scotter.jpg|thumb|Memorial in [[Carlisle Cathedral]]]]
-Having returned to England, he was transferred from the [[Indian Army]] to the 2nd Battalion [[The Border Regiment|Border Regiment]] in 1946, initially as a Regular Officer.<ref name=lh/> After service in [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] with the 1st Battalion, 2 Gurkha Rifles, from 1948 to 1951 and graduating from Staff College, [[Camberley]], [[Surrey]], he was Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion the [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]]<ref name=lh/> and by July 1967 he was promoted to [[Brigadier]] and had been appointed commander of [[19th Light Brigade (United Kingdom)|19th Infantry Brigade]].<ref name=lh/> In 1965 was awarded the [[Order of the British Empire|OBE]], and in 1970 he was promoted to [[Major General]] and appointed Chief of Staff Headquarters [[Southern Command (United Kingdom)|Southern Command]].<ref name=lh/> In 1972 he became Chief of Staff at Headquarters [[Commander Land Forces|UK Land Forces]].<ref name=lh/> By this time he was also [[Colonel]] of the [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]]. Later in 1972 he became Director of Military Operations at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name=lh/>
+Having returned to England, Scotter was transferred from the Indian Army to the 2nd Battalion [[The Border Regiment|Border Regiment]] in 1945, as a Regular officer.<ref name=lh/><ref>London Gazette 27 April 1945</ref> After service in [[Federation of Malaya|Malaya]] with the 1st Battalion, [[2nd Gurkha Rifles]] from 1948 to 1951, and graduating from [[Staff College, Camberley]], he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]].<ref name=lh/> By July 1967 he had been promoted to [[brigadier]] and been appointed commander of [[19th Light Brigade (United Kingdom)|19th Infantry Brigade]].<ref name=lh/> In 1965 was appointed an [[Officer of the Order of the British Empire]], and in 1970 he was promoted to [[major general]] and appointed Chief of Staff Headquarters [[Southern Command (United Kingdom)|Southern Command]].<ref name=lh/> In 1972 he became Chief of Staff at Headquarters [[Commander Land Forces|UK Land Forces]].<ref name=lh/> By this time he was also [[colonel]] of the [[King's Own Royal Border Regiment]]. Later in 1972 he became director of military operations at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]].<ref name=lh/>
-By 1975 William Scotter was appointed as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath ([[Order of the Bath|KCB]]), and promoted to [[List of senior officers of the British Army#Vice Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff|Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in [[Whitehall]] in the rank of Lieutenant General.<ref name=lh/>
+Scotter was appointed a [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] in 1975,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=46593|supp=y|page=7370|date=6 June 1975}}</ref> and promoted to [[Vice Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice Chief of the General Staff]] at the [[Ministry of Defence (United Kingdom)|Ministry of Defence]] in [[Whitehall]] in the rank of lieutenant general.<ref name=lh/> In 1976 he became colonel commandant of the [[Army Physical Training Corps]] [[Aldershot]]. From September 1978 was promoted to general, as [[commander-in-chief]], [[British Army of the Rhine]], a role he held until October 1980,<ref name=lh/> when he was replaced by General [[Michael Gow (British Army officer)|Sir Michael Gow]].
+==Death and memorials==
-In 1976 he became Colonel Commandant of the [[Army Physical Training Corps]] [[Aldershot]]. From September 1978 was promoted to General, as [[Commander-in-Chief]], [[British Army of the Rhine]], a role he held until October 1980<ref name=lh/> when he was replaced by General Sir [[Michael Gow (British Army officer)|Michael Gow]], KCB, ADC.
+[[File:WilliamScotterGrave.JPG|thumb|Headstone of Sir William Scotter in Aldershot Military Cemetery]]
+Scotter was appointed to become [[Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] (DSACEUR) in April 1981. But he died on 5 February before he had the opportunity to take up this appointment. He was buried at [[Aldershot Military Cemetery]] with full military honours.
+A plaque to Scotter's memory is displayed in the Kings Own Border Regiment Chapel in [[Carlisle Cathedral]]. His uniform and medals are displayed in [http://www.cumbriasmuseumofmilitarylife.org/ Cumbria's Museum of Military Life] in [[Carlisle Castle]].
-==Death==
-He was appointed to become [[Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe]] (DSACEUR) in April 1981 . But he died in February 1981 before he had the opportunity to take up this appointment. He was buried at [[Aldershot Military Cemetery]] with full military honours.
-==Memorials==
-* A plaque to his memory is displayed in the Kings Own Border Regiment Chapel in [[Carlisle Cathedral]]
-* His uniform and medals are displayed in the Kings Own Border Regiment Museum in [[Carlisle Castle]].
 ==References==
@@ Line 50: / Line 53: @@
 {{s-start}}
 {{s-mil}}
-{{succession box | title = [[List of senior officers of the British Army#Vice Chiefs of the Imperial General Staff|Vice Chief of the Imperial General Staff]] | before =[[David William Fraser|Sir David Fraser]] | after =[[John Wilfred Stanier|Sir John Stanier]] | years = 1975&ndash;1978}}
+{{succession box | title = [[Vice Chief of the General Staff (United Kingdom)|Vice Chief of the General Staff]] | before =[[David Fraser (British Army officer)|Sir David Fraser]] | after =[[John Stanier (British Army officer)|Sir John Stanier]] | years = 1975–1978}}
 |-
-{{succession box|title=[[Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[British Army of the Rhine]]|years=1978&ndash;1984|before=[[Frank King (British Army officer)|Sir Frank King]]|after=[[Michael Gow (British Army officer)|Sir Michael Gow]]}}
+{{succession box|title=[[Commander-in-Chief]] of the [[British Army of the Rhine]]|years=1978–1980|before=[[Frank King (British Army officer)|Sir Frank King]]|after=[[Michael Gow (British Army officer)|Sir Michael Gow]]}}
 {{end}}
-{{Persondata <!-- Metadata: see [[Wikipedia:Persondata]]. -->
-| NAME              = Scotter, William
-| ALTERNATIVE NAMES = Bill Scotter, General Bill, Colonel Bill
-| SHORT DESCRIPTION =
-| DATE OF BIRTH     = 1922
-| PLACE OF BIRTH    = [[Birkenhead]], Wirral
-| DATE OF DEATH     = 5 February 1981
-| PLACE OF DEATH    = London
-}}
 {{DEFAULTSORT:Scotter, William}}
 [[Category:1922 births]]
@@ Line 69: / Line 63: @@
 [[Category:Scots Guards soldiers]]
 [[Category:King's Own Royal Border Regiment officers]]
-[[Category:British Indian Army officers]]
+[[Category:Royal Gurkha Rifles officers]]
 [[Category:British Army generals]]
 [[Category:Burials at Aldershot Military Cemetery]]
@@ Line 75: / Line 69: @@
 [[Category:Officers of the Order of the British Empire]]
 [[Category:Recipients of the Military Cross]]
-[[Category:Old St. Beghians]]
+[[Category:People educated at St Bees School]]
-[[Category:People from Birkenhead]]
+[[Category:Military personnel from Birkenhead]]
 [[Category:British Army personnel of the Malayan Emergency]]
 [[Category:Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley]]
+[[Category:British Army personnel of World War II]]
+[[Category:Indian Army personnel of World War II]]
+[[Category:British expatriates in Germany]]
+[[Category:British people in colonial India]]