Oswald Borrett

Lieutenant-General Sir Oswald Cuthbert Borrett, KCB, CMG, CBE, DSO & Bar (4 March 1878 – 28 July 1950) was a British Army officer who served as Commander of British Troops in China and Lieutenant of the Tower of London.

Oswald Borrett
Born(1878-03-04)4 March 1878
Gibraltar
Died28 July 1950(1950-07-28) (aged 72)
Guildford, Surrey
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Army
Years of service1898–1938
1940–1941
RankLieutenant-General
Commands heldBritish Troops in China
46th (North Midland) Division
British Troops in the Shanghai Area
7th Indian Infantry Brigade
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
First World War
North-West Frontier
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George
Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order & Bar

Early life and family

Borrett was born in Gibraltar, the fifth son of Major General Herbert Cuthbert Borrett. He was educated at Wellington College and Royal Military College Sandhurst.[1]

In 1903, he married Blanche Mary Murray, daughter of Colonel Alexander Murray.[1] His brother, Harold Giles Borrett, married actress Marie Studholme in 1908.[2]

Military career

Borrett was commissioned into the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) as a second lieutenant on 7 May 1898.[3] He served in the Second Boer War as a special service officer, was promoted to lieutenant on 5 February 1900,[4][5] and to captain on 22 January 1902.[6] After the end of the war in South Africa, he returned to a regular posting with his regiment in August 1902.[7] He then became Adjutant in the Indian Volunteers in 1911.[3]

He also served in the First World War and then went out to the North-West Frontier in India in September 1920.[3] He became Colonel Commandant of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade in June 1923.[3] He was appointed Commander of British Troops in the Shanghai Area of China in August 1927, General Officer Command 46th (North Midland) Division in May 1931 and Commander of British Troops in China in December 1932 before retiring in 1938.[3]

During the Second World War he was appointed Inspector of Prisoners.[8]

He also became Lieutenant of the Tower of London in April 1936 (until 1939) and Aide-de-camp to the King[3] as well as Colonel of the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (1926–1945).[3]

He retired to Lowood House in Rockshaw Road in Reigate.[9]

Borrett Road in Mid-Levels in Hong Kong is named after him.[10]

References
  1. "Sir Oswald Borrett". The Times. 29 July 1950. p. 6.
  2. "Marie Studholme Wedded", The New York Times, 12 September 1908, p. 4c
  3. "Borrett, Oswald". Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives. Archived from the original on 24 September 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2020.
  4. "No. 27168". The London Gazette. 23 February 1900. p. 1258.
  5. "No. 27173". The London Gazette. 13 March 1900. p. 1711.
  6. "No. 27423". The London Gazette. 8 April 1902. p. 2336.
  7. "No. 27482". The London Gazette. 14 October 1902. p. 6495.
  8. Prison Director gives up post Spokane Daily Chronicle, 23 September 1941
  9. Rockshaw Road
  10. "Historic Building Appraisal: No. 99F Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong" (PDF).
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