Military Wiki
(Robert) Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott
Born (1897-08-21)August 21, 1897
Died December 15, 1966(1966-12-15) (aged 69)
Place of birth India
Place of death Montrose
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch Flag of the British Army British Army
Years of service 1913–45
Rank Major General
Unit Black Watch
Awards - CB
- CBE
DSO
MC
Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA)
Other work Lord Lieutenant, Kincardineshire

Major General Robert Keith Arbuthnott, 15th Viscount of Arbuthnott CB, CBE, DSO, MC, DL. (21 August 1897 – 15 December 1966).

He was educated at Fettes College and RMC Sandhurst. He served in both World Wars and was mentioned in despatches. His major wartime appointments include Palestine 1938–1939 (despatches), GSO(2) Staff College 1938, commander of the 11th Infantry Brigade in Italy 1943–1944 and the 78th Infantry Division 1944–1946. After the war, he served as Chief of the British Military Mission to the Egyptian Army in 1946, Chief of Staff of the Scottish Command in 1948–1949, Commander of the Highland District and 51st (Highland) Infantry Division (Territorial Army) 1949–52, and retired in 1952 as a Major General.[citation needed]

Arms Viscount of Arbuthnott (entire)

Coat of Arms of the Viscounts of Arbuthnott

Education[]

War service[]

  • 14 July 1915   commissioned into the Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment)
  • 1915–1918   served World War I (France & Belgium, 19 September 1916 – 18 April 1918) (wounded)
  • 3 December 1917 – 16 January 1918   Company Commander, The Black Watch
  • March 1931   student, Junior Division, Staff College, Camberley
  • 21 January 1933 – 6 December 1934   Adjutant, 2nd Battalion The Black Watch (UK)
  • 7 December 1934 – 15 October 1936   General Staff Officer 3rd grade (GSO3), War Office
  • 16 October 1936 – 18 December 1937   Brigade Major, 7th Infantry Brigade (Southern Command, UK)
  • 16 December 1938 – 17 June 1940   General Staff Officer 2nd grade (GSO2), Staff College, Camberley (temporary; local Lt.Col.)
  • 4 August 1941 – 18 June 1942   Colonel General Staff
  • 19 June 1942 – 9 May 1943   Brigadier General Staff
  • 10 May 1943 – 24 September 1943   Commander, 198th Infantry Brigade (UK)
  • 29 September 1943 – 10 October 1944   Commander, 11th Infantry Brigade (Italy, Egypt, Italy), also:
  • 9 July 1944 – 30 July 1944   acting General Officer Commanding, 78th Infantry Division (Italy, Egypt)
  • 1 August 1944 – 21 August 1944   acting General Officer Commanding, 78th Infantry Division (Egypt)
  • 10 October 1944 – 17 November 1944   acting General Officer Commanding, 78th Infantry Division (Italy, Egypt)
  • 17 November 1944 – 1945   General Officer Commanding, 78th Infantry Division (Italy, Austria)
  • 1946–1947   Chief of British Military Mission to the Egyptian Army
  • 1948–1949   Chief of Staff, Scottish Command
  • 1949 – 1 November 1952   General Officer Commanding, 51st (Highland) Infantry Division, Territorial Army and Highland District
  • 1 November 1952 – 21 August 1957   Regular Army Reserve of Officers
  • Honorary Colonel of The Black Watch (Territorial Army), 20 June 1952-19??
  • Colonel of The Black Watch, 31 March 1960 – 1 June 1964

Military ranks[]

  • 2nd Lieutenant   14 July 1915 [13522]
  • Lieutenant   15 January 1917
  • A/Captain   3 December 1917 – 16 January 1918, 17 February 1918 – 10 July 1919
  • Captain   2 January 1924
  • Major   1 August 1938
  • A/Lt.Colonel   18 June 1940 – 17 September 1940
  • T/Lt.Colonel   18 September 1940 – 3 February 1942
  • WS/Lt.Colonel   4 February 1942
  • Lt.Colonel   1 October 1944
  • A/Colonel   4 August 1941 – 3 February 1942
  • T/Colonel   4 February 1942 – 1 January 1945
  • Colonel   2 January 1945
  • A/Brigadier   19 June 1942 – 18 December 1942
  • T/Brigadier   19 December 1942 – 9 October 1945
  • A/Maj.General   10 October 1944 – 9 October 1945
  • T/Maj.General   10 October 1945
  • Maj.General   22 December 1946, seniority 27 March 1945 (retd 29 November 1952)

Decorations[]

Titles[]

  • Colonel of the Black Watch (RHR; 1960–1964)
  • Awarded the Commander of the Legion of Merit (USA)
  • Deputy Lieutenant (DL), Kincardineshire (1959)
  • Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire (1960–1966)

Family[]

Lord Arbuthnott married, 10 January 1924, Ursula Collingwood (died 20 December 1989), daughter of Sir William Collingwood, KBE of Dedham Grove, Colchester, Essex. They had three sons (including John Campbell Arbuthnott, 16th Viscount of Arbuthnott, KT who succeeded him) and one daughter.

References[]

  • Bing, Hon Mrs Christy (1999). The Lairds of Arbuthnott. Agnate Press. ISBN 0-9535923-0-8. 

Footnotes[]

External links[]

Honorary titles
Preceded by
The Viscount of Arbuthnott
Lord Lieutenant of Kincardineshire
1960–1966
Succeeded by
Geoffrey Saunders
Peerage of Scotland
Preceded by
John Ogilvy Arbuthnott
Viscount of Arbuthnott
1960–1966
Succeeded by
John Campbell Arbuthnott
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