11 Facts About Robert Gordon-Finlayson

Robert Gordon-Finlayson was promoted to lieutenant on 3 April 1901, and was attached to 131 Battery of the Royal Artillery, stationed at Chatham.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson vacated his appointment with the Imperial Yeomanry on 1 August 1902, and returned to the Royal Artillery.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in 1915.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson became Deputy Assistant Adjutant General, 1 Army Corps in 1916 and then General Staff Officer to a Special Mission to Russia in 1917.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson then became an instructor at the Senior Officer School in 1919 before attending the Staff College, Camberley and being appointed Military Assistant to Chief of the Imperial General Staff in 1921.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson went on to be a General Staff Officer at the War Office in 1922 and joined the Staff College in 1925.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson was promoted to general in 1937 and was appointed General Officer Commanding-in-Chief the British Troops in Egypt in 1938.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson was responsible for the Army Council introducing a colour bar, whereby only those of pure European ancestry could be commissioned as officers.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson became General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Western Command in 1940, from which post retired in 1941.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson was Colonel Commandant of the Royal Artillery from 1936 to 1946 and Colonel Commandant of the Royal Horse Artillery from 1937 to 1947.

Robert Gordon-Finlayson was a Deputy Lieutenant for Suffolk, and lived in Kersey.