16 Facts About Torquhil Matheson

Torquhil Matheson had previously served in the militia and with the Coldstream Guards in the Second Boer War.

Torquhil Matheson was born on 4 February 1871, the youngest child of Sir Alexander Matheson, 1st Baronet, and was educated at Eton College.

Torquhil Matheson inherited the baronetcy in 1944 when his four older brothers predeceased him and three nephews were all killed in action in the First World War.

Torquhil Matheson then married Lady Elizabeth Mary Gertrude Lucia Sophia Keppel, the youngest child of Arnold Keppel, 8th Earl of Albemarle.

On 2 June 1894, Torquhil Matheson transferred from the Bedfordshires, in which he was then a lieutenant, to the Coldstream Guards as a second lieutenant again, and was promoted lieutenant in that regiment on 1 December 1897.

Torquhil Matheson served in the Second Boer War, as adjutant of the 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards from 1899 until May 1902.

Torquhil Matheson was appointed regimental adjutant to the Coldstream Guards on 1 January 1903.

At the outbreak of the First World War in August 1914, Torquhil Matheson went with his regiment to France and fought in several actions, being promoted to the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel in February 1915 and taking command of the 3rd Battalion.

In July 1915, Torquhil Matheson was advanced to the temporary rank of brigadier general and placed in command of the 46th Brigade, part of the 15th Division.

Torquhil Matheson remained commanding the 46th Brigade until March 1917, when he was promoted to major general and was made general officer commanding of the 20th Division.

In January 1918, Torquhil Matheson was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath and the following year was awarded the Croix de Guerre and appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George on relinquishing command of the Guards Division, which saw him relinquish his temporary rank of major general and revert to brevet colonel.

Torquhil Matheson was granted his major general's rank, now made permanent, in June and in January 1920 was given a temporary appointment in the command of a division.

Torquhil Matheson then became GOC of the 54th Division, a Territorial Army formation, in February 1927.

Torquhil Matheson was promoted to lieutenant general in June 1930.

Torquhil Matheson gave up this appointment in September of that year, and, on 30 June 1931, Matheson was appointed to his last command, as general officer commanding-in-chief Western Command, India.

Torquhil Matheson himself died in November 1963, at the age of 92.