13 Facts About Victor Fortune

Victor Fortune saw service in both World War I and World War II.

Victor Fortune commanded the 51st Infantry Division during the Battle of France and was trapped and obliged to surrender to the Germans on 12 June 1940.

The battalion sailed to France in August 1914, where Victor Fortune saw initial action during The Retreat from Mons and the First Battle of the Marne.

Victor Fortune served as battalion adjutant until 30 September 1915, when he was appointed as brigade major to the 1st Infantry Brigade, serving in this key role during the costly Battle of Loos.

Victor Fortune returned to the 1st Battalion, The Black Watch almost exactly a year later on 16 September 1916 when, as an acting lieutenant colonel, he was appointed commanding officer during the Battle of the Somme.

Victor Fortune led the battalion competently through final stages of the Battle of the Somme and the later Battle of Passchendaele before a transfer to command the Fourth Army Musketry School in January 1918.

Victor Fortune was commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade in March 1932 and became aide-de-camp to King George V in April 1934, in succession to Brigadier Bertram Sergison-Brooke, and was promoted to major general in January 1935.

Victor Fortune relinquished command of his brigade in April 1935 and was placed on half-pay until being made general officer commanding of the 52nd Infantry Division in September 1935.

Victor Fortune commanded the division, a Territorial Army formation, until August 1936 when he again went on half-pay, before becoming commander of South Western Area in April 1937.

Victor Fortune was GOC of the 51st Infantry Division, another TA formation, in 1937.

Victor Fortune spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war.

Victor Fortune suffered a stroke in 1944 but refused repatriation.

Victor Fortune was finally liberated in April 1945 and made KBE shortly after.