Lieutenant-General Lieutenant general (Lt Gen, LTG and similar) is a three-star military rank (NATO code OF-8) used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages, where the title of lieutenant general was held by the second-in-command on the ...

Sir Oswald Cuthbert Borrett, (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.

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

Military career

Borrett was commissioned into the King's Own (Royal Lancaster Regiment) as a

second lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

on 7 May 1898. He served in the Second Boer War as a special service officer, was promoted to lieutenant on 5 February 1900, and to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

on 22 January 1902. After the end of the war in South Africa, he returned to a regular posting with his regiment in August 1902. He then became

Adjutant Adjutant is a military appointment given to an officer who assists the commanding officer with unit administration, mostly the management of human resources in an army unit. The term is used in French-speaking armed forces as a non-commission ...

in the Indian Volunteers in 1911. He also served in the First World War and then went out to the North-West Frontier in India in September 1920. He became Colonel Commandant of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade in June 1923. He was appointed

Commander Commander (commonly abbreviated as Cmdr.) is a common naval officer rank. Commander is also used as a rank or title in other formal organizations, including several police forces. In several countries this naval rank is termed frigate captain. ...

of British Troops in the Shanghai Area of China in August 1927, General Officer Command

46th (North Midland) Division The 46th (North Midland) Division was an infantry division of the British Army, part of the Territorial Force, that saw service in the First World War. At the outbreak of the war, the 46th Division was commanded by Major-General Hon. E.J. Monta ...

in May 1931 and Commander of British Troops in China in December 1932 before retiring in 1938. During the Second World War he was appointed Inspector of Prisoners. He also became Lieutenant of the Tower of London in April 1936 (until 1939) and '' Aide-de-camp'' to

the King In the British English-speaking world, The King refers to: * Charles III (born 1948), King of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms since 2022 As a nickname * Michael Jackson (1958–2009), American singer and pop icon, nicknamed "T ...

as well as Colonel of the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (1926–1945). He retired to Lowood House in Rockshaw Road in Reigate. Borrett Road in Mid-Levels in Hong Kong is named after him.

References

, - , - {{DEFAULTSORT:Borrett, Oswald 1878 births 1950 deaths King's Own Royal Regiment officers British Army lieutenant generals Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Commanders of the Order of the British Empire Companions of the Distinguished Service Order British Army personnel of the Second Boer War People educated at Wellington College, Berkshire Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst British Army personnel of World War I Gibraltarians