Edward Loch, 2nd Baron Loch
Encyclopedia
Major-General
Edward Douglas Loch, 2nd Baron Loch CB, CMG, DSO
, MVO (4 April 1873 – 14 August 1942) was a senior British Army
officer and peer.
After serving in Cape Colonial Forces
in South Africa he joined the Grenadier Guards
in 1893. He first saw active service in the Sudan Campaign in 1898, receiving the first of many decorations. He served on the staff during the Second Boer War
, and was further honoured. In 1911, in addition to his army duties, he became a member of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. During the First World War, he initially continued to serve in staff positions, but commanded a brigade later in the war before returning to the staff. He received further decorations, both British and foreign.
After his retirement from the army in 1922, he became Deputy Lieutenant
of Suffolk
and undertook various other public and charitable duties. He was also Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
and chairman of the Greyhound Racing Association
.
, and his wife Elizabeth Villiers, daughter of the Hon. EE Villiers and niece of the 4th Earl of Clarendon. He was educated at Winchester College
. He then went to the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope and served in the locally raised militia, the Cape Colonial Forces
, rising to the rank of lieutenant
. He transferred to the regular British Army on 3 May 1893 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
in the Grenadier Guards
. He was promoted to lieutenant on 12 May 1897. He fought in the Sudan Campaign in 1898, being Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the Battle of Omdurman
, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order
on 15 November 1898. He was also awarded the Khedive's Star and clasp.
. He was promoted captain
on 28 January 1900, this was subsequently backdated to 30 November 1899. He inherited the title Baron Loch
on the death of his father in 1900. He was Mentioned in Despatches again in April 1901, and on 19 April it was announced he would receive a brevet
promotion to major, dated 29 November 1900. He participated in the battles of Belmont
, Enslin, Modder River
and Magersfontein
, was badly wounded and received the Queen's South Africa Medal
with four clasps.
Loch returned to regimental duty on 23 January 1902, and was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order on 6 June 1902. He was appointed regimental adjutant
on 26 January 1903, and held the post until 1 July 1905. On 22 January 1908 he began the staff course at Staff College, Camberley
, and he was promoted substantive major on 15 August 1908. He was brigade major
of the 3rd Infantry Brigade from 12 April 1910 to 16 August 1911, when he became a General Staff Officer (GSO), Grade 2 at the War Office
. On 4 December 1911 he became Lord-in-Waiting
to King George V
and he received brevet lieutenant-colonelcy on 10 May 1913. He left the War Office on 12 April 1914, though he seems to have remained on the staff and on 16 December 1914 was appointed GSO Grade 1.
and had been appointed Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. He received a brevet colonelcy on 1 January 1916. He served as chief of staff in VI Corps
. He received the Croix d'Officier of the Légion d'Honneur
in 1917. On 22 July 1917 he was given command of 110th Infantry Brigade. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1918 New Year Honours
. He returned to the staff on 16 May 1918. He was promoted major-general "for valuable services rendered in connection with the War" in the 1919 New Year Honours. During the war he was Mentioned in Despatches a further five times.
of Suffolk on 27 February 1922, when he was living at Stoke College
, Stoke-by-Clare
, Suffolk. From 1924 to 1925 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
. He also became president of the Legion of Frontiersmen
. He was still in the Reserve of Officers at the outbreak of the Second World War, but was not recalled for service. However, when the Home Guard was formed, he served as an Area Commander, despite being over-age, and this position being equivalent in rank only to a brigadier.
In 1927, Loch became chairman of the Greyhound Racing Association
. In 1931 this involved him in the case of Mick the Miller
, which led to a controversial rerun of the Greyhound Derby
. He became Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard again in 1929. In 1931 he took part in the America's Cup
on the yacht Candide.
Loch had an estate in Suffolk and was alderman on West Suffolk
County Council. Other positions he held included chairman of the United Service Fund, chairman of governors of Dulwich College
and associate joint treasurer for University College, London.
Loch married Lady Margaret Louisa Lizzie Compton, daughter of William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton
, on 6 June 1905. They had two sons and three daughters, and he was succeeded by George Loch, 3rd Baron Loch. He died in a London hospital on 14 August 1942, his funeral service was at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks
, London on 20 August 1942, followed by burial at Stoke-by-Clare.
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Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
Edward Douglas Loch, 2nd Baron Loch CB, CMG, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MVO (4 April 1873 – 14 August 1942) was a senior British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer and peer.
After serving in Cape Colonial Forces
Cape Colonial Forces
The Cape Colonial Forces were the official defence organisation of the Cape Colony in South Africa. Established in 1855, they were taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1910, and disbanded when the Union Defence Forces were formed in 1912....
in South Africa he joined the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
in 1893. He first saw active service in the Sudan Campaign in 1898, receiving the first of many decorations. He served on the staff during the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, and was further honoured. In 1911, in addition to his army duties, he became a member of the Royal Household of the United Kingdom. During the First World War, he initially continued to serve in staff positions, but commanded a brigade later in the war before returning to the staff. He received further decorations, both British and foreign.
After his retirement from the army in 1922, he became Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Suffolk
Suffolk
Suffolk is a non-metropolitan county of historic origin in East Anglia, England. It has borders with Norfolk to the north, Cambridgeshire to the west and Essex to the south. The North Sea lies to the east...
and undertook various other public and charitable duties. He was also Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
and chairman of the Greyhound Racing Association
Greyhound Racing Association
The Greyhound Racing Association is a private company involved in the management of sports venues.It currently operates five sites:*Oxford Stadium*Wimbledon Stadium, London*Hall Green Stadium, Birmingham*Perry Barr Stadium, Birmingham...
.
Early life and military career
Loch was the son of Henry Loch, 1st Baron LochHenry Loch, 1st Baron Loch
Henry Brougham Loch, 1st Baron Loch GCB, GCMG was a Scottish soldier and colonial administrator.-Military service:He was the son of James Loch, Member of Parliament, of Drylaw, Midlothian...
, and his wife Elizabeth Villiers, daughter of the Hon. EE Villiers and niece of the 4th Earl of Clarendon. He was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
. He then went to the Colony of the Cape of Good Hope and served in the locally raised militia, the Cape Colonial Forces
Cape Colonial Forces
The Cape Colonial Forces were the official defence organisation of the Cape Colony in South Africa. Established in 1855, they were taken over by the Union of South Africa in 1910, and disbanded when the Union Defence Forces were formed in 1912....
, rising to the rank of lieutenant
First Lieutenant
First lieutenant is a military rank and, in some forces, an appointment.The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations , but the majority of cases it is common for it to be sub-divided into a senior and junior rank...
. He transferred to the regular British Army on 3 May 1893 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant
Second Lieutenant
Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces.- United Kingdom and Commonwealth :The rank second lieutenant was introduced throughout the British Army in 1871 to replace the rank of ensign , although it had long been used in the Royal Artillery, Royal...
in the Grenadier Guards
Grenadier Guards
The Grenadier Guards is an infantry regiment of the British Army. It is the most senior regiment of the Guards Division and, as such, is the most senior regiment of infantry. It is not, however, the most senior regiment of the Army, this position being attributed to the Life Guards...
. He was promoted to lieutenant on 12 May 1897. He fought in the Sudan Campaign in 1898, being Mentioned in Despatches for his part in the Battle of Omdurman
Battle of Omdurman
At the Battle of Omdurman , an army commanded by the British Gen. Sir Herbert Kitchener defeated the army of Abdullah al-Taashi, the successor to the self-proclaimed Mahdi Muhammad Ahmad...
, and awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
on 15 November 1898. He was also awarded the Khedive's Star and clasp.
Boer War
Loch was seconded from his regiment to the staff on 9 October 1899, serving as divisional signalling officer, South African Field Force in the Second Boer WarSecond Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He was promoted captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
on 28 January 1900, this was subsequently backdated to 30 November 1899. He inherited the title Baron Loch
Baron Loch
Baron Loch, of Drylaw in the County of Midlothian, was a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1895 for the soldier and colonial administrator Sir Henry Loch. He was the son of James Loch, Member of Parliament for Wick Burghs. Lord Loch was succeeded by his son, the second...
on the death of his father in 1900. He was Mentioned in Despatches again in April 1901, and on 19 April it was announced he would receive a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
promotion to major, dated 29 November 1900. He participated in the battles of Belmont
Battle of Belmont (1899)
The Battle of Belmont is the name of an engagement of the Second Boer War near the town of Belmont, 23 November 1899, where the British under Lord Methuen assaulted a Boer position on a kopje....
, Enslin, Modder River
Battle of Modder River
The Battle of Modder River was an engagement in the Boer War, fought at Modder River, on 28 November 1899...
and Magersfontein
Battle of Magersfontein
The Battle of MagersfonteinSpelt incorrectly in various English texts as "Majersfontein", "Maaghersfontein" and "Maagersfontein". was fought on 11 December 1899, at Magersfontein near Kimberley on the borders of the Cape Colony and the independent republic of the Orange Free State...
, was badly wounded and received the Queen's South Africa Medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
with four clasps.
Loch returned to regimental duty on 23 January 1902, and was appointed Member of the Royal Victorian Order on 6 June 1902. He was appointed regimental adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
on 26 January 1903, and held the post until 1 July 1905. On 22 January 1908 he began the staff course at Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
, and he was promoted substantive major on 15 August 1908. He was brigade major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
of the 3rd Infantry Brigade from 12 April 1910 to 16 August 1911, when he became a General Staff Officer (GSO), Grade 2 at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
. On 4 December 1911 he became Lord-in-Waiting
Lord-in-Waiting
Most Lords in Waiting are Government whips in the House of Lords who are members of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. As members of the Royal Household their duties are nominal, though they are occasionally required to meet visiting political and state leaders on visits...
to King George V
George V of the United Kingdom
George V was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 through the First World War until his death in 1936....
and he received brevet lieutenant-colonelcy on 10 May 1913. He left the War Office on 12 April 1914, though he seems to have remained on the staff and on 16 December 1914 was appointed GSO Grade 1.
First World War
The First World War was now underway and Loch was given substantive promotion to lieutenant-colonel on 13 March 1915. By 27 May he was a temporary brigadier-generalBrigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
and had been appointed Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George. He received a brevet colonelcy on 1 January 1916. He served as chief of staff in VI Corps
VI Corps (United Kingdom)
VI Corps was an army corps of the British Army in World War I. It was first organised in June 1915 and fought throughout on the Western Front.-Prior to World War I:...
. He received the Croix d'Officier of the Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
in 1917. On 22 July 1917 he was given command of 110th Infantry Brigade. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1918 New Year Honours
New Year Honours
The New Year Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the New Year annually in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen Elizabeth II...
. He returned to the staff on 16 May 1918. He was promoted major-general "for valuable services rendered in connection with the War" in the 1919 New Year Honours. During the war he was Mentioned in Despatches a further five times.
Retirement
Loch retired from the army in 1922. He was appointed a Deputy LieutenantDeputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of Suffolk on 27 February 1922, when he was living at Stoke College
Stoke College
Stoke College near Haverhill, Suffolk is a co-educational day school for children aged 3 to 16, with boarding for children aged 9 to 16. It is built on the site of a major medieval monastic college.- History of the site :...
, Stoke-by-Clare
Stoke-by-Clare
Stoke-by-Clare is a small village in Suffolk located in the valley of the River Stour, about two miles west of Clare.In 1124 Richard de Clare, 1st Earl of Hertford moved the Benedictine Priory that had been established at his castle in Clare to Stoke-by-Clare. The Priory, which was controlled by...
, Suffolk. From 1924 to 1925 he was Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
Captain of the Yeomen of the Guard
The Captain of the Queen's Bodyguard of the Yeomen of the Guard is a UK government post usually held by the Government Deputy Chief Whip in the House of Lords...
. He also became president of the Legion of Frontiersmen
Legion of Frontiersmen
The Legion of Frontiersmen is a paramilitary group formed in Britain in 1905 by Roger Pocock, a former Constable with the North-West Mounted Police and Boer War veteran, with its roots firmly set in another era, to bolster the defensive capacity of the British Empire...
. He was still in the Reserve of Officers at the outbreak of the Second World War, but was not recalled for service. However, when the Home Guard was formed, he served as an Area Commander, despite being over-age, and this position being equivalent in rank only to a brigadier.
In 1927, Loch became chairman of the Greyhound Racing Association
Greyhound Racing Association
The Greyhound Racing Association is a private company involved in the management of sports venues.It currently operates five sites:*Oxford Stadium*Wimbledon Stadium, London*Hall Green Stadium, Birmingham*Perry Barr Stadium, Birmingham...
. In 1931 this involved him in the case of Mick the Miller
Mick the Miller
Mick the Miller was a male brindle Greyhound. He is celebrated as the first great racing greyhound to compete in England. Despite a short three year racing career, his achievements were highly publicised around the world and by the end of his career he had become an icon in the sport...
, which led to a controversial rerun of the Greyhound Derby
English Greyhound Derby
The English Greyhound Derby, also known as the williamhill.com Greyhound Derby for sponsorship purposes, is the most prestigious race on the UK calendar, with a history stretching back to 1927...
. He became Captain of the Yeoman of the Guard again in 1929. In 1931 he took part in the America's Cup
America's Cup
The America’s Cup is a trophy awarded to the winner of the America's Cup match races between two yachts. One yacht, known as the defender, represents the yacht club that currently holds the America's Cup and the second yacht, known as the challenger, represents the yacht club that is challenging...
on the yacht Candide.
Loch had an estate in Suffolk and was alderman on West Suffolk
West Suffolk
West Suffolk was an administrative county of England created in 1889 from part of the county of Suffolk. It survived until 1974 when it was rejoined with East Suffolk. Its county town was Bury St Edmunds....
County Council. Other positions he held included chairman of the United Service Fund, chairman of governors of Dulwich College
Dulwich College
Dulwich College is an independent school for boys in Dulwich, southeast London, England. The college was founded in 1619 by Edward Alleyn, a successful Elizabethan actor, with the original purpose of educating 12 poor scholars as the foundation of "God's Gift". It currently has about 1,600 boys,...
and associate joint treasurer for University College, London.
Loch married Lady Margaret Louisa Lizzie Compton, daughter of William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton
William Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton
William George Spencer Scott Compton, 5th Marquess of Northampton, KG , known as Lord William Compton from 1877 to 1887 and as Earl Compton from 1887 to 1897, was a British peer and Liberal politician....
, on 6 June 1905. They had two sons and three daughters, and he was succeeded by George Loch, 3rd Baron Loch. He died in a London hospital on 14 August 1942, his funeral service was at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks
Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks
The Royal Military Chapel, St. James Park, known as the Guards Chapel, is the religious home of the Household Division at the Wellington Barracks in London. Built in 1838, the chapel was bombed during the Blitz in 1940/1941....
, London on 20 August 1942, followed by burial at Stoke-by-Clare.
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