Patrick Hore-Ruthven
Encyclopedia
Major The Honourable Alexander Hardinge Patrick Hore-Ruthven (30 August 1913 – 24 December 1942) was a British
soldier and poet.
Hore-Ruthven was born in Quetta
in India
. He was the only surviving child of Alexander Hore-Ruthven
and his wife, Zara Eileen née Pollok
.
He studied at Cambridge University from 1931. While rusticated
from Cambridge in 1932 due to a youthful indiscretion - he had bitten a policeman's nose - he met the society beauty Pamela Fletcher
during a stag hunt
on Exmoor
. Their mutual lack of money delayed their marriage. In the meantime, he joined the Rifle Brigade in 1933 after he graduated. He served in Malta for three years. His father was created Baron Gowrie
in 1935.
Hore-Ruthven and Pamela Fletcher were finally married at Westminster Abbey
on 4 January 1939, with her father, the Reverend Arthur Henry Fletcher, officiating. Their first son, Grey, was born on 26 November 1939.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Hore-Ruthven was posted to Cairo
. Leaving their infant son with her parents in Dublin, his wife followed him to Cairo, where she became friends with Freya Stark
and Jacqueline Lampson. She worked in Intelligence with the anti-Nazi Arab Brotherhood of Freedom, and he joined the newly-formed SAS
. His wife returned to Ireland
in 1942, where she gave birth to their second son, Malise
, on 14 May 1942. Promoted to Temporary Major, Hore-Ruthven died in Misurata Italian Hospital in Libya
, having been severely wounded in a raid on a fuel dump near Tripoli
. He was buried in the war cemetery in Tripoli. He was survived by his wife and two young sons, never having seen either.
After his death, his father
was created 1st Earl of Gowrie
in 1945, and his widow was styled Viscountess Ruthven of Canberra. She remarried, to Major Derek Cooper
, in 1949.
On Hore-Ruthven's father's death in May 1955, his elder son, Grey, succeeded as 2nd Earl of Gowrie.
Hore-Ruthven wrote several war poems which were published in Australian and English newspapers. A collection of his poems was published in Australia in 1943 under the title The Happy Warrior, with a preface written by his mother Lady Gowrie
, and republished in London in 1944 under the title Desert Warrior: Poems. His collected letters were published in London in 1950 under the title Joy of youth. A memorial fountain was constructed at Government House
in Canberra
.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier and poet.
Hore-Ruthven was born in Quetta
Quetta
is the largest city and the provincial capital of the Balochistan Province of Pakistan. Known as the "Fruit Garden of Pakistan" due to the diversity of its plant and animal wildlife, Quetta is home to the Hazarganji Chiltan National Park, which contains some of the rarest species of wildlife in the...
in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. He was the only surviving child of Alexander Hore-Ruthven
Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
Brigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, PC was a British soldier and colonial governor and the tenth Governor-General of Australia. Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest serving Governor-General in Australia's history...
and his wife, Zara Eileen née Pollok
Zara, Countess of Gowrie
Zara Eileen Hore-Ruthven, Countess of Gowrie was the Irish-born wife of the 1st Earl of Gowrie, Governor of South Australia 1928-34, Governor of New South Wales 1935-36 and the longest-serving Governor-General of Australia 1936-44...
.
He studied at Cambridge University from 1931. While rusticated
Rustication (academia)
Rustication is a term used at Oxbridge to mean being sent down or expelled temporarily. The term derives from the Latin word rus, countryside, to indicate that a student has been sent back to their family in the country, or from medieval Latin rustici, meaning "heathens or barbarians"...
from Cambridge in 1932 due to a youthful indiscretion - he had bitten a policeman's nose - he met the society beauty Pamela Fletcher
Pamela Cooper
Pamela Margaret Cooper was a British courtier, campaigner for refugees, and a supporter of the Palestinian people.-Biography:...
during a stag hunt
Stag hunt
In game theory, the stag hunt is a game which describes a conflict between safety and social cooperation. Other names for it or its variants include "assurance game", "coordination game", and "trust dilemma". Jean-Jacques Rousseau described a situation in which two individuals go out on a hunt. ...
on Exmoor
Exmoor
Exmoor is an area of hilly open moorland in west Somerset and north Devon in South West England, named after the main river that flows out of the district, the River Exe. The moor has given its name to a National Park, which includes the Brendon Hills, the East Lyn Valley, the Vale of Porlock and ...
. Their mutual lack of money delayed their marriage. In the meantime, he joined the Rifle Brigade in 1933 after he graduated. He served in Malta for three years. His father was created Baron Gowrie
Earl of Gowrie
Earl of Gowrie is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ruthven family. It takes its name from Gowrie, a historical region and ancient province of Scotland. On 23 August 1581 William Ruthven,...
in 1935.
Hore-Ruthven and Pamela Fletcher were finally married at Westminster Abbey
Westminster Abbey
The Collegiate Church of St Peter at Westminster, popularly known as Westminster Abbey, is a large, mainly Gothic church, in the City of Westminster, London, United Kingdom, located just to the west of the Palace of Westminster. It is the traditional place of coronation and burial site for English,...
on 4 January 1939, with her father, the Reverend Arthur Henry Fletcher, officiating. Their first son, Grey, was born on 26 November 1939.
On the outbreak of the Second World War, Hore-Ruthven was posted to Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
. Leaving their infant son with her parents in Dublin, his wife followed him to Cairo, where she became friends with Freya Stark
Freya Stark
Dame Freya Madeline Stark, Mrs. Perowne, DBE was a British explorer and travel writer. She wrote more than two dozen books on her travels, which were mainly in Arabia, Iran and Afghanistan....
and Jacqueline Lampson. She worked in Intelligence with the anti-Nazi Arab Brotherhood of Freedom, and he joined the newly-formed SAS
Special Air Service
Special Air Service or SAS is a corps of the British Army constituted on 31 May 1950. They are part of the United Kingdom Special Forces and have served as a model for the special forces of many other countries all over the world...
. His wife returned to Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
in 1942, where she gave birth to their second son, Malise
Malise Ruthven
Malise Ruthven is an Irish academic and writer. He was born in Dublin of Irish-British parentage. He obtained an MA in English Literature at Cambridge University, before working as a scriptwriter with the BBC Arabic and World Service, and a consultant on Middle Eastern affairs. He also gained a...
, on 14 May 1942. Promoted to Temporary Major, Hore-Ruthven died in Misurata Italian Hospital in Libya
Libya
Libya is an African country in the Maghreb region of North Africa bordered by the Mediterranean Sea to the north, Egypt to the east, Sudan to the southeast, Chad and Niger to the south, and Algeria and Tunisia to the west....
, having been severely wounded in a raid on a fuel dump near Tripoli
Tripoli
Tripoli is the capital and largest city in Libya. It is also known as Western Tripoli , to distinguish it from Tripoli, Lebanon. It is affectionately called The Mermaid of the Mediterranean , describing its turquoise waters and its whitewashed buildings. Tripoli is a Greek name that means "Three...
. He was buried in the war cemetery in Tripoli. He was survived by his wife and two young sons, never having seen either.
After his death, his father
Alexander Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie
Brigadier General Alexander Gore Arkwright Hore-Ruthven, 1st Earl of Gowrie VC, GCMG, CB, DSO & Bar, PC was a British soldier and colonial governor and the tenth Governor-General of Australia. Serving for 9 years and 7 days, he is the longest serving Governor-General in Australia's history...
was created 1st Earl of Gowrie
Earl of Gowrie
Earl of Gowrie is a title that has been created twice, once in the Peerage of Scotland and once in the Peerage of the United Kingdom, both times for members of the Ruthven family. It takes its name from Gowrie, a historical region and ancient province of Scotland. On 23 August 1581 William Ruthven,...
in 1945, and his widow was styled Viscountess Ruthven of Canberra. She remarried, to Major Derek Cooper
Derek Cooper
Major George Derek Cooper OBE MC was a British Army officer, campaigner for refugees, and supporter of the Palestinian people.-Early life and career:...
, in 1949.
On Hore-Ruthven's father's death in May 1955, his elder son, Grey, succeeded as 2nd Earl of Gowrie.
Hore-Ruthven wrote several war poems which were published in Australian and English newspapers. A collection of his poems was published in Australia in 1943 under the title The Happy Warrior, with a preface written by his mother Lady Gowrie
Zara, Countess of Gowrie
Zara Eileen Hore-Ruthven, Countess of Gowrie was the Irish-born wife of the 1st Earl of Gowrie, Governor of South Australia 1928-34, Governor of New South Wales 1935-36 and the longest-serving Governor-General of Australia 1936-44...
, and republished in London in 1944 under the title Desert Warrior: Poems. His collected letters were published in London in 1950 under the title Joy of youth. A memorial fountain was constructed at Government House
Government House, Canberra
Government House, Canberra, commonly known as Yarralumla, is the official residence of the Governor-General of Australia. It is located in the suburb of Yarralumla, in the City of Canberra, in the Australian Capital Territory....
in Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
.
External links
- Picture of the memorial fountain from the ACT Heritage Library