Oswald Borrett

Lieutenant-General Sir Oswald Cuthbert Borrett, KCB, CMG, CBE, DSO & Bar (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 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 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 in the Indian Volunteers in 1911.

He also served in the First World War and then went to the North-West Frontier in India in 1920. He became Colonel Commandant of the 7th Indian Infantry Brigade in 1923. He was appointed Commander of British Troops in the Shanghai Area of China in 1927 and Commander of British Troops in China in 1932. He retired in 1938.

During the Second World War he was appointed Inspector of Prisoners.

He also became Lieutenant of the Tower of London in 1936 (until 1939) and Aide-de-camp to the King as well as Colonel of the King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster) (1926–1945).

He retired to Lowood House in Rockshaw Road in Reigate.