Raymond Northland Revell Reade

Major General Raymond Northland Revell Reade CB, CMG (1861 – 18 October 1943) was a soldier and Commandant of the Royal Military College of Canada.

Family

He was the grandson of Thomas Knox, the second Earl of Ranfurly. He married Rose Frances Spencer, daughter of Colonel Almeric George Spencer and Alice Isabel Fraser, on 9 June 1894.

School

He stood fourth place in his staff college examination.

Career

He held important staff and administrative appointments. He served in Afghanistan and he saw much fighting in West Africa. He had staff appointments in Egypt and Aldershot. He served as DAAG (intelligence) in the South African Boer War. Major Reade served in the Shropshire Light Infantry.

Colonel Reade served as Commandant of Royal Military College of Canada from 1901–05. His criticism of poor RMC examination marks in French, physics and chemistry in 1901 and surveying and physics 1904 led to reforms at the college: smaller classes for French, entrance tests in physics and chemistry, and separate instructors for physics and surveying. He also built up the RMC library and extended library privileges to Permanent Force Officers in the Kingston, Ontario area. A 25-bed hospital was constructed adjacent to the education block. A large gymnasium was constructed south of the Stone Frigate. He secured quarters for the staff-adjutant and his family in what was later called Panet House, after the first resident. He built an extension to the rear of the Stone Frigate for bathroom facilities.

He served in Malta and Scotland and became General Officer Commanding the Troops in the Straits Settlements in 1914. Poor health prevented his active service in World War I, but he commanded the 59th (2nd North Midland) Division from November 1915 to February 1916, and the 68th (2nd Welsh) Division for most of 1916 while they were under training in the UK. He was the British representative on the Inter-Allied Military Mission to Greece, 1918.

Honours

He was invested as a Companion, Order of the Bath (C.B.) and as a Companion, Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.). He died on 18 October 1943.