Sir Archibald Philip Hope, 17th Baronet

Sir Archibald Philip Hope, known familiarly as Archie, was the son of Sir John Augustus Hope, 16th Baronet Hope of Craighall and his wife, Hon. Mary Bruce, OBE, eldest daughter of Alexander Bruce, 6th Lord Balfour of Burleigh. The Hope Baronetcy of Craighall in the County of Fife, was created in the Baronetage of Nova Scotia on 19 February 1628 for Thomas Hope, a Scottish lawyer and advisor to Charles I. Sir Archibald succeeded to the baronetcy at the age of 12 upon the death of his father in 1924.

Sir Archibald attended Eton College, a boarding school in Eton, Berkshire, near Windsor and Balliol College, one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England. He graduated from Balliol in 1934 with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), where he read Modern History. He qualified as a Chartered Accountant. While at Balliol, Sir Archibald appeared annually in dramatic productions with the Balliol Players.

Sir Archibald learned to fly at Balliol College with the Oxford University Air Squadron. He served in the RAFO from 1931 until joining 601 Squadron, Auxiliary Air Force at Hendon in late 1934.

Called to full-time service in the RAF on 24 August 1939, Sir Archibald flew one of the No. 601 Squadron's six Blenheims to attack the Luftwaffe seaplane base at Borkum on 28 November. Promoted to 'A' Flight Commander, Sir Archibald led his flight to Merville on 16 May 1940. He crash landed in a Hurricane L2141 near Baupame the next day after being shot down from return fire from the Dorniers he was attacking.

On the 27 May 1940, flying from Tangmere, Sir Archibald was leading the No. 601 Squadron in a Hurricane P2568 when he was attacked by Me110's and shot down about five miles from the coast between Calais and Dunkirk. He headed for land and flew as far east as possible, away from the advancing Germans, crash landing on the beach. He set fire to his Hurricane to prevent it from falling into enemy hands, and was then taken by a French farmer to Bergues and the British Brigade HQ located there. He was taken by lorry to the Dunkirk docks, spending the night on the dunes, and then boarding the destroyer HMS Wakeful the next day. After landing at Dover, Sir Archibald contacted the No. 601 Squadron and a Magister picked him up at Hawkinge, still carrying his parachute.

On 11 August 1940 he claimed two probable Ju87's, on the 13th two probable Me110's, damaged another, shared a probable Ju88 and damaged another, on the 15th shared a Ju88 and damaged another and on the 16th destroyed a Me110, got a probable Ju87 and damaged another.

Sir Archibald was promoted to lead the No. 601 Squadron from 19 August 1940 to 10 October 1940. He left the No. 601 Squadron in December 1940, commanding the RAF Drem during 1943 and RAF Peterhead during 1945.

In 1940, Sir Archibald was decorated with the award of the Distinguished Flying Cross (DFC) and invested as an Officer, Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1945. He was also admitted to the Royal Company of Archers.

After the war he served as an executive with English Electric Company Ltd., a chief executive and director of Napier Aero Engines Ltd., and a managing director of Airwork Ltd.

General Sir Archibald Hope's Grave, Inveresk Parish Kirkyard

In 1938, Sir Archibald married Ruth Chamberlain Davis, the daughter of Carl R. Davis of Fryern, Storrington, Sussex, England. The couple had the following children:

• Sir John Carl Alexander Hope, 18th Baronet, (1939 - 2007)
• Charles Archibald Hope, b. 1945

Sir Archibald's mother, Lady Hope, was awarded an OBE in 1920, and served as a J.P. for Midlothian. Lady Hope made her home at Pinkie House.

His sister, Katharine Anne Hope (1916-1987) was married to Sir Archibald's No. 601 Squadron mate, Carl Raymond Davis. Davis was the brother of Sir Archibald's wife.

A brother, Lt.-Col. John Cecil Hope, DSO MC, (1913-1945) 1st Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps died in 24 April 1945 on active duty in Italy. A second brother, Lt.-Col. Hugh Alexander Hope, OBE MC, (1914-1982) also fought in WWII with the King's Royal Rifle Corps, but survived the war.

Sir Archibald died on 27 July 1987 in Cirencester, Gloucestershire. He and his wife are buried in the Hope Baronets' plot at St. Michael's Parish Church, Inveresk, Scotland.