Quick Facts
Biography
Major-General Sir Victor Morven Fortune KBE, CB, DSO (21 August 1883 – 2 January 1949) was a senior officer of the British Army. He saw service in both World War I and World War II. He commanded the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division during the Battle of France and was subsequently trapped and obliged to surrender to the Germans on 12 June 1940.
Military career
Fortune was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant into the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) in 1903 and served in the First World War as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) from 1916 and Commander of 46th Brigade from 1918.
He became Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders in 1927 and Commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade in 1930. He became General Officer Commanding 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division in 1935 and General Officer Commanding the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division in 1937.
The 51st Division remained in France after the general evacuation from Dunkirk, having been assigned to the French X Corps. After naval evacuation proved impossible and supplies of ammunition had been exhausted, Major-General Fortune was forced to surrender the greater part of the Highland Division at St Valery en Caux. One brigade had earlier withdrawn to Le Havre and avoided capture. General Fortune spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. As senior British officer in captivity in Germany, he worked to improve the conditions of the men under his command. He suffered a stroke in 1944 but refused repatriation. He was finally liberated in April 1945 and made KBE shortly after.
Several British writers have questioned the decision to remain with the French during the battle. However, General Charles de Gaulle stated, 'For my part, I can say that the comradeship of arms, sealed on the battlefield of Abbeville in May–June 1940, between the French armoured division, which I had the honour to command, and the gallant 51st Scottish Division under General Fortune, played its part in the decision which I made to continue the fight at the side of the Allies, to the end, come what may'. And he concluded by quoting the old motto of the Compagnie Ecossaise: 'omni modo fidelis' - 'faithful in every way'.
Honours and awards
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire 19 April 1945 ("in recognition of valuable services in the interests of British Prisoners of War in Germany")
- Companion of the Order of the Bath 23 June 1936
- Distinguished Service Order 3 June 1916
- Mentioned in Despatches 17 February 1915, 1 January 1916, 15 June 1916, 21 December 1917, 20 December 1918, 11 October 1945 ("for gallant and distinguished services in the field")
- Officier, Légion d'honneur (France) 21 July 1919 (Chevalier 1 May 1917)
- Grand Officer, Royal Order of the Phoenix (Greece) 23 July 1948 ("in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies")