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==Military career==
==Military career==
Born the son of Arthur Blair and educated at [[Harrow School]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], Blair was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[Seaforth Highlanders]] in 1939.<ref name=debrett>''Debrett's People of Today'' (1994)</ref> He served in [[World War II]] with the 2nd and 7th Battalions of his regiment.<ref name=debrett/> His regiment was forced to surrender at [[Dunkirk]], and he became a [[prisoner of war]] at the [[Oflag V-B]] camp at [[Biberach an der Riß|Biberach]] in [[Baden-Württemberg]].<ref name=dunkirk>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/dunkirk-british-honour-scottish-tears-1.1027973 "Dunkirk POW"], ''Glasgow Herald'', 16 May 2010.</ref> He escaped to [[Switzerland]] and from there to [[Spain]] and to [[Gibraltar]]. As such he was the first officer to return home after escaping from a [[Prisoner-of-war camp|prisoner of war camp]].<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary_lieutenant_general_sir_chandos_blair_kcvo_obe_mc_amp_bar_soldier_and_goc_scotland_1972_1976_1_1498505 Obituary: Lieutenant-General Sir Chandos Blair KCVO OBE MC & Bar, soldier and GOC Scotland 1972-1976] The Scotsman, 26 January 2011</ref> Blair was awarded the [[Military Cross]] for his exploits.<ref name=dunkirk/>
Born the son of Arthur Blair and educated at [[Harrow School]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], Blair was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[Seaforth Highlanders]] in 1939.<ref name=debrett>''Debrett's People of Today'' (1994)</ref> He served in [[World War II]] with the 2nd and 7th Battalions of his regiment.<ref name=debrett/> His regiment was forced to surrender at [[Dunkirk]], and he became a [[prisoner of war]] at the [[Oflag V-B]] camp at [[Biberach an der Riß|Biberach]] in [[Baden-Württemberg]].<ref name=dunkirk>[http://www.heraldscotland.com/news/home-news/dunkirk-british-honour-scottish-tears-1.1027973 "Dunkirk POW"], ''Glasgow Herald'', 16 May 2010.</ref> He escaped to [[Switzerland]] and from there to [[Spain]] and to [[Gibraltar]]. As such he was the first officer to return home after escaping from a [[Prisoner-of-war camp|prisoner of war camp]].<ref>[http://www.scotsman.com/news/obituaries/obituary_lieutenant_general_sir_chandos_blair_kcvo_obe_mc_amp_bar_soldier_and_goc_scotland_1972_1976_1_1498505 Obituary: Lieutenant-General Sir Chandos Blair KCVO OBE MC & Bar, soldier and GOC Scotland 1972–1976] The Scotsman, 26 January 2011</ref> Blair was awarded the [[Military Cross]] for his exploits.<ref name=dunkirk/>


In 1959, he was appointed [[Commanding Officer]] of the 4th Battalion the [[King's African Rifles]].<ref name=debrett/> He was made [[General Officer Commanding]] [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Division]] in [[British Army of the Rhine]] in 1968 and then became [[Defence Services Secretary]] in 1970.<ref name=debrett/> His last appointment was as [[Scottish Command|General Officer Commanding Scotland]] and [[Governor of Edinburgh Castle]] in 1972; in that capacity, [[Prime Minister]] [[Harold Wilson]] dispatched him as a [[Diplomatic rank#Multilateral diplomacy|Special Envoy]] to secure the release of [[Denis Hills]], a British subject held on spying charges by President [[Idi Amin]] of [[Uganda]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913231-1,00.html "Uganda: The British Must Kneel at My Feet!"], ''Time Magazine'', 7 July 1975</ref> Blair retired in 1976.<ref name=debrett/>
In 1959, he was appointed [[Commanding Officer]] of the 4th Battalion the [[King's African Rifles]].<ref name=debrett/> He was made [[General Officer Commanding]] [[2nd Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|2nd Division]] in [[British Army of the Rhine]] in 1968 and then became [[Defence Services Secretary]] in 1970.<ref name=debrett/> His last appointment was as [[Scottish Command|General Officer Commanding Scotland]] and [[Governor of Edinburgh Castle]] in 1972; in that capacity, [[Prime Minister]] [[Harold Wilson]] dispatched him as a [[Diplomatic rank#Multilateral diplomacy|Special Envoy]] to secure the release of [[Denis Hills]], a British subject held on spying charges by President [[Idi Amin]] of [[Uganda]].<ref>[http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,913231-1,00.html "Uganda: The British Must Kneel at My Feet!"], ''Time Magazine'', 7 July 1975</ref> Blair retired in 1976.<ref name=debrett/>


==Family==
==Family==
In 1947 he married Audrey Mary Travers; they went on to have one son and one daughter.<ref name=debrett/> His elder brother [[David Blair (golfer)|David]] was a useful amateur golfer and was best-man at the wedding of Chandos and Audrey.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=23 January 1947 |page=7 |title=Marriages - Major C Blair and Miss A M Travers}}</ref>
In 1947 he married Audrey Mary Travers; they went on to have one son and one daughter.<ref name=debrett/> His elder brother [[David Blair (golfer)|David]] was a useful amateur golfer and was best-man at the wedding of Chandos and Audrey.<ref>{{cite news |newspaper=The Times |date=23 January 1947 |page=7 |title=Marriages – Major C Blair and Miss A M Travers}}</ref>


==References==
==References==
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Revision as of 03:34, 12 May 2016

Sir Chandos Blair
Nickname(s)"Chan"
Born25 February 1919
Edinburgh, Scotland
Died22 January 2011(2011-01-22) (aged 91)
Gullane, East Lothian, Scotland
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1939–1976
RankLieutenant General
CommandsScottish Command (1972–76)
2nd Division (1968–70)
4th Battalion King's African Rifles
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Military Cross & Bar

Lieutenant General Sir Chandos Blair KCVO, OBE, MC & Bar (25 February 1919 – 22 January 2011) was a British Army officer who served as General Officer Commanding Scotland from 1972 to 1976.

Military career

Born the son of Arthur Blair and educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Blair was commissioned into the Seaforth Highlanders in 1939.[1] He served in World War II with the 2nd and 7th Battalions of his regiment.[1] His regiment was forced to surrender at Dunkirk, and he became a prisoner of war at the Oflag V-B camp at Biberach in Baden-Württemberg.[2] He escaped to Switzerland and from there to Spain and to Gibraltar. As such he was the first officer to return home after escaping from a prisoner of war camp.[3] Blair was awarded the Military Cross for his exploits.[2]

In 1959, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the 4th Battalion the King's African Rifles.[1] He was made General Officer Commanding 2nd Division in British Army of the Rhine in 1968 and then became Defence Services Secretary in 1970.[1] His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding Scotland and Governor of Edinburgh Castle in 1972; in that capacity, Prime Minister Harold Wilson dispatched him as a Special Envoy to secure the release of Denis Hills, a British subject held on spying charges by President Idi Amin of Uganda.[4] Blair retired in 1976.[1]

Family

In 1947 he married Audrey Mary Travers; they went on to have one son and one daughter.[1] His elder brother David was a useful amateur golfer and was best-man at the wedding of Chandos and Audrey.[5]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f Debrett's People of Today (1994)
  2. ^ a b "Dunkirk POW", Glasgow Herald, 16 May 2010.
  3. ^ Obituary: Lieutenant-General Sir Chandos Blair KCVO OBE MC & Bar, soldier and GOC Scotland 1972–1976 The Scotsman, 26 January 2011
  4. ^ "Uganda: The British Must Kneel at My Feet!", Time Magazine, 7 July 1975
  5. ^ "Marriages – Major C Blair and Miss A M Travers". The Times. 23 January 1947. p. 7.
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer Commanding the 2nd Division
1968–1970 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Defence Services Secretary
1970–1972 		Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC Scotland
1972–1976 		Succeeded by
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