Arthur Floyer-Acland
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Arthur Nugent Floyer-Acland CB
, DSO
, MC
, DL
(7 September 1885 – 18 February 1980) was a British
soldier.
, located in Tiverton, Devon. In 1928, he assumed by Royal Licence the additional surname Floyer to inherit the estates of George Floyer.
in 1905 and was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant into the 5th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. In February 1907, he was transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
. He fought in the First World War, receiving the Military Cross
in 1915 and was promoted to a brevet-major two years later. During the war he was mentioned in despatches seven times and thereafter was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
in 1918 and the Croix de Guerre
in 1920. Floyer-Acland went to the Staff College, Camberley
in 1921 and was breveted to lieutenant-colonel in 1927.
Four years later he received the command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment and in 1934 became colonel, being then attached to the War Office
. After two years he came in charge of the 3rd Infantry Brigade and took part in the Waziristan campaign until 1938. Subsequently Floyer-Acland was promoted to major-general and took over the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division until the following year.
In 1940 he was appointed Military Secretary and upon the Birthday Honour's in July was awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath
. He was advanced to a lieutenant-general in 1941 and retired from his post in the next year. Floyer-Acland was nominated High Sheriff of Dorset
in 1953 and served as Deputy Lieutenant
of that county from 1957.
.
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, MC
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(7 September 1885 – 18 February 1980) was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier.
Background
Born Arthur Acland, he was the second son of John Edward Acland and his wife Norah Letitia, daughter of Henry Nugent Bankes. He was educated in Blundell's SchoolBlundell's School
Blundell's School is a co-educational day and boarding independent school located in the town of Tiverton in the county of Devon, England. The school was founded in 1604 by the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time, and relocated to its present location on the...
, located in Tiverton, Devon. In 1928, he assumed by Royal Licence the additional surname Floyer to inherit the estates of George Floyer.
Career
Floyer-Acland entered the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1905 and was commissioned as 2nd lieutenant into the 5th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment. In February 1907, he was transferred to the Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. Its lineage is continued today by The Rifles....
. He fought in the First World War, receiving the Military Cross
Military Cross
The Military Cross is the third-level military decoration awarded to officers and other ranks of the British Armed Forces; and formerly also to officers of other Commonwealth countries....
in 1915 and was promoted to a brevet-major two years later. During the war he was mentioned in despatches seven times and thereafter was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
in 1918 and the Croix de Guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
in 1920. Floyer-Acland went to the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
in 1921 and was breveted to lieutenant-colonel in 1927.
Four years later he received the command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment and in 1934 became colonel, being then attached to the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
. After two years he came in charge of the 3rd Infantry Brigade and took part in the Waziristan campaign until 1938. Subsequently Floyer-Acland was promoted to major-general and took over the 43rd (Wessex) Infantry Division until the following year.
In 1940 he was appointed Military Secretary and upon the Birthday Honour's in July was awarded a Companion of the Order of the Bath
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
. He was advanced to a lieutenant-general in 1941 and retired from his post in the next year. Floyer-Acland was nominated High Sheriff of Dorset
High Sheriff of Dorset
The High Sheriff of Dorset is an ancient High Sheriff title which has been in existence for over one thousand years. The position was once a powerful position responsible for collecting taxes and enforcing law and order in Dorset. In modern times the sheriff has become a ceremonial role, presiding...
in 1953 and served as Deputy Lieutenant
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
of that county from 1957.
Family
On 6 December 1913, he married Evelyn Stafford Still, daughter of Stafford Still. His wife died in 1973 and Floyer-Acland survived her until 1980. Their only son was Stafford Floyer-AclandStafford Floyer-Acland
Brigadier Stafford Nugent Floyer-Acland CBE, DL was a British soldier.He was the only child of Lieutenant-General Arthur Nugent Floyer-Acland and his wife Evelyn Stafford Still, daughter of Stafford Francis Still. Floyer-Acland was educated in Marlborough College and entered then the British Army...
.