Kenneth Loch
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General Sir Kenneth Morley Loch, KCIE
, KBE
, CB
, MC
, (1890–1961) was a Scottish
soldier and defence planner.
. Joining the Royal Artillery
in 1910, Loch saw action in during the First World War at retreat from Mons and the battles of Marne and Aisne all in 1914. Leaving the front lines in 1916 he became an instructor in gunnery, at School of Instruction for Royal Horse Artillery
and Royal Field Artillery
until returning to active service in Italy during 1918.
Between the wars Loch was involved in air defence preparations for Britain and the British Empire.
From the beginning of the Second World War until 1941, Loch was Director of Anti-Aircraft and Coastal Defence
. Loch argued successfully against the use of chemical weapons in case of a German invasion of Britain. After a three year tour of inspection of anti-aircraft defences in the British Empire he became Master-General of Ordnance, India from 1944 until his retirement in 1947.
In retirement Loch was head of the board of governors of Wellington College
and worked for the British Council
.
Loch married Monica Joan Estelle Ruffer, the daughter of a German banker
in 1929 and had three sons. He was also the uncle of former Labour MP Tam Dalyell
.
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, KBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, CB
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...
, 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....
, (1890–1961) was a Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
soldier and defence planner.
Military career
Loch was educated at Wellington CollegeWellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
. Joining the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1910, Loch saw action in during the First World War at retreat from Mons and the battles of Marne and Aisne all in 1914. Leaving the front lines in 1916 he became an instructor in gunnery, at School of Instruction for Royal Horse Artillery
Royal Horse Artillery
The regiments of the Royal Horse Artillery , dating from 1793, are part of the Royal Regiment of Artillery of the British Army...
and Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
until returning to active service in Italy during 1918.
Between the wars Loch was involved in air defence preparations for Britain and the British Empire.
From the beginning of the Second World War until 1941, Loch was Director of Anti-Aircraft and Coastal Defence
Coastal defence
Coastal defence or Coastal defense has two distinct meanings:*For the protection of the coast from the action of wind, wave and tide, see Coastal management...
. Loch argued successfully against the use of chemical weapons in case of a German invasion of Britain. After a three year tour of inspection of anti-aircraft defences in the British Empire he became Master-General of Ordnance, India from 1944 until his retirement in 1947.
In retirement Loch was head of the board of governors of Wellington College
Wellington College, Berkshire
-Former pupils:Notable former pupils include historian P. J. Marshall, architect Sir Nicholas Grimshaw, impressionist Rory Bremner, Adolphus Cambridge, 1st Marquess of Cambridge, author Sebastian Faulks, language school pioneer John Haycraft, political journalist Robin Oakley, actor Sir Christopher...
and worked for the British Council
British Council
The British Council is a United Kingdom-based organisation specialising in international educational and cultural opportunities. It is registered as a charity both in England and Wales, and in Scotland...
.
Loch married Monica Joan Estelle Ruffer, the daughter of a German banker
A Ruffer & Sons
-History:Founded by Baron Joseph Ruffer, a German merchant, in 1872 to support his family's involvement in the silk trade. By the turn of the century the bank had diversified into supporting farming and the wool trade in both French and Belgium Flanders and opened a branch in London to manage its...
in 1929 and had three sons. He was also the uncle of former Labour MP Tam Dalyell
Tam Dalyell
Sir Thomas Dalyell Loch, 11th Baronet , known as Tam Dalyell, is a British Labour Party politician, who was a Member of Parliament in the House of Commons from 1962 to 2005, first for West Lothian and then for Linlithgow.-Early life:...
.