Major

Major

Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...

 (Alexander) Ronald George Strutt, 4th Baron Belper (28 April 1912 - 23 December 1999), was a British soldier and equestrian.

Military Career

He was educated at Harrow School

Harrow School

Harrow School, commonly known simply as "Harrow", is an English independent school for boys situated in the town of Harrow, in north-west London.. The school is of worldwide renown. There is some evidence that there has been a school on the site since 1243 but the Harrow School we know today was...

 and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst

Royal Military Academy Sandhurst

The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...

. He gained the rank of Major in the service of the Coldstream Guards

Coldstream Guards

Her Majesty's Coldstream Regiment of Foot Guards, also known officially as the Coldstream Guards , is a regiment of the British Army, part of the Guards Division or Household Division....

 and was wounded on active duty during the Second World.

Equestrian Career

He rode Crown Prince (owned by Lord Rosebery) to victory in the National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup

The National Hunt Chase Challenge Cup is a National Hunt chase in Great Britain for amateur riders which is open to horses aged five years or older. It is run on the Old Course at Cheltenham over a distance of about , and during its running there are twenty-four fences to be jumped...

 at Cheltenham in 1934. He was for some time, racing manager for Stavros Niarchos

Stavros Niarchos

Stavros Spyros Niarchos was a Greek shipping tycoon, sometimes known as "The Golden Greek." In 1952, Stavros Niarchos built the first supertankers capable of transporting large quantities of oil, and subsequently earned millions of dollars as global demand for his ships increased.- Early life :He...

. As an owner his best horse was Cesarewitch Handicap

Cesarewitch Handicap

The Cesarewitch Handicap is a flat horse race in Great Britain which is open to thoroughbreds aged three years or older. It is run at Newmarket over a distance of 2 miles and 2 furlongs , and the latter part is on the Rowley Mile. It is scheduled to take place each year in October.The event was...

 victor Persian Lancer. It won in 1966, ridden by Doug Smith

Doug Smith (jockey)

Doug Smith was an English flat racing jockey and trainer. During his career he was champion jockey 5 times finishing second on the rider's list 7 times, riding a total of 3,112 winners...

. He was Master of the Quorn Hunt

Quorn Hunt

The Quorn Hunt, usually called The Quorn, established 1696, is one of the world's oldest fox hunting packs and claims to be the United Kingdom's most famous hunt...

 from 1948 to 1954.

Family

He was the son of Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper

Algernon Strutt, 3rd Baron Belper

Algernon Henry Strutt was 3rd Baron Belper from 1914 to 1956.He entered the British Army in August 1908 and gained the rank of Lieutenant in the service of the 2nd Life Guards...

 and Hon. Eva Isabel Marion Bruce

Eva Primrose, Countess of Rosebery

Dame Eva Isabel Marion Primrose, Countess of Rosebery was the daughter of Henry Bruce, 2nd Baron Aberdare and his wife, Constance.-First marriage:...

. He married Zara Sophie Kathleen Mary Mainwaring, daughter of Sir Henry Stapleton Mainwaring, 5th Baronet and Generis Alma Windham Williams-Bulkeley on 15 November 1940. There was one child from this marriage:

• Richard Henry Strutt, 5th Baron Belper (b. 24 October 1941).

He and Zara Sophie Kathleen Mary Mainwaring were divorced in 1949. Later she remarried Peter Cazalet, trainer of horses for Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.

External links