Walter Luttrell
Encyclopedia
Colonel Sir Geoffrey Walter Fownes Luttrell KCVO
MC
JP
(2 October 1919 – 3 April 2007) was an English
landowner in Somerset
who distinguished himself during World War II
.
Luttrell was born in Melbourne, Australia, where his father was private secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
, Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson
. He was raised at Dunster Castle
, his family's estate for 600 years. Luttrell was educated at Eton
and subsequently read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Exeter College, Oxford
, where he acquired the friendly nickname of "goat". He was an avid hunter and polo
player in his youth and later a salmon
fisherman.
Luttrell enlisted as a trooper in 1939 on the outbreak of World War II
, and subsequently received a commission in
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars
. In 1942, he married Hermione Hamilton Gunston (1923–2009), granddaughter of the 2nd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
; the couple had no children.
Luttrell landed with his regiment in Normandy
two days after the initial landings, and served as second-in-command of his squadron and regimental gunnery officer during the Normandy campaign. In September 1944, a troop
in his squadron was pinned down by German fire in difficult country at the bridgehead over the Meuse-Escaut canal, suffering two tanks disabled by broken tracks and the troop leader a casualty. Captain Luttrell successfully repaired the tanks under fire, extricated the troop, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.
During the advance into Germany in April 1945, during the fighting around Ibbenbüren
, Luttrell's squadron seized a pass up the Teutoburger Wald and fought along the ridge there for a day without support, against heavy opposition. The squadron inflicted heavy casualties, and Luttrell received the Military Cross
for his "bold and accurate" use of his 95 mm guns. After World War II, Luttrell went with the Hussars to Palestine before retiring in 1946.
After four years of farming near Tiverton, Devon, he moved into the family home at East Quantoxhead
. Luttrell was an enthusiastic and community-minded landlord, who ran the estates at East Quantoxhead and at Dunster after his father's death in 1957. In 1952, he joined the North Somerset Yeomanry
, and would later be honorary colonel of 6th Battalion, The Light Infantry
(TAVR). He also served as liaison officer for the Ministry of Agriculture
from 1965 to 1971.
Luttrell was president of the Royal Bath and West Show
in 1983 and 1992 and a regional director of Lloyds Bank
from 1972 to 1983. In 1974, after his mother's death, he donated Dunster Castle to the National Trust
. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Somerset
in 1978, an office he held until 1994, was made a KStJ in 1981, and a KCVO
in 1993.
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
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....
JP
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
(2 October 1919 – 3 April 2007) was an English
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
landowner in Somerset
Somerset
The ceremonial and non-metropolitan county of Somerset in South West England borders Bristol and Gloucestershire to the north, Wiltshire to the east, Dorset to the south-east, and Devon to the south-west. It is partly bounded to the north and west by the Bristol Channel and the estuary of the...
who distinguished himself during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
Luttrell was born in Melbourne, Australia, where his father was private secretary to the Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
, Sir Ronald Munro-Ferguson
Ronald Munro-Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar
Ronald Craufurd Munro Ferguson, 1st Viscount Novar KT GCMG PC , was a Scottish politician and colonial governor. He served as the sixth Governor-General of Australia , and is considered as probably the most politically influential holder of this post...
. He was raised at Dunster Castle
Dunster Castle
Dunster Castle is a former motte and bailey castle, now a country house, in the village of Dunster, Somerset, England. The castle lies on the top of a steep hill called the Tor, and has been fortified since the late Anglo-Saxon period. After the Norman conquest of England in the 11th century,...
, his family's estate for 600 years. Luttrell was educated at Eton
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
and subsequently read Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College, Oxford
Exeter College is one of the constituent colleges of the University of Oxford in England and the fourth oldest college of the University. The main entrance is on the east side of Turl Street...
, where he acquired the friendly nickname of "goat". He was an avid hunter and polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player in his youth and later a salmon
Salmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
fisherman.
Luttrell enlisted as a trooper in 1939 on the outbreak of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, and subsequently received a commission in
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars
15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars
The 15th/19th The King's Royal Hussars was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. It was created as part of the reduction in the cavalry in the aftermath of World War I. It was formed by the amalgamation of the 15th The King's Hussars and the 19th Royal Hussars on 11 April 1922, becoming the...
. In 1942, he married Hermione Hamilton Gunston (1923–2009), granddaughter of the 2nd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Terence Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 2nd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava
Terence John Temple Hamilton-Temple-Blackwood, 2nd Marquess of Dufferin and Ava DL JP , styled Lord Terence Blackwood between 1888 and 1900 and Earl of Ava between 1900 and 1902, was a British diplomat....
; the couple had no children.
Luttrell landed with his regiment in Normandy
Normandy
Normandy is a geographical region corresponding to the former Duchy of Normandy. It is in France.The continental territory covers 30,627 km² and forms the preponderant part of Normandy and roughly 5% of the territory of France. It is divided for administrative purposes into two régions:...
two days after the initial landings, and served as second-in-command of his squadron and regimental gunnery officer during the Normandy campaign. In September 1944, a troop
Troop
A troop is a military unit, originally a small force of cavalry, subordinate to a squadron and headed by the troop leader. In many armies a troop is the equivalent unit to the infantry section or platoon...
in his squadron was pinned down by German fire in difficult country at the bridgehead over the Meuse-Escaut canal, suffering two tanks disabled by broken tracks and the troop leader a casualty. Captain Luttrell successfully repaired the tanks under fire, extricated the troop, and inflicted heavy losses on the enemy.
During the advance into Germany in April 1945, during the fighting around Ibbenbüren
Ibbenbüren
Ibbenbüren or Ibbenbueren is a medium-sized town in the district of Steinfurt, in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is on position 185 of the largest cities in Germany and the largest city in Tecklenburger Land.-Geography:...
, Luttrell's squadron seized a pass up the Teutoburger Wald and fought along the ridge there for a day without support, against heavy opposition. The squadron inflicted heavy casualties, and Luttrell received 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....
for his "bold and accurate" use of his 95 mm guns. After World War II, Luttrell went with the Hussars to Palestine before retiring in 1946.
After four years of farming near Tiverton, Devon, he moved into the family home at East Quantoxhead
East Quantoxhead
East Quantoxhead is a village in West Somerset, from West Quantoxhead, east of Williton, and west of Bridgwater, within the Quantock Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty in Somerset, England.-History:...
. Luttrell was an enthusiastic and community-minded landlord, who ran the estates at East Quantoxhead and at Dunster after his father's death in 1957. In 1952, he joined the North Somerset Yeomanry
North Somerset Yeomanry
The North Somerset Yeomanry was first raised in Frome in 1798. A condition of service was that it should not be required to march more than 10 miles from the town and it was soon disbanded in 1802...
, and would later be honorary colonel of 6th Battalion, The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry
The Light Infantry was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Light Division. It was formed on 10 July 1968 as a "large regiment" by the amalgamation of the four remaining light infantry regiments of the Light Infantry Brigade:...
(TAVR). He also served as liaison officer for the Ministry of Agriculture
Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food
The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food was a United Kingdom government department created by the Board of Agriculture Act 1889 and at that time called the Board of Agriculture, and then from 1903 the Board of Agriculture and Fisheries, and from 1919 the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries...
from 1965 to 1971.
Luttrell was president of the Royal Bath and West Show
Royal Bath and West of England Society
The Royal Bath and West of England Society is a charitable society founded in 1777 to promote and improve agriculture and related activities around the West Country of England. Based at the Royal Bath and West of England Society Showground near Shepton Mallet in Somerset, the society is a...
in 1983 and 1992 and a regional director of Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank
Lloyds Bank Plc was a British retail bank which operated in England and Wales from 1765 until its merger into Lloyds TSB in 1995; it remains a registered company but is currently dormant. It expanded during the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and took over a number of smaller banking companies...
from 1972 to 1983. In 1974, after his mother's death, he donated Dunster Castle to the National Trust
National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty
The National Trust for Places of Historic Interest or Natural Beauty, usually known as the National Trust, is a conservation organisation in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
. He was appointed Lord Lieutenant of Somerset
Lord Lieutenant of Somerset
This is an incomplete list of people who have served as Lord Lieutenant of Somerset. Since 1714, all Lord Lieutenants have also been Custos Rotulorum of Somerset.-Lord Lieutenants of Somerset:*John Russell, 1st Earl of Bedford 1552–1555...
in 1978, an office he held until 1994, was made a KStJ in 1981, and a KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
in 1993.