- Victor Fortune
-
Sir Victor Morven Fortune Born 21 August 1883
Blellack, ScotlandDied 2 January 1949 (aged 65)
Dalswinton, ScotlandAllegiance British Army Rank Major-General Commands held 1st Bn Black Watch
46th Brigade
1st Bn Seaforth Highlanders
5th Infantry Brigade
52nd (Lowland) Division
51st (Highland) DivisionBattles/wars World War I
World War II
- Battle of FranceAwards Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Companion of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Légion d'honneur (France)
Order of the Phoenix (Greece)Other work Deputy Lieutenant, County of Perth
Honorary Colonel, The Seaforth HighlandersMajor-General Sir Victor Morven Fortune KBE, CB, DSO (21 August 1883 – 2 January 1949) was a British Army officer. He saw service in both World Wars. He commanded the 51st (Highland) Division during the Battle of France and was subsequently trapped and obliged to surrender to the Germans on 12 June 1940.
Contents
Military career
Fortune was commissioned into The Black watch in 1903 and served in World War I as Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion The Black Watch from 1916[1] and Commander of 46th Brigade from 1918.[2]
He became commanding Officer of 1st Batallion the Seaforth Highlanders in 1927 and Commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade in 1930.[1] He became General Officer Commanding 52nd (Lowland) Division in 1935 and General Officer Commanding the 51st Highland Division in 1937.[1]
The 51st Division remained in France after the general evacuation from Dunkirk, having been assigned to the French X Corps. After naval evacuation proved impossible and supplies of ammunition had been exhausted, Major General Fortune was forced to surrender the greater part of the Highland Division at St Valery en Caux.[3] One brigade had earlier withdrawn to Le Havre and avoided capture. General Fortune spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. As senior British officer in captivity in Germany, he worked to improve the conditions of the men under his command. He suffered a stroke in 1944 but refused repatriation.[1] He was finally liberated in April 1945 and made KBE shortly after.[1]
Several writers have questioned the decision to remain with the French during the battle. However, General Charles de Gaulle stated, 'For my part, I can say that the comradeship of arms, sealed on the battlefield of Abbeville in May–June 1940, between the French armoured division, which I had the honour to command, and the gallant 51st Scottish Division under General Fortune, played its part in the decision which I made to continue the fight at the side of the Allies, to the end, come what may'. And he concluded by quoting the old motto of the Compagnie Ecossaise: 'omni modo fidelis' - 'faithful in every way'.[4]
Honours and awards
- Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire 19 April 1945 ("in recognition of valuable services in the interests of British Prisoners of War in Germany")
- Companion of the Order of the Bath 23 June 1936
- Distinguished Service Order 3 June 1916
- Mentioned in Despatches 17 February 1915, 1 January 1916, 15 June 1916, 21 December 1917, 20 December 1918, 11 October 1945 ("for gallant and distinguished services in the field")
- Officier, Legion d'Honneur (France) 21 July 1919 (Chevalier 1 May 1917)
- Grand Officer, Royal Order of the Phoenix (Greece) 23 July 1948 ("in recognition of distinguished services in the cause of the Allies")
References
External links
Categories:- 1883 births
- 1949 deaths
- British Army World War II generals
- Companions of the Distinguished Service Order
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire
- Officiers of the Légion d'honneur
- Recipients of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece)
- World War II prisoners of war held by Germany
- Deputy Lieutenants of Perthshire
- People from Castle Douglas
- Black Watch officers
Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.
