James Sinclair, 19th Earl of Caithness

Brigadier James Roderick Sinclair, 19th Earl of Caithness CBE, DSO, GH (September 29 1906-1965) was a distinguished British Army officer during World War 2 and was also chief of Clan Sinclair.

He joined the Gordon Highlanders (now amalgamated with the Highlanders (Seaforth, Gordons and Camerons)) and rose to the rank of Brigadier and as such led his regiment (part of the 51st Highland Division) through France, Belgium, Holland into Germany during World War II and was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order and made Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

In 1949 he was appointed the first Commander of the Ceylon Army and played a major role in establishing it as a regular army from the volunteer Ceylon Defence Force till 1952. On returning to the UK he was given various postings in England and Scotland before in 1955 being appointed factor (land agent and manager) of Her Majesty The Queen's private Estate at Balmoral, Aberdeenshire where he lived until his death. After leaving the army was appointed the Regiment's Colonel of his old Regiment the Gordon Highlanders.

His first wife, by whom he had three daughters (Jean, Margaret and Fiona), died during the war and after it, in 1946, he married a widow Gabrielle Ormerod, whose husband had been killed on active service in Africa leaving her with a daughter (Susie). In 1947 while posted to Germany another daughter (Bridget), was born and the next year in Burma, Malcolm, Lord Berriedale was born. Upon his death in 1965 his son Lord Berriedale became the 20th Earl of Caithness and chief of Clan Sinclair.

References

* [http://www.army.lk/co.php Former Army commanders]
* [http://www.clansinclairsc.org/chief.htm "Hail to the Chief", The Mel Sinclair Clan]