Thomas Riddell-Webster

Educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, Riddell-Webster was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles) on 16 August 1905.[1][2] He was promoted to lieutenant on 30 September 1909 and to captain on 24 October 1913.[3][4]

He served in World War I initially as a Staff Captain (appointed 3 November 1914[5]) then as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General in France (17 July 1915[6]). He was brevetted to major on 1 January 1916.[7] On 9 July 1917, he was appointed Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General in France and Italy, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel.[1][8]

After the war, Riddell-Webster relinquished his temporary rank of lieutenant-colonel on 1 April 1919.[9] He was promoted to the substantive rank of major and the brevet rank of lieutenant-colonel on 3 June 1919.[10] He became a Brigade Major with Irish Command on 21 July 1921.[1][11] He was appointed Deputy Assistant Quartermaster General at the Staff College in 1922, and was brevetted to lieutenant-colonel on 12 March 1923.[12] After attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1924 to 1925, he was appointed as a General Staff Officer at Scottish Command in 1926.[1] In 1930 he was made Commanding Officer of 2nd Bn Cameronians, and promoted to substantive lieutenant-colonel on 16 December of that year.[1][13] He was promoted to colonel on 27 June 1933, became Assistant Quartermaster General at the War Office that year and became Commander Poona (Independent) Brigade Area in 1935.[1][14]

Riddell-Webster was promoted to major-general on 1 April 1938, becoming the Director of Movements and Quartering at the War Office.[1][15] He also served in World War II, initially as Deputy Quartermaster General at the War Office (from 29 August 1939[16]) and then as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief Southern Command, India in March 1941.[1] He received the local rank of lieutenant-general on 7 January 1941, and was promoted to the substantive rank on 15 April.[17][18] He was made Lieutenant General in charge of Administration in the Middle East in 1941.[1]

He became Quartermaster-General to the Forces in 1942:[1] he had a key role in establishing a ground supply route to China from Assam through Burma: the rehabilitation of occupied and liberated territories was a key issue at the time.[19] He was promoted to full general on 1 November 1942.[20] He also extended the use of collars and ties to the uniforms of other ranks.[21] He retired on 27 April 1946, after nearly 41 years of service.[22]

In 1946 he was given the colonelcy of the Cameronians, a position he held until 1951.[23]

Riddell-Webster was awarded the DSO on 18 February 1915.[24] On 12 September 1918, he was decorated as an Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy.[25] He was awarded the French Croix de Guerre on 19 June 1919.[26] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath, Military Division (CB) in the 1939 Birthday Honours, knighted as a Knight Commander (KCB) in the 1942 New Year Honours and promoted to Knight Grand Cross (GCB) in the 1946 New Year Honours.[27][28][29] He was decorated as a Commander of the US Legion of Merit on 14 May 1948.[30]