Henry Walter Houldsworth Explained

Honorific Prefix:Brigadier
Sir Henry Houldsworth
Honorific Suffix:DSO KBE MC TD
Office:Lord Lieutenant of Moray
Term Start:28 September 1943
Term End:9 October 1963
Predecessor:The Earl of Moray
Successor:Sir Iain Tennant
Birth Place:Castlebank, Lanark
Death Place:Leanchoil Hospital, Forres
Parents:James Hamilton Houldsworth
Albinia Mary Sulivan
Children:3
Mawards:Military Cross
Territorial Decoration

Brigadier Sir Henry Walter Houldsworth, DSO KBE (28 January 1896 – 9 October 1963) was a British soldier.

Early life

Houldsworth was born on 28 January 1896 at Castlebank, Lanark. He was a younger son of James Hamilton Houldsworth and the former Albinia Mary Sulivan (eldest daughter of the Rev. Filmer Sulivan).[1]

His paternal grandparents were Catherine Jane McGrath and James Houldsworth (brother to Sir William Houldsworth, 1st Baronet, MP for Manchester). The family ran Reddish Mills, which amalgamated with the Fine Cotton Spinners Association in 1898.[2]

Career

Houldsworth served as Commander of the 154 Highland Brigade of the Seaforth Highlanders during World War II, fighting in North Africa from 1942 to 1943.[3] From 1943 to 1944, he was Commandant of the School of Infantry.[4]

He was awarded the Military Cross, the Territorial Decoration,[5] the Companion, Distinguished Service Order and bar, and was appointed Knight Commander, Order of the British Empire. He held the office of Lord Lieutenant of Moray.[6]

Personal life

On 7 February 1921, Houldsworth married Katharine Charlotte Douglas, daughter of Major George Sholto Douglas (a grandson of the 17th Earl of Morton) and Lady Laura Mary Wentworth-Fitzwilliam (a daughter of William Wentworth-Fitzwilliam, Viscount Milton). Together, they lived at Dallas Lodge, Forres, Moray,[7] and were the parents of:

Houldsworth died on 9 October 1963 at Leanchoil Hospital, Forres.[9] His funeral was held at St. Giles' Parish Church in Elgin. The Queen was represented by Adml. Sir Martin Dunbar-Nasmith and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester by Capt. Iain Tennant.[10]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Book: SCHOOL-BOYS . OLD PUBLIC . Old Public School Boy's Who's who . 1933 . St. James Press . 415 . 6 February 2024 . en.
  2. Book: The Colliery Year Book and Coal Trades Directory . 1949 . Iliffe Books Limited . 148 . 6 February 2024 . en.
  3. Web site: 51st Highland Division Brigade Commanders Account 51st Highland Division Website . 51hd.co.uk . 6 February 2024.
  4. Web site: Biography of Brigadier Henry Walter Houldsworth (1896 – 1963), Great Britain . generals.dk . 6 February 2024.
  5. News: Friday, 28 May, 1949 . 6 February 2024 . Second Supplement to the London Gazette . 25 May 1948.
  6. News: Whitfield . Alistair . Pictures from the Past: 1954 Seaforth Highlanders leave Elgin . 6 February 2024 . . 28 March 2021 . en.
  7. Book: Burke's Genealogical and Heraldic History of the Peerage, Baronetage, and Knightage, Privy Council, and Order of Preference . 1963 . Burke's Peerage Limited . 1731 . 6 February 2024 . en.
  8. Book: Morris . Susan . Debrett's Peerage and Baronetage 2019 . 20 April 2020 . eBook Partnership . 978-1-9997670-5-1 . 3340 . 6 February 2024 . en.
  9. Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003, volume 2, page 2789.
  10. News: Brig. Sir Henry Houldsworth . 6 February 2024 . . 1 Nov 1963 . 16 . en.