Lt.-Col. Charles Francis Irvine, MC, XXV Laird of Drum

Male 1910 - 1992  (81 years)


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  • Name Charles Francis Irvine 
    Prefix Lt.-Col. 
    Suffix MC, XXV Laird of Drum 
    Born 10 Nov 1910  Drum Castle Find all individuals with events at this location 
    Gender Male 
    Life Story Charles Francis Irvine was the third son of Alexander Forbes Irvine (1881-1922) the XXII Laird, and was born November 10, 1910 at Drum Castle.

    He was educated privately at the Castle before going to a boarding school at age eleven. He attended Ardureck Crieff School in Perthshire (1921-1924); Radley College, Oxford (1924-1929); Exeter College, Oxford (1929-1932), where he earned a BA in Agriculture in 1932.

    From 1932 to 1934 he worked as Estate Agent on a large estate in North Scotland; in 1935 he joined the Liverpool Firm of R. Silcock & Sons, LTD, Agricultural Feed Manufacturers, as Personal Assistant to the Sales Director. The firm specialized in direct selling to farmers.

    In 1936 he married Irene Thyella Tennyson, daughter of Commander Harold Sydney Tennyson, Royal Navy. They had three children:

    David Charles Irvine, born January 20, 1939. He married Carolyn Colbeck on October 3, 1964

    Susan Mary Irvine, born December 10, 1940. She married David Elliot. They have two children: Phillipa Anne Elliot, born 1971, and Howard Christian Elliot, born 1973.

    Anna Elizabeth Irvine, born November 3, 1944. She married Peter Ruf. Their children are: Richard Andrew Ruf, born 1972, and Brigitte Christina Ruf, born 1974.

    After a divorce in 1948 Charles married Barbara Stone in 1953. There were no children from this union.

    In January 1946 Charles Francis Irvine returned to his pre-war job in Liverpool as General Sales Manager with a staff of 600 salesmen in the U.K. In 1961 he was promoted to Director of R. Silcock & Sons, LTD, which was then a subsidiary of Unilever Animal Feed Group.

    In October 1969, during a realignment of the various divisions of the corporation, he took early retirement. In his retirement years he lead a very active life, concentrating on golf, and gardening. He was also Chairman of the Liverpool Center of the National Trust; on the Committees of a number of local Activities, in particular, in charge of a series of local houses adapted to accommodate elderly persons.

    Charles Francis Irvine became the XXV Laird of Drum in 1975 when Henry Quintin Forbes Irvine, his next oldest brother, died. At that point, because of mounting maintenance costs and according to Henry's wishes, Drum Castle, along with several hundred acres of land, was turned over to the Scottish National Trust.

    Charles Francis Irvine died on March 4, 1992. David Charles Irvine, his only son, succeeded him as the XXVI Laird. 
    War Service WW2 Charles Irvine entered military service in October 1939 as an Officer Cadet, and was commissioned in January 1940 in the Gordon Highlanders. In May 1942 his battalion joined the 8th Army in Egypt, and fought at the Battle of El Alamein. During this action he was promoted to Battalion Adjutant. He later fought in Libya, and was involved with the capture of Tripoli. His battalion was present at the last day of fighting in North Africa.

    In early 1943 he landed with his battalion during the invasion of Sicily, and in November 1943 his Highland Division returned to England to train for the Normandy Invasion. In June 1944 he landed with his Division the first day of the D-Day Normandy Invasion. He later was at the Battle of River Seine, and his unit was involved in the Ardennes Offensive as well as the Rhine crossing into Germany. In September 1944 he was promoted to second in command, and in November of the same year, with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, he was given command of the battalion during the fighting in the Ardennes. He remained in command until demobilized in October 1945. Lt. Col. Irvine was one of only two officers in the battalion who were in every action and were not wounded.

    Lt. Col. Irvine's decorations were:
    1943-Mentioned in Dispatches from North Africa.
    1944-France, won the Military Cross for action in the breakout of Normandy
    1945-Military Cross was received from King George VI at a ceremony at Buckingham Palace
    1945-Belgium, Chevalier of the Order Of Leopold II with Palm and Croix De Guerre with Palm.
    1945-Africa Star with 8th Army Clasp Italy and Sicily Campaign Medal
    1945-The France and Germany Star
    1945-Defense Medal
    1945-Victory Medal 
    Died 4 Mar 1992 
    Person ID I13331  Simpson & Elder
    Last Modified 1 Jul 2013 

    Family Irene Tyella Tennyson 
    Married 26 Apr 1936 
    Divorced 1949 
    Children 
    +1. David Charles Irvine, XXVI Laird of Drum,   b. 20 Jan 1939
    +2. Susan Mary Irvine,   b. 10 Dec 1940
    +3. Elizabeth Anne Irvine,   b. 2 Nov 1944
    Last Modified 30 Jun 2013 
    Family ID F699  Group Sheet


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