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Norman Gwatkin

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Sir Norman Gwatkin
Born2 August 1899
Died31 July 1971 (1971-08-01) (aged 71)
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1918–1959
RankBrigadier
Service number19152
UnitColdstream Guards
Commands5th Guards Armoured Brigade
Battles / warsSecond World War
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Dispatches

Brigadier Sir Norman Wilmshurst Gwatkin GCVO KCMG DSO (2 August 1899 – 31 July 1971) was a British Army officer and courtier in the Household of Elizabeth II.

Military career

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Gwatkin was the son of Hugh Fortescue Wilmshurst Gwatkin and Vera Philpots. He was educated at Clifton College[1] before attending the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

He commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1918.[2] He subsequently joined the Royal Household. He was invested as a Member of the Royal Victorian Order in 1937, while serving as Assistant Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's Office. In 1940 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. Gwatkin saw active service in the Second World War and in 1944 he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order while commanding the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade in Operation Overlord. He returned to the Royal Household after the war.[3] Between 1950 and 1952 he served as an Extra Equerry to George VI, and held the same role in the household of Elizabeth II until his death in 1971.[4] From 1960 to 1964 he served as Comptroller, and in 1963 he was made Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order.[5][6][7] Gwatkin served as Secretary and Registrar of the Order of Merit between 1963 and his death.[8] In 1964 he was made Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.[9]

In 1957 he married Isolen Mary June Wilson in Aldershot.

While serving in the Lord Chamberlain's Office he was responsible for a report which described the 1962 play, Under Plain Cover, as "effluent".

References

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  1. ^ "Clifton College Register" Muirhead, J.A.O. p325: Bristol; J.W Arrowsmith for Old Cliftonian Society; April, 1948
  2. ^ "No. 31140". The London Gazette (Supplement). 23 January 1919. p. 1184.
  3. ^ "No. 39616". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 August 1952. p. 4198.
  4. ^ "No. 38851". The London Gazette. 28 February 1950. p. 1035.
  5. ^ "No. 42115". The London Gazette. 12 August 1960. p. 5521.
  6. ^ "No. 42870". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1963. p. 5.
  7. ^ "No. 43427". The London Gazette. 4 September 1964. p. 7509.
  8. ^ "No. 45485". The London Gazette. 1 October 1971. p. 10585.
  9. ^ "No. 43424". The London Gazette. 1 September 1964. p. 7429.
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