Information on Scot Guards

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WR1894

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Inquiring if anybody would know how to get information on a gentlemen that was in the Scots Guard. I have a cased Lancaster Ross rifle that belonged to a Lt Colonel G Cuthbert of the Scot Guards. I think it would be nice to see if I could find some information on him
The rifle is a 1901 Ross action finshed in England by Charles Lancaster so I would date this gun from 1901 to 1903
Thanks in advance
John
 
Maybe it is this guy,, who was CO of the 1st Battalion in the 1901-1906 period.

Name
CUTHBERT, Gerald James (1861-1931), Major General
Service biography
Joined Scots Guards 1882; 2 Bn, Scots Guards, Suakin expedition 1885; Aide-de-camp to Maj Gen Frederick William Edward Forestier Forestier- Walker, Aldershot 1889-1890; South African War 1899-1902; Commander, 1 Bn Scots Guards 1901; Commander, 1 Bn Scots Guards 1904-1906; Assistant Adjutant General, Egypt 1906-1909; Commander, Scots Guards Regt and 4 London Infantry Bde 1909-1913; World War I 1914-1917; Commander, 13 Infantry Bde 1914; Commander, 140 Infantry Bde 1915-1916; Commander, 39 Div 1916-1917; Commander, 72 Div and Shorncliffe Command 1918-1919
 
And some more info on MGen Cuthbert,,
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Generals' Nicknames

No. 119 Gerald James Cuthbert ('Bluebell')

Major-General Gerald James Cuthbert (1861-1931) was a Scots Guardsman who commanded 13th Brigade (1914), 140th Brigade (1914-16), and 39th Division (1916-17). He was replaced as a divisional commander after a critical report by his corps commander, Sir Ivor Maxse. Cuthbert’s nickname is mentioned in ‘With the Post Office Rifles in France and Flanders 1915-18, Tales from the Trenches!’, written by Rifleman Walter Young (IWM: 88/57/1). Cuthbert was given the nickname because he was always getting his troops to clean things: bluebells=spring=cleaning?

J.M. Bourne
Nick Lloyd


Geoffrey Blades comments:
I’m probably the 82nd person to offer this suggestion, but could ‘Bluebell’ Cuthbert be something to do with Bluebell polish?

Geoffrey Blades
Friend of the Centre for First World War Studies

Nick Lloyd adds:
It seems that ‘Bluebell’ was not Cuthbert’s only nickname. He was also called ‘spit and polish’ (see Lyn Macdonald’s 1915, pp. 468-9). He apparently wanted the trenches swept with brooms!

Nick Lloyd
Centre for First World War Studies

Jill Knight adds:
Further to the discussion of nicknames applied to General Cuthbert, may I add yet another reference, to the wonderful account in the regimental history of the Civil Service Rifles (pp. 101-2) of a riotous revue performed by the 1st Battalion (then in 140 Brigade) in the cinema at Divion on 10 June 1916. Entitled 'Spit & Polish', it culminated in an audacious impersonation of Cuthbert by a civil servant called Teasdale, who brought the house down. From a separate account I have come across, it emerges that the character played by Teasdale was known as "General Brasso"!

Jill Knight
Friend of the Centre for First World War Studies
 
Thanks alot I have some places to look know. I also have a note off to the person in England that have the Lancaster records so I may get a full name.
John
 
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