Allan Cameron (British Army officer) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allan John Cameron
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| Born | 25 March 1917 Achnacarry Castle, Inverness-shire, Scotland
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| Died | 4 December 2011 (aged 94) Invergordon, Scotland
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| Spouse(s) | Mary Elizabeth Vaughan-Lee (1945–2008; her death) |
| Children | 5, including Ewen Cameron, Baron Cameron of Dillington |
| Parent(s) | Sir Donald Cameron, 25th Lochiel Lady Hermione Graham |
| Awards | • Major, British Army • MBE • Freedom of Ross and Cromarty |
Major Allan John Cameron MBE (March 25, 1917 – December 4, 2011) was a Scottish soldier and a very important person in the sport of curling. He served as a Major in the British Army during World War II. After the war, he helped create the International Curling Federation, which is now known as the World Curling Federation. He was also its first president.
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Early Life and Education
Allan Cameron was born on March 25, 1917, at Achnacarry Castle in Scotland. His father was Sir Donald Walter Cameron of Lochiel, who was the 25th chief of Clan Cameron. Allan went to Harrow School, a famous school in England. He then studied at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which trains army officers.
Military Career
Allan Cameron joined the British Army in 1936 when he was 19 years old. He became an officer in a group called the Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders.
Serving in India and Egypt
After becoming an officer, he was sent to India. Later, he worked as an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant to a senior officer) for a General in Egypt.
World War II Experience
During World War II, Allan Cameron fought in the Battle of Gazala in 1942. This battle ended with the city of Tobruk being captured by the Axis forces. Many Allied soldiers were taken prisoner. Allan was captured by Italian soldiers in 1943. He managed to escape with two other soldiers, but they were caught again by German forces six weeks later. He was finally set free by American soldiers after several years.
Returning Home
After the war, Allan returned to Scotland. He got married and was then stationed at Balmoral Castle, a royal residence. Later, he moved to the Eaton Hall military training school. He left the army in 1947.
Public Service and Awards
After his military career, Allan Cameron became involved in local government.
Local Government Work
For 20 years, he was a member of the Ross and Cromarty County Council. From 1962 to 1975, he was the head of its education committee. He then joined the Ross and Cromarty District Council and later became its convener, which is like being the chairperson.
Special Recognition
In 1988, Allan Cameron was given the MBE award. This award is given by the British monarch to people who have done great things. On his 79th birthday in 1996, he received the Freedom of Ross and Cromarty. This is a special honor given to people who have contributed a lot to the area.
Curling Career
Allan Cameron started playing curling in the 1950s. Curling is a sport where players slide stones on ice towards a target area.
Leading Curling Organizations
In 1963, he became the president of the Royal Caledonian Curling Club, which is a very old curling club in Scotland. The next year, he won the Swedish Cup, a curling competition. He then played a key role in creating the International Curling Federation. He was the first president of this organization from 1965 to 1969. This federation later became the World Curling Federation, which is the main group for curling around the world.
Personal Life
Allan Cameron was married to Mary Elizabeth Vaughan-Lee. They had five children together. One of his sons, Ewen Cameron, Baron Cameron of Dillington, became a member of the British Parliament. His other children are Christina, Archibald, and Bride. Bride married Lord Donald Graham, whose father was the 7th Duke of Montrose.
