Major-General RAM Basset CB CBE MC
Commanded 2nd Bn The Queen's Royal Regiment from 2nd July 1933 to 24th April 1937.
Richard Augustin Marriott Basset, known to his friends as "RAM", was born on 10th February 1891. He was educated at. Marlborough and the Infantry Company of the RMA, Woolwich.
He was commissioned in The Queen's Royal Regiment on 28th January 1911 and joined the 1st Battalion with whom he served until the outbreak of War in August 1914 when he was appointed adjutant of the 6th (Service) Battalion. He served with this Battalion until April 1916 when he was appointed DAQMG of 20 Division. Later he was DAQMG at Fifth Army where he remained until June 1918 when he became an Instructor to the Senior Staff Course at Cambridge. In January 1919 he returned overseas and held Staff appointments at GHQ, BEF. For his services during the 1914-18 War he was awarded the Military Cross and the French Croix de Guerre. He was twice Mentioned in Despatches.
From January 1920 to January 1921 he attended the Staff College, Camberley and after a Staff appointment at the War Office returned to the 1st Battalion at Aldershot in 1923 and was appointed Adjutant. From December 1927 until 1929 he held various Staff appointments. He then joined the 2nd Battalion. From August 1930 to July 1933 he held Staff appointments, and on 22nd July 1933 he commanded the 2nd Battalion until April 1937.
In October 1936 he was promoted Colonel and in April 1937 was AA & QMG of 5 Division. In 1939 he became DA & QMG of 10 Corps, Home Forces. In November 1941 he was appointed ADC to the King. His next appointment was Commander of No 18 Lines of Communication Area at Moascar, Egypt, as Major-General. He held this appointment until his return to UK in March 1945. He retired from the Army on 13th February 1946. For his services in the Second World War he was made a CBE in 1940 and CB in 1945. He was Mentioned in Despatches three times.
He was a keen hockey player and played for Surrey Second Eleven at Cricket. He died on 7th January 1954.
For obituary see the Journal of The Queen's Royal Regiment Vol X (November 1954) No 4 page 215
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