Lt. Col. Henry Cator OBE MC, 1897 - 1965
Henry John Cator was born on 25th. January 1897, the son of John Cator (1862 - 1944) and Maud Cator (nee Adeane) OBE (? - 1943).
He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, Berkshire.
He served in the First World War as a 2nd. Lieutenant in the 2nd. Dragoons, Royal Scots Greys in France and Flanders. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC} in 1917 and later the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Henry's first wife was Anne Letitia Mary, third daughter of Sir George Everard Arthur Cayley, 9th. Baronet, whom he married on 5th. February 1925 in All Saints church, Brompton by Sawdon, Yorkshire. They had two sons, John born on 23rd. January 1926 and Francis born on 30th June 1928.
In the early days of the Second World War Britain decided to resurrect the Labour Corps of the Great War under the new title of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC). Britain looked towards its empire and other territories for units to be raised and in Palestine several units were formed, the first being at Sarafand and titled No.1 Palestine Company AMPC. Henry, now a Major with the Royal Scots Greys, volunteered to be the unit commanding officer and took over the unit on 31st. January 1940.
The unit sailed for France on 22nd. February and on arrival was re-designated 401 (Palestine) Company AMPC. After the German invasion of France the Company moved to the coast where on 17th June it was withdrawn to England aboard two trawlers, landing at Weymouth in Dorset. Henry agitated for a combat role for his men, and the Company sailed on 6th. August to return to Palestine via West and South Africa and Suez, arriving on 15th. September.
A decision had been made to form Army Commandos in Egypt, and this resulted in the raising of 50, 51 and 52 (Middle East) Commandos. 51 Commando was raised from 401 (Palestine) Company AMPC, Henry selecting the best 300 men from the AMPC company to join the new Commando.
51 Commando was posted to Eritrea, attached to the 4th. Indian Division that was involved in fierce fighting with the Italian army for the second largest city in Eritrea, Keren. On 23rd. March 1941, 51 Commando was in action on Mount Samanna tasked with infiltrating enemy positions to destroy machine gun posts. The Italians were cleared off a couple of hills but the enemy used his artillery accurately against Commando Headquarters and Henry, now a Lieutenant Colonel, was wounded by a shell splinter and evacuated. It is after this that Henry served in the airborne forces until 1945. He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star and the War Medal 1939-1945.
After the death of his first wife on 15th January 1960 Henry married again on 28th. April 1961, this time to Lady Wilhelmina Joan Mary, widow of Lt. Col. Oliver Birkbeck (3rd. Parachute Regiment) of Little Massingham, Norfolk and sister of the 5th. Earl of Munster.
In 1964 Henry received an OBE, he died not long afterwards in Fernleigh, New South Wales, Australia on 27th. March 1965, aged 68.
This plaque to his memory which bears the family coat of arms and motto “Nihil sine labore” (Nothing without labour) is in the church of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, Woodbastwick, Norfolk.
Lt. Col. Henry Cator OBE MC, 1897 - 1965
Henry John Cator was born on 25th. January 1897, the son of John Cator (1862 - 1944) and Maud Cator (nee Adeane) OBE (? - 1943).
He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst, Berkshire.
He served in the First World War as a 2nd. Lieutenant in the 2nd. Dragoons, Royal Scots Greys in France and Flanders. He was awarded the Military Cross (MC} in 1917 and later the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Henry's first wife was Anne Letitia Mary, third daughter of Sir George Everard Arthur Cayley, 9th. Baronet, whom he married on 5th. February 1925 in All Saints church, Brompton by Sawdon, Yorkshire. They had two sons, John born on 23rd. January 1926 and Francis born on 30th June 1928.
In the early days of the Second World War Britain decided to resurrect the Labour Corps of the Great War under the new title of the Auxiliary Military Pioneer Corps (AMPC). Britain looked towards its empire and other territories for units to be raised and in Palestine several units were formed, the first being at Sarafand and titled No.1 Palestine Company AMPC. Henry, now a Major with the Royal Scots Greys, volunteered to be the unit commanding officer and took over the unit on 31st. January 1940.
The unit sailed for France on 22nd. February and on arrival was re-designated 401 (Palestine) Company AMPC. After the German invasion of France the Company moved to the coast where on 17th June it was withdrawn to England aboard two trawlers, landing at Weymouth in Dorset. Henry agitated for a combat role for his men, and the Company sailed on 6th. August to return to Palestine via West and South Africa and Suez, arriving on 15th. September.
A decision had been made to form Army Commandos in Egypt, and this resulted in the raising of 50, 51 and 52 (Middle East) Commandos. 51 Commando was raised from 401 (Palestine) Company AMPC, Henry selecting the best 300 men from the AMPC company to join the new Commando.
51 Commando was posted to Eritrea, attached to the 4th. Indian Division that was involved in fierce fighting with the Italian army for the second largest city in Eritrea, Keren. On 23rd. March 1941, 51 Commando was in action on Mount Samanna tasked with infiltrating enemy positions to destroy machine gun posts. The Italians were cleared off a couple of hills but the enemy used his artillery accurately against Commando Headquarters and Henry, now a Lieutenant Colonel, was wounded by a shell splinter and evacuated. It is after this that Henry served in the airborne forces until 1945. He was awarded the 1939-1945 Star and the War Medal 1939-1945.
After the death of his first wife on 15th January 1960 Henry married again on 28th. April 1961, this time to Lady Wilhelmina Joan Mary, widow of Lt. Col. Oliver Birkbeck (3rd. Parachute Regiment) of Little Massingham, Norfolk and sister of the 5th. Earl of Munster.
In 1964 Henry received an OBE, he died not long afterwards in Fernleigh, New South Wales, Australia on 27th. March 1965, aged 68.
This plaque to his memory which bears the family coat of arms and motto “Nihil sine labore” (Nothing without labour) is in the church of St. Fabian and St. Sebastian, Woodbastwick, Norfolk.