Major-General Sir Hervey Degge Wilmot Sitwell

Major-General Hervey Degge Wilmot Sitwell was born on 25 October 1896 as a son of Hervey Wheler Sitwell, Manor House, Leamington Hastings, Warwicks and Alice Mary, daughter of Charles Schwind, Broomfield, Co. Derby.

He married in 1919 with Catherine Florence Parke, daughter of Dr Eustace Olive, FRCS, LRCP, Leamington Spa. They had a daughter.

He was educated at Wellington College, Royal Military Academy Woolwich and was in 1914 commissioned to Royal Field Artillery and served in the Great War 1914-18 (despatches, Military Cross in 1917). He became Lieutenant in 1915, Captain in 1917, Major in 1933, an acting Lieutenant-Colonel in 1939, Brigadier in 1941 and finally Major-General (local) in 1942.

Served in World War II (despatches, Companion of the (Order of the) Bath).

He was General Officer Commanding the British Troops on Java Island in 1942 and became a prisoner of war and spent until 1945 in various Japanese POW camps (1942-1945).

After the war he assumed several high command places; among others he was a District Commander, Canal North District, Egypt in 1946-1949 and a Deputy District Commander, East Anglian District in 1949-1951.

Retired from active service in 1951.

He was an honorary Major-General and also a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries, 1957.

He published several books: The Crown Jewels in 1953 and The English Regalia in 1973 (together with Martin Holmes).

He died on 28 September 1973.

His awards and titles include the Companion of the (Order of the) Bath in 1946, Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in 1957, Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1967, Master of the Jewel Office and HM Tower of London in 1952-1968 (retired).