Lest we forget: COUTTS, Frank – King’s Own Scottish Borderers

Surname: Coutts
First Name: Frank
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Permanent Staff Location: Plymouth & Oswestry
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Permanent Staff Rank: Lt Col
Regiment: King's Own Scottish Borderers
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Age: 90
Date of Death: 2008 October 18
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From Jim Murdoch – Many former Junior Leaders will remember Big Frank from his very successful tenure as Commanding Officer of IJLB. He marched into Park Hall Camp Oswestry at the head of the Battalion when IJLB relocated there from Plymouth in the early 1960s.

From Sandy Henderson – Frank Coutts to me was the very best kind of Regimental Officer. Someone said earlier that you always remember your first CO. They were absolutely right. A giant of a man in every way. I recall the fun with a little fear as one term I took Scottish Country Dancing as a hobby and the instructor was Frank. He had us dance a 32sm reel on the sports field. He had left Oswestry before I passed out but I came across him once more in my Army service when as a Colonel he was on the quay to welcome the Argyll’s back to Singapore from our first Borneo tour. Smiling and genuinely welcoming, I instinctively said Hello Sir and he shook my hand. It was nice to see him again. It was as General Secretary of the Royal British Legion Scotland that I got to know him a little better. He filled that role with an authority and an ability to make everyone feel comfortable and feel they mattered. On a number of occasions he was a guest at our club in Livingston and we chatted about Oswestry. He was very proud to see so many of his Juniors had done so well and contributed so much to the Infantry Regiments. When others complained that when we dedicated our new colours that we made the dedication too military he commented that we were lucky to have people who could do that standard of drill.

From Ray Ironmonger – It is always extra hurtful when an old warrior like the Brigadier is lost to us all the world is a sadder place today because of the loss of such a great man he lived and commanded through a time of great military history which most of us shared in one way or another.

From The Scotsman – Scottish rugby and the armed services lost an indefatigable character this week with the death of Brigadier Frank Coutts CBE DL aged 90. Coutts was a well-known and fiercely patriotic figure in Scottish rugby circles having played for Scotland on three occasions in 1947 after the resumption of the Five Nations Championship and then serving as president of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1947 after the resumption of the Five Nations Championship and then serving as president of the Scottish Rugby Union in 1977-78. Born in Glasgow he was educated at Glasgow Academy and his rise to the rank of Brigadier in the army provided the inspiration for two of his acclaimed books “One Blue Bonnet” and “The Golden Thread”. Formerly with the Metropolitan Police, Coutts enlisted in the army and served with the King’s Own Scottish Borderers as a platoon commander during the Second World War. At the end of hostilities he won plaudits on the rugby field as an uncompromising second-row forward and earned three caps though Scotland continued from where they left off in 1939 by losing their three home nations games and also to France with the Five Nations Championship being resurrected. A lock forward Frank played for Melrose the Army London Scottish Glasgow Academicals and the Barbarians during a long and distinguished playing career. A decorated and celebrated soldier he went on to become Colonel of the Regiment in 1970 and after retiring he spent time tirelessly doing charitable work most notably for his favourite charity the Seagull Trust. He was also a tireless campaigner on behalf of the Armed Forces most recently during the ‘Save Our Scottish Regiments’ battle. It was during this time that he also became General Secretary of The Royal British Legion Scotland and also of the Earl Haig Fund. But rugby was never far from Frank’s thoughts. He was elected vice-president of the SRU between 1976 to 1977 before becoming president the following year and remained an interested and often voluble supporter of Scottish rugby right up until his death this week which included keeping The Scotsman’s rugby correspondent up-to-date with his feelings on the changing face of the sport both positive and negative. A service to celebrate an extraordinary life and pay tribute to a terrific man is to be held at Canongate Edinburgh on Monday 27 Oct at 12.30pm.

From Sandy Henderson – I attended the Service of Thanksgiving for Frank Coutts yesterdays. A really wonderful occasion with a huge attendance that filled the Canongate Kirk to overflowing. One estimate was that there were well over 600 in attendance. There were of course very many Borderers but a good sprinkling of all the other Scottish Regiments. Brig Allan Alstead gave the tribute and outlined a very full life. Piper, Metropolitan Police Officer, Private in London Scottish, Commissioned into the Kings Own Scottish Borderers, Pl Comd Normandy and beyond, Coy Comd in Malaya and a fulsome mention of his appointment to Command at Oswestry. Manning and records made an inspired choice in appointing him to Command the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion where with others his Juniors filled the Sgt’s Messes of all the Infantry Battalions. RSM’s and QM’s followed from the Infantry Junior Leaders which was a great pride to him. A very warm tribute much appreciated by everyone there. We were then invited to join the family at Whiteford House for refreshment. They obviously knew their guests as there was a huge spread of food and drink. I spoke to many Borderers and their real affection for Frank was evident and many had come from afar to be there. Once a Border always a Borderer is absolutely true. A number of National Servicemen from his Malaya days were also there. I spoke to Lt Gen John Macmillan who is a similar type. He did his first 17 years as an Argyll and his last 17 years as a Gordon. He is pleased that we have an IJLB Association. I also spoke to Cherry Anderson one time Pipe Major of the Gordon Highlanders who lives in Whiteford House (Scottish Veterans Home) and still plays the pipes. He says Frank was a very good piper (for an officer). I also spoke to his Frank’s nephew and I think being non military was a bit overwhelmed by the broad spread of those who had come to pay their respects. Right to the end he was involved with his two favourite charities. They estimate that for the Seagull Trust he helped rise over a £1M over the years and for the Ghurkhas Welfare Trust he continued to have an Annual Lunch to raise funds. Two Pipers played at the Funeral. Cpl Kevin Turnbull Royal Scots Borderers and Marcel Adriaanse of the Inter Skaldis Pipe Band, Holland. A band that Frank had assisted in setting up and still had contact with. It was a great privilege to be there and represent the Association.

From Fiona & Sheena – Dear Mr Nicol Thank you very much for your kind letter on behalf of the IJLB Association on the death of our father . He was an amazing man and I can well picture the scene of Scottish Reels and PT at dawn! Ever active he continued in the same vein up to the end. We were very fortunate in being able to share his company stories and jokes etc for such a long time! I know Dad was looking forward to his return trip to Oswestry next June – not to be I’m afraid but I’m sure he’ll be there with you all in spirit. I hope it all goes well. With best wishes Fiona & Sheena

From Charlie McGrogan – I regret that ill health prevented me attending Frank’s funeral service at the Canongate Kirk. He was a great Commanding Officer always immensely proud of “his boys” and followed careers painstakingly. I “marked time” many times in front of him as a JL and well recall that many years later when the then Brigadier Coutts visited the WO’s & Sgt’s Mess of the Royal Scots in Osnabruck I successfully dodged him all evening until I had a call of nature. Standing at the urinal when in came Frank and our CO. “Well McGrogan” said Frank “Never thought I’d see you in here” “Neither did I sir I hope in the circumstances you not mind if I don’t mark time this once” Frank dissolved in gales of laughter and my CO later Sir Bob Richardson Colonel of the Regiment demanded to know the story behind the laughter. Frank was a sojers sojer my Commanding Officer a fellow member of The Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh a great support in our fight to save the Scottish Regiments and will be greatly missed by us all.

From The Scotsman – Fifty-two years ago D Company of the 1st Battalion The King’s Own Scottish Borderers were on operations in Malaya based in a tented camp on a rubber estate near Paloh. This was the most remote of the battalion company bases. Most of the company were national servicemen and we were awaiting our new company commander. No-one knew anything about him except that he was a Scottish rugby internationalist and had captained the army rugby team. This information engendered considerable consternation. Some were apprehensive that he would start chasing us round the jungle at high speed and others that he might introduce compulsory morning PT. To make matters worse, rumour spread that he had been (or perhaps still was) a policeman. But we need not have worried\; Frank turned out to be a delightful inspiring and charismatic commander, qualities he displayed in abundance throughout his life. Few company commanders were accorded the degree of affection he was shown. To his great delight several of his D Company officers from all those years ago came to celebrate his 90th birthday with him in July. Born on 8 July 1918 a son of the manse he was schooled at Glasgow Academy where he was introduced to rugby. He also had his first taste of the army in the school cadet corps where he learned to play the pipes which he kept up throughout his life. After an enjoyable year of adventure in Canada it was home to join the Metropolitan Police. Although he enjoyed playing rugby for the Met once war was declared Frank was desperate to join the army. He managed to get away after a struggle with the police authorities and joined the London Scottish which was acting as an anti-invasion unit in the south of England. On one occasion the battalion was billeted in a girl’s school Frank maintained it was Roedean where a notice next to a bell above each bed read: “Ring if you require a mistress in the night.” Sadly the Jocks’ ringing brought no response. He was selected for officer training and was commissioned in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers in June 1941. After a spell at the KOSB depot Frank joined the 4th (Border) Battalion and training for war started in earnest. This association with the regiment was to dominate the rest of his life. Postings followed to Denmark and Germany all interspersed with a great deal of rugby and the award of army caps. He had two games representing Scotland in the Victory Internationals and then the first of his three “full” caps against Wales. His posting as an army instructor at the Royal Naval College Greenwich was to prove a defining moment he met his future wife Morag there. Mutual friends had told them both separately that the other was “lonely in London”. They met in Piccadilly Circus by Eros whose aim must have been good that night. They discovered they had been born four days apart and lived within four blocks of each other but had taken 29 years to meet. Staff College Camberley followed giving more time for rugby with London Scottish and the County of Kent he captained both teams and played eight times for the Barbarians. Next came a spell in Scotland. Then it was Malaya and D Company where he arrived on Hogmanay 1956. Operations in Malaya were physically demanding with long periods in the jungle on patrol or in silent ambush positions. But it gave everyone a wonderful experience of teamwork and created lifelong bonds of comradeship. After Malaya the Coutts family went to Berlin with its occupying forces from Britain the US, France and the Soviet Union. It was an exciting place with a mix of intrigue and showing the flag with the remains of war still very much in evidence. Frank found it fascinating to be providing guards at Spandau Prison for Hess, Speer and von Schirach. The Ministry of Defence’s decision to select Frank to command the Infantry Junior Leaders Battalion was inspired. He became headmaster-cum-commanding officer for some 2 000 young men who trained under him to become the backbone of the army. On then to a staff job in Singapore which unexpectedly became a hotspot due to Indonesian confrontation giving Frank plenty to do. Then it was backing home to command 155 Brigade in Edinburgh. Sadly this was not to last due to the Territorial Army cuts. Frank moved on to Scottish Command as chief of staff to General Derek Lang. After yet more ministry cuts he became divisional brigadier for all the Scottish regiments. They could not have had a more understanding, caring or positive leader. Frank rounded off his army career as Commander Highlands the area of the famous 51st Highland Division. But his greatest joy was his ten years as colonel of the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He relished every moment of his appointment and set an exceptional example in leadership. So at last into civilian life and back to Edinburgh as joint general secretary of the Earl Haig Fund and British Legion Scotland. A splendid appointment where he empathised wonderfully with former servicemen and women. But Frank attracted responsibilities like no other. He was a volunteer fundraiser and trustee for the Seagull Trust raising more than £1 million for the organisation, president of the Scottish Rugby Union and a founding member of The Scottish Sports Council. He also assisted in running the Edinburgh Commonwealth Games, supported the Soldiers Sailors Airmen and Families Association and the Friends of St Andrew’s Jerusalem, and ran fundraising lunches for the Ghurkha Welfare Trust. A member of the Royal Scottish Piping Society he was also chieftain of the Chevaliers a select group of pipers. He was Father Banquo with the monks of St Giles a member of the Church of Scotland Committee for HM Forces Chaplains an elder of the Kirk and a great supporter of the Canongate. He was also a deputy lieutenant of the City of Edinburgh. Frank was honoured three times by the Queen: as an MBE OBE and a CBE. A couple of years ago when up in Dounside with his daughters he was unexpectedly invited to Balmoral for sherry after church at Crathie. Frank never did find out how Her Majesty knew they were in Dounside. But Frank’s greatest delight was his family; he treasured his many happy years with Morag as she followed him round the world to their 30 houses. Latterly his pride and joy were his daughters Fiona and Sheena. Frank’s life was epitomised by service to his Queen to his country to his regiment and to the many organisations and causes he supported. He was beloved by all who were fortunate enough to know him and for many particularly those within the army he became something of a father figure. He will always be remembered as a Glaswegian who became a Borderer and lived to become one of the finest Borderers of them all.