Ronald Scobie

Military career

Scobie was educated at Cheltenham College and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.

First World War He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1914 and served during the First World War on the Western Front in France and Belgium, joining 1st Field Squadron RE in November. He was a General Staff Officer Grade 3 in France in 1918, and a Brigade Major in France from 1918 to 1920.

Between the wars

After the war, Scobie became Officer, Company of Gentlemen Cadets, Royal Military Academy, Woolwich 1920–1924; Staff Captain, Aldershot Command 1927–1929; Brigade Major, Aldershot Command 1929–1931 After attending the Staff College, Camberley from 1925 to 1926, he became Director of Military Artillery at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in 1932 and, after attending the Imperial Defence College, was Assistant Adjutant General at the War Office in 1938. which was sent to Greece to expel the Germans but ended up becoming involved in the Greek Civil War. On 1 December 1944, Scobie unilaterally issued an order for ELAS, the armed wing of the EAM, to disarm. EAM, resisting the "Scobie Order", staged a demonstration in Athens two days later which involved 200,000 people. During the demonstration, Greek police and gendarmerie opened fire on demonstrators, killing at least 28. This marked the beginning of the Dekemvriana (Greek: Δεκεμβριανά, "December events"), a 37-day period of fighting in Greece between ELAS and British and Greek government forces. He remained in command of British forces in Greece until 1946, retiring from the army in 1947.

Rugby Union career

Amateur career

He played rugby union for the Royal Military College.

He played for the Army Rugby Union against the Royal Navy Rugby Union in the 1914 Inter-Services match.

Provincial career

He played for the Blues Trial side against the Whites Trial side on 10 January 1914.

International career

He was capped three times by Scotland, all in 1914.

Other sports

He played cricket for Cheltenham College and for the Royal Engineers.