William Scotter

General Sir William Norman Roy Scotter, (9 February 1922 – 5 February 1981) was a senior British Army officer who served as commander-in-chief, British Army of the Rhine from September 1978 until October 1980.

Early life and education William (Bill) Scotter was born in Birkenhead, Wirral on 9 February 1922, the son of Claude Norman Scotter (born Ulverston, Cumbria in 1889, died 1978 in Hampshire) and Hilda Marie Scotter ( Turner; 1892–1948). He had two brothers and one sister. Scotter was the grandson of Canon William Henry Scotter, one time vicar at Ulverston and his wife Emma Gordon Dill. He was also the great-nephew of Sir Charles Scotter, chairman and managing director of the London and South Western Railway. Scotter was educated at St. Bees School, Cumberland.

Military career Second World War In June 1941 Scotter enlisted in the British Army and served in ranks of the Scots Guards. By 1942 he had attained the rank of lance corporal. After attending the Indian Military Academy, Dehra Dun, he was emergency commissioned into the 7th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army on 26 November 1942.

Rise to senior command

Having returned to England, Scotter was transferred from the Indian Army to the 2nd Battalion Border Regiment in 1945, as a Regular officer. After service in Malaya with the 1st Battalion, 2nd Gurkha Rifles from 1948 to 1951, and graduating from Staff College, Camberley, he was appointed commanding officer of the 1st Battalion King's Own Royal Border Regiment. and promoted to Vice Chief of the General Staff at the Ministry of Defence in Whitehall in the rank of lieutenant general. In 1976 he became colonel commandant of the Army Physical Training Corps Aldershot. From September 1978 was promoted to general, as commander-in-chief, British Army of the Rhine, a role he held until October 1980, when he was replaced by General Sir Michael Gow.

Death and memorials

Scotter was appointed to become Deputy Supreme Allied Commander Europe (DSACEUR) in April 1981. But he died on 5 February before he had the opportunity to take up this appointment. He was buried at Aldershot Military Cemetery with full military honours.

A plaque to Scotter's memory is displayed in the Kings Own Border Regiment Chapel in Carlisle Cathedral. His uniform and medals are displayed in Cumbria's Museum of Military Life in Carlisle Castle.