Alastair Robert Innes-Ker (1880-1936)
Lt.-Col. Lord Alastair Robert Innes-Ker, D.S.O., C.V.O., Equerry to King George V
Born at Floors Castle, he was the "popular and charismatic" younger brother of the 8th Duke of Roxburghe (also married to an American heiress, Mary Goelet). From Sandhurst, he was commissioned into the 1st King's Dragoon Guards with whom he served during the Boer War. In 1905, he transferred to the Royal Horse Guards and as a Lieutenant was married two years later to the beautiful American heiress, Annie Breese. They divided their time between Scotland and their home on Oxford Square, London.
In 1909, he was promoted to Captain and when World War One broke out five years later he was posted to Flanders. There, he distinguished himself by showing "conspicuous courage by bringing in wounded men under very heavy fire" and was awarded the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) on December 1, 1914. Nonetheless, he still felt he was not getting enough action and in order to obtain greater opportunities of "getting to grips with the Bosche" he transferred to Royal Flying Corps, and to some extent realized his ambition. From 1917 until the end of the war he was Commandant of the School of military Aeronautics with the temporary rank of Lt.-Colonel. He then worked with the Air Ministry and after the War he returned to the Royal Horse Guards and served as their Commanding Officer until his retirement in 1930. That year, he was appointed Equerry-in-Ordinary to King George V and received the C.V.O. the year before his death.
In 1909, he was promoted to Captain and when World War One broke out five years later he was posted to Flanders. There, he distinguished himself by showing "conspicuous courage by bringing in wounded men under very heavy fire" and was awarded the D.S.O. (Distinguished Service Order) on December 1, 1914. Nonetheless, he still felt he was not getting enough action and in order to obtain greater opportunities of "getting to grips with the Bosche" he transferred to Royal Flying Corps, and to some extent realized his ambition. From 1917 until the end of the war he was Commandant of the School of military Aeronautics with the temporary rank of Lt.-Colonel. He then worked with the Air Ministry and after the War he returned to the Royal Horse Guards and served as their Commanding Officer until his retirement in 1930. That year, he was appointed Equerry-in-Ordinary to King George V and received the C.V.O. the year before his death.
