SIR G. CRICHTON

SERVICE IN THE ROYAL

HOUSEHOLD

Colonel the Hon. Sir George Crichton, G.C.V.O., for many years Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's department, died at his home at Windsor yesterday at the age of 77.

George Arthur Charles Crichton was the the second son of the fourth Earl Erne and was born on September 6, 1874. He was educated at Eton and the Royal Military Colege, Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the Coldstream Guards in 1894. From 1899 to 1901 he was adjutant of the third battalion of his regiment. He was wounded during the South African war and received the Queen's medal with four clasps. In 1910 he retired from the Army with the rank of major and in the same year was appointed assistant to the Comptroller of the Lord Chamberlain's department.

After the outbreak of war in 1914 he was recalled to military service and from 1917 to 1919 commanded the Coldstream Guards regimental district. He joined the reserve of officers in 1920 and in the same year was appointed Comptroler of the Lord Chamberlain's department, a post he held until 1936. After his retirement from the Royal household he was elected to the Berkshire County Council and served on that body until 1949. He had been created M.V.O. in 1913, promoted C.VO. in 1920, K.C.V.O. in 1924, and G.C.V.O. in 1933.

Sir George Crichton, who was heir presumptive to the family honours, married in 1913 Lady Mary Augusta Dawson, second daughter of the second Earl of Dartrey who survives him together with three sons and two daughters of the marriage.