David Scott-Barrett was a man of great humour, courage and character. He was affectionately known by the nickname “Wobbly” and, while his enthusiasm was not always appreciated by everybody, soldiers loved his sense of fun and his  “hands on” approach. During the fireman’s strike of the 1970’s when he was General Officer Commanding Scotland he was frequently to be found at the scene of an incident with his Fireman’s hat on helping soldiers to man the old “Green Goddess” emergency fire engines.

David Scott-Barrett, who died in December 2003, was born in 1922 in Cologne where his father was Judge Advocate General serving in the Rhine Occupation Army. He was commissioned from the Royal Berkshire Regiment into the Scots Guards in 1942 and he served with the 3^rd (Tank) Battalion, part of 6^th Guards Armoured Brigade, in the Battles which followed the D-Day landings. Near Nijmegen in February 1945 his tank was blown up by a mine and disabled. Unable to provide the necessary support to the advancing 10^th Battalion Highland Light Infantry he got out of the vehicle, ran through the minefield, took over his Corporal’s tank and pushed on with the advance.

By 15^th April 1945 the 3^rd (Tank) Battalion were deep inside Germany advancing towards Uelzen south of Luneburg again in support of the 10^th HLI. Early in the morning the HLI Headquarters were surrounded by a fierce German counter attack mounted with anti-aircraft guns on half tracks fired at very close quarters. As the situation quickly deteriorated, and unable to make radio contact to summon help, David Scott-Barrett drove his scout car straight through the encircling enemy to find reinforcements. Attacked by enemy bazookas, grenades and 20mm flack he summoned help and then drove straight back into the HLI Headquarters to continue the fight. Later in the same day in the village of Veersen, and again in the face of determined enemy fire, he organised house clearing, anti tank patrols and attacks on machine gun posts and snipers. For these actions he was awarded an immediate Military Cross.

After the war Scott-Barrett saw service in the Malayan Emergency, United Kingdom and British Army of the Rhine. He was GOC Berlin (British Sector), GOC Scotland and Governor of Edinburgh Castle.