Cecil Lucas

The son of a lieutenant-colonel in the Dragoon Guards, Cecil Lucas enjoyed a distinguished career in the Army, rising to the rank of brigadier-general, before a successful career working in the Home Office.

Lucas attended the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich before being commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in 1902, followed by a transfer to the Royal House Artillery in 1910. He served in World War I and received the Military Cross and was mentioned in dispatches. Lucas retired from the Army in 1926, after which he was in charge of acquiring, and looking after, military horses. He did that until 1937 when he moved to the Home Office where he stayed until 1951. He was awarded the CBE in 1945 and was honoured with several overseas decorations, including the Legion of Honour.

In his younger days, Lucas was a keen cricketer and footballer but his passions in later life were riding, hunting and shooting. He officiated at show jumping, three-day eventing and hunters shows and other events around Britain, and in 1936 was a show jumping judge at the Berlin Olympics.