Hugh Boustead

Colonel Sir John Edmond Hugh Boustead KBE CMG DSO MC & Bar (14 April 1895 – 3 April 1980) was a British military officer, modern pentathlete, and diplomat who served in numerous posts across several Middle Eastern countries, including ambassador to Abu Dhabi from 1961 to 1965. The son of a tea planter from Sri Lanka, Boustead began his career with the Royal Navy, but soon joined the British Army to fight in the trenches during World War I, where he earned his first of two Military Crosses. Following an appearance at the 1920 Summer Olympics, Boustead spent several years as a mountaineer and explorer prior to being appointed commander of the Sudan Camel Corps, with whom he served through World War II. He then embarked on a diplomatic career until his 1965 retirement and published an autobiography, The Wind of Morning, in 1971, nine years prior to his death in Dubai.

Boustead was born on 14 April 1895 in Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka, the son of a local tea planter who later became a director of The Imperial Ethiopian Rubber Company. He was educated at the Cheam School and attended Britannia Royal Naval College (then Royal Naval College, Dartmouth) prior to the onset of World War I, where he began the conflict as a midshipman in the Royal Navy, having attained that rank on 15 January 1913. On 15 May 1915 he was promoted to acting Sub-Lieutenant, but deserted this post one month later while on leave in Simon's Town to engage in trench warfare as a member of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment from South Africa. He earned a Military Cross at the Battle of Arras, which was gazetted on 26 July 1917 with the citation:

SOUTH AFRICAN FORCE.

2nd Lt. Hugh Boustead, Infy.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. As intelligence and sniping officer he showed great skill and initiative in posting

the snipers. His fine leadership and good disposition largely contributed to the success of the operation.

Boustead received the honour from George V of the United Kingdom on 15 August 1917 and transferred to the British Indian Army ten days later. He was posted to the 2nd battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles. He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 August 1918. He returned to the South African Army on 30 September 1918. A Bar to the MC followed, for actions on 25 August 1919 at Kardel, fighting alongside the Cossacks against the Bolshevik Red Armyat Tsaritsyn. The citation was gazetted on 23 April 1920 and read:

SOUTH AFRICAN FORCE.