Old Photograph Alan Gomme Duncan Perth Scotland

Old photograph of Alan Gomme Duncan in Perth, Perthshire, Scotland. Colonel Sir Alan Gomme Duncan, born 5 July 1893, died 13 December 1963, was a British Army officer who served in both World Wars; he was recalled to the army at the age of 45 in advance of Second World War. In a brief break in his career he was Inspector of Prisons for Scotland. After the liberation of Europe he went into politics and served for fourteen years as a Conservative Member of Parliament in Scotland, becoming known for humorous remarks combined with a lively partisanship. Duncan was the only son of Alfred Edward Duncan, and was sent to Merchant Taylors' School. At the outbreak of the First World War, Duncan joined the London Scottish, serving in France and Belgium. At the beginning of January 1917, while holding the rank of Lieutenant, and temporary Captain, he was awarded the Military Cross. He was later transferred to the Black Watch for whom he served in Germany after the armistice and into 1919. During the war, Duncan was twice Mentioned in Despatches, and was also wounded in action. He ended the war with the substantive rank of Captain. He married Mary Bourne on 2 April 1919 at Leavesden, Hertfordshire, England. For the 1945 general election, Gomme-Duncan was chosen as Conservative candidate for Perth, which included his home at Bridge of Earn, and where the sitting Member was retiring. Gomme-Duncan easily won election to the House of Commons, obtaining a majority of 10,867. Gomme-Duncan held several positions of honour, including membership of the Royal Company of Archers, the Sovereign's Bodyguard in Scotland; he was a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. Gomme-Duncan was President of the Perthshire Musical Festival Association and Vice-President of Perthshire Agricultural Society and of the Boy Scouts in Perth District.



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