{{Short description|British military officer, modern pentathlete, and diplomat}} {{good article}} {{Use British English|date=December 2013}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = Colonel | name = Sir John Boustead | honorific_suffix = KBE, CMG, DSO, MC & Bar | image = Hugh Boustead in the Middle East.png | caption = | birth_date = {{birth date|1895|4|14|df=yes}} | birth_place = Nuwara Eliya, Sri Lanka | death_date = {{death date and age|1980|4|3|1895|4|14|df=yes}} | death_place = Dubai, United Arab Emirates | other_names = | known_for = | occupation = British military officer, modern pentathlete, diplomat | allegiance = {{flagu|United Kingdom}} | branch = {{unbulleted list |{{navy|UK}} |{{flagicon|UK|navy}} Royal Navy (1913–1917) |{{army|UK}}<br>British Indian Army |{{flagicon|UK|military}} Transvaal Scottish Regiment (1917–1919) }} | service_years = 1913–1965 | rank = Colonel<br>Sub Lieutenant | awards = Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George, Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross & Medal bar }}
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.
==Early life== 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.<ref name="Rubber">The Imperial Ethiopian Rubber Company, Limited. (Display Advertising), ''The Times'', Monday, 14 January 1907; p. 13; Issue 38229; col E.</ref> 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,<ref name="TimesObit">Col Sir Hugh Boustead Unorthodox career in war and peace (Obituaries) The Times Wednesday, 9 April 1980; p. 16; Issue 60596; col G.</ref> 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,<ref name="RN1">{{cite web|url = http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7931533|title = Image details-Boustead, John Edmund Hugh-Admiralty: Officers' Service Records (Series III)|work = DocumentsOnline|publisher = The National Archives|format = fee usually required to download pdf of original record|access-date = 14 June 2011}}</ref> but deserted this post one month later while on leave in Simon's Town<ref name="RN2">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=8566499|title=Image details-Boustead, John Edmund Hugh-Admiralty: Officers' Service Records (Series III)-Summaries of confidential reports|work=DocumentsOnline|publisher=The National Archives|format=fee usually required to download pdf of original record|access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref> to engage in trench warfare as a member of the Transvaal Scottish Regiment from South Africa.<ref name="SportsReference">{{cite web|last = Gjerde|first = Arild|author2=Jeroen Heijmans |author3=Bill Mallon |author4=Hilary Evans |title = Hugh Boustead Biography and Olympic Results|work = Olympics|publisher = Sports Reference.com|date = February 2011|url = https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bo/hugh-boustead-1.html|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20200418040018/https://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/bo/hugh-boustead-1.html|url-status = dead|archive-date = 18 April 2020|access-date = 16 May 2011}}</ref> He earned a Military Cross at the Battle of Arras, which was gazetted on 26 July 1917 with the citation:<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30204|supp=y|page=7650|date=24 July 1917}}</ref>
{{blockquote|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<ref name="Boxing">Court Circular (Court and Social) ''The Times'' Thursday, 16 August 1917; p. 9; Issue 41558; col A.</ref> and transferred to the British Indian Army ten days later.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30385|supp=y|page=11912|date=16 November 1917}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=30928|supp=y|page=11573|date=1 October 1918}}</ref> He was posted to the 2nd battalion 4th Gurkha Rifles.<ref>July 1918 Indian Army List</ref> He was promoted to lieutenant on 6 August 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31187|page=2436|date=18 February 1919}}</ref> He returned to the South African Army on 30 September 1918.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31574|page=12035|date= 30 September 1919}}</ref> A Bar to the MC followed, for actions on 25 August 1919 at Kardel, fighting alongside the Cossacks against the Bolshevik Red Armyat Tsaritsyn.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Kopisto |first1=Lauri |title=THE BRITISH INTERVENTION IN SOUTH RUSSIA 1918-1920 |date=29 April 2011 |publisher=Faculty of Arts at the University of Helsinki |location=Helsinki |page=117 |url=https://helda.helsinki.fi/bitstream/handle/10138/26041/thebriti.pdf |access-date=27 December 2021}}</ref><ref name="Yemeni">{{Cite web|last = Shipman|first = John|title = The Wind of Morning: An Autobiography|work = Book review|publisher = British-Yemeni Society|url = http://b-ys.org.uk/journal/book-reviews/wind-morning-autobiography|access-date = 30 April 2017}}</ref> The citation was gazetted on 23 April 1920 and read:<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=31875|pages=4693–4694|date=20 April 1920}}</ref>
{{blockquote|SOUTH AFRICAN FORCE.
2nd Lt. (A./Capt.) Hugh Boustead, M.C. S. Afr. Infy.
For conspicuous gallantry at Kardel, on the 25th August, 1919, when by the skilful manner in which he personally handed Lewis guns he assisted in beating off several hostile cavalry attacks, and by his example greatly inspired the Lewis-gun sections of the Russian regiment to which he was attached.
(M.C. gazetted 26th July, 1917.)}}
At this time he was officially an "Instr[uctor], Physical Training" with the infantry.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=32190|page=353|date=11 January 1921}}</ref> His gallantry eventually led to the pardoning of his earlier desertion.<ref name="SportsReference"/>
==Career== A boxing champion in the lightweight division during his service with the British army,<ref name="Boxing"/> Boustead was recruited to captain the British team in the modern pentathlon at the 1920 Summer Olympics.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/34770 |title=Hugh Boustead |work=Olympedia |access-date=26 August 2021}}</ref> He finished joint 14th in a field of 23 competitors in his only Olympic appearance.<ref name="SportsReference"/> He then continued his military career and, after transferring to the Gordon Highlanders, he was seconded from them to serve in Sudan beginning 19 November 1924.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33006|page=9450|date=30 December 1924}}</ref> A seasoned explorer, he participated in both the 1926 British expedition to Kangchenjunga and the 1933 expedition to Mount Everest,<ref name="SportsReference"/><ref name="Yemeni"/> organized his own mountaineering expedition in Sikkim,<ref name="Expedition">Everest Members of New Expedition, Experience And Youth (News) By Brigadier-General C. G. Bruce. ''The Times'' Friday, 7 October 1932; p. 12; Issue 46258; col G.</ref> explored the Libyan desert with Ralph Alger Bagnold in 1932,<ref name="Libya">Libyan Desert START of Another Expedition (News) ''The Times'' Wednesday, 28 September 1932; p. 11; Issue 46250; col B.</ref> and traversed the wastes of Greenland.<ref name="SportsReference"/>
Boustead was promoted to the rank of captain on 1 March 1927<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33272|page=2961|date=6 May 1927}}</ref> and served as a General Staff Officer, Third Grade from 22 July 1929 to 26 November 1930.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33764|page=6701|date=20 October 1931}}</ref> He was promoted to local major on 3 February 1931,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33718|page=3322|date=22 May 1931}}</ref> a secondment that culminated in his appointment as commander of the Sudan Camel Corps later that year. He was then promoted to local lieutenant colonel on 17 October 1931<ref name="SportsReference"/><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33796|page=781|date=5 February 1932}}</ref> and awarded a brevet majority on 1 January 1933.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33899|page=51|date=3 January 1933}}</ref> He was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire in the 1934 King's Birthday Honours.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34056|page=3562|date=1 June 1934}}</ref> His secondment ended on 19 November 1934 and he returned to regimental duty with the Gordons in his substantive rank of captain.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34106|page=7440|date=20 November 1934}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34108|page=7612|date=27 November 1934}}</ref> He retired in April 1935<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34148|page=2321|date=5 April 1935}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=34148|page=2323|date=5 April 1935}}</ref> to begin a career with the Sudan Political Service and spent five years as District Commissioner in Darfur.<ref name="TimesObit"/>
Boustead rejoined the military following the onset of World War II to raise, train, and command the Sudanese Frontier Force.<ref name="TimesObit"/> As a local Lieutenant-Colonel<ref name="Dispatches">{{London Gazette|issue=35396|pages=7333–7349|date=26 December 1941}}</ref> and commander of its Camel Corps he led some of the units that helped restore Emperor Haile Selassie I to the throne of Ethiopia in 1941. For his actions in this conflict, he was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order by Orde Wingate on 15 August 1941,<ref name="DSO">{{cite web|url=http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/documentsonline/details-result.asp?Edoc_Id=7659056|title=Recommendations for Honours and Awards (Army)-Image details-Boustead, John Edmond Hugh|work=DocumentsOnline|publisher=The National Archives|format=fee usually required to download pdf of original record|access-date=14 June 2011}}</ref> which he received on 30 December 1941, being Mentioned in Despatches on the same date.<ref name="Dispatches"/> His World War II service officially ended on 7 December 1946 and the honorary rank of Colonel was bestowned upon him.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=37809|supp=y|page=5959|date=3 December 1946}}</ref>
After the conflict Boustead served as a diplomat in several Middle Eastern countries including Sudan, Yemen, and Oman, prior to spending nine years (1949–1958) as a Resident Adviser in the Aden Protectorate. His next post was the then-Sultanate of Muscat and Oman, where he held the position of Development Secretary.<ref name="TimesObit"/> He was appointed political agent (then equivalent to ambassador) of Abu Dhabi in 1961, a post that he held until 1965.<ref name="Yemeni"/> He was promoted Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the New Year Honours that year,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=43529|supp=y|page=19|date=29 December 1964}}</ref> and presented with the Lawrence of Arabia Memorial Medal of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs.<ref name="RSAA">{{Cite web|title = Colonel Sir Hugh Boustead KBE CMG DSO MC|work = Lecturers|publisher = Royal Society for Asian Affairs|date = May 2011|url = http://www.rsaa.org.uk/speakers/view/boustead_hugh|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110527193347/http://www.rsaa.org.uk/speakers/view/boustead_hugh|url-status = dead|archive-date = 2011-05-27|access-date = 16 May 2004}}</ref>
==Later life== Following his 1965 retirement Boustead went on a lecture tour in the United States,<ref name="TimesObit"/> and eventually settled down in Mezyad in the U.A.E., where he was asked by Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan to oversee his stable of horses in Al Ain. In 1971 he published his autobiography, ''The Wind of Morning'', which was well received.<ref name="Yemeni"/> In addition to his knighthood, DSO, and receiving the Military Cross and Bar, he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours and awarded the St George's Military Medal with 1 Palm by Haile Selassie.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=38620|supp=y|page=2607|date=27 May 1949}}</ref><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=40188|supp=y|page=3261|date=1 June 1954}}</ref> He died on 3 April 1980 in Dubai at the age of 84,<ref name="Yemeni"/><ref>{{London Gazette|issue=48273|page=11257|date=7 August 1980}}</ref> having never married.<ref name="TimesObit"/> At Boustead's death, British MP Richard Luce claimed that no one had a greater impact in "cement[ing] relations between the British and the Arabs" as Boustead.<ref name="Luce">Colonel Sir Hugh Boustead (Obituaries) Mr Richard Luce. ''The Times'' Friday, 11 April 1980; p. 17; Issue 60598; col G.</ref>
==See also== *Armathwaite Hall
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Boustead, Hugh}} Category:1895 births Category:1980 deaths Category:British male modern pentathletes Category:Modern pentathletes at the 1920 Summer Olympics Category:Olympic modern pentathletes for Great Britain Category:South African military personnel of World War I Category:Royal Navy officers of World War I Category:British Indian Army officers Category:Indian Army personnel of World War I Category:British Army personnel of World War II Category:Gordon Highlanders officers Category:British colonial army officers Category:Sudan Political Service officers Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Category:Recipients of the Military Cross Category:Sri Lankan people of British descent Category:People from British Ceylon Category:People educated at Cheam School Category:People from the Aden Protectorate Category:Deserters