George Paynter (British Army officer)

Brigadier-General Sir George Camborne Beauclerk Paynter (2 August 1880 – 15 August 1950) was a British Army officer and courtier in the Household of King George V and Queen Mary.

Paynter was born in London, the son of Major George Paynter and Frances Maria Janetta Beauclerk. He was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and commissioned into the 4th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment on 23 March 1898. He later transferred to the Scots Guards and served in the First World War. Paynter was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for his leadership of the 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards in fighting on 24 October 1914. On 25 August 1916 he became commanding officer of the 172nd (2/1st South Lancashire) Brigade and was promoted to temporary brigadier-general. He was awarded a bar to his DSO for gallant command of his brigade in October 1918. He was injured on 4 October 1918 and was sent to Highclere Castle in Berkshire to recover. While staying at the castle Paynter had a relationship with one of the nurses, who was subsequently fired by Almina Herbert, Countess of Carnarvon. He returned his his brigade on 25 October. On 2 June 1919 he was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel. He was promoted to full colonel in 1922 and invested as a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.

On 1 December 1927 Paynter was appointed as an equerry to George V. In 1930 he resigned and became an extra equerry, a position he still held in July 1936. On 3 August 1937 he became Groom in Waiting. On 12 November 1943 he took retired pay was granted the honorary rank of brigadier-general. On 8 June 1950 he was invested as a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order.

He married Alberta Diana Hunloke, daughter of Major Sir Philip Hunloke and Sylvia Heseltine, on 5 February 1921 at St George's, Hanover Square.