Richard Luce (surgeon)

Major-General Sir Richard Harman Luce (1867–1952) was a medical doctor (FRCS) who during World War I served as the Director of Medical Services of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force and was promoted Major-General. He was elected MP for Derby in 1924. .

He published a Paper (RAMC/2031) in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1936–1937, on "War experiences of a Territorial Medical Officer (ADMS, 2nd Mounted Division, Egypt, 1915-1919)" with photographs.

Sir Richard Luce, as he became, was for many years senior surgeon and later consulting surgeon to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. He had studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, gaining a first class honours in Natural Science. As a student at Guy's Hospital in London, he qualified in 1893. He later made his home in Derby.

Family
Sir Richard was born on 13 July 1867 at Halcombe, Malmesbury, the second son of Colonel Charles Richard Luce and Mary Visger, daughter of Harmon Visger.

Early career
Appointed Surgeon-Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Battalion the Sherwood Foresters, (Derbyshire Regiment), 27 October 1897. While in the Territorial Force Reserve, Army Medical Service, he was appointed to the Honorary Colonelcy of the Royal Army Medical Corps of the Territorial Force in the North Midland Territorial Division, 5 November 1913.

Service in the First World War
Sir Richard served in the First World War in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine, 1914-19 as Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director of Medical Services and, in 1918-1919, he was made a Major-General, becoming Director of Medical Services in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. His war service was illustrious, being mentioned in dispatches and he was invested with the C.B. (military) on 3 June 1916, the C.M.G. in 1918 and he was knighted with the K.C.M.G. in 1919.

Post War
At the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, he built up a reputation as an operating surgeon, where he was active in promoting plans for new building work. He was also a surgeon to the Derbyshire Hospital for Sick Children, as well as Ripley and Wirksworth cottage hospitals.

Political Life
In 1924, he was elected as a Conservative MP for his adopted town of Derby. His portrait is in the NPG.

Sir Richard was Mayor of Romsey, 1935-37. He also wrote a book about Malmesbury Abbey and another about Romsey Abbey.

Death
Sir Richard retired to Romsey, where he died in February, 1952, and was buried in the churchyard of Romsey Abbey.

Sir Richard was described in his obituary as being a man who had "exceptional energy and enthusiasm but was always courteous, modest and kindly in demeanour".

Summary
Luce, Richard Harman

Son of Col. Charles Richard Luce, and b. 13 July 1867 at Halcombe, Malmesbury.

Educ. Clifton College; Matric. Michs. 1886;

Adm. pens. at Christ's College, Cambridge, 27 April 1886; Scholar, 1886; B.A. (Nat. Sci. Trip., 1st Class) 1889; M.B., B.Chir., and M.A., 1893.

M.R.C.S.; L.R.C.P., 1893; F.R.C.S. 1894.

House Surgeon at Guy's Hospital.

Assistant House Surgeon, York County Hospital. Served in the Great War, 1914-19 (Major-Gen., A.M.S. (T.F.);

Director of Medical Services, Egyptian Expeditionary Force.

C.B. 1916; C.M.G. 1918; K.C.M.G. 1919; V.D.; mentioned 3 times in despatches).

In practice at Derby for many years.

M.P. for Derby, 1924-9. Mayor of Romsey, 1935-7.

President, Hants Field Club and Archaeological Society, 1939 and 1943-4.

F.S.A. Author, "Pages from the History of the Benedictine Monastery of Malmesbury"; "War Experiences of a Territorial Medical Officer"; also medical Papers.

Of Chirk Lodge, Romsey, Hants., in 1950.

Connections
Luce's father was Col. Charles Richard Luce, b.1829

Luce's brother was Admiral John Luce, 1870–1932, whose son was Sir William Tucker Luce.

Sir William's son (Sir Richard's great-nephew) was another Richard Luce, MP, b. 1936, who became Lord Luce; and Sir William's daughter Diana married Captain David Hart-Dyke, who commanded HMS Coventry in the Falklands conflict, and whose elder daughter is the comedienne and actress known as Miranda Hart.