PORTAL, BERTRAM PERCY, Major, was
born 10 January 1866, third son of Sir Wyndham Spencer Portal, 1st Baronet,
and Lady Portal (who died in 1903), eldest daughter of William Hicks Beach,
of Oakley, Hampshire. He was educated at Wellington College and Sandhurst,
and was gazetted a Lieutenant in the 17th Lancers 29 August 1885, and he
became Captain 1 January 1895. From 18 March 1896 to 28 February 1899, he
was ADC to the Governor of Madras, Sir Arthur Havelock. He served in the
South African War, 1900-2, taking part in operations in the Orange Free
State, February to May 1900, including actions at Vet River (5 and 6 May)
and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including
actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria; operations in Cape Colony, July 1901
to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 29 July
1902]; received the Queen's Medal with three clasps, the King's Medal with
two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
[London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Bertram Percy Portal, Major, 17th
Lancers. In recognition of services during the operations in South
Africa". He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 30 October 1903, and
commanded the 17th Lancers from 1903 to 1907; was given the Brevet of
Colonel 30 October 1906, and retired 30 October 1907. Colonel Portal served
in the European War, as a Temporary Brigadier General with the British
Expeditionary Force in France, from June 1916 to April 1918. He was created
a CB in 1917, for services in connection with the Irish Rebellion of 1916.
He is Deputy Lieutenant and a Justice of the Peace for Hampshire. He
married, in 1899, the Honourable Margaret Louisa Littleton, eldest daughter
of the 3rd Baron Hatherton, and they had a son, Melville Edward Bertram, and
five daughters.
