Sir Brett Mackay Cloutman VC MC KCB

b. 07/11/1891 Muswell Hill, London. d. 15/08/1971 Highgate, London.

Brett Mackay Cloutman (1891-1971) was born on 7th November 1891 at Marsden House, Colney Hatch Lane, Muswell Hill, London. His father, Alfred Benjamin “AB” Cloutman, was a furniture salesman born in Calverton, Buckinghamshire in 1861. He married Charlotte (also seen as Clarissa) Jane nee Reeve, a machinist from Wells, Somerset, in 1887 at St George’s, Hanover Square, London. By 1891 they were living in Harrow, Middlesex. Alfred later became Governing Director of Maple & Co. Charlotte died in 1896 when Brett was just 5. Alfred remarried to Alice Mary Marnham on 17th March 1898 at the Baptist Chapel, St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex. Alfred later became a Baptist layman in later life. Brett had two brothers from his father’s first marriage – William and Wolfred Reeve (who died in the Great War and is buried in Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, near Albert, France).

Brett was educated at Berkhamsted Preparatory School in Hertfordshire, then Stanley House School in Margate, Kent. From there he moved to Bishop’s Stortford College from 1907-08, where he was a member of the choir, played the clarinet and was an accomplished swimmer. He then attended London University between 1909-1912 where he read Modern Languages. He was fluent in French, German, Italian and Spanish and graduated with a BA Honours in 1913. He was also a member of the London University Officers’ Training Corps (Royal Engineers) from 1909-13.

He was then employed as a junior assistant by Maple & Co in Tottenham Court Road, London, where his father was a Governor.

Sir Brett M Cloutman
VC MC KCB

On 2nd September 1914, Brett enlisted in the 12th London (The Rangers), having been initially refused a commission due to poor eyesight. He was commissioned into the Kent (Fortress) Works, 6th Company, Royal Engineers at Southborough, Kent on 3rd March 1915. He was appointed acting captain on 2nd July and was promoted to lieutenant on 1st June 1916. He went to France on 15th June 1917 and was involved in operations at Vimy Ridge and in the Ypres Salient. He served on the Piave in Italy between December 1917 and the spring of 1918. Returning to France, he took part in the advance of the Third Army from the Somme to the Sambre. He was promoted to acting major on 31st August 1918 and assumed command of the 59th Field Company RE (now 59th Independent Commando Squadron RE).

He would be awarded the Military Cross for his actions at Banteaux, France on 30th September 1918. He made a personal reconnaissance under heavy fire to ascertain the possibilities of bridging the Canal de l’Escaut.

A few weeks later the action took place for which Cloutman was awarded his VC. On the 6th November, 1918, at Pont-sur-Sambre. Major Cloutman, after reconnoitring the river crossings, found the Quartes Bridge almost intact but prepared for demolition. Leaving his party under cover he went forward alone, swam across the river, and, having cut the “leads” from the charges, returned the same way, despite the fact that the bridge and all approaches thereto were swept by enemy shells and machine-gun fire at close range. Although the bridge was blown up later in the day by other means, the abutments remained intact.

The bridge had been prepared for demolition by the Germans, and was well defended. By cutting the wires, Cloutman prevented the enemy from blowing it up at the time. He was seen at the bridge, however, and escaped under an intense fire from its guards. The fact that the abutments were not destroyed later meant that the bridge could be more quickly replaced by the Allies.

This was the last act to be awarded a VC in the First World War. He was presented with his VC in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace by King George V on 13th February 1919. He relinquished his acting major on 16th April 1919. He last appears on the Army List on active service in September 1919 but remained in the Territorial Reserve of Officers. He was promoted to major in the Kent Fortress Engineers, Territorial Force on 20th September 1919 and last appears in the Army List in April 1921.

Brett married Louisa Margaret “Peggy” Emily Hunter on 17th February 1916 at Gunnersbury Congregational Church, Chiswick. The ceremony was conducted by Brett’s cousin, the Reverend Walter Evans Cloutman. Peggy was a china assistant in 1911, living with her parents. She and Brett lived at Marsden House in Muswell Hill in 1919 (his family home) and later in Finchley. She was an air raid warden and member of the Women’s Voluntary Service in World War II. They later moved to Highgate Village in North London. Brett and Peggy had two daughters – Mary Reeve (born in 1917) and Jill Margaret (born in 1920).

After the war Brett returned to Maple & Co, working in London and Buenos Aires, Argentina, where he was President of Maples in the region. On 2nd April 1924 he was admitted to Gray’s Inn to study law and finished in the top echelons. He was called to the Bar in 1926. Before the ceremony he requested that his military decorations were not mentioned as he did not want to be treated differently. He then practised Common Law at 1 Garden Court, Temple, London. On 28th October 1929 at West Ham Police Court, he defended Job Drain VC, who was accused of blocking a tramway at Plaistow with his bus. Drain claimed that he could not pull over due to his way being blocked by cyclists. The case was dismissed with Drain awarded two guineas in costs.

One of Brett’s high profile clients was the American vaudeville, Sophie Tucker, who was prosecuted by HM Customs in April 1932. He joined the Western Circuit and also appeared frequently in the North London Sessions. On 28th April 1930 he was opposing barrister to Eugene Paul Bennett VC at Southwark Crown Court. On 13th April 1937 he attended the funeral of Arthur Sullivan VC at the Guards Chapel, Birdcage Walk, London.

Brett was recalled on 11th March 1940 as a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers (Emergency Commission) and posted to Aldershot. He was appointed Second in Command of 26th Field Company RE, which reformed at Dumfries. He was promoted to acting captain and temporary major on 4th February 1941. He served in Syria and commanded the Royal Engineers Training & Reinforcement Depot in Egypt. He was appointed Chief Royal Engineer in the Levant Engineer Battalion in Italy, with the unit consisting of Syrians, Lebanese and Cypriots. He was appointed honorary lieutenant colonel in April 1946 and took part in the London Victory Parade.

In 1945 he was appointed to the Executive Committee of the Finchley Labour Party and stood unsuccessfully for the Finchley West Ward in the same year. He was later the Chairman of the Finchley Labour Party but stood down in 1948 when he was appointed to the Supreme Court. He was appointed King’s Counsel on 12th April 1946 and became a divorce commissioner in the same year. He was also the Senior Chairman of the War Pensions Tribunal in 1947, Official Referee of the Supreme Court from 1948-63 and Senior Official Referee of the Supreme Court 1954-63. He was knighted in 1957. He then jointly wrote two books with Francis Luck on the law.

Brett attended a number of VC events – the 1920 VC Garden Party, the 1929 VC Dinner at the House of Lords, the 1946 Victory Day Parade, the VC Centenary Celebrations in 1956, the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th VC and GC Association Reunions at the Cafe Royal between 1958 and 1966, the 7th VC and GC Association Reunion at Covent Garden in 1970

Cloutman died aged 80 on the 15th August 1971 in Highgate, London, and was cremated at Golders Green Crematorium after a YMCA funeral. His ashes were interred in his brother’s grave at Norfolk Cemetery on the Somme. Brett is commemorated with the Sir Brett Cloutman VC Wing at the YMCA Building in Hornsey, London, a VC commemorative stone at Hornsey Central Health Centre (unveiled on 6th November 2018) and with the Cloutman Award, set up in trust in 1969 for the most promising lance corporal in 59th Field Company RE. He is also on the For Valour Board at the Royal Engineers Museum in Gillingham, Kent, named on the VC plaque at Golders Green Crematorium, and a framed biography alongside replica medals at the University of London Officers’ Training Corps Dining Room, Handel Street, London.

His medal group including the VC, MC, British War Medal 1914-20, Victory Medal 1914-19, 1939-45 Star, Africa Star, Italy Star, Defence Medal 1939-45, War Medal 1939-45 with Mentioned in Despatches oakleaf, King George VI Coronation Medal 1937 and Queen Elizabeth II Coronation Medal 1953, are held by the Royal Engineers Museum, Gillingham, Kent, having been bequeathed as a deed of gift in November 1970.

LOCATION OF MEDAL: ROYAL ENGINEERS MUSEUM, CHATHAM, KENT.

BURIAL PLACE: GOLDERS GREEN CREMATORIUM, LONDON.

ASHES IN HIS BROTHER’S GRAVE IN NORFOLK CEMETERY, ALBERT, THE SOMME. BLOCK 1, ROW A, GRAVE 14