India and then in 1927, having been promoted lieutenant colonel, he was appointed CO of the 1st Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders and subsequently commander of the 5th Infantry Brigade in 1930. He became general officer commanding (GOC) of the 52nd (Lowland) Infantry Division in 1935 and GOC of the 51st (Highland) Infantry Division in 1937. The 51st Division remained in France after the general evacuation from Dunkirk, having been assigned to the French IX Corps. After naval evacuation proved impossible and supplies of ammunition had been exhausted, Major-General Fortune was forced to surrender the greater part of the Highland Division at St Valery en Caux. Fortune spent the rest of the war as a prisoner of war. As a senior British officer in captivity in Germany, he worked to improve the conditions of the men under his command. He suffered a stroke in 1944 but refused repatriation. He was finally liberated in April 1945 and made KBE shortly after. Several British writers have questioned the decision to remain with the French during the battle. However, General Charles de Gaulle stated, 'For my part, I can say that the comradeship of arms, sealed on the battlefield of Abbeville in May–June 1940, between the French armoured division, which I had the honour to command, and the gallant 51st Scottish Division under General Fortune, played its part in the decision which I made to continue the fight at the side of the Allies, to the end, come what may'. And he concluded by quoting the old motto of the Garde Ecossaise: omni modo fidelis – faithful in every way. References Bibliography External links Recollections of Susan Fortune. Victor Fortune's daughter-in-law British Army Officers 1939−1945 Generals of World War II |- 1883 births 1949 deaths Scottish military personnel British Army major generals British Army generals of World War I British Army generals of World War II Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Companions of the Order of the Bath Knights Commander of the Order of the British Empire Officiers of the Légion d'honneur Recipients of the Order of the Phoenix (Greece) World War II prisoners of war held by Germany Deputy Lieutenants of Perthshire People from Castle Douglas Black Watch officers People educated at Winchester College Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley Academics of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst