Lewis Balfour Oatts

Lewis Balfour Oatts, DSO (1902–1992) was a British soldier, military historian and writer, who commanded two battalions in the remote Burmese jungle during the Second World War, winning a Distinguished Service Order.

On a remote jungle path Oatts would come upon a pile of branches with plantains laid on top; he would then wait with an interpreter, leaving his soldiers 200 yards behind.

He preferred to stalk a Japanese soldier, let the lever go and then stuff it down his victim's neck; on one occasion he lost an arm but was not put off and regarded the incident as amusing.

One of Oatts' officers sent the GOC six Japanese heads which his men had removed, hoping the General would then show similar enterprise; he was promptly sent back to England for psychiatric treatment.

Nonetheless the 14th Army HQ was greatly impressed by the achievements of the Levies in harassing the Japanese and decided that Oatts should form two regular battalions.

After the war Oatts became administrator at Arbury Hall, Warwickshire (the Gothick show-place of the FitzRoy Newdegates, Viscounts Daventry); then ran the Victoria League in Edinburgh.

Oatts published several books including Proud Heritage, in 1952, a four-volume history of the Highland Light Infantry; Emperor's Chambermaids [ASIN B00HXJN0VM], the story of the 14/20th King's Hussars; another of the 3rd Carabiniers (now part of the Scots Dragoon Guards); and the autobiographical Jungle in Arms.

Lieutenant-Colonel Lewis Balfour Oatts died in December 1992, aged 90, and is buried at Rosslyn Chapel in Scotland, a privilege afforded the descendants of William Sinclair, 1st Earl of Caithness