His great-uncle was a founder member of the Order of Merit; his grandfather was an early Companion of Honour.
Nigel's great-great-grandfather, Joseph Strutt, was an MP for 40 years and colonel of several regiments of Essex militia.
He was offered a peerage, but suggested that the title be conferred on his wife instead, so Lady Charlotte Strutt became Baroness Rayleigh.
[1][2] Strutt joined the Essex Yeomanry in 1937, and moved to Africa to become an honorary aide-de-camp to the governor of Northern Rhodesia.
[1][2] He served as a forward observation officer in North Africa and was severely wounded in 1941 near Bardia, in Libya, losing his right eye.
After recovering from his injuries, he was offered a staff position as an ADC in Palestine, but asked to be returned to his regiment instead.
In Camp 41, near Parma, he shared a room with Edward Tomkins and Pat Gibson, all three becoming firm friends.