Brigadier I.H. Cumberland
Governor General’s Horse Guards
5th Armoured Brigade

Swotty is one of those quiet unassuming lads who always seem to get there–where? oh, always near the top when exam results come out … It seems that Swotty was born with a rifle in his hands, for he is an excellent shot.

(RMC Yearbook, 1927, 34)

Born on 10 July 1906 in Port Hope, Ontario, Ian Hugh Cumberland (Wotherspoon) was an RMC graduate, businessman, and member of the Governor General’s Horse Guards since 1927. He had his name legally changed in the 1930s, dropping his father’s surname Wotherspoon. Following mobilization, he first served as adjutant with the GGHG and then second-in-command when the now redesignated 3rd Armoured Regiment when overseas in October 1941.

In June 1942, he replaced Lieutenant-Colonel H.M. Sharp. Of this promotion Cumberland wrote, “I have served with this, my regiment, ever since I left the Royal Military College of Canada, and having command of it has always been my fondest hope.” In January 1943 the regiment became the armoured reconnaissance unit in the 5th Armoured Division, which deployed to Italy at the end of the year.

After two years in command and six months in the field, Cumberland was elevated to brigadier of the 5th Armoured Brigade. The GGHG war diary observed, “Lt Col Cumberland goes with the respect and confidence of every man and there was a spontaneous outburst of applause when he announced his promotion. Thos of us who have served with the Horse Guards since he took over command, now how greatly he is responsible for making us the regiment we are today. He was devoted to the unit and worked unceasingly to build us up as high as possible.”

In October 1944, he commanded the ad hoc formation “Cumberland Force,” composed of Canadian, New Zealand, and Greek troops. For his leadership in the entire Italian campaign, he received the D.S.O., the citation reading in part:

has shown keen foresight, exception powers of organisation, and a high standard of drive and leadership which have welded 5 Canadian Armoured Brigade into a highly disciplined, well organised, efficiently operating fighting machine.

Cumberland commanded the brigade until the end of the war and was elected president of the Royal Canadian Armoured Corps Association in 1948.

He died on 15 January 1964 in Port Hope, Ontario.