James "Hamish" Watt Torrance was the very first Intelligence Officer for Northumberland and the Scottish Borders. He was involved at the very early planning and setting up stage under Colin McVean Gubbins.
He was born in Glasgow and his parents were Percy Watt Torrance and Elizabeth Shanks Kennedy. He worked in the family timber trade business. During this time he found himself working abroad in Sweden 1935-36 and Finland 1936-37.
On return to Scotland, Hamish joined the Highland Light Infantry, Army Number 74887. On 30 March 1938 he received a Commission to 2nd Lieutenant taking up his new role as Platoon Commander with the 6th Battalion Highland Light Infantry. Promotion came again on 26 Feb 1940 to Captain and a move to the 24th Guards Brigade in March as WO1 and then Intelligence Officer with M.I.(R) for the Norwegian Campaign between January and June. As this wound up Hamish was posted to the Auxiliary Units in July 1940. Here he stayed until April 1941. During this time he scouted out some of the sites later used for the OBs and contacted the right sort of people to start up the organisation.
In April 1941 Hamish moved again within SOE and went undercover in Finland and Sweden posing as a timber trade inspector based in Kouvala, fortunately he was fluent in both languages. Come September he was moved to Norway. In Norway he was Commanding Officer for the Norwegian Commandoes again within SOE. In July he was M.I.(R) for Special Service, Norway then back to the Commandoes taking part in the Lofoten Island raid.
More activity with the Commandoes saw Hamish running landing parties in "Q" ships. At least two ships were sunk at this time slowing down the German war effort. Norway completed, it was back to HQ in London and he spent January and February planning. During this planning stage he was promoted to Major (23 Jan 1943).
This planning was used for two raids using the Small Scale Landing Force, one raid in France and a second in the Channel Islands, between April and September 1942.
October saw another change of focus, this time Africa. Hamish was 2nd in Command and later Commanding Officer of Brandon, which was the Tunisian campaign. This ran from October 1942 until July 1943 with Hamish leaving for Gibraltar late in 1942 on route for Africa.
The next job was the Greek Campaign running from September 1943 to January 1945. During this posting he was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel dated 20 April 1944. Hamish moved to Cairo 6 Aug 1943 as with the Tunisian campaign he started as 2nd in Command and again to Commanding Officer. In February Hamish was back in Britain for more planning and his final move within SOE, a return to Norway on 8 Jul 1945. Here he was to be "Specially used" within S.O.S and the Allied Land Forces, Norway. Some POW vetting and Nazi hunting was carried out.
Just before the posting back to Norway he managed to find time to marry Dorothy Moyra Brander (Acting 3rd Officer, Woman's Royal Naval Service, also working for SOE) on 12 Feb 1945 at St. James Episcopal Church in Stonehaven.
James Watt Torrance was awarded several honours:-
- The Africa Star
- The Military Cross for service within Force B3 30 Jan 1945 & in the London Gazette 9 Aug 1945 (37213)
- Greek Award 12 Sept 1945
- Italian Award 14 Sept 1945
- King Haakon’s Liberty Medal 19 March 1948 in the London Gazette (38240)
- The M.B.E.
Hamish Watt Torrance died of TB on the 30th September 1966 aged only 50. He is buried in Becklingen Cemetery.
| Unit or location | Role | Posted from | until |
|---|---|---|---|
| Inverurie Camp, Aberdeenshire | Intelligence Officer | 15 Jul 1940 | 22 Apr 1941 |
| Northumberland | Intelligence Officer | 15 Jul 1940 | 22 Apr 1941 |
Kelvinside Academy, Glasgow then Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh
Timber trade business
30 March 1938 Platoon Commander with the 6th Battalion Highland Light Infantry.
26 Feb 1940 Captain 24th Independent Guards Brigade in March. Seconded as Intelligence Officer with M.I.(R) for part of the Norwegian Campaign between January and June.
2 July 1940 Posted to the Auxiliary Units in July 1940. Acting Captain from 2 July 1940
23 April 1941 Moved to SOE, undercover in Finland and Sweden posing as a Timber Trade Inspector based in Kouvala.
2-8 Nov 1941 completed parachute course at STS 51 (Ringway).
Sep 1941 Commanded Norwegian commandos including for Lofoton Island Raid and involved in Q ship attacks (concealed weapons on civilian ships)
20 April 1942 Post to STS 62 (The Small Scale Raiding Force, part of SOE – Anderson Manor, Dorset)
23 Oct 1942 Left UK for Gibraltar L Section SOE, commanding Brandon mission.
24 July 1943-5 Aug 1943 In UK.
6 Aug 1943-30 Jan 1945 to Cairo to take over command of Greek Guerrilla Forces as a British Liaison Officer.
5 May 1945 Proceeded overseas as SOE Agent (Probably to Norway)
8 July 1945 Posted Allied Land Forces Norway on leaving SOE.
While serving in Greece (Aug 1943-April 1944) his report summaries his qualities as; "Lt Col Torrance's pronounced military bearing, his abrupt and direct approach to the subject in hand, his inherent cheerfulness and his ability as a good 'mixer' make him an outstanding personality in any company. Torrance is a strict disciplinarian; he is meticulous in military etiquette, and possesses outstanding determination and initiative. He has a keen sense of humour and a good deductive brain, with a good organising ability. He has a fair Sapper knowledge and has shown himself a courageous and capable leader in several actions, in which he inspired great confidence in his subordinates."
The National Archives HS9/1476/3,
Army List 1941
The Scottish War Graves Project and local research.