Landowner and soldier; Born October 5, 1922; Died October 1, 2007. CAPTAIN Sir Charles McGrigor Bt, who has died just days before his 85th birthday, was the last from a long line of distinguished McGrigors who served Scotland in the armed forces. The McGrigor baronetcy, of Campden Hill, Middlesex, was created in 1831 for James McGrigor, a military surgeon and for 36 years director-general of the Royal Army Medical Department.

Charles Rhoderick McGrigor (1860-1927), second son of the 2nd Bt, was a major-general in the Army and the father of Admiral of the Fleet Sir Rhoderick McGrigor. Sir Charles's contribution to the services was more modest, but no less worthy. He joined the army straight from Eton in 1941 and saw wartime service in North Africa, Italy and Austria with the Rifle Brigade. He became 2nd Lieutenant in 1942 and captain the following year, earning himself a mention in despatches.

McGrigor was born in 1922, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Charles Colquhoun McGrigor, 4th Bt, and Amabel Caroline, née Somers-Cocks. As with many of his generation, the Second World War was the defining moment of his life. He had a good war, as they say, and when it ended was appointed aide-de-camp to HRH the Duke of Gloucester. As Prince Henry, the duke was the third son of King George V and therefore an uncle of the future Queen Elizabeth. In 1944 he was unexpectedly appointed the 11th governor-general of Australia. Taking up his post in January the following year, the duke invited McGrigor to join him as his ADC.

The duke failed to hit it off with his Australian subjects, although the duchess tried hard to soften his image. McGrigor served him loyally for two years both at Government House in Canberra and back in England, but the duke left Australia in March 1947, after only two unsuccessful years in the vice-regal post.

McGrigor's father had died in 1946, making him the 5th Bt, and on June 7, 1948, he married Mary Bettine, the daughter of Sir Archibald Charles Edmonstone, 6th Bt, who was then aged only 20. Lady McGrigor had a strong interest in literature, particularly the writings of Robert Louis Stevenson, and "followed the drum" with her husband for several years as he continued his Army duties.

Sir Charles retired in the mid-1950s and settled down with his wife and three young children on a sheep farm beside Loch Awe in Argyll, where he lived for the rest of his life. A son, James Angus Rhoderick, had been born in 1949, while two daughters followed; Lorna Gwendolyn 1951 and Kirstie Rowena Amabel in 1953. A second son, also called Charles Edward, was born in 1959.

Lady McGrigor fell in love with Argyllshire and produced several local histories, as well as The Scalpel & The Sword, an edited version of the autobiography of Sir James McGrigor, which was published in 2000. Sir Charles, meanwhile, devoted himself to his family, fishing and gardening, as well various good causes, particularly the RNLI. He also acted as Deputy Lord-Lieutenant of his home county, Argyll and Bute, in 1987.

Sir Charles was also a member of the Queen's bodyguard in Scotland, the Royal Company of Archers, and also its English equivalent, the Yeoman of the Guard from 1970-85.

Sir Charles is survived by his wife, two sons and two daughters. His eldest son, a Conservative list MSP for the Highlands and Islands, James Angus Rhoderick McGrigor, succeeds him as 6th Bt.