Sir Charles Hugh Willis Troughton CBE MC TD (27 August 1916 – 13 May 1991)[1] was a British businessman and barrister who was chairman of W H Smith, director of the Navy, Army and Air Force Institutes, and chairman of the British Council.
Troughton was born in Chalfont St Giles[2] near Amersham, Buckinghamshire, the son of stockbroker Charles Vivian Troughton (1884–1955) and Constance Lilia "Scylla" Tate (1888–1973).[1]
Troughton was educated at Haileybury College (1930–35), followed by Trinity College, Cambridge, where he earned a BA with honours in 1938.[3]
He served with the 4th Battalion of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (1938–46). He was reported as missing in action in May 1940, while a 2nd Lt.[4] He was captured at the Battle of Cassel on 30 May 1940. As a prisoner of war, No 662, he read for the Bar through the Red Cross from 1943 at OFLAG 7c and was awarded a first. He was liberated on 6 May 1945 . He was discharged from active duty in 1946.[3]
Troughton was director of the retailer W.H. Smith & Son from 1949–77 and chairman (1972–77). He was also director of the Equity & Law Life Assurance Society PLC (1965–77); Thomas Tilling Ltd (1973–79); Barclays Bank (UK) Management (1973–81) and Barclays Bank International (1977–82).[3]
He was also chairman of the British Council (1977–84). He was also a director of Times Newspapers Holdings;[5] Whitbread & Co.;[6] and William Collins, Sons.[3]
Troughton was awarded the Military Cross in 1945.[7] He received the Territorial Efficiency Decoration in 1959, while a captain with the Territorial Army.[8]
Troughton was appointed a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in the 1966 New Year Honours[9] and knighted in the 1977 Silver Jubilee and Birthday Honours.[10]
In 1947, he married Constance Gillean Mitford, DL, OStJ. They had three sons, Peter, James, and Simon, and one daughter, Catrina. Their eldest son, Peter, a member of the Diplomatic Service, married courtier Sarah Colman, daughter of Sir Timothy Colman.[1]