Background
Sir Richard was born at Halcombe, Malmesbury, the second son of Colonel Charles Richard Luce and Mary Visger, daughter of Harmon Visger.
Member of Parliament in the United Kingdom
Sir Richard was born at Halcombe, Malmesbury, the second son of Colonel Charles Richard Luce and Mary Visger, daughter of Harmon Visger.
He had studied at Christ"s College, Cambridge, gaining a first class honours in natural science.
He was elected Member of Parliament for Derby in 1924. Sir Richard Luce, as he became, was for many years the senior surgeon and later the consulting surgeon to the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary. As a student at Guy"s Hospital in London, he qualified in 1893.
He later made his home in Derby.
He was a brother of Admiral John Luce. Sir Richard was appointed Surgeon-Lieutenant in the 1st Volunteer Battalion the Sherwood Foresters, (Derbyshire Regiment), 27 October 1897.
While in the Territorial Force Reserve, Army Medical Service, he was appointed to the Honorary Colonelcy of the Royal Army Medical Corps of the Territorial Force in the North Midland Territorial Division, 5 November 1913. Sir Richard served in the First World War in Egypt, Gallipoli and Palestine, 1914-1919 as Assistant Director, Deputy Director and Director of Medical Services and, in 1918–1919, he was made a Major-General, becoming Director of Medical Services in the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
His war service was illustrious, being mentioned in dispatches and he was invested with the C.B. (military) on 3 June 1916, the Companion of St. Michael and St. George in 1918 and he was knighted with the Knight Commander of St. Michael and St. George in 1919.
At the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, he built up a reputation as an operating surgeon, where he was active in promoting plans for new building work. He was also a surgeon to the Derbyshire Children"s Hospital, as well as Ripley and Wirksworth cottage hospitals. In 1924, Sir Richard was elected as a Conservative Member of Parliament for his adopted town of Derby.
He was Mayor of Romsey, 1935-1937.
He wrote books about Malmesbury Abbey and Romsey Abbey. He also published a Paper (Royal Army Medical Corps/2031) in the Journal of the Royal Army Medical Corps, 1936–1937, on "War experiences of a Territorial Medical Officer (ADMS, 2nd Mounted Division, Egypt, 1915–1919)" with photographs.
Sir Richard retired to Romsey, where he died in February 1952, and was buried in the churchyard of Romsey Abbey. He was described in his obituary as being a man who had "exceptional energy and enthusiasm but was always courteous, modest and kindly in demeanour".
His great-great-niece is actress and comedian Miranda Hart.
34th United Kingdom Parliament.