Neil Cantlie was born on 11 December 1892 in Hong Kong, the youngest son of the late Sir James Cantlie, FRCS, and educated at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen, and Aberdeen University, where he graduated in medicine with honours in 1914. He was a member of the university OTC and after qualifying joined the RAMC as a Lieutenant on 31 July 1914. He served with the BEF in France and Flanders until 1919, taking part in the first Battle of Ypres, where he was slightly wounded, and in other battles in Flanders. In January 1918 he was awarded the MC and in the following November was mentioned in dispatches. He took the FRCS in 1920 and shortly afterwards was seconded to the Egyptian Army, serving with it for five years. He saw action in the northern province of the Sudan and in 1924 was involved in the rebellion at Khartoum which followed the murder of the Sirdar in Cairo. On reverting to Home Establishment he attended the Royal Army Medical College course at Millbank, obtaining distinction in medicine and surgery and passing out first in order of merit. He then qualified with distinction in operative surgery and was classified as a specialist in 1926, holding surgical appointments in military hospitals in England and India from 1931 to 1937. During this period he was stationed at Peshawar, North-West Frontier Province, during active operations. He was awarded the Indian General Service Medal and clasp, North-West Frontier, 1936-7. On the outbreak of the second world war he was in charge of the surgical division of the Cambridge Military Hospital, Aldershot. He then commanded a casualty clearing station and a general hospital. As ADMS, 46 Division, he took part in the landings in North Africa, the capture of Tunisia, and the advance into Italy. His next appointment was 5th Corps in the rank of Brigadier from 1942 to 1944. From Italy he was posted to India as DDMS Eastern Command in the rank of Major-General from 1944 to 1946, during which period he was appointed honorary physician to the King. On his return to England he was DDMS Southern Command from 1946 until he became Director-General Army Medical Services with the rank of Lieutenant-General. He was appointed honorary surgeon to the King Edward VII Convalescent Home, Osborne, Isle of Wight, an appointment he held until 1958. He was appointed KBE in 1949 and KCB in 1952. To Neil Cantlie, who had spent his whole active life in the Army, the Corps always had pride of place. His last memorial to it was his much acclaimed *History of the Army Medical Department*, published in 1974. While Director-General he steered the Corps through difficult, changing times and brought a quiet and steadying influence. He was a kind and sympathetic man who was always easily approachable by all ranks and prepared to listen, but who hated irrelevances. The RAMC owes Neil Cantlie much as surgeon, administrator, and leader. He died on 16 May 1975, survived by his wife, Mollie who died on March 17, 1986 and his son Colin.