James Charles Macaulay Booth, who died 18 December, 2022, aged 101, was descended from the Barons Monteagle; born 9 July, 1921, son of Charles Zachary Macaulay Booth (1886-1968), and his wife the former Mary Honora Spring Rice (1896-1972), scion of the Barons Monteagle of Brandon.
Jim Booth was a wartime naval officer who took part in a crucial mission to guide the Allied armada on to Sword Beach during the D-Day landings.
His grandfather was the great Victorian social reformer Charles Booth (1840-1916). His great-uncle, Sir Cecil Spring Rice, wrote the words to the hymn I Vow to Thee, My Country. Jim was also musical and was an organ scholar at Eton, winning many prizes.
He married 14 November, 1951, Bertha Evans, a Wren whom he had met on a blind date while both were stationed in Malta, daughter of Thomas Evans. His wife predeceased him. He is survived by their four children: sons, Charles (born 1953) and Stephen (born 1958), and daughters, Antonia (b 1956) and Victoria (b 1961).
He loved dancing. At the 70th anniversary celebrations of VJ day in August 2015 the band was playing in a marquee behind Westminster Abbey when he boldly asked the Duchess of Cornwall’s lady-in-waiting if Camilla would like to dance. After being told she would “love to”, the 94-year-old led the future Queen around the floor with aplomb. Afterwards he told his family that she was “quite a good dancer”.
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