In the novel Elephants Can Remember, Sir Alistair Ravenscroft was a general. He was also the husband of Margaret and the father of Celia and Edward. He was found dead on top of a cliff. At the time it was not known if he shot his wife and then took his own life, or the other was around.
He was of Scottish origin, and his father had been a clergyman. Two of his uncles were in the army.