British Army Lieutenant General. He joined the Scottish 90th Regiment of Foot as a junior officer in 1874. In 1877 he travelled with his regiment to South Africa and participated in the 9th Cape Frontier War of the same year and the latter stages of the Zulu War in 1878, seeing action at Kambula and Ulundi, battles which secured British victory in the campaign. He then returned to England with his regiment and was promoted to the rank of captain. His unit was not called on for service in India or the Boer War and he did not see further action for 36 years. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1886, then lieutenant-colonel in 1897, and colonel in 1901. In 1902, he was transferred to a temporary staff posting as Assistant Adjutant General of the 2nd Army Corps and in 1904 he was given an operational command, 10th Brigade. In 1908 he was promoted to the rank of major general and two years later he was given command of the British 1st Infantry Division. In October 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, his unit was engaged in the First Battle of Ypres in Belgium. He was seriously injured by an artillery shell and evacuated back to England where he succumbed to his injuries five months later at the age of 59. He was cremated and his ashes were interred at Aldershot Military Cemetery, Aldershot, Rushmoor Borough, Hampshire, England. A cenotaph in his honor was erected at St. Peter Church in Yoxford in Suffolk, England. He was one of the most senior British officers to die on active service during World War I.
British Army Lieutenant General. He joined the Scottish 90th Regiment of Foot as a junior officer in 1874. In 1877 he travelled with his regiment to South Africa and participated in the 9th Cape Frontier War of the same year and the latter stages of the Zulu War in 1878, seeing action at Kambula and Ulundi, battles which secured British victory in the campaign. He then returned to England with his regiment and was promoted to the rank of captain. His unit was not called on for service in India or the Boer War and he did not see further action for 36 years. He was promoted to the rank of major in 1886, then lieutenant-colonel in 1897, and colonel in 1901. In 1902, he was transferred to a temporary staff posting as Assistant Adjutant General of the 2nd Army Corps and in 1904 he was given an operational command, 10th Brigade. In 1908 he was promoted to the rank of major general and two years later he was given command of the British 1st Infantry Division. In October 1914, following the outbreak of World War I, his unit was engaged in the First Battle of Ypres in Belgium. He was seriously injured by an artillery shell and evacuated back to England where he succumbed to his injuries five months later at the age of 59. He was cremated and his ashes were interred at Aldershot Military Cemetery, Aldershot, Rushmoor Borough, Hampshire, England. A cenotaph in his honor was erected at St. Peter Church in Yoxford in Suffolk, England. He was one of the most senior British officers to die on active service during World War I.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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