Generals of the British Army Part 6

V

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR GEORGE HENRY FOWKE, K.C.B., K.C.M.G.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR GEORGE HENRY FOWKE, K.C.B., was born September 10th, 1864. He entered the Royal Engineers in 1884 and became Captain in 1892. In the South African War of 1899-1902 he gained his Brevets of Major and Lieutenant-Colonel, in addition to winning the Queen's Medal with three clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and being mentioned in despatches. He served in the Defence of Ladysmith, including the sortie of December 7th, 1899, and in the operations in Natal and the Transvaal, east of Pretoria.

From 1902 to 1904 he was employed under the Civil Government in the Transvaal as Director of Works and M.L.C. In 1905 he was attached to the j.a.panese Army in Manchuria, during the Russo-j.a.panese War. In this campaign the order of the Sacred Treasure (Third Cla.s.s) was bestowed on him, and also the j.a.panese War Medal. In 1906 he became an Instructor at the school of military Engineering, holding this position until 1908, when he was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Engineers, and appointed C.R.E., 1st Division. He became Colonel in 1910, going to the War Office as a.s.sistant Adjutant-General of the Royal Engineers in the same year.

In 1913 he was promoted Brigadier-General (Temporary), Inspector of Royal Engineers, and at the outbreak of this war became Brigadier-General, Royal Engineers. His wide experience was of great value in the positional warfare which ensued after the first Battle of Ypres.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR GEORGE FOWKE]

In 1915 he was promoted to the rank of Major-General, and became Engineer-in-Chief, while in 1915 he became a Temporary Lieutenant-General, holding the office of Adjutant-General. Besides being mentioned in despatches ("I wish to particularly mention the services performed by my Chief Engineer, Brigadier-General G. H.

Fowke"), Sir George Fowke has been during this war created first C.B., and then K.C.B., as well as K.C.M.G., and the Order of Leopold (Third Cla.s.s) has been bestowed upon him by the King of Belgium, and Commander of the Legion of Honour.

VI

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR AYLMER HUNTER-WESTON, K.C.B., D.S.O.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR AYLMER HUNTER-WESTON, K.C.B., D.S.O., J.P., and D.L. (Ayrshire), M.P. for North Ayrshire (1916), was born September 23rd, 1864. He was educated at Wellington College, Royal Military Academy and Staff College. He entered the Royal Engineers in 1884 and saw his first service in 1891, when he took part in the Miranzai Expedition. He became Captain in the following year. In the Waziristan Expedition of 1894-5 he served as the Commander of the Bengal Sappers and Miners on Sir W. Lockhart's Staff. He was slightly wounded in this campaign, and besides getting a medal with clasp, he was mentioned in despatches and gained his Brevet of Major. During the Dongola Expedition of 1896 he was attached to Sir Herbert Kitchener's Headquarter Staff as Special Service Officer, and his work gained him further mention in despatches, the 4th Cla.s.s Medjidieh, the Egyptian Medal with a clasp, and the Queen's Medal. In the South African War he commanded the Mounted Engineers, Cavalry Division. Later he became Deputy-a.s.sistant-Adjutant-General to the Cavalry Division, and subsequently Chief Staff Officer to General French. Finally he was given independent command of a Mobile Column. He took part in the operations about Colesburg, in the Relief of Kimberley, in the Battle of Paardeberg, and the operations in the Orange Free State, the Transvaal, and Cape Colony. He commanded five cavalry raids during the advance to Pretoria, cutting the railway North of Bloemfontein and Kroonstad. He was several times mentioned in despatches, was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, and received the Queen's medal with seven clasps, and the D.S.O. Between 1904 and 1908 he was first D.A.A.G. and then General Staff Officer in the Eastern Command. From 1908 to 1911 he was Chief General Staff Officer of the Scottish Command. From 1911 to 1914 he was a.s.sistant Director of Military Training at the War Office.

Early in 1914 he was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed to the Command of the 11th Infantry Brigade at Colchester. At the outbreak of War in August, 1914, he brought this Brigade out to France, and took part with it in the Great Retreat, in the subsequent advance, and in all the later fighting in France and Flanders. He was several times mentioned in despatches and was promoted Major-General (1914) for distinguished services in the field. In March, 1915, he was given the command of the 29th Division and commanded it at the landing at Cape h.e.l.les on the Gallipoli Peninsula as well as in the advance. He was given command of all British troops at the Southern end of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and in May, 1915, was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-General to command VIII Corps. He was praised by Sir Ian Hamilton for "his invincible self-confidence, untiring energy, and trained ability." Since March, 1916, he has been in command of the VIII Corps in France. In this war he has been several times mentioned in despatches, and has been made a K.C.B., Commandeur of the Legion of Honour, and Grand Officier of the Belgian Crown.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MAJOR-GENERAL SIR A. G. HUNTER-WESTON]

VII

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR CLAUD WILLIAM JACOB, K.C.B.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR CLAUD WILLIAM JACOB, K.C.B., was born November 21st, 1863. He joined the Worcester Regiment in 1882, and saw active service in 1890, when he took part in the Zhob Valley Expedition. In 1893 he became Captain, and in 1901 Major in the Indian Army.

He was employed on the North-West Frontier of India between 1901 and 1902, in the Waziristan Expedition, in which he won a Medal and a Clasp.

He was promoted Lieutenant-Colonel of the Indian Army in 1904, and received his Brevet of Colonel in 1908. He served on the Staff in India as General Staff Officer, 1st Grade, between 1912 and 1915.

In the latter year he became Brigadier-General (Temporary), commanding the Dehra Dun Brigade. With his brigade he fought through the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, when the Bois du Biez was taken by a magnificent charge and several times cleared, though it could not be held. The brigade made a brilliant _debut_ in the European War, and their charge was only held up by the line of the river. He was promoted Major-General in January, 1916, became temporary Lieutenant-General in May of the same year, and was promoted Lieutenant-General in June, 1917.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR C. W. JACOB]

In addition to these promotions for distinguished service in the present war, he has been mentioned in despatches, the Order of St. Vladimir (Fourth Cla.s.s with swords) has been bestowed upon him, and he was created first C.B. and then K.C.B.

VIII

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ARTHUR EDWARD AVELING HOLLAND, K.C.B., M.V.O., D.S.O.

MAJOR-GENERAL SIR ARTHUR EDWARD AVELING HOLLAND, C.B., M.V.O., D.S.O., was born April 13th, 1862. He entered the Royal Artillery in 1880, and saw active service in Burmah from 1885 to 1889, winning a medal and two clasps. He was promoted Captain in 1888. Between 1895 and 1898 he was Deputy-a.s.sistant Adjutant-General for the Royal Artillery in the Madras Presidency, India.

In the South African War (1899-1902) he took part in the operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony. He was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the D.S.O., together with the Queen's Medal and four clasps. He became Major, Royal Artillery, in 1898. From 1903 to 1905 he acted as a.s.sistant Military Secretary to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Malta, being given the M.V.O.

while he was so serving. At the end of that period he became Lieutenant-Colonel. He was promoted Colonel in 1910, and in that year became a.s.sistant Military Secretary at the Headquarters of the Army. In September, 1912, he became Commandant at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, being graded as a General Staff Officer, 1st Grade. In January, 1913, he was promoted Temporary Brigadier-General while still at the Royal Military Academy.

[Ill.u.s.tration: MAJOR-GENERAL A. E. A. HOLLAND]

He left the Academy in September, 1914, when he became Brigadier-General, Royal Artillery, 8th Division, which, after the first Battle of Ypres, went to the front to complete Sir Henry Rawlinson's IV Corps, and served with distinction in the battle near Fromelles in May, 1915. For distinguished services in this war he was created C.B. in 1915, and promoted Major-General early in 1916. He received the honour of Knighthood in January, 1918. The work of artillerists but rarely finds notice and tends to be a.s.sumed; but General Holland has been mentioned in despatches.

IX

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR IVOR MAXSE, K.C.B., C.V.O., D.S.O.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR IVOR MAXSE, K.C.B., C.V.O., D.S.O., born 1862, joined the Royal Fusiliers in India in 1882, exchanged into the Coldstream Guards as a Captain in 1891, served on the Staff in Scotland and Malta, 1893-4, and joined the Egyptian Army under Colonel Kitchener for the Soudan campaigns of 1897, 1898, and 1899. Was Brigade Major on active service, 1897 to 1898, Chief Staff Officer, Omdurman, 1898, and commanded the 13th Sudanese Battalion, 1898 to 1899, with the rank of Bey. Present at battles of Abu Hamed, Atbara, Omdurman, Elgedid, etc.

(two medals, six clasps, D.S.O.).

In the South African war he served as a.s.sistant Adjutant-General with Mounted Infantry and Colonial Corps in the advance to Bloemfontein and Pretoria, 1899 to 1900, and subsequently commanded the South African Constabulary. Present at the battles of Paardeberg, Driefontein, Sand River, Johannesburg, and Pretoria (medal, three clasps, C.B., Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel).

Employed on special duty at the War Office, 1901. Subsequently commanded the 2nd Battalion Coldstream Guards, the Regiment of Coldstream Guards and the 1st Guards Brigade at Aldershot (C.V.O.). He proceeded on active service with this brigade, and commanded it throughout the retreat from Mons to Paris, and in the battles of the Marne and the Aisne in 1914.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR F. IVOR MAXSE]

He was then promoted Major-General and appointed to the command of the 18th Division, which he led to France and commanded from 1914 to 1917, including the battles of the Somme and the Ancre and the capture of Thiepval and of Schwaben Redoubt. Promoted temporary Lieutenant-General and K.C.B., January, 1917. Mentioned in despatches eight times, Grand Officer of the Belgian Crown and Commandeur de la Legion d'Honneur.

X

LIEUT.-GENERAL SIR THOMAS LETHBRIDGE NAPIER MORLAND, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O.

LIEUTENANT-GENERAL (temporary) SIR THOMAS LETHBRIDGE NAPIER MORLAND, K.C.B., K.C.M.G., D.S.O., was born August 9th, 1865. He was gazetted Lieutenant to the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1884, p.s.c. 1892, and became Captain in 1893. He was A.D.C. to the Governor and Commander-in-Chief of Malta from 1895 until he joined the West African Frontier Force in the spring of 1898. In West Africa he saw extensive service. In the operations on the Niger and in the Hinterland of Lagos, 1898, he won a medal and clasp, received his Brevet of Major, and was mentioned in despatches. He commanded in the Kaduna Expedition of 1900, and was again mentioned in despatches and received a further clasp. In the operations in Ashanti in the same year he received his Brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel and a mention in despatches and the medal. He commanded the operations against the Emir of Yola in 1901, and was slightly wounded. In this campaign he was mentioned in despatches and won a medal with clasp and the D.S.O. The Bornu Expedition, 1902, which he commanded, brought him a further mention in despatches, and a fourth clasp. For his work in the Kano-Sokoto Campaign, 1903, he was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath, as well as being again mentioned in despatches. In 1904 he received his Brevet of Colonel, and from 1905 to 1909 was Inspector-General of the West African Frontier Force. He returned to England in 1910 to become Brigadier Commanding 2nd Brigade, Aldershot Command. He became Major-General in 1913. On the outbreak of this war he was made Commander of the 2nd London Division, Territorial Force, a command he held until August 31st, 1914. From September 1st to October 16th, 1914, he raised and commanded the 14th (Light) Division. On October 17th, 1914, he took over command of 5th Division of the Expeditionary Force. With this Division he served until July, 1915, when he was appointed to the command of an Army Corps. With this promotion his honours in this war include four mentions in despatches, and his creation as Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath, and as Knight Commander of the Order of St. Michael and St. George.

[Ill.u.s.tration: LIEUT.-GEN. SIR T. L. N. MORLAND]