General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien, G.C.B., G.C.M.G., D.S.O.

Discussion in 'Military Biographies' started by liverpool annie, Jan 6, 2009.

  1. liverpool annie

    liverpool annie New Member

    Much has been written about and by Horace Smith-Dorrien - this is just a thumbnail of his service to his King and Country

    Horace Smith-Dorrien was born at Haresfoot, Berkhamsted, in 1858 ... the 11th child of 15 ..... he was educated at Harrow, and on 26 February 1876 entered the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, passing out with a commission as a subaltern to the 95th (Derbyshire) Regiment of Foot.

    Years of service 1876 – 1923
    Battles/wars

    Anglo-Zulu War
    Battle of Isandlwana

    Mahdist War
    Battle of Gennis
    Battle of Omdurman

    Tirah Campaign
    Second Boer War

    Battle of Paardeberg
    Sanna's Post
    Battle of Leliefontein

    World War I

    Battle of Mons
    Battle of Le Cateau
    First Battle of the Marne
    First Battle of the Aisne
    First Battle of Ypres
    Second Battle of Ypres

    On the outbreak of the First World War, he was given command of the II Corps of the British Expeditionary Force and was praised for his leadership skills during the Battle of Mons. Smith - Dorrien's troops became the British Second Army in December, 1914.

    During the Second Battle of Ypres, Smith-Dorrien clashed with Sir John French over tactics. Smith-Dorrien, who argued that repeated attacks on the German front-line was creating unnecessary loss of life, was dismissed by French.

    He retired in September 1923, living in Portugal and then England. He devoted much his time to the welfare and remembrance of Great War soldiers. He worked on his memoirs, which were published in 1925. As French was still alive at the time of writing, he still felt unable to rebut 1914. Despite his treatment by French, in 1925, he acted as a pallbearer at French's funeral, an act appreciated by French's son

    Horace Smith-Dorrien, who never held another major command - died on 12 August 1930 following injuries sustained in a car accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire - he was 72 years old. He is buried in Berkhamsted

    http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/FWWdorrien.htm

    http://www.ntz.info/gen/n01305.html

    This is his Obituary in The Times Wednesday 13 August 1930

    http://members.cox.net/ggtext/horacesmithdorrien1858_obit.html

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Horace_Smith-Dorrien

    Annie :)
     

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