Baker Russell
Encyclopedia
General Sir Baker Creed Russell GCB
KCMG
(1837–25 November 1911) was an Australian-born British Army
officer who served with distinction in the Indian Mutiny, Anglo-Ashanti War, Anglo-Zulu War
and Egyptian War.
, Australia
, the son of the Hon. William Russell, formerly a major
in the 73rd Regiment
.
in 1855 as a cornet
of the Carabiniers. He was present at Meerut on the Sunday when the Indian Mutiny began. He served right through the Mutiny with great distinction and took part in numerous actions. He participated the pursuit of the Tantya Tope one of the leaders of the rebellion. Russell emerged in 1858 with an excellent record so that on the earliest opportunity he was given a brevet
majority. In 1862 he was transferred to the 13th Hussars, which he subsequently commanded. Under his leadership it became one of the smartest and best light cavalry regiments in the world.
In 1873, with the rank of major, he accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley to the Gold Coast
to participate in the first Ashanti Expedition. He raised, organised and led a native corps in all the principal actions with great distinction.
In 1879, he again served under Wolseley, this time in the Zulu
campaign. For his successful leadership of the operations against Sekukuni
, he was made a KCMG and aide-de-camp
to Queen Victoria. He was a member of the Wolseley ring
.
In 1882, he commanded the 1st Cavalry Brigade during the Egyptian War. He led the midnight charge at Kassassin
, was present at the battle of Tel el-Kebir and participated in the march to and occupation of Cairo
, which was carried out by the Cavalry Division under Drury-Lowe
.
In 1886, he was, for a short time, Inspecting Officer of Auxiliary Cavalry.
From 1890 to 1894, was General Officer Commanding
the Aldershot
Cavalry Brigade. In 1895 he commanded the North Western District which had its headquarters in Chester
. From 1896 to 1898 he commanded of the troops in Bengal. Upon his return to England in 1898 he was posted to Portsmouth
as GOC of the Southern District. In this capacity he was very conspicuous at Southampton
Docks whenever troops were embarking for South Africa
in the early stages of the Anglo-Boer War.
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Rank
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Unit
|-----
|2nd 1855
|Cornet
|6th Dragoon Guards
|-----
|1 August 1856
|Lieutenant
|6th Dragoon Guards
|-----
|18 February 1859
|Captain
|unattached
|-----
|25 March 1859
|Captain
|7th Foot
|-----
|3 October 1862
|Captain
|13th Hussars
|-----
|24 January 1865
|brevet
Major
|13th Hussars
|-----
|15 July 1878
|Major
|13th Hussars
|-----
|1 April 1874
|Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel
|13th Hussars
|-----
|29 September 1880
|Lieutenant-Colonel
|13th Hussars
|-----
|18 February 1880
|Brevet Colonel
(army)
| -
|-----
|1 April 1889
|Major-General
| -
|-----
|20 January 1897
|Lieutenant-General
| -
|-----
|19 December 1903
|General
| -
|-----
|20 January 1894
|Regimental Colonel
|13th Hussars
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
KCMG
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
(1837–25 November 1911) was an Australian-born British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
officer who served with distinction in the Indian Mutiny, Anglo-Ashanti War, Anglo-Zulu War
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
and Egyptian War.
Early life
Baker Creed Russell was born in 1837 in Maitland, New South WalesMaitland, New South Wales
Maitland is a city in the Lower Hunter Valley of New South Wales, Australia and the seat of Maitland City Council, situated on the Hunter River approximately by road north of Sydney and north-west of Newcastle...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, the son of the Hon. William Russell, formerly a major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
in the 73rd Regiment
73rd Regiment of Foot
The 73rd Regiment of Foot also known as MacLeod's Highlanders after its founder John Mackenzie, Lord MacLeod, was an infantry regiment of the British Army.- History :- First raising :...
.
Military career
He entered the British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
in 1855 as a cornet
Cornet (military rank)
Cornet was originally the third and lowest grade of commissioned officer in a British cavalry troop, after captain and lieutenant. A cornet is a new and junior officer.- Traditional duties :The cornet carried the troop standard, also known as a "cornet"....
of the Carabiniers. He was present at Meerut on the Sunday when the Indian Mutiny began. He served right through the Mutiny with great distinction and took part in numerous actions. He participated the pursuit of the Tantya Tope one of the leaders of the rebellion. Russell emerged in 1858 with an excellent record so that on the earliest opportunity he was given a brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
majority. In 1862 he was transferred to the 13th Hussars, which he subsequently commanded. Under his leadership it became one of the smartest and best light cavalry regiments in the world.
In 1873, with the rank of major, he accompanied Sir Garnet Wolseley to the Gold Coast
Gold Coast (British colony)
The Gold Coast was a British colony on the Gulf of Guinea in west Africa that became the independent nation of Ghana in 1957.-Overview:The first Europeans to arrive at the coast were the Portuguese in 1471. They encountered a variety of African kingdoms, some of which controlled substantial...
to participate in the first Ashanti Expedition. He raised, organised and led a native corps in all the principal actions with great distinction.
In 1879, he again served under Wolseley, this time in the Zulu
Anglo-Zulu War
The Anglo-Zulu War was fought in 1879 between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom.Following the imperialist scheme by which Lord Carnarvon had successfully brought about federation in Canada, it was thought that a similar plan might succeed with the various African kingdoms, tribal areas and...
campaign. For his successful leadership of the operations against Sekukuni
Sekhukhune
Sekhukhune , was king of the Marota , in the current Mpumalanga province, Limpopo province, Gauteng province of South Africa. He became king upon his father's death in September 1861, and lived at a mountain, now known as Thaba Ya Sekhukhune, which he fortified.The Marota lived in the land between...
, he was made a KCMG and aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Queen Victoria. He was a member of the Wolseley ring
Wolseley ring
The Wolseley ring was a group of 19th century British army officers loyal to Garnet Wolseley and considered by him to be clever, brave, experienced and hard-working....
.
In 1882, he commanded the 1st Cavalry Brigade during the Egyptian War. He led the midnight charge at Kassassin
Kassassin
Kassassin is a village of Lower Egypt by rail, west of Ismailia on the Suez Canal. At this place, on 28 August and again on 9 September 1882 the British force operating against Urabi Pasha was attacked by the Egyptians. Both attacks were repulsed....
, was present at the battle of Tel el-Kebir and participated in the march to and occupation of Cairo
Cairo
Cairo , is the capital of Egypt and the largest city in the Arab world and Africa, and the 16th largest metropolitan area in the world. Nicknamed "The City of a Thousand Minarets" for its preponderance of Islamic architecture, Cairo has long been a centre of the region's political and cultural life...
, which was carried out by the Cavalry Division under Drury-Lowe
Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe
Lieutenant-General Sir Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe GCB had a distinguished military career in the 19th century British Army.He was born on 3 January 1830 at Aston Lodge in Aston-on-Trent when he was called Drury Curzon Holden...
.
In 1886, he was, for a short time, Inspecting Officer of Auxiliary Cavalry.
From 1890 to 1894, was General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
the Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
Cavalry Brigade. In 1895 he commanded the North Western District which had its headquarters in Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
. From 1896 to 1898 he commanded of the troops in Bengal. Upon his return to England in 1898 he was posted to Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
as GOC of the Southern District. In this capacity he was very conspicuous at Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
Docks whenever troops were embarking for South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
in the early stages of the Anglo-Boer War.
Military career timeline
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Date! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Rank
! style="text-align: left; background: #aacccc;"|Unit
|-----
|2nd 1855
|Cornet
|6th Dragoon Guards
|-----
|1 August 1856
|Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
|6th Dragoon Guards
|-----
|18 February 1859
|Captain
|unattached
|-----
|25 March 1859
|Captain
|7th Foot
|-----
|3 October 1862
|Captain
|13th Hussars
|-----
|24 January 1865
|brevet
Brevet (military)
In many of the world's military establishments, brevet referred to a warrant authorizing a commissioned officer to hold a higher rank temporarily, but usually without receiving the pay of that higher rank except when actually serving in that role. An officer so promoted may be referred to as being...
Major
|13th Hussars
|-----
|15 July 1878
|Major
|13th Hussars
|-----
|1 April 1874
|Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel
|13th Hussars
|-----
|29 September 1880
|Lieutenant-Colonel
|13th Hussars
|-----
|18 February 1880
|Brevet Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
(army)
| -
|-----
|1 April 1889
|Major-General
| -
|-----
|20 January 1897
|Lieutenant-General
| -
|-----
|19 December 1903
|General
| -
|-----
|20 January 1894
|Regimental Colonel
|13th Hussars
Further reading
- Hew Strachan , The Politics of the British Army (1997)
- Byron FarwellByron FarwellByron Edgar Farwell was an American military historian and biographer.-Biography:Farwell graduated from Ohio State University and the University of Chicago...
, Queen Victoria's Little Wars (1973) - Leigh Maxwell, The Ashanti Ring: Sir Garnet Wolseley's Campaigns 1870–1882 (London 1985)
- Thomas Pakenham, The Boer War (1979) (indexed under Roberts and Wolseley Rings).
- CRB Barrett, History of The XIII Hussars, William Blackwood and Sons, Edinburgh and London, 1911
- Ian Castle & Raffaele Ruggeri,Zulu Wars — Volunteers, Irregulars and Auxiliaries, Osprey Publishing
- Ian Knight, The Zulu War 1879, Osprey Publishing
Additional information
- Oxford Dictionary of National Biography
- Journals of Brigadier General Clarke's column and Colonel Baker-Russell's column, 26 July-Aug 17