James Melville Babington
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant General
Sir James Melville Babington (31 July 1854–15 June 1936), K.C.B.
, K.C.M.G.
. He held the French Croix de guerre
with Palm, and the Italian Croce di Guerra
. He was a Commander of the Legion of Honour and an Officer of the Military Order of Savoy. He was a renowned leader of cavalry
, making a name for himself for his actions in the Second Boer War
. He was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force
and one of the most respected British Generals in the First World War, in command of the 23rd Division (United Kingdom). Afterwards he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy
.
at Pinnacle Hill, Kelso
. He was the son of Lt.-General John Henry Melville Babington (1816-1887), of Northam, Devon
and Pinnacle Hill, Roxburghshire
, by his wife Mary Dowker (sister of Lt.-General Howard Dowker), daughter of Howard and Mary (Carter) Dowker of Dublin.
In 1873, Babington was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 16th Lancers
, known as the Scarlets. From 1877 to 1880 he was Adjutant of the regiment, and in 1884 he accompanied Sir Charles Warren on the Bechuanaland Expedition, where he was "honourably mentioned". From January 1889 to July 1890, Captain Babington was Aide-de-camp
to Sir Evelyn Wood when the latter was commanding at Aldershot
. This post was both a liberal military education and a marked compliment to the Lancer's ability: Sir Evelyn was known to surround himself with only the most capable of officers. Returning as a Major to regimental duty, Babington succeeded to the command of the 16th Lancers in 1892. From 1896 to 1899 he was Assistant Adjutant-General in India
. Returning to England
he was Staff Commander of the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot
. During the Second Boer War
, Babington commanded the 1st Cavalry Brigade. He was regarded as an expert in the management and deployment of every sort of mounted troop, and he gained many a decisive victory in South Africa
, earning himself a name to be feared among the Boers. From 1902 to 1907, he was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force
and made honorary Colonel of the 5th Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars)
. Returning to England
, he was given the command of the Lowland Mounted Brigade from 1908 to 1913.
On the outbreak of the First World War he was given the Command of the 23rd Division (United Kingdom), part of Kitchener's Army
. He was then described as "an elderly but fearless man who was universally popular". Under him, the 23rd became known as "a remarkably hard-fighting and efficient division". He was one of only a few commanding officers who saw to it that his men were properly kitted out, obtaining approval to spend £17,000 on clothing, and sending two officers to the north of England before the Division went overseas to buy 20,000 sets of underclothes and boots. Following the War he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy
. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant General
.
He lived at Pinnacle Hill, near Kelso, Roxburghshire
, which his family came to through the Maitlands of Penpont
. He married Eleanor Lawson (1868–1943), daughter of Thomas James Lawson of Veteran Hall, Prospect, New South Wales
. Their son, Geoffrey (1902–1956), married Lady Anne Katherine Granville Scrope Egerton (1908-1964), daughter of John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere
, and sister of the 6th Duke of Sutherland
.
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
Sir James Melville Babington (31 July 1854–15 June 1936), K.C.B.
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...
, K.C.M.G.
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....
. He held the French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
with Palm, and the Italian Croce di Guerra
Croce di Guerra
The Croce di Guerra al Valor Militare is an Italian decoration for military valour.- Past recipients :* Edouard Izac, Lieutenant, United States Navy* Douglas MacArthur, General, United States Army...
. He was a Commander of the Legion of Honour and an Officer of the Military Order of Savoy. He was a renowned leader of cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
, making a name for himself for his actions in the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
. He was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
and one of the most respected British Generals in the First World War, in command of the 23rd Division (United Kingdom). Afterwards he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
.
Biography
Babington was born in ScotlandScotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
at Pinnacle Hill, Kelso
Kelso
-Places:Australia* Kelso, New South Wales, a suburb of Bathurst* Kelso, Tasmania, a small village in the north of Tasmania* Kelso, Queensland, a suburb of Townsville, QueenslandCanada...
. He was the son of Lt.-General John Henry Melville Babington (1816-1887), of Northam, Devon
Northam, Devon
Northam is a small town in Devon, England, lying north of Bideford and south of Westward Ho!. It is thought to have been the site of an Anglo-Saxon castle, and is said to have been where Hubba the Dane attacked Devon and was repelled . A little over a mile away along the coast is a town called...
and Pinnacle Hill, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
, by his wife Mary Dowker (sister of Lt.-General Howard Dowker), daughter of Howard and Mary (Carter) Dowker of Dublin.
In 1873, Babington was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 16th Lancers
16th The Queen's Lancers
The 16th The Queen's Lancers was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1759. It saw service for two centuries, before being amalgamated into the 16th/5th Lancers in 1922.-History:...
, known as the Scarlets. From 1877 to 1880 he was Adjutant of the regiment, and in 1884 he accompanied Sir Charles Warren on the Bechuanaland Expedition, where he was "honourably mentioned". From January 1889 to July 1890, Captain Babington was 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 Sir Evelyn Wood when the latter was commanding at 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...
. This post was both a liberal military education and a marked compliment to the Lancer's ability: Sir Evelyn was known to surround himself with only the most capable of officers. Returning as a Major to regimental duty, Babington succeeded to the command of the 16th Lancers in 1892. From 1896 to 1899 he was Assistant Adjutant-General in India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
he was Staff Commander of the Cavalry Brigade at 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...
. During the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, Babington commanded the 1st Cavalry Brigade. He was regarded as an expert in the management and deployment of every sort of mounted troop, and he gained many a decisive victory in 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...
, earning himself a name to be feared among the Boers. From 1902 to 1907, he was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force
New Zealand Defence Force
The New Zealand Defence Force consists of three services: the Royal New Zealand Navy; the New Zealand Army; and the Royal New Zealand Air Force. The Commander-in-Chief of the NZDF is His Excellency Rt. Hon...
and made honorary Colonel of the 5th Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars)
5th Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars)
The 5th Mounted Rifles was formed on March 17, 1911. It formed part of the Otago Mounted Rifle Regiment so they saw service during the Battle of Gallipoli, Egypt. They later served in France with the New Zealand Division and were the only New Zealand Mounted troops to serve in France.-Great War...
. Returning to England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, he was given the command of the Lowland Mounted Brigade from 1908 to 1913.
On the outbreak of the First World War he was given the Command of the 23rd Division (United Kingdom), part of Kitchener's Army
Kitchener's Army
The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener's Army or, disparagingly, Kitchener's Mob, was an all-volunteer army formed in the United Kingdom following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War...
. He was then described as "an elderly but fearless man who was universally popular". Under him, the 23rd became known as "a remarkably hard-fighting and efficient division". He was one of only a few commanding officers who saw to it that his men were properly kitted out, obtaining approval to spend £17,000 on clothing, and sending two officers to the north of England before the Division went overseas to buy 20,000 sets of underclothes and boots. Following the War he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
.
He lived at Pinnacle Hill, near Kelso, Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire
Roxburghshire or the County of Roxburgh is a registration county of Scotland. It borders Dumfries to the west, Selkirk to the north-west, and Berwick to the north. To the south-east it borders Cumbria and Northumberland in England.It was named after the Royal Burgh of Roxburgh...
, which his family came to through the Maitlands of Penpont
Penpont
Penpont is a small village in the region of Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, two miles west of Thornhill.It is situated near the confluence of the Shinnel Water and Scaur Water rivers in the foothills of the Southern Uplands, and has a population of roughly 400 people...
. He married Eleanor Lawson (1868–1943), daughter of Thomas James Lawson of Veteran Hall, Prospect, New South Wales
Prospect, New South Wales
Prospect is a suburb of Sydney, in the state of New South Wales, Australia. Prospect is located 32 kilometres west of the Sydney central business district in the local government area of the City of Blacktown and is part of the Greater Western Sydney region....
. Their son, Geoffrey (1902–1956), married Lady Anne Katherine Granville Scrope Egerton (1908-1964), daughter of John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere
John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere
Lieutenant-Colonel John Francis Granville Scrope Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere MVO KJStJ was a British peer and soldier, known as Viscount Brackley before 1914....
, and sister of the 6th Duke of Sutherland
John Egerton, 6th Duke of Sutherland
thumb|right|200px|Portrait by [[Allan Warren]]John Sutherland Egerton, 6th Duke of Sutherland , styled Viscount Brackley until 1944 and known as The Earl of Ellesmere between 1944 and 1963, was a British peer.-Background and education:the son of John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere and Lady Violet...
.