Joseph Henry Banks
Encyclopedia
Lt.-Colonel Joseph Henry Banks (1843–1916) was the British Commandant
and instructor of the Auckland
Militia
through whose capacity the first six of the ten contingents of the New Zealand
Mounted Rifles were raised and trained for overseas combat in the Boer Wars, becoming the core of the modern New Zealand Army
.
, where his father, William Henry Banks (1817–1880), was then billeted with the Royal Artillery
. His mother, Ann Anderson, was formerly a seamstress of Carlisle, Cumbria.
His father was a remarkable soldier
, and one of only a handful of 19th century soldiers to have received a commission from the ranks on raw ability. In November, 1854, William Banks was Sergeant-Major of Field Battery 'H' with the Royal Artillery
, then engaged at the Battle of Inkerman
where he had his horse shot from under him. Following the battle, Brigadier-General Sir Richard Dacres, sanctioned by Field-Marshal Lord Raglan
, recommended him for a commission arising from an act of "distinguished conduct in the field". This was approved by Horse Guards in May, 1855, when he was raised to the rank of Lieutenant
, without purchase. Having started his career in 1838 as a Gunner
, William Banks rose to Brevet
Major
and was retired on full pay in 1872 with the honorary rank of Lt. Colonel, 97th Regiment of Foot - a considerable achievement for the time.
records provide insight into the effort by which both father and son sought to further young Joseph's military ambitions. In 1860, his father (then a Captain
) sought to obtain for him a commission, with or without purchase, both within the regular British army
and with a colonial regiment, but he was turned down in both cases. In 1862, Joseph sat and passed his entry exams to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, but did not attend, probably due to the family's inability to find the funds to send him there. He again passed his exams for a direct commission in 1863, but on being a offered a commission "with purchase" in the Gold Coast Regiment, the family again could not raise the required capital.
Despite these best efforts to gain a commission, in December, 1864, Banks was forced to enlist as a private soldier with the 17th Royal Lancers
(known as the "Duke of Cambridge's Own"). His ability did not go unnoticed, and he was promoted Corporal
the following year and Sergeant
in 1867. His father then again sought to further the career of his son by apparently invoking the interest of the Commander-in-Chief, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge
, in the process. Something worked, and Colonel Drury Curzon Drury-Lowe
, the Commander of the 17th Lancers
who had just promoted "this fine young soldier" to Sergeant, was able to recommend him for a commission two months later. On 26 June 1867, Banks was finally commissioned as an Ensign
with the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. Only a few weeks before, Gonville Bromhead
VC
also joined that regiment as an Ensign, and he and Banks served alongside one another for eight years.
of the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Foot. In 1875, the same year that that regiment departed for South Africa
- leading to their decisive actions at the Battle of Isandlwana
and Rorke's Drift
- Banks transferred to the 12th Royal Lancers
as Adjutant
to the Regiment. In 1880, having been promoted to Captain
, Banks again transferred to another Cavalry
regiment, the 7th Dragoon Guards
, to which he remained attached for the remainder of his career.
With the 7th Dragoons
, he took part in the 1882 Egyptian Campaign, serving on Lord Kitchener's
Staff as Brigade Major
to the Cavalry in the Army of Occupation at Egypt
. Banks saw action at Massawa
, where (similarly to his father at the Battle of Inkerman
) he had his horse shot from under him. He also took part in the Moonlight Charge at Kassassin
during the Battle of Tel el-Kebir. For his part, he received the Egypt Medal
(1882–1889), and the Turkish awards of the Khedive Bronze Star and the Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class.
In 1883, the 7th Dragoon Guards
removed to the Punjab, India, where in 1885 Banks was promoted to Major
. There he was appointed Commandant
of the Kasauli
Hill Depot. He enjoyed several other staff and regimental appointments including that of Musketry Instructor to the Dragoon Guards
and Officiating Assistant Adjutant-General of the Bombay Army
under Field Marshal Lord Roberts V.C
. Banks retired on half-pay
, on his 48th birthday, 1891. From the Punjab he removed with his family to Nuwara Eliya
, Ceylon.
to instruct the Colony's
militia
. In 1897, he was invited to apply for the post of temporary Commandant
of the Auckland
Militia and North Island
Volunteers, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel
in the New Zealand Militia. With the permission of Horse Guards in London
, he took up the appointment on 1 April 1897, initially for a period of three months. The appointment was renewed every three months until April, 1898, when it became a permanent position. In this capacity, Lt.-Colonel Banks raised and trained the Auckland
detachments of the first six of the ten contingents of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Banks was a skilled horseman and polo
player, making polo compulsory for the troops he was training in practice for combat on horseback.
In 1901, Banks accompanied the 6th Mounted Rifles and embarked to South Africa
for service in the Boer Wars. His joined his eldest son, Lieutenant
Harry Cecil Banks (1878–1906) R.A., who had come the previous year with the 2nd Mounted Rifles, and was then attached to the 78th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery
under the command of Banks's brother-in-law, Lt.-Colonel Duncan Campbell Carter (1856–1942). Banks' second son, Bertram, accompanied his father to South Africa
as Lieutenant
and Adjutant
of the 6th Mounted Rifles, until they returned in 1902 when he transferred to the 10th Mounted Rifles until the end of the war. 1902 also saw Major-General Sir James Melville Babington take over as Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force
. He happened to be a cousin of Colonel Banks' wife, and was one of the best-known proponents of the usefulness of mounted troops, particularly in the Boer Wars.
As Commander of the 6th New Zealand Mounted Rifles, Colonel Banks led this troop into action at the Transvaal
and the Orange River Colony
. In August, 1901, Lord Kitchener
, on whose staff Banks had served as Brigade Major
in Egypt
, requested that he take temporary command of Remounts until rejoining the 6th Mounted Rifles for their return to New Zealand
in May, 1902. For his service in the Boer Wars, Banks received the King's South Africa Medal
and five clasps.
Shortly before his departure from South Africa
, Banks received his final promotion in the British Army
to that of Lieutenant Colonel
, 7th Dragoon Guards
, 8 April 1902. The British Army and Navy Gazette of 17 May 1902, carried the following notice,
Half Pay – Major J.H. Banks, retired pay, to be Lieut. Colonel. Memorandum – Lieut. Colonel J.H. Banks, half-pay, retires on retired pay. These announcements require explanation. The officer referred to left the 7th Dragoon Guards some years ago as a major. Since then, he has been rendering admirable service in connection with the New Zealand local forces, and it is due largely to his zeal and example that the New Zealanders have proved such excellent war material in South Africa. It was felt that his service deserved recognition, as his labours have been incessant and his popularity is very great. Hence his promotion to half-pay which enables him to retire on a higher rate of pension.
Five years after he had left New Zealand
, following their highly praised contribution to the Boer Wars, in 1910 the contingents Banks had raised, trained and accompanied into battle were re-organised into professional regular regiments, becoming the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
which was the nucleus of the modern New Zealand Army
.
until 1905. He had become very involved in the Auckland Racing Club and the Auckland Trotting Club
. He remained in New Zealand
possibly still in an advisory capacity to the militia, and was also called upon for local military ceremonies and inspections:
Last week, Colonel Banks visited Coromandel
, and reviewed the local martial array. The heat was very oppressive and the evolutions somewhat brisk. The sun's rays were somewhat striking, but one of the officers of the corps had come provided for either heat or rain. He took shelter from the sun under his umbrella
. Presently, Colonel Banks passed along the line, and, with remarkable gallantry, the local officer proffered a portion of his kindly shelter to his superior officer. That stern warrior looked with ineffable scorn at the subaltern, took his measure from head to toe, and then, more in sorrow than in anger, said, “Well, well, this is the first time I have seen a volunteer on service take shelter under an umbrella; from henceforth this corps must be called the 'Gingham
Corps
Joseph Banks was also a talented artist, and earned a reputation as something of a war artist, with some of his pen and ink drawings of the events in the campaigns in which he took part being hung in the Portsmouth
Museum in England
today. In recognition of his contribution to the reputation of the New Zealand army under combat, his medals and military memorabilia were donated to the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru
, North Island, in 1996.
, Oxfordshire
, then Lieutenant Joseph Henry Banks married (Frances) Edith Carter (1854–1950). She was the eldest daughter of Willoughby Harcourt Carter
and his wife Eliza (1831–1903), the third daughter of George Palmes (1776–1851), J.P., D.L., of Naburn Hall
, Yorkshire
. The couple were married by the bride's uncle, Rev. George Carpenter (1831–1891), of Langston House (the Parsonage at Chadlington), where their reception was held. George Carpenter was the husband of Mrs Banks' aunt and godmother, Frances Edith Palmes. Colonel and Mrs Banks were the parents of three sons and two daughters.
Lt.-Colonel Joseph Henry Banks died at his home at Nuwara Eliya
in 1916. Mrs Banks and her daughters continued to reside there, briefly living with her son Ralph on his tea estate before moving to Colombo
, where her eldest daughter had since taken up residence with her husband, Ian Stewart (1885-1956), at India House
. Shortly before World War II
, she and both her daughters left Ceylon for Lee-on-the-Solent
. Though ordered to do so, during the Blitz
Mrs Banks refused to move from her cottage and proudly collected bomb shrapnel from her garden for her grandchildren.
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
and instructor of the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
Militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
through whose capacity the first six of the ten contingents of the New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
Mounted Rifles were raised and trained for overseas combat in the Boer Wars, becoming the core of the modern New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
.
Military background
Born 10 May 1843, at CorfuCorfu
Corfu is a Greek island in the Ionian Sea. It is the second largest of the Ionian Islands, and, including its small satellite islands, forms the edge of the northwestern frontier of Greece. The island is part of the Corfu regional unit, and is administered as a single municipality. The...
, where his father, William Henry Banks (1817–1880), was then billeted with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
. His mother, Ann Anderson, was formerly a seamstress of Carlisle, Cumbria.
His father was a remarkable soldier
Soldier
A soldier is a member of the land component of national armed forces; whereas a soldier hired for service in a foreign army would be termed a mercenary...
, and one of only a handful of 19th century soldiers to have received a commission from the ranks on raw ability. In November, 1854, William Banks was Sergeant-Major of Field Battery 'H' with the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
, then engaged at the Battle of Inkerman
Battle of Inkerman
The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on November 5, 1854 between the allied armies of Britain and France against the Imperial Russian Army. The battle broke the will of the Russian Army to defeat the allies in the field, and was followed by the Siege of Sevastopol...
where he had his horse shot from under him. Following the battle, Brigadier-General Sir Richard Dacres, sanctioned by Field-Marshal Lord Raglan
FitzRoy Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan
Field Marshal FitzRoy James Henry Somerset, 1st Baron Raglan, GCB, PC , known before 1852 as Lord FitzRoy Somerset, was a British soldier.-Early life:...
, recommended him for a commission arising from an act of "distinguished conduct in the field". This was approved by Horse Guards in May, 1855, when he was raised to the rank of 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...
, without purchase. Having started his career in 1838 as a Gunner
Gunner (rank)
Gunner is a rank equivalent to Private in the British Army Royal Artillery and the artillery corps of other Commonwealth armies. The next highest rank is usually Lance-Bombardier, although in the Royal Canadian Artillery it is Bombardier....
, William Banks rose to 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
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. ...
and was retired on full pay in 1872 with the honorary rank of Lt. Colonel, 97th Regiment of Foot - a considerable achievement for the time.
Early career
War OfficeWar Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
records provide insight into the effort by which both father and son sought to further young Joseph's military ambitions. In 1860, his father (then a Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
) sought to obtain for him a commission, with or without purchase, both within the regular 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...
and with a colonial regiment, but he was turned down in both cases. In 1862, Joseph sat and passed his entry exams to the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
, but did not attend, probably due to the family's inability to find the funds to send him there. He again passed his exams for a direct commission in 1863, but on being a offered a commission "with purchase" in the Gold Coast Regiment, the family again could not raise the required capital.
Despite these best efforts to gain a commission, in December, 1864, Banks was forced to enlist as a private soldier with the 17th Royal Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
(known as the "Duke of Cambridge's Own"). His ability did not go unnoticed, and he was promoted Corporal
Corporal
Corporal is a rank in use in some form by most militaries and by some police forces or other uniformed organizations. It is usually equivalent to NATO Rank Code OR-4....
the following year and Sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
in 1867. His father then again sought to further the career of his son by apparently invoking the interest of the Commander-in-Chief, Prince George, Duke of Cambridge
Prince George, Duke of Cambridge
Prince George, Duke of Cambridge was a member of the British Royal Family, a male-line grandson of King George III. The Duke was an army officer and served as commander-in-chief of the British Army from 1856 to 1895...
, in the process. Something worked, and Colonel Drury Curzon 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...
, the Commander of the 17th Lancers
17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
who had just promoted "this fine young soldier" to Sergeant, was able to recommend him for a commission two months later. On 26 June 1867, Banks was finally commissioned as an Ensign
Ensign (rank)
Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
with the 24th (The 2nd Warwickshire) Regiment of Foot. Only a few weeks before, Gonville Bromhead
Gonville Bromhead
Major Gonville Bromhead VC was a British Army officer and recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces....
VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
also joined that regiment as an Ensign, and he and Banks served alongside one another for eight years.
British Cavalry
Banks was promoted to 2nd Lieutenant and then LieutenantLieutenant
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...
of the 2nd Battalion of the 24th Foot. In 1875, the same year that that regiment departed 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...
- leading to their decisive actions at the Battle of Isandlwana
Battle of Isandlwana
The Battle of Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 was the first major encounter in the Anglo-Zulu War between the British Empire and the Zulu Kingdom...
and Rorke's Drift
Rorke's Drift
The Battle of Rorke's Drift, also known as the Defence of Rorke's Drift, was a battle in the Anglo-Zulu War. The defence of the mission station of Rorke's Drift, under the command of Lieutenant John Chard of the Royal Engineers, immediately followed the British Army's defeat at the Battle of...
- Banks transferred to the 12th Royal Lancers
12th Royal Lancers
The 12th Royal Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army. In 1960, it was amalgamated with 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, to form 9th/12th Royal Lancers .-History:...
as Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
to the Regiment. In 1880, having been promoted to Captain
Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)
Captain is a junior officer rank of the British Army and Royal Marines. It ranks above Lieutenant and below Major and has a NATO ranking code of OF-2. The rank is equivalent to a Lieutenant in the Royal Navy and to a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force...
, Banks again transferred to another 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...
regiment, the 7th Dragoon Guards
7th Dragoon Guards
The 7th Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1688. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
, to which he remained attached for the remainder of his career.
With the 7th Dragoons
7th Dragoon Guards
The 7th Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1688. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
, he took part in the 1882 Egyptian Campaign, serving on Lord Kitchener's
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
Staff as Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
to the Cavalry in the Army of Occupation at Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
. Banks saw action at Massawa
Massawa
Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa Massawa, also known as Mitsiwa (Ge'ez ምጽዋዕ , formerly ባጽዕ is a city on the Red Sea coast of Eritrea. An important port for many centuries, it was ruled by a succession of polities, including the Axumite Empire, the Umayyad Caliphate,...
, where (similarly to his father at the Battle of Inkerman
Battle of Inkerman
The Battle of Inkerman was fought during the Crimean War on November 5, 1854 between the allied armies of Britain and France against the Imperial Russian Army. The battle broke the will of the Russian Army to defeat the allies in the field, and was followed by the Siege of Sevastopol...
) he had his horse shot from under him. He also took part in the Moonlight 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....
during the Battle of Tel el-Kebir. For his part, he received the Egypt Medal
Egypt Medal
The Egypt Medal 1882-1889 was awarded for the military actions involving the British Army during the 1882 Anglo-Egyptian War. The war become due to the British involvement in Egypt deepened after the opening of the Suez Canal in 1869 and foreign armies mutinied and triggered an anti-European...
(1882–1889), and the Turkish awards of the Khedive Bronze Star and the Order of the Medjidie, 5th Class.
In 1883, the 7th Dragoon Guards
7th Dragoon Guards
The 7th Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1688. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
removed to the Punjab, India, where in 1885 Banks was promoted to 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. ...
. There he was appointed Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Kasauli
Kasauli
Kasauli is a cantonment and town, located in Solan district in the Indian state of Himachal Pradesh. The cantonment was established by the British Raj in 1842 as a Colonial hill station, from Shimla, from Chandigarh, and from Panchkula, and lies at a height of .-Demographics:According to the...
Hill Depot. He enjoyed several other staff and regimental appointments including that of Musketry Instructor to the Dragoon Guards
Dragoon guards
Dragoon Guards was the designation used to refer to certain heavy cavalry regiments in the British Army from the 18th century onwards. While the Prussian and Russian armies of the same period included dragoon regiments amongst their respective Imperial Guards, different titles were applied to these...
and Officiating Assistant Adjutant-General of the Bombay Army
Bombay Army
The Bombay Army was the army of the Bombay Presidency, one of the three Presidencies of British India, in South Asia.The Presidency armies, like the presidencies themselves, belonged to the East India Company until the Government of India Act 1858 transferred all three presidencies to the direct...
under Field Marshal Lord Roberts V.C
Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts
Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC was a distinguished Indian born British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.-Early life:Born at Cawnpore, India, on...
. Banks retired on half-pay
Half-pay
In the British Army and Royal Navy of the 18th, 19th and early 20th centuries, half-pay referred to the pay or allowance an officer received when in retirement or not in actual service....
, on his 48th birthday, 1891. From the Punjab he removed with his family to Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
, Ceylon.
New Zealand Mounted Rifles
In 1895, Banks was brought out of retirement and posted to New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
to instruct the Colony's
Colony
In politics and history, a colony is a territory under the immediate political control of a state. For colonies in antiquity, city-states would often found their own colonies. Some colonies were historically countries, while others were territories without definite statehood from their inception....
militia
Militia
The term militia is commonly used today to refer to a military force composed of ordinary citizens to provide defense, emergency law enforcement, or paramilitary service, in times of emergency without being paid a regular salary or committed to a fixed term of service. It is a polyseme with...
. In 1897, he was invited to apply for the post of temporary Commandant
Commandant
Commandant is a senior title often given to the officer in charge of a large training establishment or academy. This usage is common in anglophone nations...
of the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
Militia and North Island
North Island
The North Island is one of the two main islands of New Zealand, separated from the much less populous South Island by Cook Strait. The island is in area, making it the world's 14th-largest island...
Volunteers, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
in the New Zealand Militia. With the permission of Horse Guards in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he took up the appointment on 1 April 1897, initially for a period of three months. The appointment was renewed every three months until April, 1898, when it became a permanent position. In this capacity, Lt.-Colonel Banks raised and trained the Auckland
Auckland
The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world...
detachments of the first six of the ten contingents of the New Zealand Mounted Rifles. Banks was a skilled horseman and polo
Polo
Polo is a team sport played on horseback in which the objective is to score goals against an opposing team. Sometimes called, "The Sport of Kings", it was highly popularized by the British. Players score by driving a small white plastic or wooden ball into the opposing team's goal using a...
player, making polo compulsory for the troops he was training in practice for combat on horseback.
In 1901, Banks accompanied the 6th Mounted Rifles and embarked to 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...
for service in the Boer Wars. His joined his eldest son, 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...
Harry Cecil Banks (1878–1906) R.A., who had come the previous year with the 2nd Mounted Rifles, and was then attached to the 78th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery
Royal Field Artillery
The Royal Field Artillery of the British Army provided artillery support for the British Army. It came into being when the Royal Artillery was divided on 1 July 1899, it was reamalgamated back into the Royal Artillery in 1924....
under the command of Banks's brother-in-law, Lt.-Colonel Duncan Campbell Carter (1856–1942). Banks' second son, Bertram, accompanied his father to 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...
as 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...
and Adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
of the 6th Mounted Rifles, until they returned in 1902 when he transferred to the 10th Mounted Rifles until the end of the war. 1902 also saw Major-General Sir James Melville Babington take over as 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...
. He happened to be a cousin of Colonel Banks' wife, and was one of the best-known proponents of the usefulness of mounted troops, particularly in the Boer Wars.
As Commander of the 6th New Zealand Mounted Rifles, Colonel Banks led this troop into action at the Transvaal
South African Republic
The South African Republic , often informally known as the Transvaal Republic, was an independent Boer-ruled country in Southern Africa during the second half of the 19th century. Not to be confused with the present-day Republic of South Africa, it occupied the area later known as the South African...
and the Orange River Colony
Orange River Colony
The Orange River Colony was the British colony created after this nation first occupied and then annexed the independent Orange Free State in the Second Boer War...
. In August, 1901, Lord Kitchener
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
, on whose staff Banks had served as Brigade Major
Brigade Major
In the British Army, a Brigade Major was the Chief of Staff of a brigade. He held the rank of Major and was head of the brigade's "G - Operations and Intelligence" section directly and oversaw the two other branches, "A - Administration" and "Q - Quartermaster"...
in Egypt
Egypt
Egypt , officially the Arab Republic of Egypt, Arabic: , is a country mainly in North Africa, with the Sinai Peninsula forming a land bridge in Southwest Asia. Egypt is thus a transcontinental country, and a major power in Africa, the Mediterranean Basin, the Middle East and the Muslim world...
, requested that he take temporary command of Remounts until rejoining the 6th Mounted Rifles for their return to New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
in May, 1902. For his service in the Boer Wars, Banks received the King's South Africa Medal
King's South Africa Medal
The King's South Africa Medal was awarded to all troops who served in the Boer War in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902, and completed 18 months service before 1 June 1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's South Africa Medal or QSA.The KSA was awarded only to those...
and five clasps.
Shortly before his departure from 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...
, Banks received his final promotion in the 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...
to that of Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, 7th Dragoon Guards
7th Dragoon Guards
The 7th Dragoon Guards was a cavalry regiment in the British Army, first raised in 1688. It saw service for three centuries, before being amalgamated into the 4th/7th Dragoon Guards in 1922....
, 8 April 1902. The British Army and Navy Gazette of 17 May 1902, carried the following notice,
Half Pay – Major J.H. Banks, retired pay, to be Lieut. Colonel. Memorandum – Lieut. Colonel J.H. Banks, half-pay, retires on retired pay. These announcements require explanation. The officer referred to left the 7th Dragoon Guards some years ago as a major. Since then, he has been rendering admirable service in connection with the New Zealand local forces, and it is due largely to his zeal and example that the New Zealanders have proved such excellent war material in South Africa. It was felt that his service deserved recognition, as his labours have been incessant and his popularity is very great. Hence his promotion to half-pay which enables him to retire on a higher rate of pension.
Five years after he had left New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
, following their highly praised contribution to the Boer Wars, in 1910 the contingents Banks had raised, trained and accompanied into battle were re-organised into professional regular regiments, becoming the New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade
The New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, consisting usually of four units of mounted infantry, fought in World War I and World War II. Initially a milita, under the instruction of Lieutenant Colonel Joseph Henry Banks they formed the core of the New Zealand Army following successful service in the...
which was the nucleus of the modern New Zealand Army
New Zealand Army
The New Zealand Army , is the land component of the New Zealand Defence Force and comprises around 4,500 Regular Force personnel, 2,000 Territorial Force personnel and 500 civilians. Formerly the New Zealand Military Forces, the current name was adopted around 1946...
.
Retirement
After his final retirement, Banks remained in New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
until 1905. He had become very involved in the Auckland Racing Club and the Auckland Trotting Club
Auckland Trotting Cup
The Auckland Trotting Cup or Auckland Cup is a race held at Alexandra Park in March in Auckland, New Zealand for Standardbred horses. It is one of two major harness races, along with the New Zealand Cup, held in New Zealand each year. It is notable as it is a Group 1 championship race over...
. He remained in New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
possibly still in an advisory capacity to the militia, and was also called upon for local military ceremonies and inspections:
Last week, Colonel Banks visited Coromandel
Coromandel, New Zealand
Coromandel is the name of a town and harbour on the western side of the Coromandel Peninsula, which is on the east coast of the North Island of New Zealand...
, and reviewed the local martial array. The heat was very oppressive and the evolutions somewhat brisk. The sun's rays were somewhat striking, but one of the officers of the corps had come provided for either heat or rain. He took shelter from the sun under his umbrella
Umbrella
An umbrella or parasol is a canopy designed to protect against rain or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun; umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain...
. Presently, Colonel Banks passed along the line, and, with remarkable gallantry, the local officer proffered a portion of his kindly shelter to his superior officer. That stern warrior looked with ineffable scorn at the subaltern, took his measure from head to toe, and then, more in sorrow than in anger, said, “Well, well, this is the first time I have seen a volunteer on service take shelter under an umbrella; from henceforth this corps must be called the 'Gingham
Gingham
Gingham is a medium-weight balanced plain-woven fabric made from dyed cotton or cotton-blend yarn.The name originates from an adjective in the Malay language, genggang , meaning striped. Some sources say that the name came into English via Dutch...
Corps
Joseph Banks was also a talented artist, and earned a reputation as something of a war artist, with some of his pen and ink drawings of the events in the campaigns in which he took part being hung in the 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...
Museum in 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...
today. In recognition of his contribution to the reputation of the New Zealand army under combat, his medals and military memorabilia were donated to the Queen Elizabeth II Army Memorial Museum at Waiouru
Waiouru
Waiouru is a small town in the centre of the North Island of New Zealand. It is on the North Island Volcanic Plateau, 25 kilometres south-east of Mount Ruapehu, and in the Ruapehu District....
, North Island, in 1996.
Family
On 9 September 1876, at the Church of St. Nicholas in ChadlingtonChadlington
Chadlington is a village and civil parish in the Evenlode Valley about south of Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, England. The village comprises five "ends" - almost individual hamlets in their own right - called Greenend, Brookend, Westend, Millend, and Eastend....
, Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
, then Lieutenant Joseph Henry Banks married (Frances) Edith Carter (1854–1950). She was the eldest daughter of Willoughby Harcourt Carter
Willoughby Harcourt Carter
Captain Willoughby Harcourt Carter J.P., the first appointed Chief Constable of Buckinghamshire, from 1857 to 1867.-Background:Born at Bengal, India, only son of Joshua Carter , a Judge with the Bengal Civil Service at Gorakhpur. His mother, Emily Agnes Campbell , was the eldest daughter of Duncan...
and his wife Eliza (1831–1903), the third daughter of George Palmes (1776–1851), J.P., D.L., of Naburn Hall
Naburn
Naburn is a small village and civil parish in the unitary authority of the City of York in North Yorkshire, England. It lies on the eastern side of the River Ouse about south of York. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 470...
, Yorkshire
Yorkshire
Yorkshire is a historic county of northern England and the largest in the United Kingdom. Because of its great size in comparison to other English counties, functions have been increasingly undertaken over time by its subdivisions, which have also been subject to periodic reform...
. The couple were married by the bride's uncle, Rev. George Carpenter (1831–1891), of Langston House (the Parsonage at Chadlington), where their reception was held. George Carpenter was the husband of Mrs Banks' aunt and godmother, Frances Edith Palmes. Colonel and Mrs Banks were the parents of three sons and two daughters.
Lt.-Colonel Joseph Henry Banks died at his home at Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya
Nuwara Eliya , meaning "city on the plain " or "city of light", is a town in the central highlands of Sri Lanka with a picturesque landscape and temperate climate. It is located at an altitude of 1,868 m and is considered to be the most important location for Tea production in Sri Lanka...
in 1916. Mrs Banks and her daughters continued to reside there, briefly living with her son Ralph on his tea estate before moving to Colombo
Colombo
Colombo is the largest city of Sri Lanka. It is located on the west coast of the island and adjacent to Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte, the capital of Sri Lanka. Colombo is often referred to as the capital of the country, since Sri Jayawardenapura Kotte is a satellite city of Colombo...
, where her eldest daughter had since taken up residence with her husband, Ian Stewart (1885-1956), at India House
India House (Colombo)
India House is the official residence in Colombo for the Indian High Commissioner in Sri Lanka. It was built in 1926-27 for the Imperial Bank of India and taken over by the Government of India in 1956. It is a colonial style bungalow, with large gardens. It is guarded by personnel from the Border...
. Shortly before World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, she and both her daughters left Ceylon for Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent
Lee-on-the-Solent, often referred to as Lee-on-Solent, is a small seaside town in Hampshire, England about five miles west of Portsmouth. The town is located on the coast of the Solent and forms part of the borough of Gosport...
. Though ordered to do so, during the Blitz
The Blitz
The Blitz was the sustained strategic bombing of Britain by Nazi Germany between 7 September 1940 and 10 May 1941, during the Second World War. The city of London was bombed by the Luftwaffe for 76 consecutive nights and many towns and cities across the country followed...
Mrs Banks refused to move from her cottage and proudly collected bomb shrapnel from her garden for her grandchildren.