Sir Alfred Rawlinson, 3rd Baronet
Encyclopedia
Sir Alfred Rawlinson, 3rd Baronet (born 17 January - died 1 June 1934) was a British pioneer motorist and aviator, soldier and intelligence officer, and sportsman. He was known as "Toby".
player in the 1900 Summer Olympics
. He was part of the Foxhunters Hurlingham polo team which won the gold medal. He was also a keen driver, taking part in the 1908 Isle of Man RAC Tourist Trophy
("TT") race, driving his Darracq
into 7th place .
On 5 April 1910 he became only the third person in the United Kingdom to hold a Royal Aero Club
aviators certificate.
He served in the 17th Lancers
, but left to become a racing driver. In 1914 he volunteered, and became a chauffeur; he was then transferred to a staff position with IV Corps of the British Expeditionary Force. His driving exploits were described in his Adventures on the Western Front August, 1914 - June, 1915 (1925).
He became a Colonel, and British intelligence officer. Assignments include tours of duty in the Caucasus
and Eastern Anatolia
during 1918-1922. His mission was to guard the Tiflis-Baku
railway, and to oversee the demobilizing Turkish forces. Under Lionel Dunsterville
, he was sent on a mission to the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus
.
On his last assignment, to establish whether Turkey was obeying the armistice conditions, he and his party were held prisoner in Erzurum
by the Turkish authorities, placing the British Government in an awkward position because his elder brother was a highly-placed military man. He was eventually released in a prisoner exchange
in 1921.
His book, Adventures in the Near East (1923, Andrew Melrose, London), chronicles the state of affairs during the armistice days at the end of World War I
. In particular, he gives accounts of the landscape after the Russian withdrawal and the beginnings of the Turkish nationalist movement.
The Defence of London, 1915-1918 (1923) was an account of air defence against bombing.
, the general, was his brother. His mother Louisa was a daughter of Henry Seymour (of Knoyle), MP; two uncles, Henry Danby Seymour
and Alfred Seymour
were also MPs.
His second wife was the actress Jean Aylwin.
Life
He was a poloPolo
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 in the 1900 Summer Olympics
1900 Summer Olympics
The 1900 Summer Olympics, today officially known as the Games of the II Olympiad, was an international multi-sport event which was celebrated in 1900 in Paris, France. No opening or closing ceremonies were held; competitions began on May 14 and ended on October 28. The Games were held as part of...
. He was part of the Foxhunters Hurlingham polo team which won the gold medal. He was also a keen driver, taking part in the 1908 Isle of Man RAC Tourist Trophy
RAC Tourist Trophy
The International Tourist Trophy is an award given by the Royal Automobile Club and awarded semi-annually to the winners of a selected motor racing event each year in the United Kingdom. It was first awarded in 1905 and continues to be awarded to this day, making it the longest lasting trophy in...
("TT") race, driving his Darracq
Darracq
Automobiles Darracq S.A. was a French motor vehicle manufacturing company founded in 1896 by Alexandre Darracq.Using part of the substantial profit he had made from selling his Gladiator bicycle factory, Alexandre Darracq began operating from a plant in the Parisian suburb of Suresnes...
into 7th place .
On 5 April 1910 he became only the third person in the United Kingdom to hold a Royal Aero Club
Royal Aero Club
The Royal Aero Club is the national co-ordinating body for Air Sport in the United Kingdom.The Aero Club was founded in 1901 by Frank Hedges Butler, his daughter Vera and the Hon Charles Rolls , partly inspired by the Aero Club of France...
aviators certificate.
He served in 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...
, but left to become a racing driver. In 1914 he volunteered, and became a chauffeur; he was then transferred to a staff position with IV Corps of the British Expeditionary Force. His driving exploits were described in his Adventures on the Western Front August, 1914 - June, 1915 (1925).
He became a Colonel, and British intelligence officer. Assignments include tours of duty in the Caucasus
Caucasus
The Caucasus, also Caucas or Caucasia , is a geopolitical region at the border of Europe and Asia, and situated between the Black and the Caspian sea...
and Eastern Anatolia
Anatolia
Anatolia is a geographic and historical term denoting the westernmost protrusion of Asia, comprising the majority of the Republic of Turkey...
during 1918-1922. His mission was to guard the Tiflis-Baku
Baku
Baku , sometimes spelled as Baki or Bakou, is the capital and largest city of Azerbaijan, as well as the largest city on the Caspian Sea and of the Caucasus region. It is located on the southern shore of the Absheron Peninsula, which projects into the Caspian Sea. The city consists of two principal...
railway, and to oversee the demobilizing Turkish forces. Under Lionel Dunsterville
Lionel Dunsterville
General Lionel Charles Dunsterville CB, CSI was a British general, who led the so-called Dunsterforce across present-day Iraq and Iran towards Caucasus and oil-rich Baku.-Biography:...
, he was sent on a mission to the Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus
Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus
The Mountainous Republic of the Northern Caucasus was a short-lived state situated in the Northern Caucasus...
.
On his last assignment, to establish whether Turkey was obeying the armistice conditions, he and his party were held prisoner in Erzurum
Erzurum
Erzurum is a city in Turkey. It is the largest city, the capital of Erzurum Province. The city is situated 1757 meters above sea level. Erzurum had a population of 361,235 in the 2000 census. .Erzurum, known as "The Rock" in NATO code, served as NATO's southeastern-most air force post during the...
by the Turkish authorities, placing the British Government in an awkward position because his elder brother was a highly-placed military man. He was eventually released in a prisoner exchange
Malta exiles
Malta exiles is the term for politicians, high ranking soldiers , administrators and intellectuals of the Ottoman Empire who were sent into exile on Malta after the armistice of Mudros during the Occupation of İstanbul by the Allied forces...
in 1921.
His book, Adventures in the Near East (1923, Andrew Melrose, London), chronicles the state of affairs during the armistice days at the end of World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. In particular, he gives accounts of the landscape after the Russian withdrawal and the beginnings of the Turkish nationalist movement.
The Defence of London, 1915-1918 (1923) was an account of air defence against bombing.
Family
His father was the orientalist Sir Henry Creswicke Rawlinson, 1st Baronet; Henry Rawlinson, 1st Baron RawlinsonHenry Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson
General Henry Seymour Rawlinson, 1st Baron Rawlinson, GCB, GCSI, GCVO, KCMG , known as Sir Henry Rawlinson, Bt between 1895 and 1919, was a British First World War general most famous for his roles in the Battle of the Somme of 1916 and the Battle of Amiens in 1918.-Military career:Rawlinson was...
, the general, was his brother. His mother Louisa was a daughter of Henry Seymour (of Knoyle), MP; two uncles, Henry Danby Seymour
Henry Danby Seymour
Henry Danby Seymour was a British gentleman and Liberal Party politician.Seymour was the son of Henry Seymour and wife Jane Hopkinson. Alfred Seymour was his brother...
and Alfred Seymour
Alfred Seymour
Alfred Seymour of Knoyle House, Wiltshire, and of Trent MP, JP was a British Liberal Party politician....
were also MPs.
His second wife was the actress Jean Aylwin.
External links
- profile
- The Usher Family of Scotland Sir Alfred RAWLINSON 3rd Bt, CMG (1916), CBE (1919), DSO (1919) at freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com