Edward Cecil Bethune

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Sir

Edward Cecil Bethune

KCB CVO
Born(1855-06-23)June 23, 1855
Kensington, London, England
Died2 November 1930(1930-11-02) (aged 75)
Kensington, London, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1875–1920
RankLieutenant-General
Unit92nd Foot (The Gordon Highlanders)
6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers)
Bethune's Mounted Infantry
4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards
Territorial Force
Battles/warsSecond Anglo-Afghan War
First Boer War
Second Boer War
World War I
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Commander of the Royal Victorian Order
Spouse(s)Mary Lilian Elliot Lockhart
Other workRoyal British Legion

Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Cecil Bethune KCB CVO was a British soldier who raised and led his own regiment, Bethune's Mounted Infantry, in the Second Boer War and directed the Territorials in the First World War.[1]

Career

Baptised on 4 August 1855 in the church of the Holy Trinity at Paddington, second son of Admiral Charles Ramsay Bethune, 24th of Balfour, and his wife Frances Cecilia Staples,[2] his chosen career was the British Army.

At age 20 he gained a commission in the 92nd Foot (The Gordon Highlanders), seeing service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880 and the First Boer War in South Africa from 1880 to1881. In 1886 he transferred to a cavalry regiment, the 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers). In 1895 he was promoted to Major and joined the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers.

Posted again to South Africa on the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899, as a Lieutenant-Colonel he raised and commanded Bethune's Mounted Infantry. His unit fought at Colenso, Spion Kop, and at the Relief of Ladysmith. In 1900 he was recalled to the 16th Lancers as a Brevet Colonel, becoming their commanding officer and heading a cavalry brigade. Then he was moved to staff work, acting as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Field Force in South Africa. The war over, he was promoted to Brigadier-General in 1905, placed on the General Staff, put in command of the Eastern Sub-District of the Cape Colony and awarded the CB in the 1905 Birthday Honours.[3]

Raised to Major-General in 1908, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, an honour he held until 1920, and was awarded the CVO in 1909.[4] Until 1912 he was General Officer Commanding West Lancashire Division, Territorial Force, Western Command, becoming Director General, Territorial Force in 1912, Promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1913, he was created KCB in 1915[5] and served throughout the First World War, retiring in 1920 after 45 years. In his retirement he served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Area of the Royal British Legion. Dying in his home at 5 Eldon Road, his will was proved by his widow on 17 December 1930.[6]

Family

On 25 October 1890 at Ootacamund in India he married Mary Lilian Elliot Lockhart (1870-1948), daughter of Brigadier-General William Elliot Lockhart and his wife Fanny Ada Clare Carden.[7] A son Edward died in infancy[8] and their daughter Mary Cecilia (Molly) Bethune married Dr Gerald Evan Spicer, son of Sir Evan Spicer, paper magnate and Chairman of London County Council.[1][9]

References

  1. ^ a b "Lieut. Gen. Bethune Dies At Age Of 75; Had Brilliant Career in Boer War, Later Head of British Territorial Force". New York Times. 3 November 1930. Retrieved 17 March 2015.
  2. ^ "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975" FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ Edward Cecil Bethune, 4 Aug 1855, Holy Trinity, Paddington, London, England, FHL microfilm 804,224. Retrieved 6 November 2015
  3. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27811/supplement/4548/data.pdf Retrieved 5 November 2015
  4. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28269/page/5282 Retrieved 5 November 2015
  5. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29180/supplement/5326/data.pdf Retrieved 5 November 2015
  6. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33679/page/265/data.pdf Retrieved 5 November 2015
  7. ^ "India Marriages, 1792-1948" FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ Edward Cecil Bethune and Mary Lilian Eliott Lockhart, 25 Oct 1890, Ootacamund, Madras, India, FHL microfilm 521,875. Retrieved 6 November 2015
  8. ^ "India Deaths and Burials 1719-1948" FamilySearch https://familysearch.org/ Edward Bethune, 9 Feb 1894, FHL microfilm 521,879. Retrieved 6 November 2015
  9. ^ Fox-Davies, Armorial Families, Vol 2, page 193 http://www.ebooksread.com/ Retrieved 5 November 2015
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