Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts

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Field Marshal
The Earl Roberts
VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC
Earl Roberts of Kandahar.jpg
Nickname Bobs
Born 30 September 1832(1832-09-30)
Cawnpore, British India
Died 14 November 1914(1914-11-14) (aged 82)
St Omer, France
Buried at St Paul's Cathedral, London
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
Years of service 1851–1904
Rank Field Marshal
Unit Royal Artillery
Commands held Kuram field force
Kabul and Kandahar field forces
Governor of Natal
Commander-in-Chief of British forces in South Africa
Commander-in-Chief in Madras
Commander-in-Chief, India
Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
Command of British troops in Second Anglo-Boer War
Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
Battles/wars Indian Mutiny
Siege of Delhi
Siege of Lucknow
Umbeyla Campaign
1868 Expedition to Abyssinia
Battle of Magdala
Lushai campaign (1871–1872)
Second Anglo-Afghan War
Battle of Charasiab
Battle of Peiwar Kotal
Siege of the Sherpur Cantonment
Battle of Kandahar
Second Boer War
Siege of Kimberley
Battle of Paardeberg
Battle of Poplar Grove
Battle of Diamond Hill
Battle of Bergendal
Awards Victoria Cross
Knight of the Order of the Garter
Knight of the Order of St Patrick
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Member of the Order of Merit
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of India
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Indian Empire
Knight of the Order of St John
Relations Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts VC (son)
Sir Abraham Roberts (father)

Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, Bt, VC, KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCIE, KStJ, PC (30 September 1832 – 14 November 1914) was a distinguished Indian born[1] British soldier who regarded himself as Anglo-Irish[2] and one of the most successful British commanders of the 19th century.

Contents

[edit] Early life

Born at Cawnpore, India, on 30 September 1832, Lord Roberts was the second son of General Sir Abraham Roberts,[3] a native of County Waterford in the south-east of Ireland[3] At the time Sir Abraham was commanding the 1st Bengal European Regiment. Roberts was named Sleigh in honour of the garrison commander, Major-General William Sleigh.[3] His mother was Edinburgh-born Isabella Bunbury,[3] daughter of Major Abraham Bunbury from Kilfeacle in County Tipperary.[4] Roberts was educated at Eton,[3] Sandhurst[3] and Addiscombe Military Academy[3] before entering the British East India Company Army as a Second Lieutenant with the Bengal Artillery on 12 December 1851.[3]

[edit] Indian Rebellion of 1857

He fought in the Indian rebellion (also known as the Indian Mutiny) of 1857 seeing action during the siege and capture of Delhi where he was slightly wounded,[5] and being present at the relief of Lucknow, where, as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster-General, he was attached to the staff of Sir Colin Campbell, Commander-in-Chief, India.[3] Roberts was awarded the Victoria Cross medal for actions on 2 January 1858 at Khudaganj.[3] The citation reads:

Lieutenant Roberts' gallantry has on every occasion been most marked.
On following the retreating enemy on the 2nd January, 1858, at Khodagunge, he saw in the distance two Sepoys going away with a standard. Lieutenant Roberts put spurs to his horse, and overtook them just as they were about to enter a village. They immediately turned round, and presented their muskets at him, and one of the men pulled the trigger, but fortunately the caps snapped, and the standard-bearer was cut down by this gallant young officer, and the standard taken possession of by him. He also, on the same day, cut down another Sepoy who was standing at bay, with musket and bayonet, keeping off a Sowar. Lieutenant Roberts rode to the assistance of the horseman, and, rushing at the Sepoy, with one blow of his sword cut him across the face, killing him on the spot.[6]

He was also mentioned in despatches for his service at Lucknow in March 1858.[7]

[edit] Abyssinia and Afghanistan

Having been promoted to second captain on 12 November 1860[8] and to brevet major on 13 November 1860,[9] he transferred to the British Army in 1862 and served in the Umbeyla and Abyssinian campaigns of 1863 and 1867–1868 respectively.[3] Having been promoted to the substantive rank of captain on 18 November 1868,[10] Roberts also fought in the Lushai campaign of 1871–1872.[3]

He was promoted to major on 5 July 1872,[11] appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 10 September 1872[12] and promoted to colonel on 30 January 1875.[13]

He was promoted to Major-General on 31 December 1878[14] and given command of the Kuram field force in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, distinguishing himself enough to receive the thanks of Parliament and be advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on 25 July 1879.[15] After this success he was appointed commander of the Kabul and Kandahar field force, directing his 10,000 troops through Afghanistan to the relief of the latter city (see Battle of Kandahar).[3] He was also given the local rank of lieutenant-general on 11 November 1879.[16]

Roberts

He managed to capture Kabul, and defeated Muhammad Yakub Khan, the Afghan emir.[3] For his services, Sir Frederick again received the thanks of Parliament, and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 21 September 1880[17] and appointed Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire (CIE) during 1880.

After a very brief interval as Governor of Natal and Governor and Commander-in-Chief of the Transvaal Province and High Commissioner for South Eastern Africa with effect from 7 March 1881,[18] Roberts (having become a baronet on 11 June 1881)[19] was appointed Commander-in-Chief of the Madras Army on 16 November 1881.[20] Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-general on 26 July 1883,[21] he became Commander-in-Chief, India on 28 November 1885;[22] he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (KCIE) on 15 February 1887[23] and advanced to Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) on reorganisation of the Order on 21 June 1887.[24] This was followed subsequently by his promotion to a supernumerary general on 28 November 1890[25] and to the substantive rank of general on 31 December 1891.[26] On 23 February 1892 he was created Baron Roberts of Kandahar in Afghanistan and of the City of Waterford.[27]

After relinquishing his Indian command and becoming Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India during 1893, Lord Roberts two years later was relocated to Ireland as Commander-in-Chief of British forces there,[3] being based at the Royal Hospital, Kilmainham. He was promoted Field Marshal during 1895[3] and received the Order of St Patrick during 1897.

[edit] Second Anglo-Boer War

Two years later, he returned to South Africa on the RMS Dunottar Castle in command of British troops fighting in the Second Boer War, relieving Kimberley[3] and advancing to Pretoria.[3] After a year, he was succeeded in the command by Lord Kitchener, and returned to England to receive yet more honours: he was made a Knight of the Garter and also created Earl Roberts,[3] of Kandahar in Afghanistan and Pretoria in the Transvaal Colony and of the City of Waterford, and Viscount St Pierre.

He became the honorary Colonel of the Irish Guards in 1900, an appointment he kept for the remainder of his life, which gained the regiment the nickname 'Our Bobs'. He became a Knight of Grace of the the Order of St John on 11 March 1901[28] and then a Knight of Justice of that order on 3 July 1901.[29] On 9 August 1902 he was also appointed one of the first members of the Order of Merit.[30] He also awarded the German Order of the Black Eagle on 3 May 1901.[31]

[edit] Later life

Lord Roberts became the last Commander-in-Chief of the Forces on 3 January 1901[32] and served in that role for three years before the post was abolished during 1904,[3] and for the last ten years of his life received yet more honours, including numerous honorary degrees and the Colonelcy of the National Reserve. He was the initial president of the Pilgrims Society during 1902.[33] He was a keen advocate of introducing conscription in Britain (directing the National Service League) to prepare for a great European war.

Immediately after his return from the Boer War, he was instrumental in promoting the mass training of civilians in rifle shooting skills through membership of shooting clubs, and a facsimile of his signature appears to this day on all official targets of the National Smallbore Rifle Association.[34]

Roberts on his 82nd birthday

Lord Roberts became vice-president of the Public Schools Alpine Sports Club during 1903.[35] Part of the history of skiing, a forerunner of the downhill ski race, the Roberts of Kandahar Cup occurred during Crans-Montana (Crans-sur-Sierre) eight years later on January 11, 1911, organised by winter sports pioneer Arnold Lunn,[36] with the trophies donated by Lord Roberts.[37] The name Kandahar is still used for the premier races of the World Cup circuit.[38]

On 28 February 1908 he was awarded the Volunteer Officers' Decoration in recognition of his service in the Volunteer Force.[39] He was honorary colonel of the 2nd London Corps from 24 September 1887,[40] honorary colonel of the 5th Battalion, the Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regiment) from 29 December 1888,[41] honorary colonel of the 2nd Hampshire (Southern Division), Royal Garrison Artillery from 15 August 1901[42] and honorary colonel of the 3rd (Dundee Highland) Volunteer Battalion, the Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) from 19 September 1903.[43] He was also honorary colonel of the North Somerset Yeomanry from 1 April 1908,[44] honorary colonel of the 6th Battalion, the City of London (Rifles') Regiment from 1 April 1908,[45] honorary colonel of the 1st Wessex Brigade from 1 April 1908,[46] honorary colonel of 6th Battalion, The Gloucestershire Regiment from 1 April 1908,[47] honorary colonel of The Waterford Royal Field Reserve Artillery from 2 August 1908[48] and honorary colonel of 1st (Hull) Battalion, The East Yorkshire Regiment from 11 November 1914.[49] Additionally he was Colonel of the National Reserve from 5 August 1911.[50]

He took part in the funeral procession following the death of King Edward VII in May 1910.[51]

Field Marshal Lord Roberts died of pneumonia at St Omer, France, on 14 November 1914 while visiting Indian troops fighting in the First World War.[3] After lying in state in St. Paul's Cathedral (one of two non-Royals to do so during the 20th century, the other being Sir Winston Churchill), he was given a state funeral and was then buried in St. Paul's Cathedral.[3]

Both his sons predeceased him, including Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts VC who was killed in action at the Battle of Colenso during the Boer War. Roberts and his son were one of only three pairs of fathers and sons to be awarded the VC. Today, their Victoria Crosses are in the National Army Museum. His barony became extinct, but by the special remainder granted with them he was succeeded in the earldom and viscountcy by his elder surviving daughter. She died in 1955 and the title became extinct.[3]

Roberts lived at 'Englemere' at Ascot in Berkshire. His estate was probated during 1915 at £77,304[3] (equivalent to £5.5 million today).[52]

[edit] Family

He married Nora Henrietta Bews on 17 May 1859: they eventually had six children.[3]

[edit] Legacy

Roberts Barracks at Larkhill Garrison and Robertsganj, Uttar Pradesh are named for him.

[edit] Titles and honours

Lord Roberts by John Singer Sargent.
  • 1832-1851: Mr Frederick Roberts
  • 1851-1858: Second Lieutenant Frederick Roberts
  • 1858-1859 Lieutenant Frederick Roberts VC
  • 1859-1866 Second Captain (Bvt. Major) Frederick Roberts VC
  • 1866-1868 Second Captain (Bvt. Lieutenant-Colonel) Frederick Roberts VC
  • 1868-1872 Captain (Bvt. Lieutenant-Colonel) Frederick Roberts VC
  • 1872-1875 Major (Bvt. Lieutenant-Colonel) Frederick Roberts VC CB
  • 1875-1878 Major (Bvt. Colonel) Frederick Roberts VC CB
  • 1878-1879 Major-General Frederick Roberts VC CB
  • 1879-1880 Major-General Sir Frederick Roberts VC KCB
  • 1880-1881 Major-General (Local Lieutenant-General) Sir Frederick Roberts VC GCB CIE
  • 1881-1883 Major-General The Rt Hon. Sir Frederick Roberts Bt VC GCB CIE
  • 1883-1887 Lieutenant-General The Rt Hon. Sir Frederick Roberts Bt VC GCB CIE
  • 1887-1891 Lieutenant-General The Rt Hon. Sir Frederick Roberts Bt VC GCB GCIE
  • 1891-1892 General The Rt Hon. Sir Frederick Roberts Bt VC GCB GCIE
  • 1892-1893 General The Rt Hon. The Lord Roberts VC GCB GCIE PC
  • 1893-1895 General The Rt Hon. The Lord Roberts VC GCB GCSI GCIE PC
  • 1895-1897 Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Roberts VC GCB GCSI GCIE PC
  • 1897-1900 Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Lord Roberts VC KP GCB GCSI GCIE PC
  • 1900-1902 Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Earl Roberts VC KG KP GCB GCSI GCIE PC
  • 1902-1914 Field Marshal The Rt Hon. The Earl Roberts VC KG KP GCB OM GCSI GCIE PC
Lord Roberts enters the city of Kimberley after the relief of the besieged city during February 1900

[edit] Legacy

Lord Roberts of Kabul and Kandahar on his Celebrated Charger[53]

Roberts is a Senior Boys house at the Duke of York's Royal Military School, where, like Welbeck College all houses are named for well-known military men.

Lord Roberts French Immersion Public School in London, Ontario, Lord Roberts Public School in Scarborough, Ontario, and Lord Roberts Elementary Schools in Vancouver, British Columbia, and Winnipeg, Manitoba are named for him. "Lord Roberts" is currently the name of one of the Province of Manitoba's 57 electoral districts.

The Lord Roberts Centre - a facility at the National Shooting Centre built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games, and HQ of the National Smallbore Rifle Association (which Roberts was fundamental in founding) is named in his honour.

On 29 May 1900 Pretoria surrendered to the British commander-in-chief, Lord Roberts.[54] Due to the frequency of malaria and because the area had become too small, he relocated his headquarters from the vicinity of the Normal College to a high-lying site 10 km south-west of the city - hence the name Roberts Heights.[54] Roberts Heights, a busy military town, the largest in South Africa and resembling Aldershot, soon developed.[54] On 15 December 1938 the name was changed to Voortrekkerhoogte[54] and again to Thaba Tshwane on 19 May 1998.

The grave of Roberts' charger Vonolel (named after a Lushai warrior whose descendants Roberts had fought in 1871) is marked by a headstone in the gardens of The Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin.[55]

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ "Kipling and Lord Roberts". Kipling.org.uk. http://www.kipling.org.uk/rg_lordroberts_moore.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  2. ^ Gifford, Don; Robert J. Seidman (2008). Ulysses annotated: notes for James Joyce's Ulysses. University of California Press. p. 438. ISBN 9780520253971. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=fE9mkomQHEQC&pg=PA438&lpg=PA438&dq=Frederick+Sleigh+Roberts,+1st+Earl+Roberts+anglo-irish#v=onepage&q&f=false. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y Robson, Brian (2008). "Roberts, Frederick Sleigh, first Earl Roberts (1832–1914)". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (Oxford University Press). doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/35768. http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/35768. Retrieved 2009-02-25. 
  4. ^ "Bunbury of Kilfeacle Family History". Turtlebunbury.com. http://www.turtlebunbury.com/family/bunburyfamily_bunburys/bunbury_family_bunburys_kilfeacle.html. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  5. ^ London Gazette: no. 22095. p. 673. 10 February 1858. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  6. ^ London Gazette: no. 22212. p. 5516. 24 December 1858. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  7. ^ London Gazette: no. 22143. p. 2589. 25 May 1858. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  8. ^ London Gazette: no. 22621. p. 2232. 29 April 1862. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  9. ^ London Gazette: no. 22480. p. 655. 15 February 1861. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  10. ^ London Gazette: no. 23442. p. 5924. 17 November 1868. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  11. ^ London Gazette: no. 23876. p. 3193. 16 July 1872. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  12. ^ London Gazette: no. 23895. p. 3969. 10 September 1872. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  13. ^ London Gazette: no. 24188. p. 1528. 9 March 1875. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  14. ^ London Gazette: no. 24668. p. 174. 14 January 1879. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  15. ^ London Gazette: no. 24747. p. 4697. 29 July 1879. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  16. ^ London Gazette: no. 24837. p. 2658. 23 April 1880. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  17. ^ London Gazette: no. 24886. p. 5069. 28 September 1880. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  18. ^ London Gazette: no. 24947. p. 1071. 8 March 1881. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  19. ^ London Gazette: no. 24984. p. 3002. 14 June 1881. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  20. ^ London Gazette: no. 25034. p. 5401. 4 November 1881. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  21. ^ London Gazette: no. 25268. p. 4452. 11 September 1883. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  22. ^ London Gazette: no. 25546. p. 65. 5 January 1886. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  23. ^ London Gazette: no. 25673. p. 787. 15 February 1887. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  24. ^ London Gazette: no. 25773. p. 219. 5 January 1888. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  25. ^ London Gazette: no. 26109. p. 6463. 25 November 1890. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  26. ^ London Gazette: no. 26239. p. 4. 1 January 1892. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  27. ^ London Gazette: no. 26260. p. 990. 23 February 1892. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  28. ^ London Gazette: no. 27293. p. 1763. 17 March 1901. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  29. ^ London Gazette: no. 27330. p. 4469. 5 July 1901. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  30. ^ London Gazette: no. 27470. p. 5679. 2 September 1902. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  31. ^ London Gazette: no. 27311. p. 3124. 7 May 1901. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  32. ^ London Gazette: no. 27263. p. 83. 4 January 1901. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  33. ^ The Pilgrims of Great Britain: A Centennial History (2002) - Anne Pimlott Baker, ISBN 1-86197-290-3
  34. ^ SHOT Backwards Design Company. "W. W. Greener Martini Target Rifles". Rifleman.org.uk. http://www.rifleman.org.uk/W.W.Greener_martini_target_rifles.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  35. ^ "History of "Kandahar"". Kandahar-taos.com. 1911-01-11. http://www.kandahar-taos.com/about.php. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  36. ^ The Daily Telegraph, "Switzerland: Strap on the poultice" 20 Jan 2001
  37. ^ "''From Afghanistan to Vermont'' By Allen Adler". Vermontskimuseum.org. http://www.vermontskimuseum.org/history_archive.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  38. ^ "History of Alpine Skiing". Wamonline.com. 2009-05-01. http://www.wamonline.com/winter03-04/historyofalpineskiing.htm. Retrieved 2011-05-29. 
  39. ^ London Gazette: no. 28114. p. 1402. 28 February 1908. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  40. ^ London Gazette: no. 25741. p. 5101. 23 September 1887. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  41. ^ London Gazette: no. 25888. p. 7421. 28 December 1888. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  42. ^ London Gazette: no. 27357. p. 6175. 20 September 1901. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  43. ^ London Gazette: no. 27598. p. 5791. 18 September 1903. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  44. ^ London Gazette: no. 28180. p. 6944. 25 September 1908. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  45. ^ London Gazette: no. 28188. p. 7652. 23 October 1908. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  46. ^ London Gazette: no. 28180. p. 6946. 25 September 1908. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  47. ^ London Gazette: no. 28253. p. 3874. 21 May 1909. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  48. ^ London Gazette: no. 28200. p. 9032. 27 November 1908. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  49. ^ London Gazette: no. 28969. p. 9135. 10 November 1914. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  50. ^ London Gazette: no. 28520. p. 5919. 8 August 1911. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  51. ^ London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 28401. p. 5481. 26 July 1910. Retrieved 2012-02-19.
  52. ^ UK CPI inflation numbers based on data available from Lawrence H. Officer (2010) "What Were the UK Earnings and Prices Then?" MeasuringWorth.
  53. ^ Harper's Magazine, European Edition, December 1897, p. 27.
  54. ^ a b c d "Voortrekkerhoogte, Tvl". Standard Encyclopaedia of Southern Africa. 11. Nasou Limited. 1971. pp. 282–3. ISBN 978-0-625-00324-2. 
  55. ^ "The grave of Vonolel, the famous and bemedalled horse". 22 June 2010. http://comeheretome.wordpress.com/2010/06/22/the-grave-of-vonolel-the-famous-and-bemedalled-horse/. Retrieved 8 January 2011. 

[edit] References

Monument of Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts, in Glasgow

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopædia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. 

[edit] External links

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Military offices
Preceded by
Sir Donald Stewart		 Commander-in-Chief, India
1885–1893		 Succeeded by
Sir George White
Preceded by
The Viscount Wolseley		 Commander-in-Chief, Ireland
1895–1900		 Succeeded by
HRH The Duke of Connaught
Preceded by
Sir Redvers Buller		 Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in South Africa
1900		 Succeeded by
Lord Kitchener
Preceded by
The Viscount Wolseley		 Commander-in-Chief of the Forces
1900–1904		 Position abolished
Honorary titles
Preceded by
Sir Collingwood Dickson		 Master Gunner,
St. James's Park
1904–1914		 Succeeded by
Sir Robert Biddulph
Peerage of the United Kingdom
New creation Baron Roberts
1892–1914		 Extinct
Earl Roberts
1901–1914		 Succeeded by
Aileen Mary Roberts
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