Harry Finn
Harry Finn | |
|---|---|
 Major General Harry Finn c. 1906 | |
| Born | 6 December 1852 Tenterden, England |
| Died | 24 June 1924 (aged 71) Sydney, Australia |
| Buried | South Head Cemetery, Sydney |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Years of service | 1871–1907 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | Australian Military Forces (1904–05) New South Wales Military District (1902–05) Queensland Defence Force (1899–01) |
| Battles / wars | Second Anglo-Afghan War Mahdist War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Conduct Medal Mentioned in Despatches (2) |
Major General Henry Finn, CB, DCM (6 December 1852 – 24 June 1924) was a senior officer in the British Army who served as General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces from 1904 to 1905.
Military career
[edit]Finn joined the British Army as a private in the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers in 1871.[1] He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War of 1878 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and mentioned in despatches.[1] He was commissioned into the 21st Lancers in 1881 becoming Inspector of Musketry for that Regiment in 1882 and Adjutant of the Regiment in 1884.[1]
In 1887 he was transferred to India and in 1898 he went to Sudan, fought in the Battle of Omdurman and was mentioned in despatches.[1]
Finn was placed on half-pay from his regiment, and was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel on 2 March 1900.[2] Selected for the appointment in Australia as Commandant of the Queensland Defence Force,[3] he was granted the local rank of colonel whilst so employed from 2 March 1900.[2] He became Commandant of the New South Wales military area in 1902.[1] In 1904 he became General Officer Commanding Australian Military Forces and in 1905 he was made Inspector-General of the Australian Military Forces.[1] He was a keen horseman and rode to and from his residence at Dawes Point Battery every day.[4]
An inkwell made from the hoof of the horse Finn used in 1898 can still be seen at Victoria Barracks in Sydney.[5]
Family
[edit]In 1886, he married Catherine Scott and they went on to have two daughters and one son.[1]
References
[edit]- ^ a b c d e f g Harry Finn at Australian Dictionary of Biography
- ^ a b "No. 27170". The London Gazette. 2 March 1900. p. 1436.
- ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36080. London. 3 March 1900. p. 9.
- ^ The Barracks Guard Sydney Morning Herald, 24 December 1946
- ^ A Look at the History of Officers Mess Victoria Barracks 1848 – 2001 by John Kreckler
- 1852 births
- 1924 deaths
- Military personnel from Kent
- Australian generals
- British Army major generals
- Companions of the Order of the Bath
- Recipients of the Distinguished Conduct Medal
- 9th Queen's Royal Lancers soldiers
- 21st Lancers officers
- British military personnel of the Second Anglo-Afghan War
- British Army personnel of the Mahdist War
- Chiefs of Army (Australia)
- Burials in New South Wales
- 19th-century Australian military personnel
- 20th-century Australian military personnel