Alfred Gaselee
Encyclopedia
Sir Alfred Gaselee, GCB, GCIE, (3 June 1844 - 29 March 1918) was a soldier who reached the rank of General in the British Indian Army.
, Essex
, the eldest son of the Reverend John Gaselee, rector
of Little Yeldham, and his wife, Sarah Anne Mant. He entered Felsted School
in 1853 and Sandhurst
in 1861.
In 1882, Gaselee married Alice Jane, daughter of the Rt. Hon. William Edward Baxter
, from whom he obtained a divorce in 1893. He married Alice Margaret, daughter of Gartside Gartside-Tipping of Rossferry, County Fermanagh, Ireland, on 20 August 1895, who outlived him. There were no children from either marriage.
in the 93rd regiment (later the Sutherland Highlanders) on 9 January 1863. He was involved in the campaign on the North-West Frontier
of India
in that year. He was promoted lieutenant on 11 October 1866, transferred to the Bengal
staff corps, and joined the 4th Punjab infantry on 27 September 1867. He went with the Indian force to Abyssinia
, where he acted as assistant to the director-general of transport and was present at the capture of Magdala
(13 April 1868). He was promoted captain on 9 January 1875, and served with the Jowaki expedition of 1877–8. In the Second Anglo-Afghan War
, he was a deputy assistant quartermaster-general, and accompanied Lord Roberts
on the march from Kabul
to the relief of Kandahar
. He was made a brevetted major
on 2 March 1881.
Gaselee was promoted to major on 9 January 1883, and lieutenant-colonel on 9 January 1889, and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 19 November 1891. On 27 September 1892, he was promoted to the command of the 1st battalion
, 5th Gurkha
rifles. On 1 February 1893, he was promoted to colonel
and appointed aide-de-camp
to Queen Victoria. He served in the Isazai expedition (1892), the Waziristan
field force (1894–5), and the Tirah campaign
(1897–8). For his services in Tirah, Gaselee was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on 20 May 1898. From 25 July 1898 to 3 June 1901, he served simultaneously as quartermaster-general at Simla
and brigadier-general commanding Bundelkhand
district. He was promoted to major-general on 3 July 1900.
In the summer of 1900, when the Boxer Uprising in China
was at its height, Gaselee was chosen to command the British element in the international expeditionary force
. A large force was to have been assembled under the German commander, Count Von Waldersee, consisting, in addition to British, of Japanese, Russian, Italian, French, American, and German troops. Before Von Waldersee's arrival news broke that the foreign legations in Peking were still holding out. Gaselee was therefore put in command of a smaller force of 20,000 men, mostly Japanese and Russian, but including 3,000 British and Indian troops, which set out for Peking immediately. The 7th Rajputs, under Gaselee himself, were the first troops to enter Peking, reaching the legations on the afternoon of 14 August 1900. The international rivalries between the component parts of the relieving forces might have given rise to the most serious complications. Gaselee showed tact and firmness in his handling of a very delicate situation. As a reward for his services, he was created Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) on 24 July 1901.
Gaselee was promoted lieutenant-general on 30 June 1903 and full general on 30 June 1906. From 30 June 1903 to 29 June 1908, he was commander of the forces in Bengal. He then retired to Guildford
. He was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 25 June 1909 and was colonel of the 54th Sikhs from 13 May 1904 until his death, which took place at Grove End House, 12 Pit Farm Road, Guildford, GU1 2JH, on 29 March 1918.
Personal life
Gaselee was born at Little YeldhamLittle Yeldham
Little Yeldham is a small village in north west Essex, approximately one mile north east of Great Yeldham.-External links:*...
, Essex
Essex
Essex is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan county in the East region of England, and one of the home counties. It is located to the northeast of Greater London. It borders with Cambridgeshire and Suffolk to the north, Hertfordshire to the west, Kent to the South and London to the south west...
, the eldest son of the Reverend John Gaselee, rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
of Little Yeldham, and his wife, Sarah Anne Mant. He entered Felsted School
Felsted School
Felsted School, an English co-educational day and boarding independent school, situated in Felsted, Essex. It is in the British Public School tradition, and was founded in 1564 by Richard Rich, 1st Baron Rich who, as Lord Chancellor and Chancellor of the Court of Augmentations, acquired...
in 1853 and 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...
in 1861.
In 1882, Gaselee married Alice Jane, daughter of the Rt. Hon. William Edward Baxter
William Edward Baxter
William Edward Baxter was a Scottish businessman, Liberal politician and travel writer.-Background and education:...
, from whom he obtained a divorce in 1893. He married Alice Margaret, daughter of Gartside Gartside-Tipping of Rossferry, County Fermanagh, Ireland, on 20 August 1895, who outlived him. There were no children from either marriage.
Career
Gaselee was commissioned as an ensignEnsign
An ensign is a national flag when used at sea, in vexillology, or a distinguishing token, emblem, or badge, such as a symbol of office in heraldry...
in the 93rd regiment (later the Sutherland Highlanders) on 9 January 1863. He was involved in the campaign on the North-West Frontier
North-West Frontier (military history)
The North-West Frontier was the most difficult area, from a military point of view, of the former British India in the Indian sub-continent. It remains the frontier of present-day Pakistan, extending from the Pamir Knot in the north to the Koh-i-Malik Siah in the west, and separating the...
of India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
in that year. He was promoted lieutenant on 11 October 1866, transferred to the Bengal
Bengal
Bengal is a historical and geographical region in the northeast region of the Indian Subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. Today, it is mainly divided between the sovereign land of People's Republic of Bangladesh and the Indian state of West Bengal, although some regions of the previous...
staff corps, and joined the 4th Punjab infantry on 27 September 1867. He went with the Indian force to Abyssinia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
, where he acted as assistant to the director-general of transport and was present at the capture of Magdala
Magdala
Magdala is the name of at least two places in ancient Israel mentioned in the Jewish Talmud and one place that may be mentioned in the Christian New Testament...
(13 April 1868). He was promoted captain on 9 January 1875, and served with the Jowaki expedition of 1877–8. In the Second Anglo-Afghan War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
The Second Anglo-Afghan War was fought between the United Kingdom and Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880, when the nation was ruled by Sher Ali Khan of the Barakzai dynasty, the son of former Emir Dost Mohammad Khan. This was the second time British India invaded Afghanistan. The war ended in a manner...
, he was a deputy assistant quartermaster-general, and accompanied Lord Roberts
Lord Roberts
Lord Roberts may refer to:*John Roberts, 2nd Baron Roberts , was an English politician and soldier during the English Civil War English and English Restoration...
on the march from Kabul
Kabul
Kabul , spelt Caubul in some classic literatures, is the capital and largest city of Afghanistan. It is also the capital of the Kabul Province, located in the eastern section of Afghanistan...
to the relief of Kandahar
Kandahar
Kandahar is the second largest city in Afghanistan, with a population of about 512,200 as of 2011. It is the capital of Kandahar Province, located in the south of the country at about 1,005 m above sea level...
. He was made a brevetted 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. ...
on 2 March 1881.
Gaselee was promoted to major on 9 January 1883, and lieutenant-colonel on 9 January 1889, and was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) on 19 November 1891. On 27 September 1892, he was promoted to the command of the 1st battalion
Battalion
A battalion is a military unit of around 300–1,200 soldiers usually consisting of between two and seven companies and typically commanded by either a Lieutenant Colonel or a Colonel...
, 5th Gurkha
Gurkha
Gurkha are people from Nepal who take their name from the Gorkha District. Gurkhas are best known for their history in the Indian Army's Gorkha regiments, the British Army's Brigade of Gurkhas and the Nepalese Army. Gurkha units are closely associated with the kukri, a forward-curving Nepalese knife...
rifles. On 1 February 1893, he was promoted to colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
and appointed aide-de-camp
Aide-de-camp
An aide-de-camp is a personal assistant, secretary, or adjutant to a person of high rank, usually a senior military officer or a head of state...
to Queen Victoria. He served in the Isazai expedition (1892), the Waziristan
Waziristan
Waziristan is a mountainous region near the Northwest of Pakistan, bordering Afghanistan and covering some 11,585 km² . The area is entirely populated by ethnic Pashtuns . The language spoken in the valley is Pashto/Pakhto...
field force (1894–5), and the Tirah campaign
Tirah Campaign
The Tirah Campaign, often referred to in contemporary British accounts as the Tirah Expedition, was an Indian frontier war in 1897–98. Tirah is a mountainous tract of country.-Rebellion:...
(1897–8). For his services in Tirah, Gaselee was created a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on 20 May 1898. From 25 July 1898 to 3 June 1901, he served simultaneously as quartermaster-general at Simla
Shimla
Shimla , formerly known as Simla, is the capital city of Himachal Pradesh. In 1864, Shimla was declared the summer capital of the British Raj in India. A popular tourist destination, Shimla is often referred to as the "Queen of Hills," a term coined by the British...
and brigadier-general commanding Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand
Bundelkhand anciently known as Chedi Kingdom is a geographic region of central India...
district. He was promoted to major-general on 3 July 1900.
In the summer of 1900, when the Boxer Uprising in China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
was at its height, Gaselee was chosen to command the British element in the international expeditionary force
Eight-Nation Alliance
The Eight-Nation Alliance was an alliance of Austria-Hungary, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Russia, the United Kingdom, and the United States whose military forces intervened in China to suppress the anti-foreign Boxers and relieve the siege of the diplomatic legations in Beijing .- Events :The...
. A large force was to have been assembled under the German commander, Count Von Waldersee, consisting, in addition to British, of Japanese, Russian, Italian, French, American, and German troops. Before Von Waldersee's arrival news broke that the foreign legations in Peking were still holding out. Gaselee was therefore put in command of a smaller force of 20,000 men, mostly Japanese and Russian, but including 3,000 British and Indian troops, which set out for Peking immediately. The 7th Rajputs, under Gaselee himself, were the first troops to enter Peking, reaching the legations on the afternoon of 14 August 1900. The international rivalries between the component parts of the relieving forces might have given rise to the most serious complications. Gaselee showed tact and firmness in his handling of a very delicate situation. As a reward for his services, he was created Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire (GCIE) on 24 July 1901.
Gaselee was promoted lieutenant-general on 30 June 1903 and full general on 30 June 1906. From 30 June 1903 to 29 June 1908, he was commander of the forces in Bengal. He then retired to Guildford
Guildford
Guildford is the county town of Surrey. England, as well as the seat for the borough of Guildford and the administrative headquarters of the South East England region...
. He was created a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) on 25 June 1909 and was colonel of the 54th Sikhs from 13 May 1904 until his death, which took place at Grove End House, 12 Pit Farm Road, Guildford, GU1 2JH, on 29 March 1918.