Henry Hildyard
Encyclopedia
General Sir
Henry John Thoroton Hildyard GCB
(5 July 1846 – 25 July 1916) was a British Army
general who saw active service in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and the Second Boer War
.
He was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
, South Africa
, from 1905 to 1908.
(1821–1888), a Member of Parliament
, of Flintham Hall, Flintham
, near Newark
, Hildyard was educated at the Royal Naval Academy
, Gosport
.
His brothers were Thomas Blackborne Thoroton Hildyard (1843–1928) and Robert Charles Thoroton Hildyard (1844–1885).
as a midshipman
and served in the Navy from 1859 to 1864. In 1867, he joined the British Army
, as an ensign
in the 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, later transferring to the Highland Light Infantry
, in which he was Lieutenant
and adjutant
for nearly seven years, and in 1876 was promoted Captain. In 1877 he passed the Staff College and transferred into the Somerset Light Infantry, was promoted Major in 1882 and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
later the same year; Colonel
in 1886, and a temporary Major General
in 1898, made substantive the following year.
He served with the Egyptian Expedition of 1882 as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General
, and was at Kassassin
and Tel el-Kebir, where he was mentioned in despatches, was employed with the Egyptian Army
from 1883 to 1888, and was appointed an aide-de-camp
to the Queen
in 1886. From 1893 to 1898 he was on home postings, as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General
and Assistant Adjutant-General at Headquarters, then as Assistant Adjutant-General at Aldershot
and as Commandant of the Staff College
, then commanded 3rd Brigade at Aldershot, 1898–99.
During the Second Boer War
Hildyard was posted to South Africa and commanded 2nd Brigade from 1899 to 1900, again being mentioned in despatches and seeing active service at the Battle of Colenso
. On 8 January 1900, Winston Churchill
, in the theatre of war as a special correspondent, asked Hildyard what formation his 2nd Brigade was in, and he replied "Formation for taking advantage of ant-heaps".
Hildyard remained in South Africa to command the 5th Division from 1900 to 1901, during which time he took part in the Battle of the Tugela Heights
, before returning to the UK as Director-General of Military Education, 1903–1904, and Lieutenant General
on the Imperial General Staff commanding troops in South Africa, 1904 to 1905. He was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
, South Africa, 1905 to 1908. Retired the service, 1911.
In 1903, Hildyard had been appointed Colonel of the Highland Light Infantry and he continued to serve at the head of the regiment until his death in 1916, when he was succeeded by Sir William Pitcairn Campbell
.
, and they had three sons, Harold Charles Thoroton Hildyard (born 1872), Gerald Moresby Thoroton Hildyard (1874–1956) and General Sir Reginald John Thoroton Hildyard
(1876–1965), and one daughter, Edith Mary Thoroton Hildyard, who in 1895 married Edward Bromley, a lawyer.
Hildyard died on 25 July 1916. At the time of his death he was living at Aspley Heath
, Bedfordshire
, and was buried there at St Michael's church on 29 July. His widow was buried with him on 19 February 1919, from 3, St Catherine's Road, Littlehampton
.
Sir
Sir is an honorific used as a title , or as a courtesy title to address a man without using his given or family name in many English speaking cultures...
Henry John Thoroton Hildyard GCB
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
(5 July 1846 – 25 July 1916) was a British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
general who saw active service in the Anglo-Egyptian War of 1882 and the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
.
He was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, from 1905 to 1908.
Early life
The youngest of the three sons of Thomas Blackborne Thoroton-HildyardThomas Thoroton-Hildyard
Thomas Blackborne Thoroton-Hildyard was an English Conservative Party politician who sat in the House of Commons in two periods between 1846 and 1885....
(1821–1888), a Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, of Flintham Hall, Flintham
Flintham
Flintham is a village in Nottinghamshire within a few miles of Newark, opposite RAF Syerston on the A46. It has a population of circa 650 and a school, village hall, church and cricket pavilion. It has one pub, the on . It also has a community shop run by volunteers called Flintham Community Shop,...
, near Newark
Newark-on-Trent
Newark-on-Trent is a market town in Nottinghamshire in the East Midlands region of England. It stands on the River Trent, the A1 , and the East Coast Main Line railway. The origins of the town are possibly Roman as it lies on an important Roman road, the Fosse Way...
, Hildyard was educated at the Royal Naval Academy
Royal Naval Academy
The Royal Naval Academy was established at Portsmouth Dockyard as a facility to train officers for the Royal Navy. The founders' intentions were to provide an alternative means to recruit officers and to provide standardised training, education and admission.-Training:In 1773, a shore side...
, Gosport
Gosport
Gosport is a town, district and borough situated on the south coast of England, within the county of Hampshire. It has approximately 80,000 permanent residents with a further 5,000-10,000 during the summer months...
.
His brothers were Thomas Blackborne Thoroton Hildyard (1843–1928) and Robert Charles Thoroton Hildyard (1844–1885).
Career
Hildyard entered the Royal NavyRoyal Navy
The Royal Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Founded in the 16th century, it is the oldest service branch and is known as the Senior Service...
as a midshipman
Midshipman
A midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
and served in the Navy from 1859 to 1864. In 1867, he joined the British Army
British Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
, as an ensign
Ensign
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 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, later transferring to the Highland Light Infantry
Highland Light Infantry
The Highland Light Infantry was a regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1959. In 1923 the regimental title was expanded to the Highland Light Infantry ...
, in which he was Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
and adjutant
Adjutant
Adjutant is a military rank or appointment. In some armies, including most English-speaking ones, it is an officer who assists a more senior officer, while in other armies, especially Francophone ones, it is an NCO , normally corresponding roughly to a Staff Sergeant or Warrant Officer.An Adjutant...
for nearly seven years, and in 1876 was promoted Captain. In 1877 he passed the Staff College and transferred into the Somerset Light Infantry, was promoted Major in 1882 and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel
Lieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
later the same year; 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...
in 1886, and a temporary Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
in 1898, made substantive the following year.
He served with the Egyptian Expedition of 1882 as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster General
Quartermaster general
A Quartermaster general is the staff officer in charge of supplies for a whole army.- The United Kingdom :In the United Kingdom, the Quartermaster-General to the Forces is one of the most senior generals in the British Army...
, and was at Kassassin
Kassassin
Kassassin is a village of Lower Egypt by rail, west of Ismailia on the Suez Canal. At this place, on 28 August and again on 9 September 1882 the British force operating against Urabi Pasha was attacked by the Egyptians. Both attacks were repulsed....
and Tel el-Kebir, where he was mentioned in despatches, was employed with the Egyptian Army
Egyptian Army
The Egyptian Army is the largest service branch within the Egyptian Armed Forces and holds power in the current Egyptian government. It is estimated to number around 379,000, in addition to 479,000 reservists for a total of 858,000 strong. The modern army was created in the 1820s, and during the...
from 1883 to 1888, and was appointed an 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 the Queen
Victoria of the United Kingdom
Victoria was the monarch of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until her death. From 1 May 1876, she used the additional title of Empress of India....
in 1886. From 1893 to 1898 he was on home postings, as Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
and Assistant Adjutant-General at Headquarters, then as Assistant Adjutant-General at Aldershot
Aldershot
Aldershot is a town in the English county of Hampshire, located on heathland about southwest of London. The town is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council...
and as Commandant of the Staff College
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
, then commanded 3rd Brigade at Aldershot, 1898–99.
During the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
Hildyard was posted to South Africa and commanded 2nd Brigade from 1899 to 1900, again being mentioned in despatches and seeing active service at the Battle of Colenso
Battle of Colenso
The Battle of Colenso was the third and final battle fought during the Black Week of the Second Boer War. It was fought between British and Boer forces from the independent South African Republic and Orange Free State in and around Colenso, Natal, South Africa on 15 December 1899.Inadequate...
. On 8 January 1900, Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Sir Winston Leonard Spencer-Churchill, was a predominantly Conservative British politician and statesman known for his leadership of the United Kingdom during the Second World War. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest wartime leaders of the century and served as Prime Minister twice...
, in the theatre of war as a special correspondent, asked Hildyard what formation his 2nd Brigade was in, and he replied "Formation for taking advantage of ant-heaps".
Hildyard remained in South Africa to command the 5th Division from 1900 to 1901, during which time he took part in the Battle of the Tugela Heights
Battle of the Tugela Heights
The Battle of Tugela Heights, consisted of a series of military actions lasting from 14 February through 27 February 1900 in which General Sir Redvers Buller's British army forced Louis Botha's Boer army to lift the Siege of Ladysmith during the Second Boer War.-Background:Buller's army had made...
, before returning to the UK as Director-General of Military Education, 1903–1904, and Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General
Lieutenant General is a military rank used in many countries. The rank traces its origins to the Middle Ages where the title of Lieutenant General was held by the second in command on the battlefield, who was normally subordinate to a Captain General....
on the Imperial General Staff commanding troops in South Africa, 1904 to 1905. He was General Officer Commanding-in-Chief
General Officer Commanding
General Officer Commanding is the usual title given in the armies of Commonwealth nations to a general officer who holds a command appointment. Thus, a general might be the GOC II Corps or GOC 7th Armoured Division...
, South Africa, 1905 to 1908. Retired the service, 1911.
In 1903, Hildyard had been appointed Colonel of the Highland Light Infantry and he continued to serve at the head of the regiment until his death in 1916, when he was succeeded by Sir William Pitcairn Campbell
William Pitcairn Campbell
Lieutenant General Sir William Pitcairn Campbell KCB was a British Army General during World War I.-Military career:...
.
Private life
In 1871, Hildyard married Annette, the daughter of Admiral James Charles PrevostJames Charles Prevost
James Charles Prevost was an admiral in the British Royal Navy.He was born in Bedhampton, Hampshire, England and joined the navy in 1823 and by 1850 was a Commander aboard the HMS Portland, flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Fairfax Moresby, whose daughter he married on 18 October 1842, they had five...
, and they had three sons, Harold Charles Thoroton Hildyard (born 1872), Gerald Moresby Thoroton Hildyard (1874–1956) and General Sir Reginald John Thoroton Hildyard
Reginald Hildyard
General Sir Reginald John Thoroton Hildyard KCB CMG DSO was a British Army general who saw active service in the Second Boer War and the First World War....
(1876–1965), and one daughter, Edith Mary Thoroton Hildyard, who in 1895 married Edward Bromley, a lawyer.
Hildyard died on 25 July 1916. At the time of his death he was living at Aspley Heath
Aspley Heath
Aspley Heath is a village and civil parish in the Central Bedfordshire district of Bedfordshire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 573. The village is nearby Aspley Guise and Woburn...
, Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire
Bedfordshire is a ceremonial county of historic origin in England that forms part of the East of England region.It borders Cambridgeshire to the north-east, Northamptonshire to the north, Buckinghamshire to the west and Hertfordshire to the south-east....
, and was buried there at St Michael's church on 29 July. His widow was buried with him on 19 February 1919, from 3, St Catherine's Road, Littlehampton
Littlehampton
Littlehampton is a seaside resort town and civil parish in the Arun District of West Sussex, England, on the east bank at the mouth of the River Arun. It lies south southwest of London, west of Brighton and east of the county town of Chichester....
.
Publication
- Henry John Thoroton Hildyard, Historical Record of the Seventy-First Regiment, Highland Light Infantry (Reissued in paperback by Kessinger Publishing, 2007)
Honours
- CB 1897 (1897 Diamond Jubilee Honours1897 Diamond Jubilee HonoursThe Diamond Jubilee Honours for the British Empire were announced in 22 June 1897 to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria on 20 June 1897....
) - KCB 1900
- GCB 1911 (1911 Coronation Honours1911 Coronation HonoursThe Coronation Honours 1911 for the British Empire were announced on 19 June 1911, to celebrate the coronation of George V which was held on the 22 June 1911....
)