Generals of the British Army: Portraits in Colour with Introductory and Biographical Notes — John Shaqi
Generals of the British Army: Portraits in Colour with Introductory and Biographical Notes
History
Generals of the British Army: Portraits in Colour with Introductory and Biographical Notes
Generals -- Great Britain; World War, 1914-1918 -- Biography
LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR AYLMER HUNTER-WESTON, K.C.B., D.S.O., J.P., and
D.L. (Ayrshire), M.P. for North Ayrshire (1916), was born September
23rd, 1864. He was educated at Wellington College, Royal Military
Academy and Staff College. He entered the Royal Engineers in 1884 and
saw his first service in 1891, when he took part in the Miranzai
Expedition. He became Captain in the following year. In the Waziristan
Expedition of 1894-5 he served as the Commander of the Bengal Sappers
and Miners on Sir W. Lockhart's Staff. He was slightly wounded in this
campaign, and besides getting a medal with clasp, he was mentioned in
despatches and gained his Brevet of Major. During the Dongola Expedition
of 1896 he was attached to Sir Herbert Kitchener's Headquarter
Staff as Special Service Officer, and his work gained him further
mention in despatches, the 4th Class Medjidieh, the Egyptian Medal
with a clasp, and the Queen's Medal. In the South African War he
commanded the Mounted Engineers, Cavalry Division. Later he became
Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General to the Cavalry Division, and
subsequently Chief Staff Officer to General French. Finally he was given
independent command of a Mobile Column. He took part in the operations
about Colesburg, in the Relief of Kimberley, in the Battle of
Paardeberg, and the operations in the Orange Free State, the Transvaal,
and Cape Colony. He commanded five cavalry raids during the advance to
Pretoria, cutting the railway North of Bloemfontein and Kroonstad. He
was several times mentioned in despatches, was promoted Brevet
Lieutenant-Colonel, and received the Queen's medal with seven clasps,
and the D.S.O. Between 1904 and 1908 he was first D.A.A.G. and then
General Staff Officer in the Eastern Command. From 1908 to 1911 he was
Chief General Staff Officer of the Scottish Command. From 1911 to
1914 he was Assistant Director of Military Training at the War Office.
Early in 1914 he was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed to the
Command of the 11th Infantry Brigade at Colchester. At the outbreak of
War in August, 1914, he brought this Brigade out to France, and took
part with it in the Great Retreat, in the subsequent advance, and in all
the later fighting in France and Flanders. He was several times
mentioned in despatches and was promoted Major-General (1914) for
distinguished services in the field. In March, 1915, he was given the
command of the 29th Division and commanded it at the landing at Cape
Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula as well as in the advance. He was
given command of all British troops at the Southern end of the Gallipoli
Peninsula, and in May, 1915, was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-General
to command VIII Corps. He was praised by Sir Ian Hamilton for "his
invincible self-confidence, untiring energy, and trained ability." Since
March, 1916, he has been in command of the VIII Corps in France. In this
war he has been several times mentioned in despatches, and has been made
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