The Lord Grenfell | |
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Lord Grenfell
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Born | 29 April 1841 Swansea, Wales |
Died | 27 January 1925 (aged 83) Windlesham, Surrey |
Buried at | Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire. |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/branch | British Army |
Years of service | 1859–1908 |
Rank | Field Marshal |
Commands held |
Egyptian Army 4th Army Corps Commander-in-Chief, Ireland |
Battles/wars |
9th Xhosa War Anglo-Zulu War Anglo-Egyptian War Mahdist War |
Awards |
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Other work |
Pilgrims Society Church Lads' Brigade |
Field Marshal Francis Wallace Grenfell, 1st Baron Grenfell, GCB, GCMG, PC (29 April 1841 – 27 January 1925) was a British Army officer. After serving as aide-de-camp to the Commander-in-Chief, South Africa, he fought in the 9th Xhosa War, the Anglo-Zulu War and then the Anglo-Egyptian War. He went on to become Sirdar (Commander-in-Chief) of the Egyptian Army and commanded the forces at the Battle of Suakin in December 1888 and at the Battle of Toski in August 1889 during the Mahdist War. After that he became Governor of Malta and then Commander-in-Chief, Ireland before retiring in 1908.
Born the son of Pascoe St Leger Grenfell and Catherine Anne Grenfell (née Du Pre), Grenfell was educated at Milton Abbas School in Dorset but decided to leave school early.
Grenfell purchased a commission as an ensign in the 3rd Battalion of the 60th Royal Rifles on 5 August 1859. He then purchased promotion to lieutenant on 21 July 1863 and to captain (in the last year in which purchase was allowed) on 28 October 1871. He became aide-de-camp to Sir Arthur Cunynghame, Commander-in-Chief, South Africa, in 1874. After taking part in the Battle of Quintana in February 1878 during the 9th Xhosa War in 1878, he was promoted to brevet major on 11 November 1878. He next fought at the Battle of Ulundi in July 1879 during the Anglo-Zulu War and then returned to England to become brigade major at Shorncliffe Army Camp shortly before he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel on 29 November 1879. He became brigade major of an infantry brigade in South Africa in April 1881 and, having been promoted to the substantive rank of major on 1 July 1881, he fought at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir in September 1882 during the Anglo-Egyptian War. Promoted to brevet colonel on 18 November 1882, he was made aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria that same year.