Spring R. Rice

Spring R. Rice
1917 portrait by Francis Dodd
Born	11 July 1858
Died	11 August 1929(1929-08-11) (aged 71) Steyning, Sussex, England
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1877–1919
Rank	Major General
Battles/wars	South African War First World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Companion of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches (10) Croix de Guerre Commander of the Order of Leopold (Belgium)

Major General Sir Spring Robert Rice KCMG, CB (11 July 1858 – 11 August 1929) was a British Army general who served on the staff of the British Expeditionary Force during the First World War.

He entered the Royal Engineers in 1877, and was promoted to captain in 1888. He was appointed the adjutant of the School of Military Engineering in 1892, and promoted major in 1896.

During the South African War he commanded 23rd Field Company RE, deployed to Ladysmith; during the Siege of Ladysmith, he acted as the commanding officer of the Royal Engineers. In 1901, he designed a simple and inexpensive blockhouse, which saw extensive use. For his services during the war, he was mentioned in despatches four times, received the Queen's Medal with two clasps and the King's medal with two clasps, and was given a brevet promotion to lieutenant colonel in the South African honours list published on 26 June 1902.

He left the School of Military Engineering in 1905, and was appointed the chief engineer in charge of coastal defences for Southern Command in 1909, with the rank of colonel. In 1911 he was appointed as the chief engineer of Aldershot Command, holding this post until 1914.