Eric de Burgh
General Sir Eric de Burgh KCB DSO OBE (English: /d ˈbɜːr/; d’-BER; 10 May 1881 – 6 February 1973) was a British Indian Army officer who became Chief of the General Staff in India.
Sir Eric de Burgh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 May 1881[1] Naas, County Kildare, Ireland, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland |
| Died | 6 February 1973 (aged 91)[2] Wexford, County Wexford, Republic of Ireland |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |  British Army Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1901–1941 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands held | 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade Lahore District Rawalpindi District 1st Indian Division |
| Battles/wars | Second Boer War World War I Third Anglo-Afghan War World War II |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
| Spouse(s) | Mary Fanshawe
(m. 1923; died 1934) |
Military career
Educated at Marlborough College and the Colonial College, Hollesley Bay, De Burgh was commissioned into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, as a Second Lieutenant in October 1901. In February 1902 he was seconded for service with Mounted infantry during the Second Boer War,[3][4] with the local rank of Lieutenant in the Army whilst serving in South Africa.[5] He later joined the Indian Army, and served in the 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). He attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1913 to 1914.[6]
He served in World War I and saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 and the Battle of Loos in September 1915.[4] He later saw action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.[4]
He also fought in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.[4] He was appointed an instructor at Staff College, Quetta in 1928.[7] He went on to be a Brigadier on the General Staff at Eastern Command in India in 1930, Commanding Officer of the 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade in 1931 and District Officer Commanding Lahore District in 1934.[7] After that he attended the Imperial Defence College.[6] He then became Deputy Chief General Staff at Army Headquarters India in 1935, District Officer Commanding Rawalpindi District in 1936 and General Officer Commanding 1st Indian Division in 1937.[7] His last appointment was as Chief of the General Staff in India in 1939 at the start of World War II before retiring in 1941.[7]
In retirement, he lived at Ard Cairn outside Naas, and in 1960, he acquired Bargy Castle in County Wexford.[8]
Family
In 1923, he married Mary Fanshawe, daughter of General Sir Edward Fanshawe; they had two daughters.[8] He was the maternal grandfather of singer Chris de Burgh.[8]
References
- UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962
- England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995
- "No. 27417". The London Gazette. 18 March 1902. p. 1887.
- Private Papers of General Sir Eric de Burgh, Imperial War Museum, London, UK.
- "No. 27425". The London Gazette. 15 April 1902. p. 2507.
- Smart 2005, p. 79.
- Burgh, Sir Eric, General (1881–1973) (Indian Army), Generals.dk.
- General Sir Eric de Burgh — Old Friend, Turtle Bunbury.
Bibliography
- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.