Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot
Encyclopedia
Arthur Henry Seton Hart-Synnot CMG
, DSO
and Bar
was a British Army
general. He was educated at Clifton College
and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
.
He was from a family with history of military service, his uncle Sir Reginald Hart had been awarded the Victoria Cross
in Afghanistan.
his career took the staff path, first as an Aide-de-Camp
to his uncle, and then serving in Japan
in 1904 and Hong Kong
between 1907–11. He was promoted major in March 1909. After a tour in Burma with his regiment (1911–13), he was appointed GSO2 at GHQ India on 27 October 1913, until October 1916, when he returned to Britain. He deployed to France
on New Year’s Day 1917, serving again as a GSO2 with the 17th and 40th Divisions. He became a temporary Brigadier
when he was appointed to command 6th Infantry Brigade on 28 April 1918, where he was severely wounded losing both legs. In the 1918 King's Birthday Honours he was awarded a Bar
to his DSO. He was also made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
, and awarded the French Croix de guerre
. He was placed on the half-pay list and retired as an honorary Brigadier
in 1920 as a result of these wounds.
He married his nurse Violet Drower who he met whilst convalescing.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
, DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
and Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
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. He was educated at Clifton College
Clifton College
Clifton College is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England, founded in 1862. In its early years it was notable for emphasising science in the curriculum, and for being less concerned with social elitism, e.g. by admitting day-boys on equal terms and providing a dedicated...
and Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst , commonly known simply as Sandhurst, is a British Army officer initial training centre located in Sandhurst, Berkshire, England...
.
He was from a family with history of military service, his uncle Sir Reginald Hart had been awarded the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
in Afghanistan.
Military Career
Hart-Synnot had passed Staff College in 1899 and after the Boer WarBoer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
his career took the staff path, first as 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 his uncle, and then serving in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
in 1904 and Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
between 1907–11. He was promoted major in March 1909. After a tour in Burma with his regiment (1911–13), he was appointed GSO2 at GHQ India on 27 October 1913, until October 1916, when he returned to Britain. He deployed to France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
on New Year’s Day 1917, serving again as a GSO2 with the 17th and 40th Divisions. He became a temporary Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
when he was appointed to command 6th Infantry Brigade on 28 April 1918, where he was severely wounded losing both legs. In the 1918 King's Birthday Honours he was awarded a Bar
Medal bar
A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It is most commonly used to indicate the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the...
to his DSO. He was also made a Chevalier of the Légion d'Honneur
Légion d'honneur
The Legion of Honour, or in full the National Order of the Legion of Honour is a French order established by Napoleon Bonaparte, First Consul of the Consulat which succeeded to the First Republic, on 19 May 1802...
, and awarded the French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
. He was placed on the half-pay list and retired as an honorary Brigadier
Brigadier
Brigadier is a senior military rank, the meaning of which is somewhat different in different military services. The brigadier rank is generally superior to the rank of colonel, and subordinate to major general....
in 1920 as a result of these wounds.
He married his nurse Violet Drower who he met whilst convalescing.