Beauchamp Duff
Encyclopedia
General Sir Beauchamp Duff, GCB
, GCSI
, KCVO
, CIE
, KStJ
(17 February 1855–20 January 1918), was a Scottish officer with a distinguished military career in the British Indian Army
serving as Commander-in-Chief of India during World War I
.
before attending the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from which he graduated in 1874. Duff was commissioned in the Royal Artillery
in 1874 and served in the Afghan War from 1878 to 1880. In 1881, he was transferred to the Indian Staff Corps and then attended the Staff College
from 1888 to 1889.
From 1895 to 1899 he was Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief in India before being appointed Assistant Military Secretary for Indian Affairs in the War Office in 1899. However, the same year he took part in the South African War
of 1899 to 1901. Upon returning to India, he served as Deputy Adjutant-General at the Indian Army Headquarters from 1901 to 1902, before commanding the Allahabad District as a Brigadier-General in 1903.
With the appointment of Lord Kitchener
as Commander-in-Chief of India in November 1902, Duff quickly rose in ranks, serving first as his Adjutant General
from June 1903 to March 1906 and then as Chief of Staff from March 1906 to 1909. Following Kitchener's departure, Duff served as Secretary in the Military Department of the India Office
from 1909 to 1914.
In 1914, he was appointed as ADC General to H.M. the King.
On 8 March 1914, Duff reached the top position when replacing General O'Moore Creagh
as Commander-in-Chief, India
.
was under the responsibility of the Indian Army up until the disaster surrounding the surrender at Kut
.
The campaign started well with the landing in Basra
in November 1914, but the attack on Baghdad by 9,000 troops of the 6th Indian Division commanded by General Townshend
in 1915 ended in catastrophe when the remnants of the British invasion force were surrounded in Kut El Amara
, and three attempts to relieve the trapped British and Indian troops also ended in failure, at the cost of 23,000 lives. The surrender on 29 April 1916 was described as one of the worst military disasters of the British Army.
Consequently, Duff was relieved of command on 1 October 1916.
was exonerated, the Commission was harsh towards the Government of India and Duff together with the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge
. Both were found to have showed:
little desire to help and some desire actually to obstruct the energetic prosecution of the war. (RMCE, p. 123)
General Nixon, the Commander-in-Chief of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, was also held responsible for the failed campaign.
Unable to live with the shame, Duff committed suicide on 20 January 1918.
|-
Order of the Bath
The Most Honourable Order of the Bath is a British order of chivalry founded by George I on 18 May 1725. The name derives from the elaborate mediæval ceremony for creating a knight, which involved bathing as one of its elements. The knights so created were known as Knights of the Bath...
, GCSI
Order of the Star of India
The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes:# Knight Grand Commander # Knight Commander # Companion...
, KCVO
Royal Victorian Order
The Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
, CIE
Order of the Indian Empire
The Most Eminent Order of the Indian Empire is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1878. The Order includes members of three classes:#Knight Grand Commander #Knight Commander #Companion...
, KStJ
Venerable Order of Saint John
The Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem , is a royal order of chivalry established in 1831 and found today throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Hong Kong, Ireland and the United States of America, with the world-wide mission "to prevent and relieve sickness and...
(17 February 1855–20 January 1918), was a Scottish officer with a distinguished military career in the British Indian Army
British Indian Army
The British Indian Army, officially simply the Indian Army, was the principal army of the British Raj in India before the partition of India in 1947...
serving as Commander-in-Chief of India during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
Early life
Duff was educated at Trinity College, GlenalmondGlenalmond College
Glenalmond College is a co-educational independent boarding school in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, for children aged between 12 and 18 years. It is situated on the River Almond near the village of Methven, about west of the city of Perth. The school's motto is Floreat Glenalmond...
before attending the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, from which he graduated in 1874. Duff was commissioned in the Royal Artillery
Royal Artillery
The Royal Regiment of Artillery, commonly referred to as the Royal Artillery , is the artillery arm of the British Army. Despite its name, it comprises a number of regiments.-History:...
in 1874 and served in the Afghan War from 1878 to 1880. In 1881, he was transferred to the Indian Staff Corps and then attended the Staff College
Staff college
Staff colleges train military officers in the administrative, staff and policy aspects of their profession. It is usual for such training to occur at several levels in a career...
from 1888 to 1889.
Career
He was Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General at the Indian Army Headquarters from 1891 to 1895, then served in the Isazai Expedition in 1892. He was Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General during the Waziristan Expedition from 1894 to 1895.From 1895 to 1899 he was Military Secretary to the Commander-in-Chief in India before being appointed Assistant Military Secretary for Indian Affairs in the War Office in 1899. However, the same year he took part in the South African War
Boer 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 ....
of 1899 to 1901. Upon returning to India, he served as Deputy Adjutant-General at the Indian Army Headquarters from 1901 to 1902, before commanding the Allahabad District as a Brigadier-General in 1903.
With the appointment of Lord Kitchener
Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Field Marshal Horatio Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener KG, KP, GCB, OM, GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, ADC, PC , was an Irish-born British Field Marshal and proconsul who won fame for his imperial campaigns and later played a central role in the early part of the First World War, although he died halfway...
as Commander-in-Chief of India in November 1902, Duff quickly rose in ranks, serving first as his Adjutant General
Adjutant general
An Adjutant General is a military chief administrative officer.-Imperial Russia:In Imperial Russia, the General-Adjutant was a Court officer, who was usually an army general. He served as a personal aide to the Tsar and hence was a member of the H. I. M. Retinue...
from June 1903 to March 1906 and then as Chief of Staff from March 1906 to 1909. Following Kitchener's departure, Duff served as Secretary in the Military Department of the India Office
Military Secretary
The Military Secretary is the British Army appointment of which the incumbent is responsible for policy direction on personnel management for members of the British Army. It is a senior British Army appointment, held by an officer holding the rank of Major-General. The Military Secretary's...
from 1909 to 1914.
In 1914, he was appointed as ADC General to H.M. the King.
On 8 March 1914, Duff reached the top position when replacing General O'Moore Creagh
O'Moore Creagh
General Sir Garrett O'Moore Creagh VC GCB GCSI , known as Sir O'Moore Creagh, was born in Cahirbane, County Clare and was an Irish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth...
as Commander-in-Chief, India
Commander-in-Chief, India
During the period of the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India was the supreme commander of the Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his staff were based at General Headquarters, India, and liaised with the civilian Governor-General of India...
.
World War I
During the war, the Mesopotamian CampaignMesopotamian Campaign
The Mesopotamian campaign was a campaign in the Middle Eastern theatre of World War I fought between the Allies represented by the British Empire, mostly troops from the Indian Empire, and the Central Powers, mostly of the Ottoman Empire.- Background :...
was under the responsibility of the Indian Army up until the disaster surrounding the surrender at Kut
Siege of Kut
The siege of Kut Al Amara , was the besieging of 8,000 strong British-Indian garrison in the town of Kut, 100 miles south of Baghdad, by the Ottoman Army. Its known also as 1st Battle of Kut. In 1915, its population was around 6,500...
.
The campaign started well with the landing in Basra
Fao Landing
The Fao Landing occurred on November 6, 1914 and the Battle of Fao Fortress on November 8, 1914 with British forces attacking the Ottoman Fortress of Fao. The British successfully took the fort.- Background :...
in November 1914, but the attack on Baghdad by 9,000 troops of the 6th Indian Division commanded by General Townshend
Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend
Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend KCB, DSO was a British Indian Army officer who led the ultimately disastrous first British Expedition against Baghdad during World War I, and was later elected to Parliament....
in 1915 ended in catastrophe when the remnants of the British invasion force were surrounded in Kut El Amara
Kut
Al-Kūt is a city in eastern Iraq, on the left bank of the Tigris River, about 160 kilometres south east of Baghdad. the estimated population is about 374,000 people...
, and three attempts to relieve the trapped British and Indian troops also ended in failure, at the cost of 23,000 lives. The surrender on 29 April 1916 was described as one of the worst military disasters of the British Army.
Consequently, Duff was relieved of command on 1 October 1916.
Later life
In 1917, the Mesopotamia Commission of Enquiry was damning in its conclusions. While General TownshendCharles Vere Ferrers Townshend
Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend KCB, DSO was a British Indian Army officer who led the ultimately disastrous first British Expedition against Baghdad during World War I, and was later elected to Parliament....
was exonerated, the Commission was harsh towards the Government of India and Duff together with the Viceroy, Lord Hardinge
Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst
Charles Hardinge, 1st Baron Hardinge of Penshurst, was a British diplomat and statesman who served as Viceroy of India from 1910 to 1916.-Background and education:...
. Both were found to have showed:
little desire to help and some desire actually to obstruct the energetic prosecution of the war. (RMCE, p. 123)
General Nixon, the Commander-in-Chief of the Mesopotamian Expeditionary Force, was also held responsible for the failed campaign.
Unable to live with the shame, Duff committed suicide on 20 January 1918.
Ranks
- Lieutenant (1874)
- Captain (1886)
- Major (1894)
- Lieutenant-Colonel (1894)
- Colonel (1898)
- Brigadier-General (1902)
- Major-General (1903)
- Lieutenant-General
- General
External links
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