Charles St Leger Barter
Encyclopedia
Charles St Leger Barter, (1857–1931), KCB
, KCMG, CVO
, was a career British Army
officer.
Charles Barter was the son of the Rev J T Barter of Bercham, Co Cork. A graduate of Royal Military Academy Sandhurst
, he began his military career with a commission in the 105th Foot
in 1875. Later attending staff college
in 1883, he served in several military campaigns including the Ashanti Expedition (1895–1896), the Tirah Campaign
and the South African War. He completed a tour as GOC of a British Indian Army
brigade in 1913.
With his experience and training, Barter was appointed GOC
for the 47th (2nd London) Division TF in August 1914 at the outset of the First World War. He led the division to France in March 1915 and by May 1915 the division was fighting at Aubers Ridge.
Major General Barter and the 47th Division continued fighting on the Western Front
and participated in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. It was during action at the Somme that the 47th Division and General Barter were involved in the battle for High Wood
. Shortly after the capture of High Wood, General Barter was relieved of his command.
Charles Barter was awarded the KCG(1916) and KCMG(1918) for his service and retired from the Army in 1918.
For the remainder of his life, Major General Barter attempted to have an enquiry into his dismissal but was unsuccessful.
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...
, KCMG, CVO
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...
, was a career 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...
officer.
Charles Barter was the son of the Rev J T Barter of Bercham, Co Cork. A graduate of 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 began his military career with a commission in the 105th Foot
105th Regiment of Foot (Madras Light Infantry)
The 105th Regiment of Foot was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1862 to 1881, when it was amalgamated into The King's Own Light Infantry ....
in 1875. Later attending 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...
in 1883, he served in several military campaigns including the Ashanti Expedition (1895–1896), the Tirah Campaign
Tirah Campaign
The Tirah Campaign, often referred to in contemporary British accounts as the Tirah Expedition, was an Indian frontier war in 1897–98. Tirah is a mountainous tract of country.-Rebellion:...
and the South African War. He completed a tour as GOC of a 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...
brigade in 1913.
With his experience and training, Barter was appointed GOC
GOC
GOC may refer to:*Gareth O'Callaghan, Irish author and presenter*General Officer Commanding, a general officer who holds a military command appointment*General Optical Council, an organisation in the United Kingdom that regulates opticians and optometrists...
for the 47th (2nd London) Division TF in August 1914 at the outset of the First World War. He led the division to France in March 1915 and by May 1915 the division was fighting at Aubers Ridge.
Major General Barter and the 47th Division continued fighting on the Western Front
Western Front (World War I)
Following the outbreak of World War I in 1914, the German Army opened the Western Front by first invading Luxembourg and Belgium, then gaining military control of important industrial regions in France. The tide of the advance was dramatically turned with the Battle of the Marne...
and participated in the Battle of the Somme in 1916. It was during action at the Somme that the 47th Division and General Barter were involved in the battle for High Wood
High Wood
High Wood is a small forest near Bazentin le Petit in the Somme département of northern France which was the scene of intense fighting for two months from 14 July to 15 September 1916 during the Battle of the Somme.-Background:...
. Shortly after the capture of High Wood, General Barter was relieved of his command.
Charles Barter was awarded the KCG(1916) and KCMG(1918) for his service and retired from the Army in 1918.
For the remainder of his life, Major General Barter attempted to have an enquiry into his dismissal but was unsuccessful.