Frederick McCracken
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick William Nicholas McCracken, KCB, DSO, (18 August 1859 – 8 August 1949) was a British Army
officer who saw regimental service in Africa during the late nineteenth century, and later held senior command during the First World War. He commanded an infantry brigade in the British Expeditionary Force (World War I) of 1914, was appointed to command 15th (Scottish) Division in the New Armies from 1915 to 1917, and then briefly commanded XIII Corps
on the Western Front before being posted to a home command in the United Kingdom.
and then took a commission as a second lieutenant in the 49th Regiment of Foot in 1879. He was promoted to lieutenant the following year, and served in the Anglo-Egyptian War
of 1882 with his regiment, which had since become the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
. After Egypt he was appointed the battalion adjutant, and promoted to Captain in 1884. He saw service during the Mahdist War
in 1885, at Tofrek
, where he was mentioned in despatches and given a brevet promotion to Major. Serving on the Egyptian frontier later in the year, he saw action at the Battle of Ginnis
.
He married Ann Liston Glover in 1887; the couple would have a son and two daughters before Ann's death in 1923.
In April 1892 he was seconded to the staff and appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General in Barbados. He received a full promotion to Major in 1897, and when his term on the staff expired in April that year he returned to his regiment.
At the outbreak of the Second Boer War
, he fought in South Africa with the 1st Berkshires through 1900, and in 1901 took command of the 2nd Berkshires. In 1902, he commanded a garrison force of several battalions. For his services in the war, he was again mentioned in despatches and given a brevet-promotion to lieutenant-colonel. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
, as well as the Queen's medal
with three clasps, and the King's medal
with two.
He commanded the 7th Brigade when it was sent to France in 1914 as part of 3rd Division. At the Battle of Le Cateau
in August, McCracken was briefly disabled by an artillery shell on the 26th and was relieved by Colonel W. D. Bird, one of his battalion commanders. The 7th Brigade covered the retreat of II Corps, and after a personal recommendation to the corps commander by Edmund Allenby, who was commanding the Cavalry Division, McCracken was promoted to Major-General in October, and appointed Inspector of Infantry.
In 1915 he took command of 15th (Scottish) Division, a New Army
division, and led it through the Battle of Loos
, the Battle of the Somme, and the Battle of Arras
. Whilst he had been praised for his resilience in command of 7th Brigade, reports on his command of 15th Division were less favourable, with one observer describing him as "weak and lazy". These failings did not stop him being promoted to command XIII Corps
in June 1917. He remained with the corps until March 1918, when he was sacked and sent home to take over Scottish Command
.
During the war, he was mentioned in despatches a further seven times, and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He retired from the Army in 1922, and died in 1949, a few days before his ninetieth birthday.
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 who saw regimental service in Africa during the late nineteenth century, and later held senior command during the First World War. He commanded an infantry brigade in the British Expeditionary Force (World War I) of 1914, was appointed to command 15th (Scottish) Division in the New Armies from 1915 to 1917, and then briefly commanded XIII Corps
XIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
on the Western Front before being posted to a home command in the United Kingdom.
Early career
Born in 1859, the youngest son of the de Crez McCracken family of Kent, he studied at SandhurstRoyal 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...
and then took a commission as a second lieutenant in the 49th Regiment of Foot in 1879. He was promoted to lieutenant the following year, and served in the Anglo-Egyptian War
Anglo-Egyptian War
The Anglo-Egyptian War occurred in 1882 between Egyptian and Sudanese forces under Ahmed Orabi, and the United Kingdom.-Background:In 1881, an Egyptian army officer, Colonel Ahmed Orabi, initiated a coup against Tewfik Pasha, the Khedive of Egypt and Sudan, because of grievances over disparities in...
of 1882 with his regiment, which had since become the 1st Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment
Royal Berkshire Regiment
The Royal Berkshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the line in the British Army, formed in 1881 by the amalgamation of the 49th Regiment of Foot and the 66th Regiment of Foot.The regiment was originally formed as The Princess Charlotte of Wales's , taking the...
. After Egypt he was appointed the battalion adjutant, and promoted to Captain in 1884. He saw service during the Mahdist War
Mahdist War
The Mahdist War was a colonial war of the late 19th century. It was fought between the Mahdist Sudanese and the Egyptian and later British forces. It has also been called the Anglo-Sudan War or the Sudanese Mahdist Revolt. The British have called their part in the conflict the Sudan Campaign...
in 1885, at Tofrek
Battle of Tofrek
The Battle of Tofrek was fought between the British forces under the leadership of General Gerald Graham and General John McNeil, against the Mahdist forces led by Osman Digna in the deserts of eastern Sudan.-Details:...
, where he was mentioned in despatches and given a brevet promotion to Major. Serving on the Egyptian frontier later in the year, he saw action at the Battle of Ginnis
Battle of Ginnis
The Battle of Ginnis was a minor battle of the Mahdist War that was fought on December 30, 1885, between soldiers of the Anglo-Egyptian Army and Mahdist Sudanese warriors of the Dervish State. The battle was caused by the Mahdist blockade of the Ginnis-Kosha fort, which British commanders hoped...
.
He married Ann Liston Glover in 1887; the couple would have a son and two daughters before Ann's death in 1923.
In April 1892 he was seconded to the staff and appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General in Barbados. He received a full promotion to Major in 1897, and when his term on the staff expired in April that year he returned to his regiment.
At the outbreak of the Second Boer War
Second Boer War
The Second Boer War was fought from 11 October 1899 until 31 May 1902 between the British Empire and the Afrikaans-speaking Dutch settlers of two independent Boer republics, the South African Republic and the Orange Free State...
, he fought in South Africa with the 1st Berkshires through 1900, and in 1901 took command of the 2nd Berkshires. In 1902, he commanded a garrison force of several battalions. For his services in the war, he was again mentioned in despatches and given a brevet-promotion to lieutenant-colonel. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
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...
, as well as the Queen's medal
Queen's South Africa Medal
The Queen's South Africa Medal was awarded to military personnel who served in the Boer War in South Africa between 11 October 1899 and 31 May 1902. Units from the British Army, Royal Navy, colonial forces who took part , civilians employed in official capacity and war correspondents...
with three clasps, and the King's medal
King's South Africa Medal
The King's South Africa Medal was awarded to all troops who served in the Boer War in South Africa on or after 1 January 1902, and completed 18 months service before 1 June 1902. The medal was not issued alone but always with the Queen's South Africa Medal or QSA.The KSA was awarded only to those...
with two.
First World War
After the Boer War, McCracken received a full promotion to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1903, then a brevet promotion to Colonel in 1905. He commanded a battalion of his regiment until 1907, when he was placed on half-pay. He held staff postings in India until 1911, when he was made a brigadier-general on the staff at Irish Command. In 1912 he was given command of 7th Infantry Brigade, with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General, a position he was holding on the outbreak of the First World War.He commanded the 7th Brigade when it was sent to France in 1914 as part of 3rd Division. At the Battle of Le Cateau
Battle of Le Cateau
The Battle of Le Cateau was fought on 26 August 1914, after the British, French and Belgians retreated from the Battle of Mons and had set up defensive positions in a fighting withdrawal against the German advance at Le Cateau-Cambrésis....
in August, McCracken was briefly disabled by an artillery shell on the 26th and was relieved by Colonel W. D. Bird, one of his battalion commanders. The 7th Brigade covered the retreat of II Corps, and after a personal recommendation to the corps commander by Edmund Allenby, who was commanding the Cavalry Division, McCracken was promoted to Major-General in October, and appointed Inspector of Infantry.
In 1915 he took command of 15th (Scottish) Division, a New Army
Kitchener's Army
The New Army, often referred to as Kitchener's Army or, disparagingly, Kitchener's Mob, was an all-volunteer army formed in the United Kingdom following the outbreak of hostilities in the First World War...
division, and led it through the Battle of Loos
Battle of Loos
The Battle of Loos was one of the major British offensives mounted on the Western Front in 1915 during World War I. It marked the first time the British used poison gas during the war, and is also famous for the fact that it witnessed the first large-scale use of 'new' or Kitchener's Army...
, the Battle of the Somme, and the Battle of Arras
Battle of Arras (1917)
The Battle of Arras was a British offensive during the First World War. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British, Canadian, New Zealand, Newfoundland, and Australian troops attacked German trenches near the French city of Arras on the Western Front....
. Whilst he had been praised for his resilience in command of 7th Brigade, reports on his command of 15th Division were less favourable, with one observer describing him as "weak and lazy". These failings did not stop him being promoted to command XIII Corps
XIII Corps (United Kingdom)
XIII Corps was a British infantry corps during World War I and World War II.-World War I:XIII Corps was formed in France on 15 November 1915 under Lieutenant-General Walter Congreve to be part of Fourth Army. It was first seriously engaged during the Battle of the Somme in 1916. On the First day on...
in June 1917. He remained with the corps until March 1918, when he was sacked and sent home to take over Scottish Command
Scottish Command
-History:The Command was established in 1905 at Edinburgh Castle but moved to Craigiehall in the early 1950s.Since 1936 the General Officer Commanding Scottish Command has also always been appointed Governor of Edinburgh Castle....
.
During the war, he was mentioned in despatches a further seven times, and made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He retired from the Army in 1922, and died in 1949, a few days before his ninetieth birthday.