George Vivian, 4th Baron Vivian
Encyclopedia
George Crespigny Brabazon Vivian, 4th Lord Vivian, DSO
TD
(21 January 1878 — 28 December 1940) was a British soldier who served with distinction in both the Second Anglo-Boer War and World War I
.
, on 21 January 1878 to Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian
and Louisa Duff.
He was educated at Eton College
where he rowed in the VIII and was elected into Pop. He subsequently joined the British Army
serving as a cavalry
officer with considerable distinction in both the Second Anglo-Boer War and World War I
.
in the vicinity of Tarkastad. Smuts realised that the Lancers' camp was their one opportunity to re-equip themselves with horses, food and clothing. A fierce fight, subsequently to be known as the Battle of Elands River
took place with the Lancers being caught in a cross-fire and suffering heavy casualties. Stunned by the onslaught, the remaining Lancers put up a white flag. Deneys Reitz
, a younger commando member, encountered Captain Victor Sandeman, the Lancers' commander, and Vivian, who was his lieutenant
, among the wounded.
In his book Commando, Reitz recounts how Vivian pointed out his bivouac tent and told him it would be worth his while to take a look at it. Reitz, who had been wearing a grain-bag and using an old Mauser
rifle with only two rounds of ammunition left, emerged dressed in a cavalry
tunic and riding breeches
and armed with a Lee-Metford
sporting rifle. Reitz thanked Vivian and indicated that he did not feel justified in taking them. Reitz recorded Vivian's reply:
This story has a sequel. In his introduction to the 1983 Jonathan Ball edition of Commando, Thomas Pakenham recounted the following story:
Forty years after the Battle of Elands River
, in 1943, when Reitz was South African High Commissioner
in London
, he met Vivian again. Vivian appeared at South Africa House
in London
, carrying a brown paper parcel, and was taken to Reitz's office. He told him that they had met before in less auspicious circumstances, and perhaps he would recognise what was in the parcel. He then placed on the desk Reitz's old Boer War Mauser
rifle - with his name carved on the butt, and with all the scratches and cuts made by his knife when he had cut his biltong
, still visible. Reitz was absolutely speechless.
That the Mauser rifle Reitz had discarded during the battle was returned to him in England is not disputed. However, it could not have been returned to him by Lord Vivian in 1943 as claimed because Vivian died in 1940!
, born on 4 March 1906. They divorced in 1907. The co-respondent was Alfred Curphey. He then married Nancy Lycett Green (died 6 May 1970) on 5 January 1911. A daughter, Ursula Vanda Maud, was born on 16 June 1912 and a son, Douglas David Edward, on 16 January 1915.
Among his medals were the DSO
, the Legion of Honour, and the Croix de Guerre
. He was appointed aide-de-camp
to King Albert I of Belgium
. He was also awarded the Ordre de Leopold avec Palme, Officier.
He died on 28 December 1940, aged 62.
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...
TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(21 January 1878 — 28 December 1940) was a British soldier who served with distinction in both the Second Anglo-Boer War and 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
He was born at Connaught Place, LondonConnaught Place, London
Connaught Place is an area in the Bayswater area of the City of Westminster . The nearest underground station to Connaught Place is Marble Arch tube station which is a few minutes to the East near Marble Arch walking past the site of the Tyburn Tree.Located at the edge of Hyde Park, Connaught...
, on 21 January 1878 to Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian
Hussey Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian
Hussey Crespigny Vivian, 3rd Baron Vivian, GCMG, CB, DL, FRGS was a British diplomat.Born at Connaught Place, London, Vivian was the eldest son of Charles Vivian, 2nd Baron Vivian and was educated at Eton College...
and Louisa Duff.
He was educated at Eton College
Eton College
Eton College, often referred to simply as Eton, is a British independent school for boys aged 13 to 18. It was founded in 1440 by King Henry VI as "The King's College of Our Lady of Eton besides Wyndsor"....
where he rowed in the VIII and was elected into Pop. He subsequently joined the 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...
serving as a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
officer with considerable distinction in both the Second Anglo-Boer War and 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...
.
Battle of Elands River
On 17 September 1901, Smuts' commando encountered the 17th Lancers17th Lancers
The 17th Lancers was a cavalry regiment of the British Army, notable for its participation in the Charge of the Light Brigade in the Crimean War...
in the vicinity of Tarkastad. Smuts realised that the Lancers' camp was their one opportunity to re-equip themselves with horses, food and clothing. A fierce fight, subsequently to be known as the Battle of Elands River
Battle of Elands River
In the Battle of Elands River or Modderfontein on 17 September 1901 during the Second Boer War, a Boer raiding force under Jan Smuts destroyed a British cavalry company led by Captain Sandeman, a cousin of Winston Churchill, on the farm Modderfontein.-Background:After a year of guerilla war, the...
took place with the Lancers being caught in a cross-fire and suffering heavy casualties. Stunned by the onslaught, the remaining Lancers put up a white flag. Deneys Reitz
Deneys Reitz
Deneys Reitz , son of Francis William Reitz, was a Boer soldier, later a South African soldier in the First World War, and a politician....
, a younger commando member, encountered Captain Victor Sandeman, the Lancers' commander, and Vivian, who was his lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
, among the wounded.
In his book Commando, Reitz recounts how Vivian pointed out his bivouac tent and told him it would be worth his while to take a look at it. Reitz, who had been wearing a grain-bag and using an old Mauser
Mauser
Mauser was a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to 1995. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces...
rifle with only two rounds of ammunition left, emerged dressed in a cavalry
Cavalry
Cavalry or horsemen were soldiers or warriors who fought mounted on horseback. Cavalry were historically the third oldest and the most mobile of the combat arms...
tunic and riding breeches
Breeches
Breeches are an item of clothing covering the body from the waist down, with separate coverings for each leg, usually stopping just below the knee, though in some cases reaching to the ankles...
and armed with a Lee-Metford
Lee-Metford
The Lee-Metford rifle was a bolt action British army service rifle, combining James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system and ten-round magazine with a seven groove rifled barrel designed by William Ellis Metford...
sporting rifle. Reitz thanked Vivian and indicated that he did not feel justified in taking them. Reitz recorded Vivian's reply:
This story has a sequel. In his introduction to the 1983 Jonathan Ball edition of Commando, Thomas Pakenham recounted the following story:
Forty years after the Battle of Elands River
Battle of Elands River
In the Battle of Elands River or Modderfontein on 17 September 1901 during the Second Boer War, a Boer raiding force under Jan Smuts destroyed a British cavalry company led by Captain Sandeman, a cousin of Winston Churchill, on the farm Modderfontein.-Background:After a year of guerilla war, the...
, in 1943, when Reitz was South African High Commissioner
High Commissioner
High Commissioner is the title of various high-ranking, special executive positions held by a commission of appointment.The English term is also used to render various equivalent titles in other languages.-Bilateral diplomacy:...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, he met Vivian again. Vivian appeared at South Africa House
South Africa House
The High Commission of South Africa in London is the diplomatic mission from South Africa to the United Kingdom. It is located at South Africa House, a building on Trafalgar Square, London...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, carrying a brown paper parcel, and was taken to Reitz's office. He told him that they had met before in less auspicious circumstances, and perhaps he would recognise what was in the parcel. He then placed on the desk Reitz's old Boer War Mauser
Mauser
Mauser was a German arms manufacturer of a line of bolt-action rifles and pistols from the 1870s to 1995. Mauser designs were built for the German armed forces...
rifle - with his name carved on the butt, and with all the scratches and cuts made by his knife when he had cut his biltong
Biltong
Biltong is a kind of cured meat that originated in South Africa. Many different types of meat are used to produce it, ranging from beef through game meats to fillets of ostrich from commercial farms. It is typically made from raw fillets of meat cut into strips following the grain of the muscle, or...
, still visible. Reitz was absolutely speechless.
That the Mauser rifle Reitz had discarded during the battle was returned to him in England is not disputed. However, it could not have been returned to him by Lord Vivian in 1943 as claimed because Vivian died in 1940!
Family life
On 1 August 1903 Vivian married Barbara Cicely Fanning. They had a daughter, Daphne Winifred Louise who was born on 11 Jul 1904 and a son, Anthony Crespigny Claude Vivian, 5th Baron VivianAnthony Vivian, 5th Baron Vivian
Anthony Crespigny Claude Vivian, 5th Baron Vivian was a British impresario-restaurateur who became a celebrity in 1954 when he was shot in the abdomen by Mavis Wheeler, the former wife of Sir Mortimer Wheeler, and a former mistress of Augustus John.-Birth:Anthony Crespigny Claude Vivian, 5th Baron...
, born on 4 March 1906. They divorced in 1907. The co-respondent was Alfred Curphey. He then married Nancy Lycett Green (died 6 May 1970) on 5 January 1911. A daughter, Ursula Vanda Maud, was born on 16 June 1912 and a son, Douglas David Edward, on 16 January 1915.
Among his medals were the 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...
, the Legion of Honour, and the 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 appointed 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 King Albert I of Belgium
Albert I of Belgium
Albert I reigned as King of the Belgians from 1909 until 1934.-Early life:Born Albert Léopold Clément Marie Meinrad in Brussels, he was the fifth child and second son of Prince Philippe, Count of Flanders, and his wife, Princess Marie of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen...
. He was also awarded the Ordre de Leopold avec Palme, Officier.
He died on 28 December 1940, aged 62.