Thomas Marden
Encyclopedia
Major General
Sir Thomas Owen Marden KBE, CB, CMG (15 September 1866 – 11 September 1951) was a British Army
officer, active during the Boer War
and the First World War, where he commanded a battalion of the Welch Regiment
, a brigade, and finally 6th Division. Following the war, he commanded a British occupying force in Turkey during the Chanak Crisis
in the early 1920s.
in 1886. He saw service with his regiment in Burma in 1887 to 1889, during the colonial campaigns following the Third Anglo-Burmese War
, and on special service during 1900 in the Boer War
, where he was mentioned in despatches. He returned to England to attend the Staff College, Camberley
, graduating in 1902 and posted to staff duties in India as a deputy assistant adjutant-general. In 1904 he was posted to the Directorate of Training at the War Office
, moving to a staff posting in South Africa in 1910.
Whilst on staff duties, in 1905, he had been promoted to a majority in the Northumberland Fusiliers, and in 1908 transferred into the Welch Regiment
. In 1912 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and left South Africa in order to take up command of the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment.
, which was to be sent to the Mediterranean. Whilst passing through France, units of the division were used to support operations on the Western Front, and Marden was wounded by shrapnel whilst commanding his battalion at the Second Battle of Ypres
.
Later in 1915, he was promoted to command 114th Infantry Brigade in 38th (Welsh) Division. He commanded the brigade until mid-1917, during which time it fought at the Battle of the Somme, where it took heavy losses, and on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres. In August 1917 he was again promoted to command 6th Division, which he commanded at the Battle of Cambrai and in the Hundred Days Offensive
. Following the Armistice, he commanded a brigade in the occupying British Army of the Rhine
.
For his services during the War, he was mentioned in despatches eight times, and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, as well as being made an officer of the French Légion d'Honneur
and the Russian Order of St. Vladimir
(fourth class, swords), and awarded the Croix de Guerre
with palm.
of 1922 he played a key role in negotiating a peaceful settlement between British and Turkish forces, for which he later received a knighthood. He returned home in 1923 to take command of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Territorial Army before retiring in June 1927. He held the ceremonial colonelcy of the Welch Regiment from 1920 to 1941.
In 1920, he wrote a short history of 6th Division from 1914 to 1918, and in 1932 wrote a history of the Welch Regiment during the same period.
Major-General (United Kingdom)
Major general is a senior rank in the British Army. Since 1996 the highest position within the Royal Marines is the Commandant General Royal Marines who holds the rank of major general...
Sir Thomas Owen Marden KBE, CB, CMG (15 September 1866 – 11 September 1951) 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...
officer, active during the Boer 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 ....
and the First World War, where he commanded a battalion of the Welch Regiment
Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
, a brigade, and finally 6th Division. Following the war, he commanded a British occupying force in Turkey during the Chanak Crisis
Chanak Crisis
The Chanak Crisis, also called Chanak Affair in September 1922 was the threatened attack by Turkish troops on British and French troops stationed near Çanakkale to guard the Dardanelles neutral zone. The Turkish troops had recently defeated Greek forces and recaptured İzmir...
in the early 1920s.
Early career
Marden attended Berkhamsted School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, before joining the Cheshire RegimentCheshire Regiment
The Cheshire Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army, part of the Prince of Wales' Division.The regiment was created in 1881 as part of the Childers reforms by the linking of the 22nd Regiment of Foot and the militia and rifle volunteers of Cheshire...
in 1886. He saw service with his regiment in Burma in 1887 to 1889, during the colonial campaigns following the Third Anglo-Burmese War
Third Anglo-Burmese War
The Third Anglo-Burmese War was a conflict that took place during 7–29 November 1885, with sporadic resistance and insurgency continuing into 1887. It was the final of three wars fought in the 19th century between the Burmese and the British...
, and on special service during 1900 in the Boer 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 ....
, where he was mentioned in despatches. He returned to England to attend the Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley
Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army from 1802 to 1997, with periods of closure during major wars. In 1997 it was merged into the new Joint Services Command and Staff College.-Origins:...
, graduating in 1902 and posted to staff duties in India as a deputy assistant adjutant-general. In 1904 he was posted to the Directorate of Training at the War Office
War Office
The War Office was a department of the British Government, responsible for the administration of the British Army between the 17th century and 1964, when its functions were transferred to the Ministry of Defence...
, moving to a staff posting in South Africa in 1910.
Whilst on staff duties, in 1905, he had been promoted to a majority in the Northumberland Fusiliers, and in 1908 transferred into the Welch Regiment
Welch Regiment
The Welch Regiment was an infantry regiment of the British Army from 1881 to 1969.-History:It was formed as the Welsh Regiment during the Childers Reforms of 1881, by the amalgamation of the 41st Regiment of Foot and the 69th Regiment of Foot...
. In 1912 he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel, and left South Africa in order to take up command of the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment.
First World War
At the outbreak of the First World War, Marden's battalion was stationed in India; it was brought back to the United Kingdom and allocated to 28th Division28th Division (United Kingdom)
- History :Formed in England in December 1914 - January 1915 from regular arm battalions returning from India , Singapore and Egypt . In January 1915 the division moved to France and on to the Western Front....
, which was to be sent to the Mediterranean. Whilst passing through France, units of the division were used to support operations on the Western Front, and Marden was wounded by shrapnel whilst commanding his battalion at the Second Battle of Ypres
Second Battle of Ypres
The Second Battle of Ypres was the first time Germany used poison gas on a large scale on the Western Front in the First World War and the first time a former colonial force pushed back a major European power on European soil, which occurred in the battle of St...
.
Later in 1915, he was promoted to command 114th Infantry Brigade in 38th (Welsh) Division. He commanded the brigade until mid-1917, during which time it fought at the Battle of the Somme, where it took heavy losses, and on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres. In August 1917 he was again promoted to command 6th Division, which he commanded at the Battle of Cambrai and in the Hundred Days Offensive
Hundred Days Offensive
The Hundred Days Offensive was the final period of the First World War, during which the Allies launched a series of offensives against the Central Powers on the Western Front from 8 August to 11 November 1918, beginning with the Battle of Amiens. The offensive forced the German armies to retreat...
. Following the Armistice, he commanded a brigade in the occupying British Army of the Rhine
British Army of the Rhine
There have been two formations named British Army of the Rhine . Both were originally occupation forces in Germany, one after the First World War, and the other after the Second World War.-1919–1929:...
.
For his services during the War, he was mentioned in despatches eight times, and made a Companion of the Order of the Bath and a Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George, as well as being made an officer of the French 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 the Russian Order of St. Vladimir
Order of St. Vladimir
The Cross of Saint Vladimir was an Imperial Russian Order established in 1782 by Empress Catherine II in memory of the deeds of Saint Vladimir, the Grand Prince and the Baptizer of the Kievan Rus....
(fourth class, swords), and awarded 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...
with palm.
Later service
In 1920, Marden was given command of the British division occupying Constantinople. During the Chanak CrisisChanak Crisis
The Chanak Crisis, also called Chanak Affair in September 1922 was the threatened attack by Turkish troops on British and French troops stationed near Çanakkale to guard the Dardanelles neutral zone. The Turkish troops had recently defeated Greek forces and recaptured İzmir...
of 1922 he played a key role in negotiating a peaceful settlement between British and Turkish forces, for which he later received a knighthood. He returned home in 1923 to take command of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in the Territorial Army before retiring in June 1927. He held the ceremonial colonelcy of the Welch Regiment from 1920 to 1941.
In 1920, he wrote a short history of 6th Division from 1914 to 1918, and in 1932 wrote a history of the Welch Regiment during the same period.