british_army officer general sir april british_army officer late nineteenth early twentieth centuries commanded division world war retirement served governor bermuda youngest son family rural gentry norfolk joined requested colonial service spent years africa involved creation west african frontier force served number campaigns northern nigeria shortly outbreak world war appointed deputy commissioner mounted series campaigns state requested transfer western commanded infantry battalion brigade promoted command 38th welsh division early led division armistice marked success following war held series peacetime commands germany egypt england governor bermuda held position retired family background born great april thomas son major wife daughter captain royal_navy family resided hall estate near major came family rural gentry attended rugby jesus college cambridge entering british_army ensign saw service indian mutiny returning england act adjutant volunteer battalions retired army later served justice peace chair local district council eldest brother attended oxford entering civil service later serve private secretary conservative politicians secretary state war secretary state war middle brother studied cambridge appear active public career sister helen married german economist early career attended brother julian attend university studied commissioned service india course requested transfer colonial posting sent west_africa appointed commander artillery formation alongside promotion captain whilst nigeria closely involved formation west african frontier force saw active duty number expeditions including staff officer colonel january expedition defeat culminating command battalion mounted infantry campaign service africa mentioned despatches times including august promoted rank awarded returned regimental duties united_kingdom served ireland world war july appointed deputy commissioner officer commanding disastrous battle colonial administration seeking restore british control inland areas planned commanded series operations winter destroying forts shortly arrived world war broken winter campaign requested transferred europe request granted took early replaced way home services africa appointed companion order michael companion bath promoted colonel turned opportunity staff posting western request line command briefly commanded 8th service battalion early assuming command 57th brigade april brigade saw service spring offensive early appointed command 38th welsh division late early june previous commander fallen ill officer 38th infantry battalions met early june shortly took command described large fierce looking major general rows eye proceeded exact type position unit trench apparently pet topic fire flow language manner speech impact contemporaries line officer described watching october offensive clearing traffic jam merely magnificent language colleague early days artillery described perpetual joy soldier world picturesque language gave offence absolutely natural fitted occasion circumstances proved suitable following failed raid visited battalion officers collectively time demanding damn raid damn proper job god damn raiding damn officers receiving end tired dissatisfied seen exhibition senior officer regardless personal style credited achieving desired results mounted successful costly attack april command mounted major operations battle albert august october successful division demonstrating flexibility improvisation highly effective tactical doctrine division performance sufficiently good rank effective british divisions days offensive postwar career remained 38th division end war march transferred command british_army rhine shortly august posted 54th east division egypt remaining october final units sailed england appointed command presidency eastern india year married née wood widow officer returned england remaining half pay took command 53rd welsh division formation transferred command 2nd division regular formation promoted lieutenant general appointed governor bermuda holding post years retiring promoted general death held ceremonial position colonel commandant died leaving estate
Thomas Cubitt (British Army officer)