General Sir Eric de Burgh, KCB, DSO, OBE (English: /d ˈbɜːr/; d’-BER; 10 May 1881 – 6 February 1973) was a British Indian Army officer who served as Chief of the General Staff in India from 1939 to 1941.
General Sir Eric de Burgh | |
|---|---|
| Born | 10 May 1881[1] Naas, County Kildare, Ireland |
| Died | 6 February 1973 (aged 91)[2] Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland |
| Buried | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army British Indian Army |
| Years of service | 1901–1941 |
| Rank | General |
| Service number | 3737 |
| Commands | Chief of the General Staff in India 1st Indian Division Rawalpindi District Lahore District 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade |
| Battles / wars | Second Boer War First World War Third Anglo-Afghan War Second World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire |
| Spouse(s) |
Mary Fanshawe
(m. 1923; died 1934) |
Military career
editEducated at Marlborough College and the Colonial College, Hollesley Bay, De Burgh was commissioned into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, as a second lieutenant in October 1901. In February 1902 he was seconded for service with mounted infantry during the Second Boer War,[3][4] with the local rank of lieutenant whilst serving in South Africa.[5] After the end of the war in South Africa, he was in January 1903 transferred to the regular army, where he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Manchester Regiment.[6] He was seconded to the Indian Army later the same year, and served in the 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). He attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1913 to 1914.[7]
De Burgh served in the First World War and saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the month he was made a brigade major,[8] the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 and the Battle of Loos in September 1915.[4] He later saw action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.[4]
De Burgh also fought in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.[4] He was appointed an instructor at Staff College, Quetta in 1928.[9] He went on to be a Brigadier on the General Staff at Eastern Command in India in 1930, commanding officer of the 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade in 1931 and District Officer Commanding Lahore District in 1934.[9] After that he attended the Imperial Defence College.[7] He then became Deputy Chief General Staff at Army Headquarters India in 1935, District Officer Commanding Rawalpindi District in 1936 and General Officer Commanding 1st Indian Division in 1937.[9] His last appointment was as Chief of the General Staff in India in 1939 at the start of the Second World War before retiring in 1941.[9]
In retirement, De Burgh lived at Ard Cairn outside Naas and, in 1960, he acquired Bargy Castle in County Wexford.[10]
Family
editIn 1923, De Burgh married Mary Fanshawe, daughter of General Sir Edward Fanshawe; they had two daughters.[10] He was the maternal grandfather of singer Chris de Burgh.[10]
References
edit- ^ UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962
- ^ England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995
- ^ "No. 27417". The London Gazette. 18 March 1902. p. 1887.
- ^ a b c d Private Papers of General Sir Eric de Burgh, Imperial War Museum, London, UK.
- ^ "No. 27425". The London Gazette. 15 April 1902. p. 2507.
- ^ "No. 27519". The London Gazette. 27 January 1903. p. 533.
- ^ a b Smart 2005, p. 79.
- ^ "No. 29113". The London Gazette. 28 March 1915. p. 2984.
- ^ a b c d de Burgh, Sir Eric, General (1881–1973) (Indian Army), Generals.dk.
- ^ a b c General Sir Eric de Burgh — Old Friend, Turtle Bunbury.
Bibliography
edit- Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.