Alexander Rochfort
British Army general
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Major-General Sir Alexander Nelson Rochfort, KCB, CMG (3 June 1850 – 5 December 1916) was a British Army officer who became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.
3 June 1850
United Kingdom
British ArmySir Alexander Rochfort | |
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| Born | Alexander Nelson Rochfort 3 June 1850 Clogrennane, County Carlow, Ireland |
| Died | 5 December 1916 (aged 66)[1] Piccadilly, London |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | British Army |
| Service years | 1871–1916 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Conflicts | Second Boer War World War I |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Early life
Rochfort was born in County Carlow, Ireland, the fifth son of Horace William Noel Rochfort and Hon. Charlotte Hood, daughter of Samuel Hood, 2nd Baron Bridport.[1][2]
Military career
Rochfort was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a lieutenant on 4 January 1871,[3] and promoted to captain on 9 March 1881.[4] He was appointed Aide de camp to the Viceroy of India in 1882 and then Aide de camp to the Chief of Staff of the Expeditionary Force to Suakin in 1885,[3] and subsequently promoted to major on 15 Jun 1885 and lieutenant-colonel on 2 December 1896.[4] Posted to South Africa after the outbreak of the Second Boer War in October 1899,[3] he was present at the Relief of Kimberley and at the Battle of Paardeberg,[5] was mentioned in despatches (31 March 1900[6]) and was severely wounded in his arm.[7][5] During the latter part of the war, he was in command of a column operating in the north-west of Orange River Colony.[8] In despatches dated 23 June 1902, Lord Kitchener, Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, described Rochfort as "fearless of responsibility, never makes difficulties, and has ... all the qualifications for a leader in the field."[9] Following the end of the war with the Peace of Vereeniging on 31 May 1902, he returned home on the SS Saxon which arrived at Southampton in late October 1902.[10] For his service he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).[11]
He was placed on half-pay from his regiment in October 1902,[11] but soon went back to Africa to be a Special Service Officer in the Somaliland campaign, attached to the Abyssinian army which cooperated with the British Field Force.[12] He returned to become Inspector of the Royal Horse Artillery and Royal Field Artillery in 1904.[3]
He was appointed Lieutenant Governor of Jersey in 1910, serving as such until he retired in October 1916.[3] He was found dead at his chambers in Piccadilly in December 1916.[5]