Charles Corkran
British Army general (1872–1939)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Major-General Sir Charles Edward Corkran, KCVO, CB, CMG (20 August 1872 – 9 January 1939) was a senior British Army officer who served as Major-General commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding London District from 1928 to 1932.
Sir Charles Corkran | |
|---|---|
| Born | 20 August 1872 |
| Died | 9 January 1939 (aged 66) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Branch | British Army |
Service years | 1893–1932 |
Rank | Major-General |
| Unit | Grenadier Guards |
| Commands | London District Royal Military College Sandhurst 3rd Guards Brigade Grenadier Guards |
Conflicts | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Early life
Corkran was born on 20 August 1872. He was the son of Colonel Charles Seymour Corkran.[1] and educated at Eton College,[2] Among his siblings were Sir Victor Corkran and Violet Maud Corkran (wife of Sir Walter Farquhar, 5th Baronet).[3]
Military career
Upon graduating from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Corkran was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in March 1893.[4][5] He was promoted to lieutenant on 12 May 1897,[6] and served on the Nile Expedition in 1898, including at the Battle of Omdurman. He was appointed adjutant of the 2nd Battalion of his regiment on 22 October 1899,[7] was promoted to captain on 30 November 1899,[8] and left with his regiment for South Africa to serve in the Second Boer War in March 1900.[4] Serving there throughout the war, he was wounded in the action at Biddulphsberg (May 1900), and was mentioned in despatches. For his service in the war, he received a brevet promotion as major in the South African Honours list published on 26 June 1902.[9]
Following the end of hostilities in May 1902, Corkran resigned as adjutant of the 2nd Battalion on 16 September 1902,[10][11] but stayed in South Africa as he was the following day appointed aide-de-camp to Sir Neville Lyttelton, commander-in-chief (C-in-C) of South Africa.[12][13][14]
Corkran, promoted on 22 December 1906 from supernumerary captain to captain,[15] and on 14 September 1907 to major,[16] also served in the First World War and, as commanding officer (CO) of a battalion of the Grenadier Guards, took his men to France in 1914.[2] He was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in February 1915.[17] In July 1915 he was promoted to temporary brigadier general and took command of the 2nd Division's 5th Infantry Brigade.[18] In January 1916 he was promoted to brevet colonel.[19]
After the war he became CO of the Grenadier Guards Regiment and then went on to be commandant of the Senior Officers' School.[4] He was appointed commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, taking over from Major General Herbert Shoubridge, in October 1923[20] He was placed on half-pay 1 September 1927[21] and then became Major-General commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding London District in 1928.[4] He retired from the army on 1 February 1932.[4][22]
In retirement Corkran became Serjeant at Arms of the British House of Lords.[2]
Personal life
In 1904 Corkran married Winifred Maud Ricardo, daughter of Colonel Horace Ricardo, another commanding officer of the Grenadier Guards. They had one daughter and two sons.[1]
Corkran died in a shooting accident on 9 January 1939.[2]