Frederick Forestier-Walker
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General Sir Frederick William Edward Forestier-Walker, GCMG, KCB, KStJ (17 April 1844 – 30 August 1910) was a British senior military officer and Governor of Gibraltar.
Sir Frederick Forestier-Walker | |
|---|---|
Forestier-Walker in 1898 | |
| Governor of Gibraltar | |
| In office 1905–1910 | |
| Preceded by | Sir George White |
| Succeeded by | Sir Archibald Hunter |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 14 April 1844 Bushey, Hertfordshire |
| Died | 30 August 1910 (aged 66) Tenby, Pembrokeshire |
| Spouse |
Mabel Louisa Ross
(after 1887) |
| Relations | Francis Ogilvy-Grant, 6th Earl of Seafield (grandfather) |
| Children | 1 |
| Parent(s) | Sir Edward Forestier-Walker Lady Jane Ogilvy-Grant |
| Alma mater | Royal Military College, Sandhurst |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch/service | British Army |
Years of service | 1862–1910 |
| Rank | General |
| Commands | Cape Colony Western District British Troops in Egypt |
| Battles/wars | Cape Frontier Wars Anglo-Zulu War Second Boer War |
| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches |
Early life
Forestier-Walker was born on 17 April 1844 in Bushey, Hertfordshire. He was the eldest son of General Sir Edward Forestier-Walker (previously Walker), by his first wife, Lady Jane Ogilvy-Grant, daughter of the 6th Earl of Seafield. He was educated at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.[1]
Career
Forestier-Walker was commissioned into the Scots Guards as ensign and lieutenant, by purchase, on 5 September 1862,[2][1] and was appointed a lieutenant and captain, by purchase, on 11 July 1865.[3]
In 1873 he was appointed Military Secretary to the General Officer Commanding Cape Colony and 15 October 1878 was promoted colonel.[4] Forestier-Walker saw action in the Cape Frontier Wars, for which he was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in November 1878,[5] and in the Anglo-Zulu War.[1] He was promoted to captain and lieutenant colonel of the Scots Guards 20 March 1880.[6] In 1882 he was appointed Assistant Adjutant and Quartermaster-General[7] for the Home District but shortly after returned to South Africa.[1] From 1884 he served in Bechuanaland, and in January 1886, for services in that protectorate, he was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George.[8]
He was appointed a brigadier at Aldershot in 1889 and Commander of British Troops in Egypt in 1890, during which he was knighted and promoted to a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath.[9] Upon returning from Egypt in 1895, he was appointed General Officer Commanding Western District, serving until 1890.[1]
In 1899, he again returned to Africa, becoming GOC Cape Colony and acting as lieutenant general in command of Lines of Communication, South Africa Field Force, 1899–1901.[10] He was thus responsible for disembarkation of troops and military stores and sending them to the front. In a despatch dated 31 March 1900, the Commander-in-Chief in South Africa, Lord Roberts, wrote how Forestier-Walker carried out his duties "with credit to himself and with advantage to the public service".[11] He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in November 1900 for his services in South Africa,[12] and was a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John from 1901.[13] Following the end of the war, Forestier-Walker was promoted to the rank of general on 6 July 1902.[14]
Later life
He was Governor of Gibraltar from 1905 until shortly before his death in 1910, and also acted as General Officer Commanding Mediterranean in 1909.[15]
In retirement, he became a Director of the Cold Storage Company.[16]