Walter Delamain
British Indian Army general (1862–1932)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Sinclair Delamain KCB KCMG DSO (18 February 1862 – 6 March 1932) was an officer of the British Indian Army.[1]
United KingdomSir Walter Delamain | |
|---|---|
| |
| Born | Walter Sinclair Delamain 18 February 1862[1][2] |
| Died | 6 March 1932 (aged 70) |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Branch | Indian Army |
| Service years | 1881–1923 |
| Rank | Lieutenant-General |
| Conflicts | Boxer Rebellion World War I |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order |
Early service
Delamain was born in Saint Helier, the son of Charles Henry Delamain and Susan Sarah Christina Gun. He attended the Royal Military College and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment) on 22 October 1881.[4] On 13 January 1885 he was seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps,[5] and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Bombay Staff Corps on 1 February 1885, with seniority of 22 October 1881.[6]
He was promoted to captain, 22 October 1892,[7] and given the temporary rank of Major, 4 November 1898.[8]
As Commandant of the Native Military Base Depot during the Boxer Rebellion he was mentioned in despatches.[9] On 26 May 1901 he was appointed a Special Service Officer on the staff of the China Field Force,[10] and his rank of major was made substantive on 10 July 1901.[11] In October 1902 he was in command of a detachment from the 23rd Bombay Rifles (renamed as the 123rd Outram's Rifles the following year) sent via Aden to British Somaliland as reinforcement during the Somaliland campaign.[12] In 1905 he was again mentioned in despatches for his service with the Outram's Rifles, commanding the escort to the Aden Boundary Commission for eight months,[13] was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 14 April,[14] and promoted to lieutenant-colonel, with seniority of 12 January 1905.[15] On 12 January 1908 he was made brevet colonel,[16] and substantive colonel on 1 January 1911.[17]
He was appointed assistant adjutant-general on 17 November 1912[18] and made a CB in January 1914.[19]
First World War
Delamain was appointed temporary brigadier-general, 27 September 1914.[20] He commanded the 16th (Poona) and 17th (Ahmednagar) Brigades at the Battle of Es Sinn.[21] His conduct was described as "admirable" in General Nixon's despatch,[22] and Delamain was promoted to major-general, 29 October 1915, for distinguished service in the field.[23] He became a prisoner of war on 29 April 1916.[24]
Post-war
On 14 November 1919 Delamain was given command of a division,[25] and he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 1 April 1920,[26] with seniority later backdated to 21 December 1919.[27] He served as Adjutant-General, India from 10 November 1920[28] to 28 March 1923,[29] when he retired from the Indian Army.[30]
Delamain was also colonel of the 117th Mahrattas from 28 October 1921[31] until he reached the age limit, being replaced by Major-General R.C. Wilson on 18 February 1932.[32]
Bibliography
- Davies, Frank; Maddocks, Graham (2014) [1995]. Bloody Red Tabs: General Officer Casualties of the Great War 1914–1918. Pen and Sword Books. ISBN 978-1-78346-237-7.