Eric de Burgh

General Sir Eric de Burgh, KCB DSO OBE (10 May 1881 – 6 February 1973) was a British Army officer who became Chief of the General Staff in India.

Sir Eric de Burgh
Born	10 May 1881[1] Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
Died	6 February 1973(1973-02-06) (aged 91)[2] Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1901–1941
Rank	General
Commands held	1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade Lahore District Rawalpindi District 1st Indian Division
Battles/wars	Second Boer War World War I Third Anglo-Afghan War World War II
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order Officer of the Order of the British Empire

Military career

Educated 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 in the Army whilst serving in South Africa.[5] He later joined the Indian Army, and served in the 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). He served in World War I and saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, 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]

He also fought in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.[4] He was appointed an Instructor at Staff College, Quetta in 1928.[6] 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.[6] After that he 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.[6] His last appointment was as Chief of the General Staff in India in 1939 at the start of World War II before retiring in 1941.[6]

In retirement he lived at Ard Cairn outside Naas and in 1960 acquired Bargy Castle in County Wexford.[7]

Family

In 1923, he married Mary Fanshawe, daughter of General Sir Edward Fanshawe; they had two daughters.[7] He is maternal grandfather of singer Chris de Burgh.[7]

References

1. UK, British Army Lists, 1882–1962
2. England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858–1995
3. "No. 27417". The London Gazette. 18 March 1902. p. 1887.
4. Private Papers of General Sir Eric de Burgh, Imperial War Museum, London, UK.
5. "No. 27425". The London Gazette. 15 April 1902. p. 2507.
6. Burgh, Sir Eric, General (1881–1973) (Indian Army), Generals.dk.
7. General Sir Eric de Burgh — Old Friend, Turtle Bunbury.

External links

• Eric de Burgh at Find a Grave

Military offices
Preceded by Sir Ivo Vesey	Chief of the General Staff (India) 1939–1941	Succeeded by Sir Thomas Hutton