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
Born10 May 1881[1]
Naas, County Kildare, Ireland
Died6 February 1973(1973-02-06) (aged 91)[2]
Wexford, County Wexford, Ireland
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1901–1941
RankGeneral
Commands held1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade
Lahore District
Rawalpindi District
1st Indian Division
Battles/warsSecond Boer War
World War I
Third Anglo-Afghan War
World War II
AwardsKnight 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]

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