John Ponsonby (British Army officer)

Major-General Sir John Ponsonby, KCB, CMG, DSO (25 March 1866 – 26 March 1952) was a British Army officer who commanded 5th Division during World War I.

Sir John Ponsonby
Born	(1866-03-25)25 March 1866
Died	26 March 1952(1952-03-26) (aged 86)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1888–1928
Rank	Major-General
Commands held	2nd Guards Brigade 40th Division 5th Infantry Division Madras District
Battles/wars	Second Boer War World War I
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order

Military career

Born the son of Sir Henry Ponsonby and educated at Eton College, Ponsonby was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1888.[1] He served in Uganda from 1898 and was seconded for service in the Second Boer War in South Africa in March 1900, and attached to the Rhodesian Field Force.[2] He was again sent to South Africa in February 1902.[3][1] He fought in World War I as Commander of the 2nd Guards Brigade from 1915 and then as General Officer Commanding 40th Division from 1917, leading his Division at the Battle of Cambrai.[4] In July 1918 he went on to become General Officer Commanding 5th Division remaining in that role until the end of the War.[4] After the War he became General Officer Commanding the Madras District of India.[4] He retired in 1926.[5]

He lived at Haile Hall near Beckermet in Cumbria.[4]

Family

In 1935 he married Mary (Mollie) Robley; they had no children.[4]

References

1. Armorial families: a directory of gentlemen of coat-armour (Volume 2) by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies, p. 132.
2. "The War - The Rhodesian Field Force". The Times (36091). London. 16 March 1900. p. 6.
3. "No. 27413". The London Gazette. 4 March 1902. p. 1538.
4. Earl of Bessborough family update The Times, 20 May 2004.
5. "Army Commands" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 20 December 2019.

Military offices
Preceded by Reginald Stephens	General Officer Commanding the 5th Division 1918–1919	Succeeded by Hugh Jeudwine
Preceded by Sir Thomas Morland	Colonel of the Suffolk Regiment 1925 – 1939	Succeeded by Sir Walter Norris Nicholson