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| {{Short description|British army officer (1872–1956)}}
| | #REDIRECT [[Archibald Eden]] |
| {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
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| {{Infobox military person
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| | name = Archibald James Fergusson Eden
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| | image = AJF Eden, 1915.jpg
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| | caption =
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| | birth_date = {{birth-date|20 January 1872|}}
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| | death_date = {{death date and age|1956|05|08|1872|01|20|df=y}}
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| | birth_place = [[Faizabad]], [[Bengal]], India
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| | death_place = [[Winchester, Hampshire]]
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| | allegiance = United Kingdom
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| | branch = [[British Army]]
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| | serviceyears = 1892−1924
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| | servicenumber =
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| | rank = [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier-General]]
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| | unit = [[Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry]]
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| | battles = {{Tree list}}
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| *[[War of the Golden Stool]]
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| *[[Second Boer War]]
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| *[[First World War]]
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| **[[First Battle of Ypres]]
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| **[[Battle of Loos]]
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| **[[Battle of the Somme]]
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| **[[Third Battle of the Aisne]]
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| **[[Battle of the Sambre (1918)|Battle of the Sambre]]
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| | awards = [[Distinguished Service Order]]<br />
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| [[Order of St Michael and St George]]<br />[[Croix de Guerre]]
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| | spouse = Isabella Ann Weir
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| | children = 2
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| | imagesize =
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| }} | | }} |
| [[Brigadier (United Kingdom)|Brigadier-General]] '''Archibald James Fergusson Eden''' {{post-nominals|CMG|DSO}} (20 January 1872−8 May 1956) was a career officer in the [[British Army]]. He received his commission in 1892 and actively served until 23 March 1924, after which he remained a figure in military circles, organising memorials, overseeing parades and attending military dinners. He was also a direct descendant of [[Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet, of Maryland]].{{sfn|Davies|1997|p=135}}
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| == Early life ==
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| [[File:AJF Eden, 10.jpg|thumb|Archibald at age 10, 1882]]
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| Archibald J.F. Eden was born in Faizabad on 20 January 1872, the son of [[Major (United Kingdom)|Major]] Archibald Duffield Eden<ref>{{Cite web|title=Family Tree - The Cobbold Family History Trust|url=https://family-tree.cobboldfht.com/people/view/3558|access-date=2021-02-11|website=family-tree.cobboldfht.com}}</ref> and his wife Emma Louisa Jarvis, and was the oldest of three brothers, his two younger siblings being Cecil Harold Eden and Lt. Col. (also temp. Brigadier General) [[William Rushbrooke Eden]] CMG DSO.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Family Tree - The Cobbold Family History Trust|url=https://family-tree.cobboldfht.com/people/view/3570|access-date=2021-02-11|website=family-tree.cobboldfht.com|language=en-gb}}</ref> His grandfather was General [[William Hassell Eden]]<ref>{{Cite web|title=William Hassall Eden - National Portrait Gallery|url=https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw245093/William-Hassall-Eden|access-date=2021-02-11|website=www.npg.org.uk|language=en}}</ref> of the [[90th Regiment of Foot (Perthshire Volunteers)|90th Regiment of Foot]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Family Tree - The Cobbold Family History Trust|url=https://family-tree.cobboldfht.com/tree/view/person:3549|access-date=2021-02-11|website=family-tree.cobboldfht.com}}</ref> He was educated at [[Haileybury and Imperial Service College|Haileybury College]] from May 1885 to December 1889.
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| In 1903 he married Isabella Ann Weir,<ref>{{Cite news|date=9 May 1956|title=Brig.-Gen. A. J. F. Eden|work=The Times|issue=53526}}</ref> the daughter of the Rector of [[Tydavnet]] in [[County Antrim]], Ireland, with his brother William serving as his best man. Eden and Isabella went on to have two daughters, Louisa Marjorie on the 12 September 1906 and Dorothy Isabella in 1909. Louisa died on 8 January 1907.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Family Tree - The Cobbold Family History Trust|url=https://family-tree.cobboldfht.com/people/view/3568|access-date=2020-06-24|website=family-tree.cobboldfht.com}}</ref>
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| == Military service ==
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| Eden was commissioned from the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]] on 18 June 1892 to be a [[second lieutenant]] in the [[Oxfordshire Light Infantry]] (the regiment became the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry on 16 October 1908).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26298/page/3517|title=London Gazette June 17, 1892, page 3517|date=June 17, 1892|website=The London Gazette}}</ref>
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| On 1 October 1894 Eden underwent a musketry course at Hythe, with his certificate for passing the course being issued on 21 November 1894.<ref>{{Cite book|title=The 43rd & 52nd Light infantry chronicle, 1894.|url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/hvd.hnzrmw?urlappend=%3Bseq=52|access-date=2021-08-29|website=HathiTrust|hdl = 2027/hvd.hnzrmw?urlappend=%3Bseq=52|language=en}}</ref>
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| Eden was granted the temporary rank of Captain for service in West Africa on the 5 February 1898,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The London Gazette, Publication date:8 February 1898, Issue:26936, Page:769|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26936/page/769|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126130900/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/26936/page/769 |archive-date=2017-01-26 }}</ref> and the 12 February 1898 edition of The Colonies and India newspaper lists Eden as bound from [[Liverpool]] for [[Forçados]], [[Nigeria]] on board the British and African Steam Navigation Company ([[Elder Dempster Lines|Elder Dempster and Company]]) Steamship Batanga,<ref>{{Cite web|title=12 Feb 1898, Page 32 - The Colonies and India at Newspapers.com|url=http://www.newspapers.com/image/?clipping_id=8716407&fcfToken=eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJmcmVlLXZpZXctaWQiOjM1Njk3OTI1LCJpYXQiOjE2MTM0Nzc3NTQsImV4cCI6MTYxMzU2NDE1NH0.W5xdqXiCrOVUSB8GUBk_2rEiDeLm4GhJeS0DMu5eVRU|access-date=2021-02-16|website=Newspapers.com|language=en}}</ref> with the end destination being [[Ibadan]] via [[Lagos]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=5 February 1898|title=Morning Post - Saturday 05 February 1898|work=Morning Post|url-status=live}}</ref> He was then serving in the hinterland of Lagos in Nigeria instructing a new regiment made up of Yoruba locals, entitling him to the [[East and West Africa Medal]] with 1897-1898 clasp.<ref>{{Cite book|last=HMSO|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=0mK-BAAAQBAJ&q=a+j+f+eden+hinterland&pg=PA510|title=Quarterly Army List for the Quarter Ending 31st December, 1919 - Volume 2|date=2012-02-07|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78150-295-2|language=en}}</ref>
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| === War of the Golden Stool ===
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| On the 23 September 1899 Eden is listed as being aboard the British and African Steam Navigation Company Royal Mail ship [https://www.wrecksite.eu/wreck.aspx?84966 SS Bornu], embarking from Liverpool with the destination once again being Forçados. This time he was accompanied by a number of the officers who would go on to take part in the War of the Golden Stool.<ref>{{Cite news|date=25 September 1899|title=The Liverpool Mercury, 25 September 1899|work=The Liverpool Mercury|url-status=live}}</ref> Then-Colonel Sir [[James Willcocks]] himself was among them, and he alludes to the journey in his own writings.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Willcocks|first=James|url=http://archive.org/details/dli.csl.4958|title=Romance of soldiering and sport|date=1925|publisher=Cassell and Company, London}}</ref>
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| During the War of the Golden Stool whilst serving with the 2nd Battalion of the [[Royal West African Frontier Force|West African Frontier Force]] Eden (promoted to full [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|Captain]] on 24 February 1900 after a superior was taken [[prisoner of war]])<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27179/page/2198|title=London Gazette, citation for Eden's promotion to Captain|date=April 3, 1900}}</ref> was mentioned twice in the ''[[The London Gazette|London Gazette]]'' by Willcocks as part of his 14 August 1900 Despatch and his conduct summed up as follows:<blockquote>"''This officer has shown great aptitude for commanding native soldiers; under his able guidance the [[Yoruba people|Yoruba]] has proved himself quite equal to the [[Hausa people|Hausa]]; he led the charge at [[Kumasi]]. I sincerely trust he will be rewarded.''"<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27253/page/8210|title=James Willcocks 14/08/1900 despatch RE Ashanti War}}</ref></blockquote>Sir [[Francis Charles Fuller|Francis Fuller]]‘s book ''A Vanished Dynasty: Ashanti'' references that Eden was left in command of the fort at Kumasi on the 17 July with two officers, a doctor, two British NCO’s and 175 men (Willcocks give an alternate number of 160 men with the five British officers and NCO's).<ref>{{Cite book|last=Fuller|first=Sir Francis Charles Bernard Dudley|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Z50qexNM6DUC&q=captain+eden+ashanti&pg=PA208|title=A Vanished Dynasty: Ashanti|date=1968|publisher=Psychology Press|isbn=978-0-7146-1663-6|language=en}}</ref> This is corroborated by Captain [[Cecil Hamilton Armitage|C. H. Armitage]] DSO and Lieutenant Colonel A. F. Montanaro R.A. in their collaborative work ''The Ashanti Campaign of 1900.''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Sir Cecil Hamilton Armitage|first=Arthur Forbes Montanaro|url=http://archive.org/details/ashanticampaign00montgoog|title=The Ashanti Campaign of 1900|date=1901|publisher=Sands & Co.|others=unknown library|language=en}}</ref> Eden is otherwise mentioned by name multiple times in the work, with one instance being a recollection that Eden and his men successfully took the village of [https://www.google.com/maps/place/Trede,+Ghana/@6.5745532,-1.6815092,15z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0xfdb9000e1ada07d:0x869e0dda02fe3dbf!8m2!3d6.5742269!4d-1.672425 Trede] by means of a bayonet charge. His leading of his men in a flanking charge on a stockade is also mentioned, with various other actions being touched upon. The final mention of Eden in the book covers that it was his responsibility to march with his men to Inkawe, returning "''reporting that there was no foundation for the news respecting the movement of the rebel leaders into the'' south". By this stage Eden has been consistently referred to as local Major, although his official rank remained Captain. In ''The Relief of Kumasi'' by Captain Harold C. J. Biss he mentions of the charge on Kumasi that "''Captain Eden's company had been allotted the privilege of leading, on the ground that he had volunteered to remain in the fort after it had been relieved''.".<ref>{{Cite book|last=Harold C. J. Biss|url=http://archive.org/details/reliefkumasi00bissgoog|title=The Relief of Kumasi|date=1901|publisher=Methuen|others=University of Michigan|language=English}}</ref> Willcocks also corroborates Eden's volunteering to remain at Kumasi in his book ''The Romance of Soldiering and Sport,'' as well as recounting that: ''“About two miles out from Kumassi the sound of guns from the fort could be heard, and we afterwards learnt that Eden had placed the garrison under cover, and thus drawn out the enemy to explore the precincts. When a good number had come out into the open, [[RML 7-pounder Mountain Gun|7-pounders]] and [[Maxim gun|Maxims]] were turned on them with excellent effect.”''<ref>{{Cite book|last=Willcocks|first=James|url=http://hdl.handle.net/2027/mdp.39015074830525|title=The romance of soldiering and sport.|date=1925|publisher=London|hdl=2027/mdp.39015074830525}}</ref> Willcocks later said in ''The Great Drama Of Kumasi'' that: "''In my opinion the garrison left behind at Kumasi was altogether unequal to the task of holding fort, and nothing less than fear of Ashantis to attack could have saved them notwithstanding strong fort"'', implying that if not for Eden's ruse in setting up an ordnance ambush to scare the Ashanti the garrison could have suffered severely.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Montagu|first=Hall Wynyard|url=http://archive.org/details/greatdramaofkuma030748mbp|title=The Great Drama Of Kumasi|date=1939|publisher=Putnam Limited Press|others=Osmania University, Digital Library Of India}}</ref>
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| His involvement in this campaign made him eligible for the [[Ashanti Medal|Ashanti medal]] with Kumassi clasp, and he is mentioned as being one of the officers involved in ''Letters from a Bush Campaign'' by David Martineau Haylings,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Haylings|first=David Martineau|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-Bk1AQAAIAAJ|title=Letters from a bush campaign|date=1902|publisher=S. H. E. Foxwell|language=en}}</ref> the war correspondent for ''[[Black & White (magazine)|Black & White]].''
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| === Second Boer War ===
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| Eden was involved in the [[Second Boer War]], having been sent there to join his regiment following his campaign in Ashanti.{{Citation needed|date=June 2020}}
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| He was promoted to Brevet Major on 15 January 1901,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=The London Gazette|date=January 15, 1901|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27266/page/308/data.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191117215630/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27266/page/308/data.pdf |archive-date=2019-11-17 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> and from December 1901 to May 1902 was taking part in operations in [[Orange River Colony]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anglo Boer War, war services of officers|url=https://www.angloboerwar.com/images/pdf/ArmyList1905-e.pdf|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| In March 1902 The Daily News reports that he was discharged from hospital, indicating that he had either been wounded or fallen sick.<ref>{{Cite news|date=8 March 1902|title=The Daily News, Saturday, March 8, 1902.|work=The Daily News|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| On 13 September 1902 Eden embarked from South Africa for Southampton along with the rest of the 1st Battalion of the Oxfordshire Light Infantry on board the [[SS Winifredian (1899)|''Winifredian'']], due back in Southampton on 5 October.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Anglo Boer War - Shipping records - September 1902|url=https://www.angloboerwar.com/other-information/86-shipping-records/1828-shipping-records-september-1902|website=www.angloboerwar.com|access-date=2020-05-08}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|title=Archive Page Viewer {{!}} September 19, 1902 {{!}} The Times|newspaper=[[The Times]]|url=https://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/archive/frame/article/1902-09-19/6/3.html|access-date=2020-12-24|issn=0140-0460}}</ref>
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| Following the war he was eligible for the [[Queen's South Africa Medal]] with five clasps; [[Cape Colony]], [[Orange Free State]], [[Transvaal (province)|Transvaal]], South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C3763955|title=National Archives Second Boer War medal rolls}}</ref>
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| === Early 1900s ===
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| On the 1 April 1902 Eden's rank of Captain was instituted within his regiment.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The London Gazette, Publication date:2 May 1902, Issue:27430, Page:2936|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27430/page/2936|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214042206/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27430/page/2936 |archive-date=2017-02-14 }}</ref>
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| During the period between the Second Boer War and the [[World War I|First World War]] Eden became the last [[adjutant]] of the 3rd (Militia) Battalion of The Oxfordshire Light Infantry, finishing this service on 31 March 1908.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Royal Bucks Kings Own Militia|url=http://www.lightbobs.com/royal-bucks-kings-own-militia.html|website=Please scroll down for content|language=en|access-date=2020-05-16}}</ref> He was also posted in India for a period of time during this decade, serving as the Station Staff Officer and Assistant Cantonment Magistrate of the garrison at [[Sabathu|Subathu]] from October 1904.<ref>{{Cite news|date=19 October 1904|title=The Oxfordshire Weekly News, Wednesday, October 19, 1904|work=The Oxfordshire Weekly News|url-status=live}}</ref> The [[Soldiers of Oxfordshire Museum]] holds a photograph of him and his company dated December 1906 taken in [[Lucknow]] with Eden named as a Major in this photograph due to his Brevet Major status, but he was fully promoted to Major on 18 September 1911.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The London Gazette, Publication date:3 October 1911, Issue:28538, Page:7197|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28538/page/7197|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210902162826/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28538/page/7197 |archive-date=2021-09-02 }}</ref> In October 1911 following his promotion to full Major he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion in [[Aldershot]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 October 1911|title=The Globe, Saturday, October 14, 1911|work=The Globe|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| In 1909 he was a founding member of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Regimental Association, being named as the Honorary Secretary (pro tem).<ref>{{Cite news|date=13 November 1909|title=The Buckingham Express, Saturday, November 13, 1909|work=The Buckingham Express|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| === First World War ===
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| In 1914 Eden was part of the [[British Expeditionary Force (World War I)|British Expeditionary Force]] along with the 2nd Battalion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry as part of C Company<ref>{{Cite book|last=Westlake|first=Ray|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=D21-AwAAQBAJ&q=AJF+eden&pg=PT318|title=British Battalions in France & Belgium, 1914|date=1997-09-05|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-1274-1|language=en}}</ref> and on 20 October 1914 is listed as the senior officer present, heading up the four companies.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205062220|title=The British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front, 1914–1915|website=Imperial War Museums|language=en|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front, 1914–1915|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205062221|website=Imperial War Museums|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=|first=|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C4554499|title=Catalogue description: 5 Infantry Brigade: 2 Battalion Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry|date=|publisher=|year=|isbn=|location=|pages=}}</ref> The diary for the period covering the First Battle of Ypres records an attack towards [[Poelcappelle]] on the 21 October 1914 as having resulted in Eden being wounded. ''The Story of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry'' by [[Henry Newbolt|Sir Henry Newbolt]] goes into more detail, explaining that the battalion was attempting to storm a gated gap in a hedge covered by machine guns and barbed wire that stood between them and the German defences, with Eden being one of ten officer casualties and circa 200 enlisted men casualties from this action.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Newbolt|first=Henry|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=On7MngEACAAJ&q=The+Story+of+the+Oxfordshire+and+Buckinghamshire+Light+Infantry|title=The Story of the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry|date=1915|publisher=Country life|language=en}}</ref> He was taken away by ambulance, returning on the 5 January 1915. On the 1 April 1915 he is listed as being part of the battalion headquarters and once again the commanding officer and was mentioned by [[John French, 1st Earl of Ypres|Field Marshal French]] in his 31 May 1915 despatch,<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=18 June 1915|title=London Gazette 18 June 1915|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29200/supplement/5998|url-status=live|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=French|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2W-BAAAQBAJ&q=AJF+eden&pg=PA526|title=Complete Despatches of Lord French 1914-1916|date=2012-04-12|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78150-413-0|language=en}}</ref> which was followed by his promotion to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 3 June 1915,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Edinburgh Gazette|date=June 29, 1915|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/Edinburgh/issue/12824/page/930}}</ref> with this being recorded in the battalion diary on the 25 June 1915.
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| [[File:Lieutenant_Colonel_Eden_in_France.jpeg|thumb|right|Eden in France]]
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| In April 1915 the following letter was published in [[Bucks Herald|The Bucks Herald]]:
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| "''To the Editor of The Bucks Herald.''
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| ''Dear Sir, - Since the commencement of the war, now more than eight months ago, through the medium of your columns, very many kind friends have contributed to our "Regimental Comforts Fund." This has been most efficiently administered by Mrs. Davies, wife of our late Commanding Officer (now promoted Brigadier-General to command an Infantry Brigade). Through this fund the men have received innumerable presents of clothing (of all sorts) - sausages, milk, butter, sweets, chocolate, soap, stationary, cigarettes, tobacco, etc. - in fact, everything which could be reasonably purchased to provide the little extras which help so much to make their lot happier and time pass more quickly than it would ordinarily.''
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| ''I cannot say how much all these comforts have been appreciated, or how grateful all ranks are for the kind thoughts which have prompted so many subscriptions. The end of the war cannot yet be foreseen, so I venture, with some diffidence, to ask for a continuance of the very kind support your readers have already given to the Fund.''
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| ''Mrs. Davies has most kindly consented to continue the administration of it, and I feel sure the money will be, therefore, as usefully and economically expended in the future as heretofore.''
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| ''Again assuring you of our very grateful thanks for all your labours for the Regiment in past years,''
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| ''I remain, yours faithfully,''
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| ''A. J. F. Eden, Major''
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| [[File:Lieutenant-Colonel_Eden_with_Captain_Ponsonby.jpeg|thumb|right|Eden with fellow officer Captain Ponsonby, KIA 09/09/1915, shot through the head and died across Eden’s knees]]
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| ''Commanding 52nd Oxford & Bucks L.I.''"<ref>{{Cite news|date=24 April 1915|title=The Bucks Herald, April 24, 1915|work=The Bucks Herald|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| On 4 September 1915 Eden’s personal diary contained the following entry regarding the preparations for the Battle of Loos:<blockquote>“''Very large fatigue parties found by the Regiment to-night - 3 or 4 platoons at a time - in the trenches and at the bomb store. We are going to use gas, though the word must not be breathed. The whole thing is an absolute secret. The cylinders were brought up by rail to within a mile of the village, whence they were transferred in transport wagons to a rendezvous about two miles from the front trenches. Then each cylinder (commonly called a “rat”) was carried on men’s shoulders, with other men in relief; the carrying parties conveying their awkward loads not only noiselessly but with the greatest care''.”<ref>{{Cite book |last=Infantry |first=Oxfordshire And Buckinghamshire Light |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=tqVZYgEACAAJ |title=The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Chronicle, 1915-1916: An Annual Record of the First and Second Battalions, Formerly the 43rd and 52nd Light I. |publisher=Eyre And Spottiswoode. |language=en}}</ref></blockquote>On the 25 October 1915 he was hospitalised once again, returning to command on the 8–10 November 1915. He was mentioned again by Field Marshal French in his 30 November 1915 despatch<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Supplement to the London Gazette|date=1 January 1916|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29422/supplement/46|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200923235106/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29422/supplement/46 |archive-date=2020-09-23 |access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=French|first=John|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R2W-BAAAQBAJ&q=AJF+eden&pg=PA526|title=Complete Despatches of Lord French 1914-1916|date=2012-04-12|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78150-413-0|language=en}}</ref> and as of 15 December 1915 his battalion was part of the [[5th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|5th Infantry Brigade]] with Eden in command of the battalion under Brigadier-General [[Charles Corkran|Corkran]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wyrall|first=Everard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=r2--BAAAQBAJ&q=oxford+and+bucks+regiment+eden&pg=PA246|title=The History of the Second Division 1914-1918 - Volume 1|date=2013-01-02|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78150-627-1|language=en}}</ref> His rank was increased to full Lieutenant-Colonel on 9 February 1916, backdated to the 18 September 1915.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Supplement to the London Gazette|date=9 February 1916|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29468/supplement/1561|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200211122630/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29468/supplement/1561 |archive-date=2020-02-11 |access-date=|website=}}</ref>
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| In early 1916 Eden received a letter from then-[[Henry Horne, 1st Baron Horne|Lieutenant-General Horne]] praising his battalion and regiment. An excerpt published in The Oxford Chronicle read as follows:<blockquote>"''I wish I had the opportunity of seeing you to thank all ranks of the 52nd for all that they have done for me. It has been a great honour to be associated with a battalion with such grand traditions, and I cannot say more than that I am confident that you have all not only maintained, but added, to those traditions. I am very grateful for the good work done, gallant fighting, and loyal support of the 52nd, and I wish you farewell and all good fortune. I hope we may be associated again before long.''"<ref>{{Cite news|date=4 February 1916|title=The Oxford Chronicle, Friday, February 4, 1916|work=The Oxford Chronicle|url-status=live}}</ref></blockquote>He was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] on 3 June 1916<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Gazette Supplement:29608 2 June 1916|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29608/supplement/5567}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The V.C. and D.S.O.: a complete record of all those officers, non-commissioned officers and men of His Majesty's Naval, Military and Air Forces who have been awarded these decorations from the time of their institution, with descriptions of the deeds and services which won the distinctions and with many biographical and other details. Vol. 3. Edited by Sir O'Moore Creagh and E. M. Humphris|url=http://wellcomelibrary.org/item/b18707075|access-date=2020-05-28|website=Wellcome Library|language=en}}</ref> and was mentioned in despatches by [[Douglas Haig, 1st Earl Haig|General Haig]] on 13 June 1916.<ref>{{Cite web|title=London Gazette Supplement:29623 13 June 1916|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29623/supplement/5944}}</ref>
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| On the 23 June 1916 the battalion diary reads "''In compliance with orders received Lt-Col A.J.F. Eden DSO proceeded on special duty to hdqts [[Fourth Army (United Kingdom)|4th Army]]''", the Fourth Army being a field army formed to carry out the [[Battle of the Somme]]. He was wounded again at the Somme in October 1916.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Slough History Online - Homepage|url=http://www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=file&p=slough&f=slough.htm|access-date=2020-07-06|website=www.sloughhistoryonline.org.uk|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer originals microfilmed by The British Library. Microfilms digitised by Slough Libraries, Arts and Information Service.|title=Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer, 18/11/1916, page 5., Slough, Eton & Windsor Observer|url=http://www.sopse.org.uk/ixbin/hixclient.exe?a=query&p=gateway&f=generic_largerimage_postsearch.htm&_IXFIRST_=12517&_IXMAXHITS_=1&m=quick_sform&tc1=i&tc2=e&s=dLAGANbP1hI|access-date=2021-01-18|website=www.sopse.org.uk|language=en-gb}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The Dead Donkeys: The Myth of the 'Château Generals' Part Six – 1918|url=http://thebignote.com/2019/01/22/the-dead-donkeys-the-myth-of-the-chateau-generals-part-six-1918/|last=Magicfingers|date=2019-01-22|website=With the British Army in Flanders & France|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref>
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| On the 11 July 1916 Eden became the [[General officer commanding|General Officer Commanding]] of the [[24th Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|24th Infantry Brigade]],<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=24 Infantry Brigade: Headquarters|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14017273|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210128010303/https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C14017273 |archive-date=2021-01-28 |access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=London Gazette citation 03/08/1916|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29693/supplement/7659/data.pdf}}</ref> but was stripped of his position along with multiple other officers following a full restructuring of command circa late December 1916.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Hughes|first=Mathew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Om9-AwAAQBAJ&q=brigadier+eden&pg=PT95|title=Leadership In Conflict|date=1990-12-31|publisher=Pen and Sword|isbn=978-1-4738-1590-2|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=Senior Army Appointments: 1860-|url=https://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151117033048/http://www.gulabin.com/armynavy/pdf/Army%20Commands%201860-.pdf |archive-date=2015-11-17 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> This does not seem to have stained his record as he is still referenced as being a Brigadier General in the battalion diary of the 2nd Oxford and Bucks dated 18 November 1917, noting a visit he made to his regiment. He appears to have been in command of the [[52nd Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|52nd Brigade]] circa April 1918,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The German Spring Offensive, March-July 1918|url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205246513|website=Imperial War Museums|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> but was wounded and succeeded by Brigadier General [[Walter Allason]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Surnames beginning 'A' - Lions led by donkeys - War Studies|url=https://www.birmingham.ac.uk/research/warstudies/research/projects/lionsdonkeys/a.aspx|access-date=2021-02-16|website=University of Birmingham|language=en-GB}}</ref> On 24 May 1918 Eden was recovered and in command of the [[57th Brigade (United Kingdom)|57th Brigade]].<ref>{{Cite book|last=Wyrall|first=Everard|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=snC-BAAAQBAJ&q=eden&pg=PA191|title=The Nineteenth Division: 1914–1918|date=2012-01-04|publisher=Andrews UK Limited|isbn=978-1-78150-631-8|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=The London Gazette, Publication date:20 August 1918, Supplement:30855, Page:9771|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30855/supplement/9771|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200207183743/https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30855/supplement/9771 |archive-date=2020-02-07 |access-date=|website=}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=|title=British Forces, Battle of the Aisne, 27 May to 6 June 1918|url=http://www.314th.org/Nafziger-Collection-of-Orders-of-Battle/918BEWA.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111150813/http://www.314th.org/Nafziger-Collection-of-Orders-of-Battle/918BEWA.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-11 |access-date=|website=}}</ref> This placed him as part of the [[19th (Western) Division]] under [[George Jeffreys, 1st Baron Jeffreys (British Army officer)|Major General G.D. Jeffreys]] during the Third Battle of the Aisne.<ref>{{Cite web|title=British Forces, Battle of the Aisne, 27 May to 6 June 1918|url=http://www.314th.org/Nafziger-Collection-of-Orders-of-Battle/918BEWA.pdf|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170111150813/http://www.314th.org/Nafziger-Collection-of-Orders-of-Battle/918BEWA.pdf |archive-date=2017-01-11 }}</ref>
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| On 10 August 1918 Eden's HQ was hit by a bomb, wounding him with shell splinters to the head,<ref>{{Cite web|title=The Dead Donkeys: The Myth of the 'Château Generals' Part Six – 1918|url=http://thebignote.com/2019/01/22/the-dead-donkeys-the-myth-of-the-chateau-generals-part-six-1918/|last=Magicfingers|date=2019-01-22|website=With the British Army in Flanders & France|language=en-US|access-date=2020-05-12}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|last=Thompson|first=Bill|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=sKn9CQAAQBAJ&q=brigadier+eden&pg=PA377|title=Morland – Great War Corps Commander: War Diaries & Letters, 1914-1918|date=2015-06-28|publisher=Troubador Publishing Ltd|isbn=978-1-78462-278-7|language=en}}</ref> but he made a swift recovery as shown by his return to the command of 57th Brigade on 30 August 1918, with his brigade in reserve at the [[Battle of the Sambre (1918)|Battle of the Sambre]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/6799/9/Clayton16PhD.pdf|title=Thesis entitled The Battle of the Sambre 4 November 1918|last=Clayton|first=John|date=September 2015}}</ref> The battalion diary of the 2nd Oxford and Bucks dated 14 November 1918, again noting a visit he made to his regiment, references his CMG award.
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| His medal card confirms his eligibility for the [[1914 Star|1914 star with clasp]], as he had been serving within at least artillery range of the German lines.<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6438977|title=Catalogue description Medal card of Eden, A J F Corps: Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry ...|date=1908–1924}}</ref> He was promoted to full colonel on 3 June 1919 and on 18 September 1919 he was put onto the half-pay list.<ref>{{Cite web|title=The London Gazette Publication date:3 October 1919 Supplement:31584 Page:12385|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31584/supplement/12385}}</ref> He was also awarded the Croix de Guerre.<ref>{{Cite web|title=(520) - Army lists > Quarterly Army Lists (First Series) 1879-1922 > 1919 > Fourth quarter > Part 2 - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/87960568|access-date=2020-06-24|website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=The London Gazette Publication date:12 December 1919 Supplement:31688 Page:15579|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31688/supplement/15579}}</ref>
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| The later army lists confirm that he retained the rank of Honorary Brigadier General.<ref>{{Cite web|title=(812) - Army lists > Half-yearly Army lists 1923 - Feb 1950 (From 1947, annual, despite the name) > 1940 > Second half - British Military lists - National Library of Scotland|url=https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/88890966|access-date=2021-02-16|website=digital.nls.uk}}</ref>
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| === Inter-War Period ===
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| Following the war Eden was placed in command of the [[48th (South Midland) Division]],<ref>{{Cite news|date=17 September 1921|title=Bucks Herald Saturday 17 September 1921|work=Bucks Herald|url-status=live}}</ref> taking his official retirement on the 23 March 1924.<ref>{{Cite news|date=26 March 1924|title=Aberdeen Press and Journal, Wednesday, March 26, 1924.|work=Aberdeen Press and Journal|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| === Second World War ===
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| During the Second World War Eden organised a local Home Guard branch, commanding it until it was brought to his attention that due to his advanced age it was not legal for him to hold the command. Following this Eden immediately stepped down from his position and enlisted into the same Home Guard branch as a Private, from there working in the branch depot.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Infantry |first=Oxfordshire And Buckinghamshire Light |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=VW-gYgEACAAJ |title=The Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry Chronicle, 1956: An Annual Record of the Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry |publisher=Sydney Lee. |pages=(Eden's regimental obituary) |language=en}}</ref> For this service he was entitled to the [[Defence Medal (United Kingdom)|Defence Medal]].
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| == Later life ==
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| Post-active service Eden remained a figure in military activities, local politics and local historical preservation. He wrote the ‘1925 Regimental Chronicle Militia and Volunteer Battalions Of The Regiment’ for the 4th Battalion of the Oxford and Bucks, signing off “ ''I am indebted to A History of the Oxfordsbire Regment of Militia, by Lieut-Colonel Frank Willan, for much of the information in this article; also to Captain Philip Godsal, who has supplied me with the details of the Regiment s history since 1900.”''<ref>{{Cite web|title=4th MILITIA BATTALION (OXFORDSHIRE MILITIA)|url=http://www.lightbobs.com/4th-militia-battalion-oxfordshire-militia.html|access-date=2021-05-22|website=LIGHTBOBS|language=en}}</ref> and he was a Chum of The Old Contemptibles' Association (being the President of the Winchester Branch),<ref>{{Cite web|title=ISBN 9781698648682 - Before We Fade: A Nominal Roll of Chums of The Old Contemptibles' Association - Part One|url=https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/1698648685|access-date=2021-01-14|website=isbnsearch.org}}</ref> unveiled the Caversham War Memorial in [[Christ Church Meadow, Oxford|Christchurch Meadows]] on 5 May 1928,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://berkshirestories.org.uk/archive/post-1918-images-berkshire/125975-the-unveiling-of-the-caversham-war-memorial-in-christchurch-meadows-5-may-1928#prettyPhoto|title=The unveiling of the Caversham War Memorial in Christchurch Meadows, 5 May 1928. - Berkshire Stories|website=berkshirestories.org.uk|access-date=2020-04-17}}</ref> and was also Chairman of the Regimental Committee in 1931 responsible for the organisation of the memorials in the Oxford and Bucks Regimental Chapel in [[Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford]].
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| He remained a long-serving county vice-president of the Hampshire Branch of the [[Royal British Legion|British Legion]].<ref>{{Cite news|date=18 December 1950|title=Portsmouth Evening News - Monday 18 December 1950|work=Portsmouth Evening News|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| In 1939 he was involved in a [[Compton and Shawford|Shawford and Compton]] subscription and adoption scheme in support of child refugees.<ref>{{Cite news|date=14 January 1939|title=Hampshire Advertiser - Saturday 14 January 1939|work=Hampshire Advertiser|url-status=live}}</ref>
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| In 1940 Eden was elected vice-chairman of the Winchester branch of the [[Conservative Party (UK)|Conservative Party]], as well as Hon. Treasurer.<ref>{{Cite news|date=1 March 1940|title=Hampshire Telegraph & Post, Friday, March 1, 1940|work=Hampshire Telegraph & Post|url-status=live}}</ref> Circa 1945 he was the Treasurer of the branch,<ref>{{Cite book|last=Thorpe|first=Andrew|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=BK8UDAAAQBAJ&q=ajf+eden&pg=PA98|title=Parties at War: Political Organization in Second World War Britain|date=2009-01-08|publisher=OUP Oxford|isbn=978-0-19-927273-0|language=en}}</ref> and circa 1953 he was a member of the Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.hantsfieldclub.org.uk/publications/hampshirestudies/digital/1940s/vol17/Other_material_pt3.pdf|title=Hampshire Field Club and Archaeological Society members list 1953}}</ref>
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| He died on 8 May 1956, aged 84, and is buried in All Saints Churchyard, Compton.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Archibald James Fergusson Eden (1872-1956) - Find...|url=https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/216168620/archibald-james_fergusson-eden|access-date=2021-03-31|website=www.findagrave.com|language=en}}</ref>
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| == Legacy ==
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| [[File:AJF Eden medals.jpg|thumb|Medals of AJF Eden]]
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| The [[National Army Museum]] holds two photograph albums compiled by Eden, one labelled as referring to "''Nigeria and Ashanti, 1899-1901''", and the other "''South African War 1901-1902''".
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| His daughter Dorothy donated the military effects of Eden's father to the [[Hamilton Low Parks Museum|Cameronian Regimental Museum]] in 1982, where they are still held. This includes his father's Musketry training certificate, three Commission documents, his [[Abyssinian War Medal|Abyssinian War medal]], a portrait photograph, and various pieces of correspondence.
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| The [[Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum]] holds Eden's full medal entitlement in their medal room, as well as some further items relating to him.
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| ==References==
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| {{reflist|30em}}
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| ==Bibliography==
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| *{{cite book |title=Bloody Red Tabs: General Officer Casualties of the Great War 1914–1918 |last=Davies |first=Frank |year=1997 |publisher=Pen & Sword Books |location=London |isbn=978-0-85052-463-5}}
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| {{DEFAULTSORT:Eden, Archibald James Fergusson}}
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| [[Category:Military personnel of British India]]
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| [[Category:British Army brigadiers]]
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| [[Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War]]
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| [[Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order]]
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| [[Category:British military personnel of the War of the Golden Stool]]
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| [[Category:Royal West African Frontier Force officers]]
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| [[Category:British Army generals of World War I]]
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| [[Category:Recipients of the Croix de Guerre (France)]]
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| [[Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George]]
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| [[Category:1872 births]]
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| [[Category:1956 deaths]]
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| [[Category:People educated at Haileybury and Imperial Service College]]
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| [[Category:Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry officers]]
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| [[Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst]]
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| [[Category:Eden family]]
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| [[Category:Burials in Surrey]]
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