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{{For|other persons named Charles Egerton|Charles Egerton (disambiguation){{!}}Charles Egerton}}
{{For|other persons named Charles Egerton|Charles Egerton (disambiguation){{!}}Charles Egerton}}
{{Infobox military person
{{Infobox military person
| name          =Sir Charles Egerton
| honorific_prefix = [[Field Marshal (British Army)|Field Marshal]]
| image        =Sir Charles Egerton.jpg
| name          = Sir Charles Egerton
| caption      =Sir Charles Egerton
| honorific_suffix = {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|GCB|DSO}}
| birth_date         ={{birth date|df=y|1848|11|10}}
| image        = Sir Charles Egerton.jpg
| death_date         ={{death date and age|df=y|1921|02|20|1848|11|10}}
| caption      = Egerton in 1906
| placeofburial_label =
| nickname      =
| placeofburial =
| birth_date   = {{birth date|df=y|1848|11|10}}
| birth_place  =[[Birr, County Offaly|Parsonstown]], Ireland, United Kingdom
| birth_place  = [[Birr, County Offaly|Parsonstown]], Ireland, United Kingdom
| death_place =[[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]], Hampshire, United Kingdom
| death_date   = {{death date and age|df=y|1921|02|20|1848|11|10}}
| placeofburial_coordinates = <!-- {{coord|LAT|LONG|display=inline,title}} -->
| death_place   = [[Christchurch, Dorset|Christchurch]], Hampshire, United Kingdom
| nickname      =
| placeofburial =  
| allegiance    ={{flag|United Kingdom}}
| allegiance    = United Kingdom
| branch        ={{army|British India|23px}}
| branch        = [[British Indian Army]]
| serviceyears  =1867–1907
| serviceyears  = 1867–1907
| rank          =[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
| rank          = [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]]
| unit          =
| unit          =  
| commands      =Bannu column<br>Frontier District<br>British troops in [[British Somaliland]]<br>[[Madras Army|Madras Command]]
| commands      = [[Madras Army|Madras Command]] (1903–07)<br/>British troops in [[British Somaliland]] (1903–04)<br/>[[Punjab Frontier Force]] (1899–03)<br/>Bannu column (1894)
| battles      =[[Second Anglo-Afghan War]]<br>[[Hazara Expedition of 1888|Hazara Expedition]]<br>[[Tochi Expedition]]<br>[[Mahsud Waziri blockade]]
| battles      = [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]]<br/>[[Hazara Expedition of 1888|Hazara Expedition]]<br/>[[Tochi Expedition]]<br/>[[Mahsud Waziri blockade]]
| awards        =[[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br>[[Distinguished Service Order]]
| awards        = [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]]<br/>[[Distinguished Service Order]]<br/>[[Mentioned in Despatches]]
| relations    =[[Grey Egerton Baronets]]
| relations    = [[Grey Egerton Baronets]]<br/>Major-General [[Caledon Egerton]] (father)<br/>Admiral [[George Egerton (Royal Navy officer)|Sir George Egerton]] (brother)<br/>[[Brian Egerton|Sir Brian Egerton]] (brother)
| laterwork    =
| laterwork    =  
}}
}}
[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] '''Sir Charles Comyn Egerton''' {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|DSO|ADC}} (10 November 1848 – 20 February 1921) was a senior [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] officer from the [[Egerton family]].  
[[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|Field Marshal]] '''Sir Charles Comyn Egerton''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|GCB|DSO}} (10 November 1848 – 20 February 1921) was a senior [[British Indian Army|Indian Army]] officer from the [[Egerton family]].  


Early in his career he took part in the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]], the [[Hazara Expedition of 1888|Hazara Expedition]] and operations in the [[Khyber Pass]]. He went on to command the Bannu column during operations in [[Waziristan]] in 1894 and to serve as senior staff officer for the [[Tochi Expedition]] in 1897. Egerton took command of the troops in [[British Somaliland]] fighting the Dervish leader Sayid Abdullah Hassan in June 1903; he had a significant success at Jidbali in January 1904 killing 1,000 of Hassan's men. His last appointment was as [[General Officer Commanding]] [[Secunderabad]] District in 1904 before retiring in 1907.
Early in his career he took part in the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]], the [[Hazara Expedition of 1888|Hazara Expedition]] and operations in the [[Khyber Pass]]. He went on to command the Bannu column during operations in [[Waziristan]] in 1894 and to serve as senior staff officer for the [[Tochi Expedition]] in 1897. Egerton took command of the troops in [[British Somaliland]] fighting the Dervish leader Sayid Abdullah Hassan in June 1903; he had a significant success at Jidbali in January 1904 killing 1,000 of Hassan's men. His last appointment was as [[General Officer Commanding]] [[Secunderabad]] District in 1904 before retiring in 1907.
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Born the third son of Major-General [[Caledon Egerton]] and Margaret Egerton (née Cumming) and educated at [[Rossall School]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], Egerton was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot|31st Regiment of Foot]] on 9 June 1867.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23260|page=3229|date=7 June 1867}}</ref> He immediately transferred to the [[76th Regiment of Foot]] in India.<ref name=heath115>Heathcote, p. 115</ref> Promoted to lieutenant on 19 October 1869,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23939|page=219|date=17 January 1873}}</ref> he joined the Indian Staff Corps on 11 December 1872<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23927|page=6254|date=10 December 1872}}</ref> before being promoted to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 8 June 1879<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24761|page=5456|date=12 September 1879}}</ref> on appointment to a squadron in the [[11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)|3rd Punjab Cavalry]].<ref name=heath115/>
Born the third son of Major-General [[Caledon Egerton]] and Margaret Egerton (née Cumming) and educated at [[Rossall School]] and the [[Royal Military College, Sandhurst]], Egerton was [[Commissioned officer|commissioned]] into the [[31st (Huntingdonshire) Regiment of Foot|31st Regiment of Foot]] on 9 June 1867.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23260|page=3229|date=7 June 1867}}</ref> He immediately transferred to the [[76th Regiment of Foot]] in India.<ref name=heath115>Heathcote, p. 115</ref> Promoted to lieutenant on 19 October 1869,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23939|page=219|date=17 January 1873}}</ref> he joined the Indian Staff Corps on 11 December 1872<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=23927|page=6254|date=10 December 1872}}</ref> before being promoted to [[Captain (British Army and Royal Marines)|captain]] on 8 June 1879<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24761|page=5456|date=12 September 1879}}</ref> on appointment to a squadron in the [[11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)|3rd Punjab Cavalry]].<ref name=heath115/>


Egerton served with his regiment in the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1879 and was [[mentioned in despatches]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24909|page=6538|date=3 December 1880}}</ref> He became Assistant Adjutant-General of the Punjab Frontier Force on 30 November 1886<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25811|page=2399|date=27 April 1888}}</ref> and, having been promoted to major on 8 June 1887,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25727|page=4243|date=5 August 1887}}</ref> he took part in the [[Hazara Expedition of 1888|Hazara Expedition]] in 1888 and in operations in the [[Khyber Pass]] in 1891 for which he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] (DSO) on 30 May 1891.<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32986|title=Sir Charles Egerton|year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/32986 |access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> Promoted to [[lieutenant colonel]] on 1 September 1891,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26226|page=6229|date=24 November 1891}}</ref> he became Second-in-Command of his regiment in 1892 and commanded the Bannu column during operations in [[Waziristan]] in 1894<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26639|page=3737|date=2 July 1895}}</ref> before becoming Assistant Quartermaster-General at Bengal Command on 21 June 1895.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26636|page=3528|date=21 June 1895}}</ref> He was appointed [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] (CB) and then promoted to [[colonel]] on 1 September 1895.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26667|page=5407|date=1 October 1895}}</ref>
Egerton served with his regiment in the [[Second Anglo-Afghan War]] in 1879 and was [[mentioned in despatches]].<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=24909|page=6538|date=3 December 1880}}</ref> He became Assistant Adjutant-General of the Punjab Frontier Force on 30 November 1886 and,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25811|page=2399|date=27 April 1888}}</ref> having been promoted to major on 8 June 1887,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=25727|page=4243|date=5 August 1887}}</ref> he took part in the [[Hazara Expedition of 1888|Hazara Expedition]] in 1888 and in operations in the [[Khyber Pass]] in 1891 for which he was awarded the [[Distinguished Service Order]] on 30 May 1891.<ref name=odnb>{{cite ODNB|url=http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/32986|title=Sir Charles Egerton|year=2004 |doi=10.1093/ref:odnb/32986 |access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> Promoted to [[lieutenant colonel]] on 1 September 1891,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26226|page=6229|date=24 November 1891}}</ref> he became second-in-command of his regiment in 1892 and commanded the Bannu column during operations in [[Waziristan]] in 1894<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26639|page=3737|date=2 July 1895}}</ref> before becoming Assistant Quartermaster-General at Bengal Command on 21 June 1895.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26636|page=3528|date=21 June 1895}}</ref> He was appointed [[Companion of the Order of the Bath]] and then promoted to [[colonel]] on 1 September 1895.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26667|page=5407|date=1 October 1895}}</ref>


Egerton commanded a contingent of troops sent to [[Suakin]] in 1896 to hold the town when its permanent garrison was withdrawn for service under [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]] following which he became an [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Queen Victoria|the Queen]] on 17 November 1896.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26795|page=6272|date=17 November 1896}}</ref> He was senior staff officer and Commander of the 1st Brigade for the [[Tochi Expedition]] in 1897 before becoming Commander-in-Chief [[Northern Command (India)|Punjab Command]] with local promotion to [[major-general]] on 1 April 1899.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27095|page=4141|date=4 July 1899}}</ref> He was promoted to the local rank of [[lieutenant general]] on 3 April 1900,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27205|page=3969|date=26 June 1900}}</ref> and reverted to his command of the [[Punjab Frontier Force|Frontier Force]] in October 1901 when his command in Punjab ended.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=14 October 1901 |page=10 |issue=36585}}</ref> A promotion to the substantive rank of major-general followed on 1 April 1902<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27546|page=2618|date=24 April 1903}}</ref> and, after leading an expedition to Waziristan later that year, he was advanced to [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] (KCB) on 1 January 1903.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27511|supp=y|page=4|date=30 December 1902}}</ref>
Egerton commanded a contingent of troops sent to [[Suakin]] in 1896 to hold the town when its permanent garrison was withdrawn for service under [[Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener|Lord Kitchener]], following which he became an [[aide-de-camp]] to [[Queen Victoria|the Queen]] on 17 November 1896.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=26795|page=6272|date=17 November 1896}}</ref> He was senior staff officer and commander of the 1st Brigade for the [[Tochi Expedition]] in 1897 before becoming Commander-in-Chief of the [[Punjab Frontier Force|Frontier Force]] with local promotion to [[major-general]] on 1 April 1899.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27095|page=4141|date=4 July 1899}}</ref> He was promoted to the local rank of [[lieutenant general]] on 3 April 1900,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27205|page=3969|date=26 June 1900}}</ref> as he was appointed acting commander of the [[Northern Command (India)|Punjab Command]],<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=2 April 1900 | page=7 |issue=36105}}</ref> and reverted to his command of the Frontier Force in October 1901 when his command in Punjab ended.<ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Naval & Military intelligence|date=14 October 1901 |page=10 |issue=36585}}</ref> A promotion to the substantive rank of major-general followed on 1 April 1902 and,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27546|page=2618|date=24 April 1903}}</ref> after leading an expedition to Waziristan later that year, he was advanced to [[Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath]] in the [[1903 Durbar Honours]] on 1 January 1903.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27511|supp=y|page=4|date=30 December 1902}}</ref><ref>{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The Durbar Honours |date=1 January 1903 |page=8 |issue=36966}}</ref>


Egerton took command of the troops in [[British Somaliland]] fighting the Dervishes led by [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan]] on 27 June 1903.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27601|page=5967|date=29 September 1903}}</ref> Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant general on 28 October 1903,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27666|supp=y|page=2302|date=12 April 1904}}</ref> he became Commander-in-Chief [[Madras Army|Madras Command]].<ref>Whitaker's Almanack 1905, p. 484</ref> He had a significant success at Jidbali in January 1904 killing 1,000 of Hassan's men.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1904/01/12/archives/1000-dervishes-slain-british-rout-the-mad-mullahs-forces-in.html|title=1,000 Dervishes slain; British Rout the "Mad" Mullah's Forces in Somaliland|work=The New York Times|date=12 January 1904|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> However in March 1904 questions were still being asked in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] as to whether Hassan (then known as the "Mad Mullah") understood that operations would only end when he was captured or killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1904/mar/28/the-mad-mullah|title=The Mad Mullah|date=28 March 1904|work=Hansard|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref>  
Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant general on 28 October 1903,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27666|supp=y|page=2302|date=12 April 1904}}</ref> he became Commander-in-Chief [[Madras Army|Madras Command]] in 1903, serving as such until 1907.<ref>Whitaker's Almanack 1905, p. 484</ref> Egerton took leave from Madras post to take command of the troops in [[British Somaliland]] fighting the Dervishes led by [[Mohammed Abdullah Hassan]] on 27 June 1903.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27601|page=5967|date=29 September 1903}}</ref> He had a significant success at Jidbali in January 1904, killing 1,000 of Hassan's men.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1904/01/12/archives/1000-dervishes-slain-british-rout-the-mad-mullahs-forces-in.html|title=1,000 Dervishes slain; British Rout the "Mad" Mullah's Forces in Somaliland|work=The New York Times|date=12 January 1904|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> However, in March 1904 questions were still being asked in the [[Parliament of the United Kingdom|British Parliament]] as to whether Hassan (then known as the "Mad Mullah") understood that operations would only end when he was captured or killed.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://api.parliament.uk/historic-hansard/commons/1904/mar/28/the-mad-mullah|title=The Mad Mullah|date=28 March 1904|work=[[Hansard|Parliamentary Debates (Hansard)]]|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref>  


[[File:Taleh Castle.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Dervish fort in [[Taleh|Taleex]].]]
[[File:Taleh Castle.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Dervish fort in [[Taleh|Taleex]].]]
Egerton became colonel of the [[11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)|23rd Punjab Cavalry (Frontier Force)]] in 1904.<ref name=heath116>Heathcote, p. 116</ref> He was advanced to [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] (GCB) on 24 June 1904<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27688|supp=y|page=4007|date=21 June 1904}}</ref> and promoted to full general on 28 October 1906.<ref name=odnb/> After retiring on 5 February 1907,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28005|page=1929|date=19 March 1907}}</ref> he became a member of the [[Council of India]] from which post he stood down in 1917.<ref name=heath116/> In recognition of his long service he was promoted to [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|field marshal]] on 16 March 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29986|page=2634|date=16 March 1917}}</ref>
Egerton became colonel of the [[11th Prince Albert Victor's Own Cavalry (Frontier Force)|23rd Punjab Cavalry (Frontier Force)]] in 1904.<ref name=heath116>Heathcote, p. 116</ref> He was advanced to [[Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath]] on 24 June 1904,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=27688|supp=y|page=4007|date=21 June 1904}}</ref> and promoted to full general on 28 October 1906.<ref name=odnb/> After retiring on 5 February 1907,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=28005|page=1929|date=19 March 1907}}</ref> he became a member of the [[Council of India]] from which post he stood down in 1917.<ref name=heath116/> In recognition of his long service he was promoted to [[Field marshal (United Kingdom)|field marshal]] on 16 March 1917.<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=29986|page=2634|date=16 March 1917}}</ref>


In retirement Egerton wrote about his wartime experiences and was the author of a book entitled "Hill Warfare on the North-West frontier of India".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000X7G7IE |title=Hill Warfare on the North-West frontier of India|publisher=Amazon books|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> He died on 20 February 1921 and was buried at St Mark's Churchyard at [[Highcliffe]] in Dorset.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stmarkshighcliffe.org.uk/the-churchyards|title=Sir Charles Comyn Egerton|publisher=St Marks Highcliffe|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref>
In retirement Egerton wrote about his wartime experiences and was the author of a book entitled "Hill Warfare on the North-West Frontier of India".<ref>{{cite book|url=https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000X7G7IE |title=Hill Warfare on the North-West frontier of India|publisher=Amazon books|access-date=22 June 2013}}</ref> He died on 20 February 1921 and was buried at St Mark's Churchyard at [[Highcliffe]] in Dorset.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.stmarkshighcliffe.org.uk/the-churchyards|title=Sir Charles Comyn Egerton|publisher=St Marks Highcliffe|access-date=8 February 2020}}</ref>


==Family==
==Family==
In 1877 Egerton married Anna Wellwood and they went on to have three sons.<ref name=heath115/>
Egerton's six brothers included Admiral [[George Egerton (Royal Navy officer)|Sir George Egerton]] of the [[Royal Navy]] and [[Brian Egerton|Sir Brian Egerton]].<ref name=BP2003>''[[Burke's Peerage]]'', volume 2 (2003), p. 1679</ref>
 
In 1877 Egerton married Anna Wellwood and they went on to have three sons.<ref name=BP2003/><ref name=heath115/>


==References==
==References==
{{reflist|20em}}
{{reflist}}


==Sources==
==Sources==
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{{s-bef|before=[[George Wolseley|Sir George Wolseley]]}}  
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{{s-ttl|title=[[Madras Army|C-in-C, Madras Command]]|years=1903&ndash;1907}}
{{s-ttl|title=[[Madras Army|C-in-C, Madras Command]]|years=1903–1907}}
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Latest revision as of 05:05, 28 March 2026


For other persons named Charles Egerton, see Charles Egerton.
Field Marshal

Sir Charles Egerton

GCB DSO
Egerton in 1906
Born(1848-11-10)10 November 1848
Parsonstown, Ireland, United Kingdom
Died20 February 1921(1921-02-20) (aged 72)
Christchurch, Hampshire, United Kingdom
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service/branchBritish Indian Army
Years of service1867–1907
RankField Marshal
Commands heldMadras Command (1903–07)
British troops in British Somaliland (1903–04)
Punjab Frontier Force (1899–03)
Bannu column (1894)
Battles/warsSecond Anglo-Afghan War
Hazara Expedition
Tochi Expedition
Mahsud Waziri blockade
AwardsKnight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
RelationsGrey Egerton Baronets
Major-General Caledon Egerton (father)
Admiral Sir George Egerton (brother)
Sir Brian Egerton (brother)

Field Marshal Sir Charles Comyn Egerton, GCB, DSO (10 November 1848 – 20 February 1921) was a senior Indian Army officer from the Egerton family.

Early in his career he took part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the Hazara Expedition and operations in the Khyber Pass. He went on to command the Bannu column during operations in Waziristan in 1894 and to serve as senior staff officer for the Tochi Expedition in 1897. Egerton took command of the troops in British Somaliland fighting the Dervish leader Sayid Abdullah Hassan in June 1903; he had a significant success at Jidbali in January 1904 killing 1,000 of Hassan's men. His last appointment was as General Officer Commanding Secunderabad District in 1904 before retiring in 1907.

Military career[edit | edit source]

Born the third son of Major-General Caledon Egerton and Margaret Egerton (née Cumming) and educated at Rossall School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Egerton was commissioned into the 31st Regiment of Foot on 9 June 1867.[1] He immediately transferred to the 76th Regiment of Foot in India.[2] Promoted to lieutenant on 19 October 1869,[3] he joined the Indian Staff Corps on 11 December 1872[4] before being promoted to captain on 8 June 1879[5] on appointment to a squadron in the 3rd Punjab Cavalry.[2]

Egerton served with his regiment in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1879 and was mentioned in despatches.[6] He became Assistant Adjutant-General of the Punjab Frontier Force on 30 November 1886 and,[7] having been promoted to major on 8 June 1887,[8] he took part in the Hazara Expedition in 1888 and in operations in the Khyber Pass in 1891 for which he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 30 May 1891.[9] Promoted to lieutenant colonel on 1 September 1891,[10] he became second-in-command of his regiment in 1892 and commanded the Bannu column during operations in Waziristan in 1894[11] before becoming Assistant Quartermaster-General at Bengal Command on 21 June 1895.[12] He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath and then promoted to colonel on 1 September 1895.[13]

Egerton commanded a contingent of troops sent to Suakin in 1896 to hold the town when its permanent garrison was withdrawn for service under Lord Kitchener, following which he became an aide-de-camp to the Queen on 17 November 1896.[14] He was senior staff officer and commander of the 1st Brigade for the Tochi Expedition in 1897 before becoming Commander-in-Chief of the Frontier Force with local promotion to major-general on 1 April 1899.[15] He was promoted to the local rank of lieutenant general on 3 April 1900,[16] as he was appointed acting commander of the Punjab Command,[17] and reverted to his command of the Frontier Force in October 1901 when his command in Punjab ended.[18] A promotion to the substantive rank of major-general followed on 1 April 1902 and,[19] after leading an expedition to Waziristan later that year, he was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1903 Durbar Honours on 1 January 1903.[20][21]

Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant general on 28 October 1903,[22] he became Commander-in-Chief Madras Command in 1903, serving as such until 1907.[23] Egerton took leave from Madras post to take command of the troops in British Somaliland fighting the Dervishes led by Mohammed Abdullah Hassan on 27 June 1903.[24] He had a significant success at Jidbali in January 1904, killing 1,000 of Hassan's men.[25] However, in March 1904 questions were still being asked in the British Parliament as to whether Hassan (then known as the "Mad Mullah") understood that operations would only end when he was captured or killed.[26]

Dervish fort in Taleex.

Egerton became colonel of the 23rd Punjab Cavalry (Frontier Force) in 1904.[27] He was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath on 24 June 1904,[28] and promoted to full general on 28 October 1906.[9] After retiring on 5 February 1907,[29] he became a member of the Council of India from which post he stood down in 1917.[27] In recognition of his long service he was promoted to field marshal on 16 March 1917.[30]

In retirement Egerton wrote about his wartime experiences and was the author of a book entitled "Hill Warfare on the North-West Frontier of India".[31] He died on 20 February 1921 and was buried at St Mark's Churchyard at Highcliffe in Dorset.[32]

Family[edit | edit source]

Egerton's six brothers included Admiral Sir George Egerton of the Royal Navy and Sir Brian Egerton.[33]

In 1877 Egerton married Anna Wellwood and they went on to have three sons.[33][2]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "No. 23260". The London Gazette. 7 June 1867. p. 3229.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Heathcote, p. 115
  3. ↑ "No. 23939". The London Gazette. 17 January 1873. p. 219.
  4. ↑ "No. 23927". The London Gazette. 10 December 1872. p. 6254.
  5. ↑ "No. 24761". The London Gazette. 12 September 1879. p. 5456.
  6. ↑ "No. 24909". The London Gazette. 3 December 1880. p. 6538.
  7. ↑ "No. 25811". The London Gazette. 27 April 1888. p. 2399.
  8. ↑ "No. 25727". The London Gazette. 5 August 1887. p. 4243.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 "Sir Charles Egerton". Oxford Dictionary of National Biography (online ed.). Oxford University Press. 2004. doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/32986. Retrieved 22 June 2013. Template:ODNBsub
  10. ↑ "No. 26226". The London Gazette. 24 November 1891. p. 6229.
  11. ↑ "No. 26639". The London Gazette. 2 July 1895. p. 3737.
  12. ↑ "No. 26636". The London Gazette. 21 June 1895. p. 3528.
  13. ↑ "No. 26667". The London Gazette. 1 October 1895. p. 5407.
  14. ↑ "No. 26795". The London Gazette. 17 November 1896. p. 6272.
  15. ↑ "No. 27095". The London Gazette. 4 July 1899. p. 4141.
  16. ↑ "No. 27205". The London Gazette. 26 June 1900. p. 3969.
  17. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36105. London. 2 April 1900. p. 7.
  18. ↑ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36585. London. 14 October 1901. p. 10.
  19. ↑ "No. 27546". The London Gazette. 24 April 1903. p. 2618.
  20. ↑ "No. 27511". The London Gazette (Supplement). 30 December 1902. p. 4.
  21. ↑ "The Durbar Honours". The Times. No. 36966. London. 1 January 1903. p. 8.
  22. ↑ "No. 27666". The London Gazette (Supplement). 12 April 1904. p. 2302.
  23. ↑ Whitaker's Almanack 1905, p. 484
  24. ↑ "No. 27601". The London Gazette. 29 September 1903. p. 5967.
  25. ↑ "1,000 Dervishes slain; British Rout the "Mad" Mullah's Forces in Somaliland". The New York Times. 12 January 1904. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  26. ↑ "The Mad Mullah". Parliamentary Debates (Hansard). 28 March 1904. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  27. ↑ 27.0 27.1 Heathcote, p. 116
  28. ↑ "No. 27688". The London Gazette (Supplement). 21 June 1904. p. 4007.
  29. ↑ "No. 28005". The London Gazette. 19 March 1907. p. 1929.
  30. ↑ "No. 29986". The London Gazette. 16 March 1917. p. 2634.
  31. ↑ Hill Warfare on the North-West frontier of India. Amazon books. Retrieved 22 June 2013.
  32. ↑ "Sir Charles Comyn Egerton". St Marks Highcliffe. Retrieved 8 February 2020.
  33. ↑ 33.0 33.1 Burke's Peerage, volume 2 (2003), p. 1679

Sources[edit | edit source]

  • Heathcote, Tony (1999). The British Field Marshals 1736–1997. London: Pen & Sword Books Ltd. ISBN 0-85052-696-5.

Further reading[edit | edit source]

  • Egerton, Sir Charles. Hill Warfare on the North-West frontier of India. ASIN B000X7G7IE.
Military offices
Preceded by
Sir George Wolseley 		C-in-C, Madras Command
1903–1907 		Post disbanded
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