POORE, ROBERT MONTAGU, Captain, was
born at Carysfort House, near Dublin, 20 March 1860, eldest son of Major
Robert Poore, late 8th Hussars, and of Juliana Benita, daughter of Rear
Admiral Sir Armar Lowry
Corry, KCB. He joined the Wiltshire Regiment, as Lieutenant, from the
Militia, 28 April 1886; was transferred to the 7th Hussars, as Lieutenant,
13 October 1886. He served in India from 1886 to 1895; was ADC to His
Excellency the Governor of Bombay 24 October 1892 to 17 February 1895. He
served in South Africa, 1895 to 1905, including the Matabele (1896) and
Mashonaland (1897) Campaigns. He was mentioned in Despatches [London
Gazette, 18 February 1898], and was given the Brevet of Major 20 May 1898,
having been promoted to Captain 1 July 1896. He served in the South African
War, 1899-1902, with the Military Mounted Police 9 October to 12 November
1899; as Provost-Marshal 13 November 1899 to 7 July 1902, being present
at the operations in the Orange Free State,
February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26
February); actions at Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and
Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including
actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June);
operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900,
including action at Belfast (26 and 27 August); operations in the Transvaal
30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London
Gazette, 8 February and 16 April 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with six
clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "Robert Montagu
Poore, Captain and Brevet Major, 7th Hussars. In recognition of services
during the recent operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented
by the Duke of Cornwall and York 14 August 1901. He became Major 17 July
1901, and Lieutenant Colonel 26 June 1911. He commanded the 7th Hussars,
1911-15. He served in the European War from 1914; was promoted to Colonel
15 December 1914, and Temporary Brigadier General 14 October 1915; commanded
the Jhansi Brigade (India), 1915-19; was mentioned in Despatches, and
created a CIE in the Birthday Honours, 1918. He played cricket for the
Bombay Presidency (India), 1892-95 and 1912-13, and for South Africa against
Lord Hawke's English team during the winter of 1897-98, scoring two
centuries. He was kept out of English first-class cricket till he was in
his thirty-third year, owing to his regiment being on foreign service in
India and South Africa. 1899 was his best year. He headed the season's
batting in first-class matches, scoring 1,551 runs for 21 innings, his
average working out to 91.23, which has never been equalled in first-class
cricket for so large a number of runs. For Hampshire his average was
116.58. A partnership with Captain E G Wynyard produced 411 runs before
they were parted. He played for the Gentlemen v Players in 1899. He did
not limit his activities to the game of cricket. He was one of the finest
swordsmen in the Army, being Best Man-at-Arms (Mounted events) for four
consecutive years in which he competed at the Royal Naval and Military
Tournament (1898, 1899, 1906, 1907). He was a first-class polo player, and
played 'back' for his regimental team, taking part in several successful
Inter-Regimental tournaments in India and finally in 1899 at Hurlingham. In
1899 he had a phenomenal fortnight, in which he played in the winning team
(7th Hussars) in the Inter-Regimental Polo Tournament, when he hit the
winning goal; was Best Man-at-Arms at the Royal Naval and Military
Tournament, and scored three successive centuries for his county in
first-class cricket. He has won several racquet, squash racquet and lawn
tennis tournaments, and was a good shot both with the rifle and gun. He
married, in 1898, Lady Flora Douglas-Hamilton, sister of the 13th Duke of
Hamilton.
