de Lisle | Henry de Beauvoir | | Lieutenant | DE LISLE, HENRY DE BEAUVOIR, Lieutenant, was born 27 July 1864 son of Richard V de Lisle, of Guernsey, and of his wife, C E de Lisle. He was educated in Jersey, and joined the Durham Light Infantry at Gibraltar, as Lieutenant, 10 March 1883. He served in the Sudan in 1885 and 1886, with the Frontier Field Force, being employed with the Mounted Infantry. He was mentioned in Despatches and awarded the DSO for his services at the Battle of Ginniss, and for special service connected with the attack on the fort at Ambigole Wells by Arabs. He carried Despatches unto the beleaguered fort at Ambigole Wells, south of Wady Haifa, Egypt, and broke out with two men with news that, for want of ammunition and water, the fort could not hold out for more than 24 hours. It was relieved the next morning. See the entry for Radwan Hassan Bey. His DSO was gazetted 26 November 1886: "Henry de Beauvoir de Lisle, Lieutenant, Durham Light Infantry. For Action at Ginniss". He became Captain 1 October 1891, and was Adjutant, Durham Light Infantry, 1 July 1892 to 30 June 1896. For ten years he was Captain of the Durham Light Infantry Polo team. Captain de Lisle passed the Staff College in 1899. He served in South Africa from the beginning of the war in 1899 to the end, on the Staff (including command of a Mounted Infantry Battalion, of 2nd Mounted Infantry Corps, of mobile column, of Cavalry Brigade (temporary), and of Australian Commonwealth Brigade). He raised and commanded the 6th Mounted Infantry, and an independent column of Mounted Infantry, from 1 June 1900 to 14 August 1902. He was present at the Relief of Kimberley. Operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Karee Siding, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River (5 and 6 May), and Zand River. Operations in the Transvaal, actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill; operations west of Pretoria(Venterskroon), severely wounded (14 August). Operations in Orange River Colony (May to August, and September to November 1900), including actions at Wittebergen (1 to 29 July), and Bothaville. Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900, including actions at Colesberg (1 January to 12 February). Operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony, and Cape Colony, 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 4 May 1900, 8 February and 16 April 1901, and 29 July 1902]; was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 2 January 1902; received the Queen's Medal with five clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a CB. He had become Major, Durham Light Infantry, 1 January 1902; 5th Dragoon Guards, 22 October 1902, and 1st Royal Dragoons, 19 December 1903; and Lieutenant Colonel 2 February 1906. He was given the Brevet of Colonel 22 August 1906, and commanded the 1st Royal Dragoons from 1906 to 1910. He was promoted to Colonel 2 February 1910. From 1 March 1910 to 4 August 1911, he was GSO, 1st Grade, 2nd Division, Aldershot Command; and he was Brigade Commander, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, from 5 August 1911 to 9 October 1914. He served in the European War from 1914, as temporary Major General from 10 October 1914 to 17 February 1915; and became Major General on 18 February 1915. He commanded the 2nd Cavalry Brigade, 1st Cavalry Division, from 10 October 1914; the 29th Division from 4 June 1915; the 13th Corps from 12 March 1918; and the 15th Corps from 10 April to the end of the war. He was promoted Major General for services in the field, and created a KCB 1 January 1917; promoted Lieutenant General 1 January 1919, and created KCMG June 1919; was created Commander of the Legion of Honour, 1918; Grand Officer, Order of Leopold, 1919, and Grand Cross, White Eagle of Serbia, 1919. Sir Beauvoir de Lisle married in 1902, Leila, daughter of Wilberforce Bryant, of Stoke Park, Stoke Poges, Bucks, and they had one son. From time to time in the histories of the South African War we get glimpses of De Lisle and his wild horsemen scaling impossible places, achieving wonderful feats of arms. One cannot tell all the tale of them, but these short extracts may form a fitting end to this all too brief notice of De Lisle: There is a fascinating description of the operations at Houtnek {Thoba Mountain) in the official 'History of the War in South Africa' | Durham Light Infantry |