| Maxwell | John Grenfell | | Lieutenant | MAXWELL, JOHN GRENFELL, Lieutenant, was born 12 July 1859, son of Robert Maxwell; was educated at Cheltenham College; gazetted to the 42nd Highlanders on 22 March, 1879; and became Lieutenant, Royal Highlanders, 1 July 1881. He served in the Egyptian War of 1882, with the 1st Battalion Black Watch, and was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (Medal with clasp, Khedive's Bronze Star). He was Staff Captain, Military Police, Egypt, from 18 June 1883 to July 1883. Lieutenant Maxwell served in the Sudan Expedition, 1884-85 (Nile), as Headquarters Commandant and Provost-Marshal, and employed in the Intelligence Department; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 25 August 1885] (clasp). He served in the Sudan Expedition of 1885-86, as ADC to General Grenfell, was present at the action of Ginniss, was mentioned in Despatches, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 26 November 1886]: "John Grenfell Maxwell, Lieutenant, Royal Highlanders. For Action at Ginniss". He was present at the action of Gemaizah, also as ADC to the General Officer Commanding, was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 11 January 1889], received the 4th Class Osmanieh, and a clasp. He was present at the Action of Toski, was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 6 September 1889] (Brevet of Major and clasp). He had been employed with the Egyptian Army 7 September 1886 to 14 September 1887, as ADC to the Sirdar. He was promoted to Captain, 28 September 1887. In 1896 he took part in the expedition to Dongola, commanding the 3rd Egyptian Brigade, and was present at the operations of 7 June and 19 September He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 3 November 1896], and was appointed Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 18 November 1896, and received the Egyptian Medal with two clasps. For his services in the Nile Expedition of 1897 he was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 25 January 1898], and received a clasp to the Egyptian Medal. He was again employed with the Egyptian Army, 15 September 1897 to 12 February 1900, as ADC and AMS to the Sirdar. In the Nile Expedition of 1898 he commanded the 2nd Sudanese Brigade in the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 24 May 1898, and 30 September 1898], appointed Brevet Colonel 16 November 1898, thanked by both Houses of Parliament, received a Medal and two clasps to the Egyptian Medal. He was on special service in South Africa from 10 April, 1900 to 25 September 1902, as Major General Commanding the 14th Brigade, 7th Division (1901): Military Governor of Pretoria, 1901-02; GOC, North-West Transvaal, 1902. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Vet River (5th and 6th May) and Zand River. Operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April, 1901, and 29 July 1902], received the Queen's Medal with three clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, was created a KCB and a CMG. Sir John Maxwell was Chief Staff Officer (Brigadier General on Staff), 3rd Army Corps, Ireland, 7 November 1902 to 15 May 1904; and was created a CVO; and was Staff Officer to the Inspector-General of the Forces, 16 May 1904 to 20 December 1907. Major General 1 December 1906: General 3 June, 1919; was Chief Staff Officer, General Staff, Mediterranean, 21 December 1907 to 3 Sept, 1908. From 4 September 190S to 19 November 1912, he was GOC, Egypt; and he was promoted to Lieutenant General 4 September 1912. Sir John Maxwell was on Special Service in the European War, as Chief Liaison Officer with the French Army, 4 August 1914 to September 1914, and was GOC in Egypt, September 1914 to March 1916. He was GOC-in-C, Ireland, April 1916 to November 1916, when he was appointed GOC-in-C Northern Command, until 31 May 1919. Sir John Maxwell had the Grand Cross of the Order of the Legion of Honour (France); 1st Class Order of the Nile (Egypt); White Eagle (Russia); Crown of Italy; Charles III (Spain). He was created a GCB, 1917; and a KCMG, 1916. He married in 1892, Louise Selina, only daughter of C W Bonynge, of 42 Prince's Gate, London, SW, and they had one daughter, married 1 July 1919, to Lieutenant Clifford Carver, of Locust Valley, Long Island, USA.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Black Watch (Royal Highlanders) |
