| Rundle | Henry Macleod Leslie | | Major | RUNDLE, HENRY MACLEOD LESLIE, Major, was born at Newton Abbot, Devon, 6 January 1856, second son of Joseph Sparkhall Rundle, Captain, Royal Navy, and of Remira Catherine, daughter of W W Leslie, Commander, Royal Navy. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and entered the Royal Artillery 14 August 1876. He first saw active service in the South African War of 1879-81, taking part in the Zulu War; he was present at the Battle of Ulundi; horse shot; mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 21 August 1870], and received the Medal and clasp. In the Transvaal War he was present at the defence of Potchefstroom; was wounded and mentioned in Despatches. In 1882 he served in the Egyptian Campaign, and was present at the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir (Medal with clasp and Bronze Star). In the Sudan Expedition of 1884-85 (Nile) he was doing duty with the Egyptian Army, being employed on Lines of Communication in charge of Bedouin tribes. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 25 August 1885]; received a clasp, and was given the Brevet of Major 15 June 1885. He was promoted to Captain 13 March 1885. He served in the Sudan 1885-86-87-89-91. He took part in the operations of the Frontier Field Force (3rd Class Medjidie), and in the action of Sarras. He commanded a mounted corps and served as AAG He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 17 June 1887]; received the 3rd Class Osmanieh, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 12 August 1887]: "Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle, Bt. Major, Royal Artillery. For Action at Sarras in the Soudan". At the action of Toski he was in command of Artillery, and was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 6 September 1889] (Clasp, Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 17 August 1889). For the action of Tokar (serving as AAG), he was given a clasp to the Bronze Star. In the Dongola Expeditionary Force, in 1896, as Chief of the Staff (2 June to 7 October), he took part in the operations of 7 June and 19 September; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 3 November 1896]; was promoted Major General for Distinguished Service 19 November 1896, and received the Egyptian Medal with two clasps. For his services in the Nile Expedition of 1897, as Chief of the Staff and GOC Merowi Force, he was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 25 January 1898], and received a clasp to the Egyptian Medal. He was General of Communications in the Nile Expedition of 1898, during the operations on Atbara, and he was afterwards Chief of Staff, being present at the Battle of Khartoum; horse shot. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 24 May and 30 September 1898]; was created a KCB; received a Medal and a clasp to the Egyptian Medal, and was thanked by both Houses of Parliament. He was Major General, South-Eastern District 29 December 1898 to 8 October 1899; DAG to the Forces, Headquarters of Army, 9 October 1899 to 18 January 1900; and he commanded a Division at Aldershot 19 January 1900 to 9 March 1900. Sir Leslie Rundle was Lieutenant General on the Staff, commanding the 8th Division, South African Field Force, 10 March 1000 to 13 May 1902; afterwards commanding Harrismith District. He was slightly wounded; took part in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900. Operations in Orange River Colony (May to 29 November 1900), including actions at Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen (1 to 29 July); two horses shot. Operations in Orange River Colony 30 November 1900, to May 1902. 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, and was created a KCMG; Major General, 5th Division, 2nd Army Corps, 14 May 1902 to 9 November 1903. He was GOC, Northern Command, 10 November 1903 to 2 April 1906, and was promoted Lieutenant General 3 April 1905. He was GOC in Chief (2nd Class), Northern Command, 3 April 1905 to 9 November 1907; Colonel Commandant, EA, 1907; General 10 September 1909. Sir Leslie Rundle was Governor and Commander-in-Chief, Malta, 21 September 1909 to 19 February 1915; GOC in Chief, Central Force, Home Defence, 1915-1916. He was created a GCB in 1911, and created a GCMG in 1915; GOC in Chief, 1915-16. He was a Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem in England, and a Pasha in Egypt, and a JP for Herts. Sir Leslie Rundle married in 1887, Eleanor Georgina, daughter of Captain H J Montgomery Campbell, EA, who has the King George V Coronation Medal and was a Lady of Grace of St John of Jerusalem in England. The Official 'History of the War in South Africa, 1899-1902' (compiled by Major General Sir Frederick Maurice, KCB; published by Hurst and Blackett), says, in the chapter on "The Defence of Wepener" that "the 8th Division, which had been destined originally for Kimberley, was now, as fast, as its units landed from England, to concentrate at Edenburg, under Lieutenant General Sir Leslie Rundle, who was then to march to Dewetsdorp, get in touch with Brabant, and when the burghers besieging Wepener had been driven north, endeavour to cut them 'off'. On the 18th April Rundle had concentrated his division at Kosendal and next, day moved to Ooorlog's Post, and on the 20th his scouts were met by Boer patrols. "The enemy's advanced posts were found near Wakkerstroom, on the edge of a high plateau, from which rises a long ridge that proved to be the main position. Attempts on the 20th and the 21st to turn the flanks of this ridge were unsuccessful, but on the information obtained during the engagement, Rundle based a scheme for an attack on the 22nd, which he submitted by telegraph to the Commander-in-Chief. In his answer Lord Roberts told him that French was advancing via Leeuwkop on Dewetsdorp with the 3rd and 4th Cavalry Brigades and the 11th division (Pole-Carew), and desired that he should not commit himself to a definite assault until he was in touch with them... . Rundle accordingly halted for the next three days; he pushed mounted reconnaissances round the enemy's right flank, and kept up a desultory shell and rifle fire the operations were conducted was due to Rundle's instructions to wait until the other forces were in position. His subsequent movements showed that he was not a general who feared to strike... . On the Wednesday morning Rundle, with the addition of Pole-Carew's division, was strong enough for any attack, while French was in a position on the flank. Every requisite for a great victory was there except the presence of an enemy. The Wepener siege had been raised, and the force in front of Rundle had disappeared as only Boer armies can disappear... . Lord Roberts failed in his plan of cutting off De Wet's army, but, at the expense of many marches and skirmishes, the south-east of the state was cleared of the enemy".
From Transvaal War Album: Lieutenant-general Sir H. M. Leslie Rundle, K.C.B., C.M.G., D.S.O., R.A. General Rundle, who was called from his temporary appointment as D.A.A.G. at Headquarters to take command of the Eighth Division, ordered to be mobilised in January, 1900, is an officer of very distinguished service, though yet but little over forty-four years of age. Fifteen years ago he was a subaltern of Artillery, and his promotion has been rapid. His first active service was with Wood's Flying Column in the Zulu War, and he was with the Gatling Battery at Ulundi, gaining mention in despatches, an honour which has since fallen to him not less than seven times. He was one of the gallant band which defended Potchefstroom in the Boer War of 1881, when Cronje kept from the garrison knowledge that the war had been concluded and compelled them to surrender when defence was no longer possible. Rundle served with the Field Artillery in Egypt in 1882, being present at Tel-el Kebir. and, during the Nile Expedition in 1884-85 he was sent on special service with the Bedouin tribes. Afterwards he was with the Soudan Frontier Field Force, 1885-87. including the engagements at Giniss and Sarras, in command of the mounted corps as A.A.G. His fine service won him the D.S.O. He fought also in the Soudan in 1889. For some years | Royal Artillery |
