| Haldane | James Ayhner Lowthorpe | | Captain | HALDANE, JAMES AYLMER LOWTHORPE, Captain, was born 17 November 1862, only son of D Rutherford Haldane, MD, and Mrs Haldane. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and Wimbledon School and passed with Honours, Royal Military College, Sandhurst, joining the Gordon Highlanders 9 September 1882, as Lieutenant. He was Adjutant, Gordon Highlanders, 1 September 1888 to 31 January 1892, and became Captain 8 April 1892. Captain Haldane served in the Waziristan Expedition, 1894-95 (Medal with clasp), and in the operations in Chitral in 1895, with the Relief Force (Medal with clasp). He was ADC to General Sir William Lockhart, 1896-99. In 1897-98 he served in the Tirah Expedition as DAAG, Headquarters Staff, and was present at the actions of Chagra Kotal and Dargai, and at the capture of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes. Reconnaissance at and around Dwatoi and action of 24 November 1897. Operations against the Khani Khel Chamkanis. Operations in the Bara Valley 7 to 11 December 1897. Operations in the Bazar Valley 25 to 30 December 1897. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 5 April 1898]; received two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 20 May 1898]: "James Ayhner Lowthorpe Haldane, Captain, Gordon Highlanders. In recognition of services during the recent operations on the North-West Frontier of India". The Insignia were presented to him by the Queen at Windsor 25 June 1898. He served in South Africa, 1899-1902, with the 2nd Gordon Highlanders, taking part in the operations in Natal in 1899, including the action at Elandslaagte, where he was severely wounded. He was in command of the Chieveley Armoured Train. Sir A Conan Doyle says, in ‘The Great Boer War' (page 166) "The Boers suddenly took the initiative, and in dramatic fashion. North of Estcourt, where, General Hildyard was being daily reinforced from the sea, there are two small townlets, or at least geographical and railway points. Frere is about ten miles north of Estcourt, and Chieveley is five miles north of that, and about as far to the south of Colenso. On 15 November an armoured train was despatched from Estcourt to see what was going on up the line. Already one disaster had befallen us in this campaign on account of these clumsy contrivances, and a heavier one was now to confirm the opinion that, acting alone, they are totally inadmissible. As a means of carrying artillery for a force operating upon either flank of them, with an assured retreat behind, there may be a place for them in modern war, but as a method of scouting they appear to be the most inefficient and also the most expensive that has ever been invented. An intelligent horseman would gather more information, be less visible, and retain some freedom as to route. After our experience the armoured train may step out of military history. The train contained 90 Dublin Fusiliers, Durban Volunteers, and 10 sailors, with a naval 7-pounder gun. Captain Haldane, of the Gordons, Lieutenant Frankland (Dublin Fusiliers) and Winston Churchill, the well-known correspondent, accompanied the expedition. What might have been foreseen occurred. The train steamed into the advancing Boer army, was fired upon, tried to escape, found the rails, blocked behind it, and upset. Dublins and Durbans were shot helplessly out of their trucks, under a heavy fire. A railway accident is a nervous, thing, and so is an ambuscade, but the combination of the two must be appalling. Yet there were brave hearts which rose to the occasion. Haldane and Frankland rallied the troops, and Churchill the engine-driver. The engine was disentangled and sent on with its cab full of wounded. Churchill, who had escaped upon it came gallantly back to share the fate of his comrades. The dazed, shaken soldiers continued a futile resistance for some time, but there was neither help nor escape and nothing for them but surrender. The most Spartan military critic cannot blame them. A few slipped away besides those who escaped upon the engine. Our losses, were two killed, 20 wounded, and about 80 taken. It is remarkable that of the three leaders both Haldane and Churchill succeeded in escaping from Pretoria". Captain Haldane was slightly wounded on this occasion. Operations in Natal, March to June 1900, including action at Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June). Operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 20 November 1900, including actions at Belfast (20 and 27 August) and Lydenberg (5 to 8 September). He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette 8 February 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 24 July 1902. He was promoted to Major 23 July 1932. In 1904 and 1905 he was attached to the Japanese Army in Manchuria, during the Russo-Japanese War. He was present at the Battles, of Liao-Yang, Sha-ho and Mukden, and received the Japanese War Medal and clasp, the Order of the Sacred Treasure (3rd Class), and was created a CB (1906). He was given the Brevet of Colonel 11 January 1906, and became Colonel 29 October 1906; was Assistant Director of Military Operations, Headquarters of Army, 29 October 1906 to 30 September 1909; was Brigadier General, General Staff, Eastern Command, 1 October 1909 to 27 April 1912; Brigade Commander, 10th Brigade, Eastern Command, 28 April 1912 to 4 August 1912. He served in the European War from 5 August 1914, as Brigade Commander, 10th Infantry Brigade, British Expeditionary Force, up to 20 November 1914; as General Officer Commanding 3rd Division, British Expeditionary Force and British Armies in France, 21 November 1914 to 7 August 1916, and as Army Corps Commander, 6th Army Corps, British Armies in France, 8 August 1916. He was promoted to Major General 26 October 1914; to Lieutenant General 1 January 1919; was eight times mentioned in Despatches; created a KCB in 1918; Grand Officier de l'Ordre de la Couronne; Commander, Legion of Honour, in 1918; Croix de Guerre (French and Belgian). He was made a, Knight of Grace of St John of Jerusalem in 1912. Sir Aylmer Haldane published 'How we escaped from Pretoria'. His favourite recreations were shooting and travelling.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Gordon Highlanders |
