Dorward | Arthur Robert Ford | | Captain | DORWARD, ARTHUR ROBERT FORD, Captain, was born 13 July 1848, at Ootacamund, son of James Dorward, Inspector-General of Hospitals, Madras, and Charlotte Ford. He was educated at Cheltenham and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and joined the Royal Engineers on 15 July 1868. In 1879-80, he served in the Afghan War, being present at the action of Kam Dakka, and in the operations in the Kama District (Despatches, Medal). He was promoted to Captain 1 May 1881. He served in the Burmese Expedition of 1885-88; for three months commanded the Queen's Own Sappers and Miners, and then Commanding Royal Engineers. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 22 June 1886, and 2 September 1887], received a clasp, was thanked by the Government of India, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, for mention in Despatches as having proved capability of leading men. The Brevet of Major was given in the same campaign (1 July 1887), for mention in Despatches as one whose promotion would be of advantage to the Army. His DSO was gazetted 26 November 1886: "Arthur Robert Ford Dorward, Captain, Royal Engineers. For operations in Burma". He became Major, 1 October 1887, and Lieutenant Colonel 21 June 1894, and commanded the Royal Engineers in Jamaica in 1897-99. He was promoted to Colonel 10 August 1899, and was Colonel on the Staff, Wei-hai-Wei, 10 August 1899 to 20 June 1900; in the Chinese Expedition of 1900 was Brigadier General commanding the British troops until the arrival of the Indian Contingent. He commanded British, American and Russian troops in the action near Tientsin, 9 July and British, American and Austrian troops at the capture of Tientsin city, July 1900 (Despatches [London Gazette, 14 May 1901], Medal with clasp, KCB). He commanded Allied troops, in the defeat of the Boxers, near Tientsin, in August, and subsequently in the Expedition to Tu Liu. From the date of his arrival in Tientsin he collected junks for the advance of the British, Austrian and Italian troops from Tientsin to Peking, and he commanded troops at Shanghai till 25 June 1902, when he was ordered home. He commanded troops in the Straits Settlements 1903-5; was promoted to Major General 15 July 1905; was on the Staff in Charge of Administration, South Africa, from 15 July 1905 to November 1909. Sir Arthur Dorward retired on I5 July 1910. Shortly after the outbreak of the European War he was asked by Lord Kitchener to undertake the hutting of Colonial troops on Salisbury Plain. On completion of that job he was appointed Inspector of Hutting at the War Office, having supervision of all military camps and roads in Great Britain and Ireland. He was mentioned in Despatches.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Engineers |