Brigadier-General Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

Cyril Rodney Harbord, (2 December 1873 – 28 September 1958) was a

cavalry Historically, cavalry (from the French word ''cavalerie'', itself derived from "cheval" meaning "horse") are soldiers or warriors who fight mounted on horseback. Cavalry were the most mobile of the combat arms, operating as light cavalry ...

officer in the

British Indian Army The British Indian Army, commonly referred to as the Indian Army, was the main military of the British Raj before its dissolution in 1947. It was responsible for the defence of the British Indian Empire, including the princely states, which co ...

, where he served in the

30th Lancers (Gordon's Horse) The 8th Light Cavalry traces its origins from the 8th King George's Own Light Cavalry which was formed in 1922 by the amalgamation of the 26th King George's Own Light Cavalry and the 30th Lancers following a re-organisation of the Indian Cavalry C ...

. Harbord saw active service in the Second Boer War, the Somaliland campaign and the First World War, and rose in rank to command the 15th (Imperial Service) and the 2nd Indian Cavalry Brigades.

Background

Cyril Rodney Harbord was born on 2 December 1873, to Charles Hedgron and Rosalie Harriet Harbord. He was educated at

Bedford School :''Bedford School is not to be confused with Bedford Girls' School, Bedford High School, Bedford Modern School, Old Bedford School in Bedford, Texas or Bedford Academy in Bedford, Nova Scotia.'' Bedford School is a public school (English indep ...

, graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst as a Queen's Cadet, and joined the Indian Army as a second-lieutenant on 3 September 1892.

Military career

Harbord was promoted to lieutenant on 3 December 1894, to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police department, election precinct, e ...

26 November 1901, and to

major Major (commandant in certain jurisdictions) is a military rank of commissioned officer status, with corresponding ranks existing in many military forces throughout the world. When used unhyphenated and in conjunction with no other indicators ...

18 October 1910. He was commissioned in the Imperial Yeomanry and saw active service with the 3rd Battalion in the Second Boer War, for which he was

mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...

, awarded Queen's South Africa Medal with three clasps and the King's South Africa Medal with two clasps. He left Cape Town in April 1902, arrived at Southampton the following month, and relinquished his commission with the Imperial Yeomanry in August 1902. Following his return, he served with the

29th Lancers (Deccan Horse) The Deccan Horse or 9 Horse is one of the oldest and most decorated armoured regiments of the Indian Army. The Royal Deccan Horse (9th Horse), which was a regular cavalry regiment of the British Indian Army was formed from the amalgamation of tw ...

and as a special service officer on the staff of the Somaliland Field Force in 1904. This was followed by service in the First World War. On the

Western Front Western Front or West Front may refer to: Military frontiers *Western Front (World War I), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (World War II), a military frontier to the west of Germany *Western Front (Russian Empire), a majo ...

and in the Sinai and Palestine campaign. On 16 April 1917 he was promoted to temperay

brigadier-general Brigadier general or Brigade general is a military rank used in many countries. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries. The rank is usually above a colonel, and below a major general or divisional general. When appointed ...

and given commanded of the

15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade The 15th (Imperial Service) Cavalry Brigade was a brigade-sized formation that served alongside British Empire forces in the Sinai and Palestine Campaign, during World War I. Originally called the Imperial Service Cavalry Brigade it was formed ...

. While in command of the brigade he was made a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order in April 1918, and appointed a

Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...

in May 1919. For his service in the war he was awarded, by the

Sultan of Egypt Sultan of Egypt was the status held by the rulers of Egypt after the establishment of the Ayyubid dynasty of Saladin in 1174 until the Ottoman conquest of Egypt in 1517. Though the extent of the Egyptian Sultanate ebbed and flowed, it generally i ...

, the Order of the Nile third class in November 1919. Having reverted to his peace time rank after the war, in December 1926 he was a colonel and commander of the 2nd Indian Cavalry Brigade at Sialkot in India, when he was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...

. Harbord retired from the army in 1929 and died 28 September 1958.

Family

Harbord was married to Kathleen Mary Cocks (née Fox), with whom he had four children. One son was killed in action during the Second World War.'' The Times'', 30 September 1958, p.1

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Harbord, Cyril 1873 births 1958 deaths British Army personnel of the Second Boer War Companions of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Indian Army cavalry generals of World War I People educated at Bedford School British people in colonial India