Major General Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

Sir Guy Archibald Hastings Beatty &

Bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

(22 June 1870 – 22 May 1954) was an 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 ...

. Beatty was born in 1870 at

Poona Pune (; ; also known as Poona, (List of renamed Indian cities and states#Maharashtra, the official name from 1818 until 1978) is one of the most important industrial and educational hubs of India, with an estimated population of 7.4 million ...

, British India. He was first commissioned into the Royal Irish Regiment in 1889, but transferred to

9th Hodson's Horse 4th Horse (Hodson's Horse) is a part of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army, which had its beginnings as an irregular cavalry regiment during the time of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Formation The regiment was raised during the turbulent ti ...

, part of the

, in 1892. He fought in several wars and conflicts, including those on the North-West Frontier, in the

Boxer Rebellion The Boxer Rebellion, also known as the Boxer Uprising, the Boxer Insurrection, or the Yihetuan Movement, was an anti-foreign, anti-colonial, and anti-Christian uprising in China between 1899 and 1901, towards the end of the Qing dynasty, by ...

, in the

First World War World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

and in the

Third Afghan War The Third Anglo-Afghan War; fa, جنگ سوم افغان-انگلیس), also known as the Third Afghan War, the British-Afghan War of 1919, or in Afghanistan as the War of Independence, began on 6 May 1919 when the Emirate of Afghanistan inv ...

. During which he commanded his regiment and several brigades, rising in rank to major-general. He was also awarded several orders and was knighted for his service before retiring from the army in 1931.

History

Early life

Guy Archibald Beatty, born 22 June 1870 at

in India, was the son of Surgeon-General Thomas Berkeley Beatty, of the

Indian Medical Service The Indian Medical Service (IMS) was a military medical service in British India, which also had some civilian functions. It served during the two World Wars, and remained in existence until the independence of India in 1947. Many of its officer ...

and the brother of

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 ...

Lionel Nicholson Beatty __TOC__ Lionel may refer to: Name *Lionel (given name) Places *Lionel, Lewis, a village in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland *Lionel Town, Jamaica, a settlement Brands and enterprises *Lionel, LLC, an American designer and importer of toy trains and mo ...

. He was educated at Newton College and

Charterhouse School (God having given, I gave) , established = , closed = , type = Public school Independent day and boarding school , religion = Church of England , president ...

. On 2 September 1887 he was commissioned as a

second-lieutenant Second lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces, comparable to NATO OF-1 rank. Australia The rank of second lieutenant existed in the military forces of the Australian colonies and Australian Army until ...

in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment. Then on 2 August 1892, he was seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps, and later transferred to the

in March 1894. Beatty first saw active service on the North-West Frontier in 1897. He was promoted 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 ...

in February 1901, and

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 ...

, for service in the

in May that year. His next promotion was 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 ...

in 1908.

First World War

In November 1914, Beatty, and the 9th Hodson's Horse, which was part of the

8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade The Lucknow Cavalry Brigade was a cavalry brigade of the British Indian Army formed in 1911 as a result of the Kitchener Reforms. It was mobilized as 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade at the outbreak of the First World War as part of the 1st Indian ...

, attached to the

1st Indian Cavalry Division The 1st Indian Cavalry Division was a division of the British Indian Army which was formed at the outbreak of the First World War. It served on the Western Front, and was renamed the 4th Cavalry Division on 26 November 1916. In March 1918, the ...

, in the

Indian Cavalry Corps The Indian Cavalry Corps was a formation of the British Indian Army in World War I. It was formed in France in December 1914. It remained in France until March 1916, when it was broken up. The corps consisted of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division a ...

, arrived in France. Beatty commanded the regiment and was promoted to

lieutenant-colonel Lieutenant colonel ( , ) is a rank of commissioned officers in the armies, most marine forces and some air forces of the world, above a major and below a colonel. Several police forces in the United States use the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...

in March 1915. It was while still the regimental commander that he was awarded his first

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly of other parts of the Commonwealth, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typ ...

(DSO). Then in December 1917 he was promoted to command the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade, awarded a

bar Bar or BAR may refer to: Food and drink * Bar (establishment), selling alcoholic beverages * Candy bar * Chocolate bar Science and technology * Bar (river morphology), a deposit of sediment * Bar (tropical cyclone), a layer of cloud * Bar (u ...

to his DSO, for a second award, and promoted to temporary

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 ...

in February 1918. In March 1918 the Indian Cavalry were withdrawn from the Western front and the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade moved to Egypt, where it was reorganized and the units went on to Palestine where they saw service in General Allenby's final campaign.

Post-war

Following the Armistice with Turkey, Beatty was given command of British forces in north-east Persia and Transcapia. For post-war operations in the

Balkans The Balkans ( ), also known as the Balkan Peninsula, is a geographical area in southeastern Europe with various geographical and historical definitions. The region takes its name from the Balkan Mountains that stretch throughout the who ...

, Beatty was 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. In July 1920, while still holding the appointment of brigadier general he was promoted to

brevet Brevet may refer to: Military * Brevet (military), higher rank that rewards merit or gallantry, but without higher pay * Brevet d'état-major, a military distinction in France and Belgium awarded to officers passing military staff college * Aircre ...

colonel Colonel (abbreviated as Col., Col or COL) is a senior military officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries, a colonel was typically in charge of ...

. In the

he was in command of the

6th Indian Infantry Brigade The 6th Indian Infantry Brigade was an infantry brigade formation of the Indian Army during World War II. The brigade was a pre-war formation designated 6th (Lucknow) Infantry Brigade in India in September 1939. In November 1940, the brigade arr ...

and, on 17/18 September 1919, was involved in the destruction of Yar Muhammed's fort at Chora. Then when the rank of brigadier-general was abolished, in December 1920 he became a colonel commandant, while still in command of his brigade. He was again mentioned in despatches in January 1921, while commanding a British Indian Army brigade, co-operating with Russian and Turkish troops against the Turkestan Bolshevik Army. The following month he was promoted to substantive

, with seniority backdated to November 1919. He was given command of the Rawalpindi divisional area in India in 1920, soon after he took the

75th Indian Infantry Brigade The 75th Indian Infantry Brigade was an Infantry formation of the Indian Army during World War II. It was formed in April 1942. In August 1944, it was renamed the Gardaí Brigade. It remained in India throughout the war and was disbanded in Augus ...

to Iraq as re-inforcements to quell an insurrection, and was once more mentioned in despatches, defending the Persian

lines of communications A line of communication (or communications) is the route that connects an operating military unit with its supply base. Supplies and reinforcements are transported along the line of communication. Therefore, a secure and open line of communicat ...

. He left Iraq in February 1921 and in March 1921 he was again promoted to temporary brigadier general,

Later army life

In September 1921, Beatty was appointed a

Companion of the Order of the Star of India The Most Exalted Order of the Star of India is an order of chivalry founded by Queen Victoria in 1861. The Order includes members of three classes: # Knight Grand Commander (GCSI) # Knight Commander ( KCSI) # Companion ( CSI) No appointments ...

. In October 1921 he became temporary colonel commandment of 1st Indian Cavalry Brigade and at the end of the year in December was made 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 ...

. In April 1924, Beatty was appointed as an Aide de Camp to King

George V George V (George Frederick Ernest Albert; 3 June 1865 – 20 January 1936) was King of the United Kingdom and the British Dominions, and Emperor of India, from 6 May 1910 until Death and state funeral of George V, his death in 1936. Born duri ...

. His final brigade command was as commander of the 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade in August 1925. That lasted until October 1925, when, with his tenure in command over, he was placed on the half pay list. The following year in November he was promoted to

major general Major general (abbreviated MG, maj. gen. and similar) is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. The disappearance of the "sergeant" in the title explains the apparent confusion of a ...

, and restored to full pay in August 1927. He then began a four-year tour as the Military Adviser-in-Chief, Indian State Forces. At the end of which he was

knighted A knight is a person granted an honorary title of knighthood by a head of state (including the Pope) or representative for service to the monarch, the Christian denomination, church or the country, especially in a military capacity. Knighthood ...

as a

Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is a British order of chivalry, rewarding contributions to the arts and sciences, work with charitable and welfare organisations, and public service outside the civil service. It was established ...

, just before retiring from the army on 20 June 1931. His final military appointment was as the Regimental Colonel for the

4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse 4th Horse (Hodson's Horse) is a part of the Armoured Corps of the Indian Army, which had its beginnings as an irregular cavalry regiment during the time of the Indian Rebellion of 1857. Formation The regiment was raised during the turbulent tim ...

Family life

Beatty married Mabel Reynolds in 1905 and they had a son and daughter, both of whom died on active service. Sir Guy Archibald Hastings Beatty died at his home in

Budleigh Salterton Budleigh Salterton is a seaside town on the coast in East Devon, England, south-east of Exeter. It lies within the East Devon Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, and forms much of the electoral ward of Budleigh, whose ward population at t ...

, Devon in 1954 aged 83.

References

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Beatty Guy 1870 births 1954 deaths Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Companions of the Order of the Star of India Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Indian Army cavalry generals of World War I Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922) officers British military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Afghan War British people in colonial India