![Aldershot Command Headquarters Building](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/80/Aldershot_Command_Headquarters_Building.jpeg)
South-Eastern District was a district command of the
British Army
The British Army is the principal land warfare force of the United Kingdom, a part of the British Armed Forces along with the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force. , the British Army comprises 79,380 regular full-time personnel, 4,090 Gurk ...
from the mid-19th century until 1903. It was in existence again between 1967 and 1995.
History
Early formation
Historically troops based in the South-Eastern counties had reported direct to
Army Headquarters in London but in July 1856 South-Eastern District was formed under Lieutenant-General
Sir Colin Campbell. Campbell was recalled to become
Commander-in-Chief, India
During the period of the Company rule in India and the British Raj, the Commander-in-Chief, India (often "Commander-in-Chief ''in'' or ''of'' India") was the supreme commander of the British Indian Army. The Commander-in-Chief and most of his ...
just three months later and Lieutenant-General
Sir Frederick Love was appointed to the command in his place. The headquarters of the command was established at
Dover Castle
Dover Castle is a medieval castle in Dover, Kent, England and is Grade I listed. It was founded in the 11th century and has been described as the "Key to England" due to its defensive significance throughout history. Some sources say it is the ...
.
Re-formation
The district was formed from
Aldershot Command
Aldershot () is a town in Hampshire, England. It lies on heathland in the extreme northeast corner of the county, southwest of London. The area is administered by Rushmoor Borough Council. The town has a population of 37,131, while the Alders ...
as part of the Territorial Army Volunteer Reserve in 1967. It had its headquarters at
Aldershot Garrison
Aldershot Garrison, also known as Aldershot Military Town, is a major garrison in South East England, between Aldershot and Farnborough in Hampshire. The garrison was established when the War Department bought a large area of land near the villa ...
, and was placed under the command of
HQ UK Land Forces in 1972. It was disbanded again on the formation of HQ
Land Command
Land Command (or 'HQ Land') was a military command and part of the structure of the British Army from 1995 to 2008. Its headquarters was at Erskine Barracks, at Fugglestone St Peter, some four kilometres northwest of Salisbury in Wiltshire.
It ass ...
in 1995.
Commanders
General officers commanding included:
South-Eastern District
*July-September 1856 Lieutenant-General
Sir Colin Campbell
*1856-1857 Lieutenant-General
Sir Frederick Love
*1857-1861 Lieutenant-General
Robert Mansel
Sir Robert Mansell (1573–1656) was an admiral of the English Royal Navy and a Member of Parliament (MP), mostly for Welsh constituencies. His name was sometimes given as Sir Robert Mansfield and Sir Robert Maunsell.
Early life
Mansel was a W ...
*1861-1865 Lieutenant-General the Hon.
Arthur Dalzell
*1865-1866 Lieutenant-General
Sir Robert Garrett
*1866-1867 Major-General
William McCleverty
*1867-1868 Major-General
Charles Ellice
General Sir Charles Henry Ellice (10 May 1823 – 12 November 1888) was a former Adjutant-General to the Forces.
Life
He was born at Florence on 10 May 1823, was second son of General Robert Ellice, the brother of the Right Hon. Edward Ellice, ...
*1868-1872 Lieutenant-General
Sir David Russell
Sir David Russell FRSE FLS FSA LLD (1872–1956) was a 20th century Scottish paper manufacturer and philanthropist, remembered as an amateur botanist, photographer and antiquary. His donation of 18,000 photographs to the University of St Andr ...
*1872-1874 Major-General
Sir Alfred Horsford
*1874-1877 Major-General
William Parke
*1877-1880 Lieutenant-General
Lord Alexander Russell
General Lord Alexander George Russell (16 September 1821 – 10 January 1907) was a British Army general. He served during the Siege of Sevastapol in the Crimean War.
Background
Russell was born at Woburn, Bedfordshire, the son of John Rus ...
*1880-1885 Major-General
Edward Newdigate
*1885-1887 Lieutenant-General the Hon.
Percy Feilding
*1887-1891 Major-General
Alexander Montgomery Moore
*1891-1896 Major-General
Lord William Seymour
*1896-1898 Major-General
Sir William Butler
*1898-1899 Major-General
Leslie Rundle
General Sir Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle, (6 January 1856 – 19 November 1934) was a British Army general during the Second Boer War and the First World War.
Military career
Born in Newton Abbot, Devon, to Captain Joseph Sparkhall Rundle, a Roy ...
*1899-1902 Major-General
Henry Hallam Parr
*1902-1903 Major-General
Leslie Rundle
General Sir Henry Macleod Leslie Rundle, (6 January 1856 – 19 November 1934) was a British Army general during the Second Boer War and the First World War.
Military career
Born in Newton Abbot, Devon, to Captain Joseph Sparkhall Rundle, a Roy ...
South East District
*1967-1969 Major-General
Charles Stainforth
*1969-1972 Major-General
Bernard Penfold
*1972 Lieutenant-General
Sir Allan Taylor
*1972-1974 Lieutenant-General
Sir Terence McMeekin
*1974-1977 Lieutenant-General
Sir James Wilson
*1977-1979 Lieutenant-General
Sir Anthony Farrar-Hockley
*1979-1981 Lieutenant-General
Sir George Cooper
*1981-1982 Lieutenant-General
Sir Paul Travers
*1982-1983 Lieutenant-General
Sir Richard Trant
*1983-1985 Lieutenant-General
Sir Geoffrey Howlett
*1985-1988 Lieutenant-General
Sir Michael Gray
*1988-1990 Lieutenant-General
Sir Peter de la Billière
*1990-1994 Lieutenant-General
Sir Richard Swinburn
Southern District
*1994-1995 Lieutenant-General
Sir Anthony Denison-Smith
References
{{British Army District Commands
Districts of the British Army
Military units and formations established in 1856
Military units and formations disestablished in 1903
Military units and formations established in 1972
Military units and formations disestablished in 1995