Walter Sinclair Delamain

Sir Walter Delamain
Sir Walter Delamain
Birth nameWalter Sinclair Delamain
Born18 February 1862[1][2]
Saint Helier, Jersey, Channel Islands[3]
Died6 March 1932(1932-03-06) (aged 70)
Brockenhurst, Hampshire, England[1]
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branchIndian Army
Years of service1881–1923
RankLieutenant-general
Battles/warsBoxer Rebellion
World War I
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Distinguished Service Order

Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Sinclair Delamain KCB KCMG DSO (18 February 1862 – 6 March 1932) was an officer of the British Indian Army.[1]

Early service

Delamain was born in Saint Helier, the son of Charles Henry Delamain and Susan Sarah Christina Gun. He attended the Royal Military College and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment) on 22 October 1881.[4] On 13 January 1885 he was seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps,[5] and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Bombay Staff Corps on 1 February 1885, with seniority of 22 October 1881.[6] He was promoted to captain, 22 October 1892,[7] and given the temporary rank of Major, 4 November 1898.[8] As Commandant of the Native Military Base Depot during the Boxer Rebellion he was mentioned in despatches.[9] On 26 May 1901 he was appointed a Special Service Officer on the staff of the China Field Force,[10] and his rank of major was made substantive on 10 July 1901.[11] In October 1902 he was in command of a detachment from the 23rd Bombay Rifles (renamed as the 123rd Outram's Rifles the following year) sent via Aden to British Somaliland as reinforcement during the Somaliland campaign.[12] In 1905 he was again mentioned in despatches for his service with the Outram's Rifles, commanding the escort to the Aden Boundary Commission for eight months,[13] was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 14 April,[14] and promoted to lieutenant-colonel, with seniority of 12 January 1905.[15] On 12 January 1908 he was made brevet colonel,[16] and substantive colonel on 1 January 1911.[17] He was appointed assistant adjutant-general on 17 November 1912.[18]

First World War

Delamain was appointed temporary brigadier-general, 27 September 1914.[19] He commanded the 16th (Poona) and 17th (Ahmednagar) Brigades at the Battle of Es Sinn.[20] His conduct was described as "admirable" in General Nixon's despatch,[21] and Delamain was promoted to major-general, 29 October 1915, for distinguished service in the field.[22] He became a prisoner of war on 29 April 1916.[23]

Post-war

On 14 November 1919 Delamain was given command of a division,[24] and he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 1 April 1920,[25] with seniority later backdated to 21 December 1919.[26] He served as Adjutant-General, India from 10 November 1920[27] to 28 March 1923,[28] when he retired from the Indian Army.[29]

Delamain was also colonel of the 117th Mahrattas from 28 October 1921[30] until he reached the age limit, being replaced by Major-General R.C. Wilson on 18 February 1932.[31]

References

  1. ^ a b c "Obituary: Lieut.-General Sir W. S. Delamain". The Times. 8 March 1932. p. 20.
  2. ^ Jersey, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813–1915
  3. ^ 1881 England Census
  4. ^ "No. 25029". The London Gazette. 21 October 1881. p. 5194.
  5. ^ "No. 25440". The London Gazette. 10 February 1885. p. 576.
  6. ^ "No. 25621". The London Gazette. 31 August 1886. p. 4226.
  7. ^ "No. 26354". The London Gazette. 16 December 1892. p. 7398.
  8. ^ "No. 27055". The London Gazette. 21 February 1899. p. 1111.
  9. ^ "No. 27313". The London Gazette. 14 May 1901. p. 3280.
  10. ^ "No. 27365". The London Gazette. 15 October 1901. p. 6713.
  11. ^ "No. 27362". The London Gazette. 4 October 1901. p. 6486.
  12. ^ "Latest intelligence - The Somaliland Rising". The Times. No. 36908. London. 25 October 1902. p. 7.
  13. ^ "No. 27765". The London Gazette. 17 February 1905. p. 1198.
  14. ^ "No. 27784". The London Gazette. 14 April 1905. p. 2798.
  15. ^ "No. 27788". The London Gazette. 28 April 1905. p. 3104.
  16. ^ "No. 28134". The London Gazette. 5 May 1908. p. 3316.
  17. ^ "No. 28487". The London Gazette. 21 April 1911. p. 3095.
  18. ^ "No. 28683". The London Gazette. 21 January 1913. p. 502.
  19. ^ "No. 29029". The London Gazette (Supplement). 1 January 1915. p. 139.
  20. ^ "No. 29536". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 April 1916. p. 3659.
  21. ^ "No. 29536". The London Gazette (Supplement). 4 April 1916. p. 3660.
  22. ^ "No. 29344". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 October 1915. p. 10728.
  23. ^ Generals Nicknames (d to h). Westernfrontassociation.com (20 May 2008). Retrieved on 20 July 2011.
  24. ^ "No. 31965". The London Gazette. 6 July 1920. p. 7231.
  25. ^ "No. 32013". The London Gazette (Supplement). 10 August 1920. p. 8349.
  26. ^ "No. 32326". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 May 1921. p. 3979.
  27. ^ "No. 32254". The London Gazette. 11 March 1921. p. 2001.
  28. ^ "No. 32829". The London Gazette. 1 June 1923. p. 3873.
  29. ^ "No. 32832". The London Gazette. 8 June 1923. p. 4065.
  30. ^ "No. 32501". The London Gazette. 28 October 1921. p. 8497.
  31. ^ "No. 33800". The London Gazette. 19 February 1932. p. 1131.
Military offices
Preceded by Adjutant-General, India
1920–1923 		Succeeded by
Sir George Barrow