French (II)

Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)

VISCOUNT JOHN DEN- TON PINKSTONE, British general, son of a British naval officer, born at Ripple Vale, Kent, England, in 1852. He began his career in the Royal Navy as a midshipman, which he entered in 1866, but eight years later he was VISCOUNT FRENCH transferred to the Army. He saw serv ice in the Sudan with the Nineteenth Hussars, during 1884-1885. In 1889 he had reached the rank of colonel. In 1893-1894 he was Assistant Adjutant- General of Cavalry on the General Staff, and during 1895-1897 he was an assistant adjutant-general at Army Headquarters. In 1899 he became Major- General, commanding the cavalry division in Natal during the Boer War operations, and had command of operations around Colesberg, from November, 1899, to January 31, 1900. His cavalry assisted in the relief of Kimberley. In 1907, having now attained the full rank of General, he became Inspector-General of the Home Forces. In 1913 he was made Field Marshal, but early in 1914 he resigned, on account of friction with the Liberal Asquith Cabinet over the Government's military policy in Ireland. At the outbreak of the World War he immediately proffered his services and was placed in command of the British expeditionary forces sent to France. In the beginning of December, 1915, he was relieved of his command at his own instance and appointed to the command of the home forces. He was given a viscountcy in recognition of his long and faithful services. Nevertheless, there had been much criticism of the ability he had displayed in his command in France. In 1918 he was apof Ireland. pointed Lord-Lieutenant