William Babtie

Lieutenant General Sir William Babtie VC KCB KCMG (7 May 1859 -11 September 1920) was a Scottish recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces. His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Army Medical Services Museum in Aldershot.

outh Africa and the Victoria Cross

He was 40 years old, and a major in the Royal Army Medical Corps [LondonGazette|issue=26438|startpage=5059|date=5 September 1893|accessdate=2008-01-15] , British Army during the Second Boer War when he won his VC. The full citation was published in the "London Gazette" on 20 April 1900 and reads: [LondonGazette|issue=27184|startpage=2547|date=20 April 1900|accessdate=2008-01-15]

He had previously been made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in June 1899. [LondonGazette|issue=27091|startpage=3865|date=20 June 1899|accessdate=2008-01-15]

After South Africa

Babtie was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in April 1901, [LondonGazette|issue=27306|startpage=2706|date=19 April 1901|accessdate=2008-01-15] and appointed Assistant-Director, Army Medical Service in that June. [LondonGazette|issue=27326|startpage=4251|date=25 June 1901|accessdate=2008-01-15] In 1903 he was made a Knight of the Venerable Order of Saint John. [LondonGazette|issue=27550|startpage=2921|date=8 May 1903|accessdate=2008-01-15] He was promoted to colonel in 1907, and appointed Inspector of Medical Services. [LondonGazette|issue=28004|startpage=1833|date=15 March 1907|accessdate=2008-01-15] [LondonGazette|issue=28014|startpage=2650|date=19 April 1907|accessdate=2008-01-15] In 1910 he was appointed Deputy Director-General of Medical Services and granted the temporary rank of surgeon-general. [LondonGazette|issue=28346|startpage=1684|date=8 March 1910|accessdate=2008-01-15] The rank was made permanent in 1911. [LondonGazette|issue=28562|startpage=9450|date=15 December 1911|accessdate=2008-01-15] He was made a Companion of the Bath (CB) in the 1912 King's Birthday Honours. [LondonGazette|issue=28617|supp=yes|startpage=4297|endpage=4298|date=11 June 1912|accessdate=2008-01-15] On 1 June 1914 he was appointed Honorary Surgeon to the King, [LondonGazette|issue=31488|supp=yes|startpage=9948|date=1 August 1919|accessdate=2008-01-15] holding the post until 7 May 1919

First World War—Mesopotamia and Dardanelles

Babtie was appointed Director, Medical Services for the British Indian Army in March 1914. [LondonGazette|issue=28831|supp=yes|startpage=3931|date=15 May 1914|accessdate=2008-01-15] He was responsible for medical provision on both the Mesopotamian campaign and the Dardanelles Campaign. He was Mentioned in Despatches for his services in the Dardanelles. [LondonGazette|issue=29569|supp=yes|startpage=4517|endpage=4519|date=5 May 1916|accessdate=2008-01-15] He was appointed Director of Medical Services at the War Office on 18 March 1916. [LondonGazette|issue=27550|startpage=2921|date=8 May 1903|accessdate=2008-01-15] He became Inspector of Medical Services with the temporary rank of lieutenant-general on 1 March 1918. [LondonGazette|issue=30628|startpage=4490|date=12 April 1918|accessdate=2008-01-15]

However, he was severely criticised by the Mesopotamia Commission of Inquiry and received further criticism for similar failings at Galipolli. [ [http://www.firstworldwar.com/bio/babtie.htm firstworldwar.com] ]

He was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the 1919 King's Birthday Honours. [LondonGazette|issue=31395|startpage=7425|date=6 June 1919|accessdate=2008-01-15]

References

*Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
*The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
*Scotland's Forgotten Valour (Graham Ross, 1995)
*Victoria Crosses of the Anglo-Boer War (Ian Uys, 2000)

External links

* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/surrey.htm Burial location of William Babtie] "Surrey"
* [http://www.victoriacross.org.uk/ccramc.htm Location of William Babtie's Victoria Cross] "Army Medical Services Museum"