Arthur Barrett (Indian Army officer)

Field Marshal Sir Arthur Arnold Barrett GCB GCSI KCVO ADC (3 June 1857–20 October 1926) was a British soldier in India.

Early life and service

Barrett was born in Carshalton, Surrey (now in Greater London), the son of a clergyman. He was commissioned Sub-Lieutenant in the 44th Regiment of Foot on 10 September 1875 [LondonGazette|issue=24244|date=10 September 1875|startpage=4452|accessdate=2007-11-16] and immediately sailed to join his regiment in Secunderabad, India. In 1878 he was promoted Lieutenant, although the promotion was backdated to the date of his commission. [LondonGazette|issue=24599|date=28 June 1878|startpage=3835|accessdate=2007-11-16] On 17 January 1879 he transferred to the Indian Staff Corps. [LondonGazette|issue=24715|date=29 April 1879|startpage=3056|accessdate=2007-11-16]

He was posted to the 3rd Sikhs, a regiment of the Punjab Frontier Force, and served in Afghanistan including operations around Kabul in December 1879 and the relief of Kandahar. On 10 September 1886 he was promoted Captain. [LondonGazette|issue=25649|date=26 November 1886|startpage=5795|accessdate=2007-11-16]

In 1882 Barrett transferred to the 5th Gurkha Rifles. From 1886 to 1891 he was adjutant of the Calcutta Volunteers, although he also took part in the Hazara expedition of 1888. In 1891 he returned to the Gurkhas and took part in the Miranzai operations and the Hunza-Naga Campaign. On 10 September 1895 he was promoted Major [LondonGazette|issue=26682|date=22 November 1895|startpage=6356|accessdate=2007-11-16] and became assistant adjutant-general of the Punjab Frontier Force.

Later service in India

From 1897 to 1898 he was deputy assistant quartermaster-general and then assistant quartermaster-general of the large force mobilised to suppress rebellion on the North West Frontier. For this he was mentioned in dispatches and promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 20 May 1898, [LondonGazette|issue=26968|date=20 May 1898|startpage=3167|accessdate=2007-11-16] being promoted substantively to the rank on 10 September 1901. [LondonGazette|issue=27380|date=26 November 1901|startpage=8094|accessdate=2007-11-16] In 1903 he was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).

In 1905 he became deputy adjutant-general of the Indian Northern Command and in March 1907 he was promoted Major-General and given command of the Nowshera Brigade. He commanded the second brigade in the Bazar Valley expedition and operations against the Mohmands in 1908, and for this he was promoted to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) on 14 August 1908. [LondonGazette|issue=28168|supp=yes|date=14 August 1908|startpage=6066|accessdate=2007-11-16] In April 1909 he was appointed Adjutant-General in India and in 1912 he was given command of the Poona Division. On 14 January 1912 he was appointed Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (KCVO). [LondonGazette|issue=28580|date=13 February 1912|startpage=104|accessdate=2007-11-16]

First World War

On the declaration of war on the Ottoman Empire in 1914 he was sent to Mesopotamia (now Iraq) with two brigades and quickly occupied the city of Basra. Before the end of the year he had pushed forwards to occupy the whole area between Kurna and the sea. When the troops in Mesopotamia were reorganised as a corps the following year he was given command of the 6th Division, but soon resigned due to ill-health. He returned to India, was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI), and became General Officer Commanding Northern Army. He commanded operations against the Mahsuds in 1915 and in 1917. On 3 November 1917 he was appointed ADC General to the King [LondonGazette|issue=30365|date=2 November 1917|startpage=11361|accessdate=2007-11-16] and in the 1918 King's Birthday Honours he was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB). [LondonGazette|issue=30723|supp=yes|date=31 May 1918|startpage=6527|accessdate=2007-11-16]

Third Afghan War

When the Third Afghan War broke out in 1919 Barrett was given command of the North-West Frontier Force and was the senior officer on the ground throughout the war. Afterwards he was promoted to Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India (GCSI) on 1 January 1920. [LondonGazette|issue=32001|supp=yes|date=30 July 1920|startpage=8049|accessdate=2007-11-16]

Retirement

He retired from the Indian Army in May 1920. In April 1921 he was promoted Field Marshal. In 1921 he received the Japanese Order of the Rising Sun 1st Class. [LondonGazette|issue=32428|supp=yes|date=19 August 1921|startpage=6569|accessdate=2007-11-16]

Footnotes

References

*Obituary, "The Times", 21 October 1926