Edward Hutton (general)

Infobox Military Person
name=Sir Edward Thomas Henry Hutton


caption=
lived=6 December 1848 - 4 August 1923
placeofbirth=Torquay, Devon, England
placeofdeath=Lyne, Surrey, England
allegiance=British Army
New South Wales Military Forces
Canadian Army
Australian Army
rank=General
unit=
family=
nickname=
enteredservice=
currentlyresides=
serviceyears=1867-1915
battles=Zulu War
First Boer War
1882 Anglo-Egyptian War
Second Boer War
World War I
laterwork=
awards=Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Mention in Despatches (12)

Lieutenant General Sir Edward Thomas Henry Hutton KCB, KCMG (6 December 1848 – 4 August 1923) was a British and Commonwealth military commander.

Able, energetic, with a keen sense of publicity, Hutton delivered whirlwind of speeches, receptions, and inspections. He surveyed his command and proclaimed as his slogan, a "National Army" for Canada. Hutton published a fierce indictment of Canada's defences. His hostility to political patronage extended to civilian management of the militia's pay, stores, and engineering departments. Hutton also initiated sharp directives to militia staff officers and instructors to learn French. This produced predictable grumbling and a warm glow of appreciation from "Canadien" officers.

When South Africa's Second Boer War was on the horizon, Hutton lobbied Canada to participate. His aggressive tactics would eventually cost him his job. Without informing Canada's Prime Minister, Sir Wilfrid Laurier, Hutton published mobilization plans in the Canadian Military Gazette. Laurier's government then received a letter of gratuity from Britain for its decision to aid them in the Boer region. Furious, Laurier announced Canada's refusal to send any contingents. Political pressure would, in the end, be too great and Canada would in fact play a significant role in the war, especially in the week long battle at Paardeberg between February 18–27, 1900. General Minto's intervention and orders for Hutton to report to South Africa delayed his dismissal.

In 1902, Hutton, then a Major General, became the first commander of the Australian Army. He retired in 1906, but returned in 1914 to command the British 21st Division as a Lieutenant General, until retired as medically unfit in 1915.

External links

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* [http://www.adb.online.anu.edu.au/biogs/A090413b.htm Australian Dictionary of Biography]