Sir Ronald Charles | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Calcutta, British India | 26 June 1875
Died | 24 December 1955 Somerset, England | (aged 80)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1894–1934 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Unit | Royal Engineers |
Commands held |
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich Waziristan Force 25th Division |
Battles/wars |
Second Boer War First World War |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches |
Lieutenant General Sir James Ronald Edmondston Charles, KCB, CMG, DSO (26 June 1875 – 24 December 1955) was a senior British Army officer in the Royal Engineers. [1]
Charles was born in Calcutta, British India, the son of Thomas Edmondston Charles, later honorary physician to King Edward VII, [2] [3] and Ada Henrietta Charles. [4] He had two older sisters, Bessie and Ethel, who both studied architecture and became the first women members of the Royal Institute of British Architects. [5]
Charles was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, [1] and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1894. [6] He served in the Second Boer War (1899–1901), was mentioned in despatches (31 March 1900), [7] and received the Distinguished Service Order in November 1900. [8] He was part of the Bazar Valley and Mohmand Field Forces in 1908. [6]
Charles spent most of the First World War in the General Staff until being promoted to command a re-constituted 25th Division in August 1918. [9] He was appointed commander of the Waziristan Force in India in 1923 and then became commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1924. [6] He was Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at the War Office from 1926 and Master-General of the Ordnance from 1931. [10] He retired in 1934. [6]
Charles' nickname among the troops was ' Don Carlos', deriving from his commanding personality and his height of 6’ 4". [9] He was also commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1931 to 1945 and Chief Royal Engineer from 1940 to 1946. [6]
From 1934 to 1953, Charles was a director of British Aluminium Company, [11] appointed for his high level connections and knowledge of defence procurement procedures gained at the War Office and as Master General of the Ordnance. [12]
Sir Ronald Charles | |
---|---|
Born | [1] Calcutta, British India | 26 June 1875
Died | 24 December 1955 Somerset, England | (aged 80)
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Years of service | 1894–1934 |
Rank | Lieutenant General |
Unit | Royal Engineers |
Commands held |
Royal Military Academy, Woolwich Waziristan Force 25th Division |
Battles/wars |
Second Boer War First World War |
Awards |
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches |
Lieutenant General Sir James Ronald Edmondston Charles, KCB, CMG, DSO (26 June 1875 – 24 December 1955) was a senior British Army officer in the Royal Engineers. [1]
Charles was born in Calcutta, British India, the son of Thomas Edmondston Charles, later honorary physician to King Edward VII, [2] [3] and Ada Henrietta Charles. [4] He had two older sisters, Bessie and Ethel, who both studied architecture and became the first women members of the Royal Institute of British Architects. [5]
Charles was educated at Winchester College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, [1] and was commissioned into the Royal Engineers in 1894. [6] He served in the Second Boer War (1899–1901), was mentioned in despatches (31 March 1900), [7] and received the Distinguished Service Order in November 1900. [8] He was part of the Bazar Valley and Mohmand Field Forces in 1908. [6]
Charles spent most of the First World War in the General Staff until being promoted to command a re-constituted 25th Division in August 1918. [9] He was appointed commander of the Waziristan Force in India in 1923 and then became commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich in 1924. [6] He was Director of Military Operations and Intelligence at the War Office from 1926 and Master-General of the Ordnance from 1931. [10] He retired in 1934. [6]
Charles' nickname among the troops was ' Don Carlos', deriving from his commanding personality and his height of 6’ 4". [9] He was also commandant of the Royal Engineers from 1931 to 1945 and Chief Royal Engineer from 1940 to 1946. [6]
From 1934 to 1953, Charles was a director of British Aluminium Company, [11] appointed for his high level connections and knowledge of defence procurement procedures gained at the War Office and as Master General of the Ordnance. [12]