19 Facts About Alexander Cobbe

Alexander Cobbe went on to Wellington College and then followed his elder brother Henry Hercules Cobbe to the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, from where he passed out in September 1889.

In October 1899, Alexander Cobbe was appointed second in command of the 1st Battalion, Central African Rifles, and given the local rank of captain.

Alexander Cobbe was then sent out with a column of 300 men to help clear the surrounding area.

Alexander Cobbe is an Officer to be thoroughly trusted, and commanded in several fights, where he invariably did well.

In January 1902, Alexander Cobbe was granted the local rank of lieutenant colonel and appointed Commandant of the 1st Battalion, King's African Rifles, and in this post, he deployed with his men to British Somaliland to take part in the Somaliland campaign or the "Mad Mullah War".

Alexander Cobbe then went out under an extremely hot fire from the enemy about 20 yards in front of him, and from his own men about the same distance behind, and succeeded in carrying in a wounded Orderly.

Still in British Somaliland in 1903, Alexander Cobbe was commanding a flying column ahead of the main body moving against Diiriye Guure.

Alexander Cobbe had orders to secure the water supply at Wardair.

Alexander Cobbe was overwhelmed by a large Dervish force and Plunkett, all his British and Indian soldiers, and most of the Central African soldiers with him were killed.

Alexander Cobbe testified that he had given Plunkett strict instructions not to engage the main body of the enemy and explicitly stated that Plunkett had disobeyed his orders.

Alexander Cobbe was at the final major battle of the war, Jidballi, on 10 January 1904, but seems to have attracted no mention in despatches.

In February of that year Alexander Cobbe, had been appointed a staff captain at headquarters in India, but that lasted only until February 1908, his new rank presumably deserving a more senior post.

In February 1915 Alexander Cobbe was appointed a Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General with the temporary rank of brigadier general.

In February 1916, Alexander Cobbe handed over his staff job in France and in March was posted back to India as Director of Staff Duties and Military Training at Army Headquarters, while retaining his temporary rank.

Alexander Cobbe was present at the capture of Kut-al-Amara in February 1917, and the capture of Baghdad the following month.

In June 1919, Alexander Cobbe was made a substantive lieutenant general, and was appointed Military Secretary to the India Office in 1920.

However, a lifetime of soldiering in severe climates and arduous conditions had had its effect and, at the age of just 61, General Sir Alexander Cobbe died on 29 June 1931.

Alexander Cobbe is buried alone in the churchyard of Sharnbrook, Bedfordshire.

On 1 October 1910, the 40-year-old Alexander Cobbe married the 23-year-old Winifred Ada Bowen, daughter of Sir Albert Bowen, 1st Baronet, and his wife Alice Anita Crowther.