18 Facts About Herbert Lawrence

General Sir Herbert Alexander Lawrence, was a general in the British Army, a banker and a businessman.

Herbert Lawrence was educated at Harrow School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Herbert Lawrence was then, in September 1897, appointed a staff captain at the War Office in succession to Henry Wilson, a future field marshal, before serving there as a deputy assistant adjutant general from May 1898.

Herbert Lawrence was promoted to major on 22 November 1899, at the outbreak of the Second Boer War in South Africa.

Herbert Lawrence stayed in South Africa throughout the war, which ended June 1902 with the Peace of Vereeniging.

Herbert Lawrence resigned his commission in 1903 and became a city banker.

Herbert Lawrence was promoted to lieutenant colonel while commanding the King's Colonials in April 1904.

Just three months later, Herbert Lawrence was promoted again, this time to temporary major general, and became General Officer Commanding 52nd Infantry Division, another TF formation, at Gallipoli in September 1915 and during the evacuation at the end of 1915 he oversaw the withdrawal at Cape Helles beach.

Herbert Lawrence was promoted to major general on the Active List in November and to temporary lieutenant general in July 1916.

Herbert Lawrence then took over from Sir Launcelot Kiggell as chief of staff of the BEF in France and, after being made a permanent lieutenant general in June 1918, was promoted to full general, which in June 1919 was made permanent.

Herbert Lawrence was made Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1917 and Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in 1926.

Herbert Lawrence received, as well as other overseas honours, the Croix de Guerre, was made a Commander of the Order of the Star of Roumania in September 1919, and was made a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honour in 1919.

Herbert Lawrence was awarded the Army Distinguished Service Medal, the citation for which reads:.

Herbert Lawrence became chairman of Vickers in 1926 and of Glyn's Bank in 1934.

Herbert Lawrence was chairman of several other banks and a director of a number of companies.

Herbert Lawrence lived for some time in Dean's Place in Alfriston and later moved to Little Berkhamsted.

Herbert Lawrence died in 1943 and was buried at Seal, near Sevenoaks, Kent.

Herbert Lawrence had married Isabel Mary Mills, the daughter of Charles Mills, 2nd Baron Hillingdon, in Sevenoaks in 1892.