17 Facts About Neville Lyttelton

Neville Lyttelton was Chief of the General Staff at the time of the Haldane Reforms and then became Commander-in-Chief, Ireland.

Neville Lyttelton was promoted to lieutenant on 14 July 1869, to captain on 13 October 1877 and to major on 22 February 1882.

Neville Lyttelton took part in the Anglo-Egyptian War in 1882 as an Aide-de-Camp to Sir John Adye, from 1 August 1882.

Neville Lyttelton saw action at the Battle of Tel el-Kebir and was mentioned in despatches.

Neville Lyttelton was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel and awarded the Order of Osmanieh on 17 November 1882.

Neville Lyttelton became assistant military secretary to Lieutenant General Sir John Adye in his role as Governor of Gibraltar on 1 January 1883 and military secretary to Lord Reay, Governor of Bombay in 1885.

Neville Lyttelton was promoted to brevet colonel on 18 November 1886 and became second-in-command of the 3rd Battalion of his regiment in 1890.

Neville Lyttelton went on to be assistant adjutant-general at Headquarters in December 1894 and assistant military secretary there in October 1897 and took part in the state funeral of Former prime minister William Gladstone in May 1898.

Neville Lyttelton was given command of 2nd Brigade with the temporary rank of brigadier general on 13 July 1898 and led his brigade at the battle of Omdurman in September 1898 during the Mahdist War.

Neville Lyttelton returned to his role as assistant military secretary at headquarters on 21 October 1898 and then, having become a supernumerary major general for distinguished service in the field on 15 November 1898 and promoted to the substantive rank of major general on 10 February 1899, he briefly took back his old command at 2nd Brigade, now based at Aldershot Command, on 1 September 1899.

Neville Lyttelton served in the Second Boer War as commander of the 4th Brigade in South Africa from 9 October 1899.

Neville Lyttelton temporarily became general officer commanding the 2nd Division in February 1900, then commanded the 4th Division, and was involved in the Battle of Spion Kop in January 1900 and the Battle of Vaal Krantz in February 1900, leading to the Relief of Ladysmith later that month.

On 12 February 1904 Neville Lyttelton was appointed Chief of the General Staff and a member of the newly formed Army Council.

Neville Lyttelton moved on to become Commander-in-Chief, Ireland on 10 May 1908.

Neville Lyttelton took part both in the funeral procession following the death of King Edward VII in May 1910 and the coronation procession for King George V in June 1911.

Neville Lyttelton was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order on 12 July 1911 and retired on 10 August 1912.

In 1883 Neville Lyttelton married Katharine Sarah Stuart-Wortley, the youngest of the nine children of the politician James Stuart-Wortley and Jane Lawley.