20 Facts About Norman McMahon

Brigadier-General Norman Reginald McMahon was a British Army officer.

Norman McMahon was appointed chief instructor of the army's School of Musketry in 1905 and sought to improve the infantry's rate of fire.

Norman McMahon was promoted to brigadier-general in the first months of the war and was due to take over command of the 10th Infantry Brigade shortly before he was killed by shell fire.

Norman Reginald McMahon was born in London on 24 January 1866 and was the youngest son of General Sir Thomas Westropp McMahon, 3rd Baronet.

Norman McMahon attended Eton College and the Royal Military College Sandhurst from which he was commissioned as a subaltern, with the rank of lieutenant, in the Royal Fusiliers on 23 May 1885.

Norman McMahon relinquished his appointment after two years and was promoted to captain on 27 November 1896.

Norman McMahon served during the Second Boer War and on 9 October 1899 was seconded to the general staff for service as an aide-de-camp to an infantry major-general.

Norman McMahon held the position of ADC until appointed as brigade major of the 6th Infantry Brigade on 29 April 1900.

Norman McMahon served in operations in the Orange River Colony and was seriously wounded in action during operations in the Tugela Heights.

Norman McMahon was mentioned in dispatches for his service by General Redvers Buller on 30 March 1900.

Norman McMahon was invalided due to his injury and as a result his appointment as brigade major ended on 6 May 1900.

Norman McMahon was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 29 November 1900 and was promoted to the rank of major on 28 November 1901.

Norman McMahon returned to service later in the war and held the appointment of deputy assistant adjutant general from February to June 1902.

Norman McMahon was appointed to the staff again in June 1905 when he was appointed chief instructor at the army's School of Musketry in Hythe, Kent.

Norman McMahon relinquished his appointment as chief instructor on 9 June 1909 and thereafter served at army headquarters until January 1910.

Norman McMahon passed the staff officer's course at the Staff College, Camberley in December 1910 and was promoted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on 3 May 1911.

At the request of General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, general officer commanding II Corps of the BEF, Norman McMahon was retained in command of a battalion of the Royal Fusiliers until a suitable replacement could be found.

Norman McMahon was rallying a group of recently arrived battalion support staff when he was hit in the leg.

Norman McMahon has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial to the Missing in Belgium.

Norman McMahon was mentioned in dispatches again by Field Marshal French after his death, on 14 January 1915, for service during the Battle of Armentieres.