27 Facts About Redvers Buller

Redvers Buller served as Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in South Africa during the early months of the Second Boer War and subsequently commanded the army in Natal until his return to England in November 1900.

Redvers Buller was born on 7 December 1839 at the family estate of Downes, near Crediton in Devon, inherited by his great-grandfather James Buller from his mother Elizabeth Gould, the wife of James Buller, MP.

Redvers Buller served in the Second Opium War and was promoted captain before taking part in the Canadian Red River Expedition of 1870.

Redvers Buller was promoted to major and appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath.

Redvers Buller then served in South Africa during the 9th Cape Frontier War in 1878 and the Anglo-Zulu War of 1879.

Redvers Buller was awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during this battle.

Buller, afterwards Sir Redvers Buller, who was one of the party, came galloping by, and offered to take him up behind him.

Redvers Buller was a heavy man, and his horse was a light one, and realizing this, Cpl.

Redvers Buller had married Audrey, the daughter of the 4th Marquess Townshend, in 1882 and in the same year was sent to the Sudan in command of an infantry brigade and fought at the battles of El Teb and Tamai, and the expedition to relieve General Gordon in 1885.

Redvers Buller was sent to Ireland in 1886, to head an inquiry into moonlighting by police personnel.

Redvers Buller returned to the Army as Quartermaster-General to the Forces the following year and in 1890 promoted to Adjutant-General to the Forces, becoming a Lieutenant general on 1 April 1891.

Redvers Buller was appointed Honorary Colonel of the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, on 4 May 1892.

On 24 June 1896 Redvers Buller was promoted to full General.

Redvers Buller became head of the troops stationed at Aldershot in 1898.

Redvers Buller was sent as commander of the Natal Field Force in 1899 on the outbreak of the Second Boer War.

Redvers Buller was defeated at the Battle of Colenso, during what was later to become known as Black Week.

Redvers Buller remained as second-in-command and suffered two more setbacks in his attempts to relieve Ladysmith at the battles of Spion Kop and Vaal Krantz.

On his fourth attempt, Redvers Buller was victorious in the Battle of the Tugela Heights, lifting the siege on 28 February 1900, the day after Piet Cronje at last surrendered to Roberts at Paardeberg.

Redvers Buller was popular as a military leader amongst the public in England, and he had a triumphal return from South Africa with many public celebrations, including those on 10 November 1900 when he went to Aldershot to resume his role as General Officer Commanding Aldershot District, later to be remembered as "a Redvers Buller day".

Redvers Buller spent the following months giving lectures and speeches on the war, was promoted to a Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in Nov 1900, and received the Honorary Freedom of the Borough of Plymouth in April 1901.

Redvers Buller received the Honorary Freedom of the borough of Blandford on 1 December 1902.

Redvers Buller described himself as a Whig and a Liberal Unionist, but declined a number of offers, from both sides, to stand for Parliament at the 1906 election.

Redvers Buller continued his quiet retirement, until on 29 May 1907 he accepted the post of Principal Warden of the Goldsmiths' Company which he held until his death in 1908.

Redvers Buller died on 2 June 1908, at the family seat, Downes House, Crediton, Devon, and is buried in the churchyard of Holy Cross Church in Crediton.

Historian Richard Holmes commented that Redvers Buller has gone down as "one of the bad jokes of Victorian military history", and quotes a famous verdict that he was "an admirable captain, an adequate major, a barely satisfactory colonel and a disastrous general".

Buller Road in Exeter is close to Redvers Road, crossed by Nelson Road.

The entire western side of the chancel arch inside Holy Cross Church in Crediton forms an elaborate monument to Redvers Buller, designed by William Douglas Caroe with sculpture of St George by Nathaniel Hitch.