Charles Kavanagh

Lieutenant-General Sir Charles Toler MacMorrough Kavanagh, (25 March 1864 – 11 October 1950) was a British Army officer who commanded the Cavalry Corps during the First World War, most notably at the Battle of Amiens in 1918.

Early life and military career Kavanagh, pictured here in 1899 as a captain and adjutant to the 6th Yeomanry Brigade.

Kavanagh was born in March 1864 in Borris, County Carlow, the son of Arthur MacMorrough Kavanagh, The MacMorrough and Mary Frances Forde-Leathley. He received his education at Harrow School although he transferred to the 10th Hussars just two weeks later. and sent to Jamaica where he served for a time as aide-de-camp to the governor of Jamaica at the time, Henry Arthur Blake.

In 1890 he returned to the 10th Hussars to assume command of a troop and was promoted to captain in April 1891. In June 1895 he was appointed adjutant to the 6th Yeomanry Brigade (Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry Cavalry and Derbyshire Yeomanry Cavalry).

He served in the Second Boer War, which began in October 1899, as commanding officer (CO) of the 10th Hussars, and was promoted to major in January 1900, and then to the brevet rank of lieutenant colonel in November of that year. While in command of a mobile column, Kavanagh vigorously pursued Jan Smuts, who later admitted that Kavanagh had in fact come closer than anyone else in capturing him. He was mentioned in dispatches by Lord Kitchener in his final despatch, dated 23 June 1902, and received the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) for his exemplary services in the war.

He was made second-in-command of the 10th Hussars, now commanded by Lieutenant Colonel Julian Byng, which was sent to India. While there, Kavanagh played polo for his regiment. In May 1904 he was promoted to lieutenant colonel and took command of the regiment from Byng, remaining in this appointment until 1908, The next year saw him promoted to colonel. In May 1909, after four years commanding the regiment, he relinquished command and was placed on half-pay. In May 1909 he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general and succeeded Major General The Hon. Julian Byng as general officer commanding (GOC) of the 1st Cavalry Brigade, then stationed in Aldershot, Hampshire, as part of Aldershot Command.

He commanded the brigade for the next four years until May 1913 when he went on half-pay and relinquished his temporary brigadier's rank. His next assignment came in December that year in India as commander of the Fyzabad Brigade, part of the 8th (Lucknow) Division.

First World War Lieutenant-General Charles Kavanagh, GOC Cavalry Corps, pictured here fifth from the left in the front row with members of his staff in November 1918.

The British entry into World War I in August 1914 found Kavanagh on leave in England. Shortly afterwards, on 10 September, he took over the newly formed 7th Cavalry Brigade which formed part of Major General The Hon. Julian Byng's newly created 3rd Cavalry Division and departed with the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) for service in France, where he would serve with distinction, most notably at the First Battle of Ypres. It was here that his skills in leadership made a difference and brought his brigade up to a high standard. He led a counterattack in early November and which many people believe saved Ypres and the BEF. and three months later he was made GOC of the 2nd Cavalry Division. and took command of I Corps from Lieutenant General Sir Hubert Gough, who had also been his predecessor as GOC 2nd Cavalry Division. Again, however, his period in command was destined to be short, lasting only until July, although in his fairly short time with the corps he managed to irritate many of his division commanders with his interferences into the front lines.

For his services in the war, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in January 1917 and in 1919 a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George (KCMG), and was also granted the French Legion of Honour that year as well.

Post-war and final years He retired from the army in March 1920, with the honorary rank of lieutenant general, after well over thirty-five years of continuous service.

He died on 11 October 1950, at the age of 86.

Family In 1895 he married Mary Perry; they had two daughters.