Edward Hutton

Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Thomas Henry Hutton, (6 December 1848 – 4 August 1923) was a British military commander, who pioneered the use of mounted infantry in the British Army and later commanded the Canadian Militia and the Australian Army.

Early career Hutton was born in Torquay, Devon, in December 1848, the only son of Colonel Sir Edward Thomas Hutton, of Beverly, and stepson of General Sir Arthur Lawrence. The swordsman Alfred Hutton (1839–1910) was his uncle. He was educated at Eton College, leaving in 1867 and taking a commission in the King's Royal Rifle Corps. Promotion to lieutenant came in 1871, and from 1873 to 1877 he served as Adjutant of the 4th Battalion.

Hutton had become closely linked with the employment of mounted infantry in the African campaigns, and was the army's leading authority on its use; promoted lieutenant colonel in 1889 and colonel in 1892.

His influence was strengthened by his marriage, in 1889, to Eleanor Mary Paulet, daughter of Rev. Lord Charles Paulet, and niece of the Marquess of Winchester and of Field-Marshal Lord William Paulet. His improved social connections led to him being appointed as an aide-de-camp to Queen Victoria in 1892.

Overseas command

New South Wales In 1893, Hutton was named commandant of the military forces in New South Wales and promoted to the temporary rank of major general.

Canada and South Africa In 1898, he was again temporary promoted to the rank of major general and made General Officer Commanding the Militia of Canada.

In early March 1900 Hutton left Southampton in the SS Tantallon Castle, which arrived in South Africa later the same month. He took up the post as Commander of the 1st Mounted Infantry Brigade, a formation made up of Canadian, Australian, and New Zealand troops. This force was actively engaged both during Lord Roberts's advance from Bloemfontein and after the fall of Pretoria.

Hutton was in November 1901 appointed Honorary Colonel of the 7th (Militia) Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps.

Australia In late November 1901 it was announced that Hutton would become the first General Officer Commanding the Australian Military Forces. Australian sources reveal a nested array of factors affecting the mission of Colonel John Hoad, who was detached by the Deakin government to serve with the Imperial Japanese Army in 1904–1905. Along with other Western military attachés, Hoad had two complementary missions–to assist the Japanese and to observe the Japanese forces in the field during the Russo-Japanese War.

Hutton resigned as GOC Australian Military Force at the end of 1904.

In 1914, he was recalled from retirement to command the newly raised 21st Division in the New Armies – the Australian government having turned down a suggestion he should be offered command of the Australian Imperial Force – but fell ill early in 1915, after a riding accident, and was relieved of command in April. and a number of pamphlets on military affairs.

He was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society.

Hutton died in 1923; he was survived by his wife.

Hutton had 1 illegitimate child whilst stationed in Cairo.

Works