Francis Clery

Major-General Sir Cornelius Francis Clery, (13 February 1838 – 25 June 1926) was a British Army officer who took part in the Anglo-Zulu War and later commanded the 2nd Division during the Second Boer War.

Early life Cornelius Frances Clery was born in 2 Sidney Place, Cork, Ireland on 13 February 1838. He was educated at Clongowes Wood College in County Kildare.

Military career Clery was commissioned as an ensign into the 32nd Regiment of Foot in 1858. the same year his book, Minor Tactics was published. The book would be highly influential for at least thirty years.

South Africa In 1878 Clery, now a major, was sent to South Africa as a special staff officer where he served in two brief expeditions in Griqualand West and Sekhukhuneland. He later took part in the Anglo-Zulu War as the principal staff officer to Colonel Richard Glyn, the man responsible for the centre column of the invasion force. Clery was given the job of marking out a camp near the Isandlwana hill on 20 January 1879. Then, in the early hours of 22 January, he accompanied Glyn, Lord Chelmsford and half of the column as they were drawn away by a decoy element whilst the camp was massacred during the Battle of Isandlwana. He was later transferred to Sir Evelyn Wood's column where he took part in the Battle of Ulundi on 4 July 1879. He was then appointed as general officer commanding of the 2nd Division in 1899. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in the 1899 Birthday Honours.

Clery led the 2nd Division during the Second Boer War, and was given the temporary rank of lieutenant-general from 9 October 1899. He was briefly hospitalised in February 1900, but returned to duty the following month. For his services during the campaign, he was mentioned in despatches and appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.

Later life Clery retired from the British Army due to ill health in 1901. In his retirement, he wrote a manual on military tactics. He died on 25 June 1926 at 4 Whitehall Court, Westminster, London.

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