Trevor Chute

General Sir Trevor Chute, (31 July 1816 – 12 March 1886) was an Anglo-Irish officer who served in the British Army during the Victorian era.

Born in County Kerry, Ireland, Chute joined the British Army in 1832. Posted to British India with the 70th Regiment, he helped deal with the Indian Mutiny of 1854. Sent to the Antipodes, he served in the New Zealand Wars and later in Australia. He returned to New Zealand in 1865 as a major general and commander of all British forces in the country. He led a four-week campaign during the Second Taranaki War to destroy Maori resistance in the Taranaki. The campaign was the last to be carried out in New Zealand by imperial troops. At the end of his service in New Zealand, he went back to Australia. Knighted in 1867, he returned to England in 1870 with the last of the Imperial forces garrisoning Australia. Promoted to General in 1877, he retired from the British Army four years later. He died in 1886 at Berkshire in England.

Early life Trevor Chute, born at Tralee in County Kerry, Ireland, on 31 July 1816, was the third son of Francis Chute and Mary Ann Chute (née Bomford). He entered the British Army in 1832 and was posted to the Ceylon Rifles. His overall robust appearance and powerful voice earned him the nickname "The Kerry Bull" among his soldiers. He later transferred to the 70th Regiment. By 1847 he had attained the rank of major, performing duties in Ireland in 1848 before being transferred with the regiment to India in 1849.

India In India, the regiment was based at Peshawar with Chute, having been promoted to lieutenant colonel, as its commander. He received a further promotion to colonel in 1854.

New Zealand & Australia In 1861, the 70th Regiment was posted to New Zealand. Arriving in the country in May 1861, Chute and his regiment was involved in the construction of the Great South Road, which extended from Drury to the Waikato River. During his service at this time, he was the president of the court of inquiry established to review the conduct of the 'battle' of Waireka. In March 1863 Chute was promoted to brigadier-general and posted to Australia where he had been appointed commander of British troops stationed there. He was made a full general in 1877 He died at Binfield, near Reading in Berkshire, on 12 March 1886, aged 69.