LIEUTENANT-GENERAL SIR AYLMER HUNTER-WESTON, K.C.B., D.S.O., J.P., and D.L. (Ayrshire), M.P. for North Ayrshire (1916), was born September 23rd, 1864. He was educated at Wellington College, Royal Military Academy and Staff College. He entered the Royal Engineers in 1884 and saw his first service in 1891, when he took part in the Miranzai Expedition. He became Captain in the following year. In the Waziristan Expedition of 1894-5 he served as the Commander of the Bengal Sappers and Miners on Sir W. Lockhart's Staff. He was slightly wounded in this campaign, and besides getting a medal with clasp, he was mentioned in despatches and gained his Brevet of Major. During the Dongola Expedition of 1896 he was attached to Sir Herbert Kitchener's Headquarter Staff as Special Service Officer, and his work gained him further mention in despatches, the 4th Class Medjidieh, the Egyptian Medal with a clasp, and the Queen's Medal. In the South African War he commanded the Mounted Engineers, Cavalry Division. Later he became Deputy-Assistant-Adjutant-General to the Cavalry Division, and subsequently Chief Staff Officer to General French. Finally he was given independent command of a Mobile Column. He took part in the operations about Colesburg, in the Relief of Kimberley, in the Battle of Paardeberg, and the operations in the Orange Free State, the Transvaal, and Cape Colony. He commanded five cavalry raids during the advance to Pretoria, cutting the railway North of Bloemfontein and Kroonstad. He was several times mentioned in despatches, was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel, and received the Queen's medal with seven clasps, and the D.S.O. Between 1904 and 1908 he was first D.A.A.G. and then General Staff Officer in the Eastern Command. From 1908 to 1911 he was Chief[86]
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[88] General Staff Officer of the Scottish Command. From 1911 to 1914 he was Assistant Director of Military Training at the War Office. Early in 1914 he was promoted Brigadier-General and appointed to the Command of the 11th Infantry Brigade at Colchester. At the outbreak of War in August, 1914, he brought this Brigade out to France, and took part with it in the Great Retreat, in the subsequent advance, and in all the later fighting in France and Flanders. He was several times mentioned in despatches and was promoted Major-General (1914) for distinguished services in the field. In March, 1915, he was given the command of the 29th Division and commanded it at the landing at Cape Helles on the Gallipoli Peninsula as well as in the advance. He was given command of all British troops at the Southern end of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and in May, 1915, was promoted Temporary Lieutenant-General to command VIII Corps. He was praised by Sir Ian Hamilton for "his invincible self-confidence, untiring energy, and trained ability." Since March, 1916, he has been in command of the VIII Corps in France. In this war he has been several times mentioned in despatches, and has been made a K.C.B., Commandeur of the Legion of Honour, and Grand Officier of the Belgian Crown.