TOWMSHEND’S CAREER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXX, Issue 48, 31 May 1916, Page 7

TOWMSHEND’S CAREER.

, Major-General Charles Yore Ferrers 'lownshond was an old and distinguished soldier before he won his latest honor by the gallant defence of Kut. Born in 1861, ho has seen 35 years’ service. He has fought in India, South Africa, ami the Soudan, and this is not the first time that lie has had to stand a seige, lor he was in command at the famous seige of Chitral Port. . Strangely enough, Major-General Townshcnd, like Viscount French, began as a sailor. In 1881, when a boy of 20, bo (>ntered the Iloyal Marines, but live years later he joined the Indian Stall Corps, ft took him eleven years to get his captaincy, but in three more he was a major, and a year after that a lieu-tenant-colonel. He was with the mounted infantry at Sonakim, and with the Guards’ Camel Regiment in the Desert Column actions of Guhat and Abu Klea. I 1 or his services on these occasions h e was mentioned in despatches and won other distinctions, and the Chitral seige got him the public thanks of the Government of India and the Companionship of the Bath. In the reconquest of the Soudan he also played an important part; he won more honors in the Dongola expedition of 1898, and the battle of the Atbara, and got a D.S.O. for his work in the Nile Expedition of the same rear. Then came the South African war. in which he also saw service. Since then be has held various important posts, including that of acting military attache at Paris and Assistant AdjutantGeneral of the Ninth Division of the Army in India. In 1912-13 he com mantled a Territorial .Division, and next year came the war and his woik in Mesopotamia. Major-General Townshend is, hy the way, heir presumptive to a marquisate.