Walter Kitchener

Sir Frederick Walter Kitchener
Born 26 May 1858
Died 6 March 1912
Hamilton, Bermuda
Allegiance  United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service 1876–1912
Rank Lieutenant-General
Battles/wars Second Anglo-Afghan War
Mahdist War
Second Boer War
Awards Order of the Bath
Relations Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener
Henry Kitchener, 2nd Earl Kitchener
Other work Governor and Commander in Chief of Bermuda (1908–1912)

Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Walter Kitchener KCB (26 May 1858 – 6 March 1912), known as Walter Kitchener, was a British soldier and colonial administrator.

Military career

He was the youngest son of Henry Horatio Kitchener (1805–1894) and his wife Frances Anne Chevallier (1826–1864).[1] In 1876 he followed his older brother Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener in taking up a career in the British Army. Initially commissioned an unattached Sub-Lieutenant, he joined the 14th Foot (later the West Yorkshire Regiment) in 1877. He served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War as a transport officer to the Kabul Field Force and took part in the first Battle of Charasiah and the battle of Karez Meer. Kitchener also saw action in the Chardeh Valley.[2]

He later served in the Egypt during the Mahdist War where his brother Lord Kitchener was commanding British forces. During the war Frederick was made director of Transport during the 1898 Nile expedition and advance on Khartoum. He was appointed commander of the Kordofan force and took part in the Battle of Omdurman which resulted in the recapture of Khartoum which had been captured by Mahdist's during the Siege of Khartoum in 1885. He was appointed Khartoum’s Military governor after it came under Anglo-Egyptian control.[2]

In 1899 Kitchener was appointed to the staff of Sir Redvers Buller in South Africa and took part in attempts to relieve Ladysmith during the Second Boer War. He was expected to be given an important post in South Africa but was passed over by his brother because Lord Kitchener didn’t want to be accused of favouritism.[3] For his service in South Africa he was awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with five clasps and the King's South Africa Medal with two clasps. Kitchener remained in South Africa until 1902 when he was posted to British India to serve on the staff commanding the Lahore Division.[2]

On 31 October 1908 he was appointed Governor and Commander in Chief of Bermuda,[4] serving until his death in Hamilton following complications from an operation for appendicitis.[4]

Kitchener married Caroline Louisa Fenton, daughter of Major Charles Hamilton Fenton, on 27 November 1884 and had five children.[1]

References

  1. ^ a b "Genealogy of Frederick Walter Kitchener". geneall.net. http://www.geneall.net/U/per_page.php?id=593089. Retrieved 15 December 2007. 
  2. ^ a b c "Gov. Gen. Kitchener dead". New York Times. 8 March 1912. http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9C04E4DC1F31E233A2575BC0A9659C946396D6CF. Retrieved 15 December 2007. 
  3. ^ "Walter Kitchener at disadvantage". The Sheboygan Press: pp. 2. 5 November 1909 
  4. ^ a b "Brother of Kitchener passes in Bermuda". The Atlanta Constitution: pp. 29. 8 March 1912 
Government offices
Preceded by
Josceline Wodehouse
Governor of Bermuda
1908–1912
Succeeded by
George M. Bullock