Lieutenant General Sir James Melville Babington (31 July 1854–15 June 1936),[1] K.C.B., K.C.M.G.. He held the French Croix de guerre with Palm, and the Italian Croce di Guerra. He was a Commander of the Legion of Honour and an Officer of the Military Order of Savoy. He was a renowned leader of cavalry, making a name for himself for his actions in the Second Boer War. He was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force and one of the most respected British Generals in the First World War, in command of the 23rd Division (United Kingdom). Afterwards he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy.
Babington was born in Scotland at Pinnacle Hill, Kelso. He was the son of Lt.-General John Henry Melville Babington (1816-1887), of Northam, Devon and Pinnacle Hill, Roxburghshire, by his wife Mary Dowker (sister of Lt.-General Howard Dowker), daughter of Howard and Mary (Carter) Dowker of Dublin.
In 1873, Babington was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the 16th Lancers[2], known as the Scarlets. From 1877 to 1880 he was Adjutant of the regiment, and in 1884 he accompanied Sir Charles Warren on the Bechuanaland Expedition, where he was "honourably mentioned". From January 1889 to July 1890, Captain Babington was Aide-de-camp to Sir Evelyn Wood when the latter was commanding at Aldershot. This post was both a liberal military education and a marked compliment to the Lancer's ability: Sir Evelyn was known to surround himself with only the most capable of officers. Returning as a Major to regimental duty, Babington succeeded to the command of the 16th Lancers in 1892. From 1896 to 1899 he was Assistant Adjutant-General in India. Returning to England he was Staff Commander of the Cavalry Brigade at Aldershot. During the Second Boer War, Babington commanded the 1st Cavalry Brigade. He was regarded as an expert in the management and deployment of every sort of mounted troop, and he gained many a decisive victory in South Africa, earning himself a name to be feared among the Boers. From 1902 to 1907, he was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force and made honorary Colonel of the 5th Mounted Rifles (Otago Hussars). Returning to England, he was given the command of the Lowland Mounted Brigade from 1908 to 1913.
On the outbreak of the First World War he was given the Command of the 23rd Division (United Kingdom), part of Kitchener's Army. He was then described as "an elderly but fearless man who was universally popular". Under him, the 23rd became known as "a remarkably hard-fighting and efficient division". He was one of only a few commanding officers who saw to it that his men were properly kitted out, obtaining approval to spend £17,000 on clothing, and sending two officers to the north of England before the Division went overseas to buy 20,000 sets of underclothes and boots. Following the War he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy. He retired with the rank of Lieutenant General.
He lived at Pinnacle Hill, near Kelso, Roxburghshire, which his family came to through the Maitlands of Penpont. He married Eleanor Lawson (1868–1943), daughter of Thomas James Lawson of Veteran Hall, Prospect, New South Wales. Their son, Geoffrey (1902–1956), married Lady Anne Katherine Granville Scrope Egerton (1908-1964), daughter of John Egerton, 4th Earl of Ellesmere, and sister of the 6th Duke of Sutherland.
