Sir Walter Sinclair Delamain KCB KCMG DSO (1862–1932) was a general of the British Indian Army.[1]
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He attended the Royal Military College and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment) on 22 October 1881[2]. On 13 January 1885 he was seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps[3], and was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Bombay Staff Corps on 1 February 1885, with seniority of 22 October 1881[4]. He was promoted to Captain, 22 October 1892[5], and given the temporary rank of Major, 4 November 1898[6]. As Commandant of the Native Military Base Depot during the Boxer Rebellion he was mentioned in despatches[7]. On 26 May 1901 he was appointed a Special Service Officer on the staff of the China Field Force[8], and his rank of Major was made substantive on 10 July 1901[9]. In 1905 he was again mentioned in despatches for his service with the 123rd Outram's Rifles, commanding the escort to the Aden Boundary Commission for eight months[10], was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 14 April[11], and promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel, with seniority of 12 January 1905[12]. On 12 January 1908 he was made brevet Colonel[13], and substantive Colonel on 1 January 1911[14]. He was appointed Assistant Adjutant-General on 17 November 1912[15].
Delamain was appointed temporary Brigadier-General, 27 September 1914[16]. He commanded the 16th and 17th Indian Infantry Brigades at the Battle of Es Sinn[17]. His conduct was described as "admirable" in General Nixon's despatch[18], and Delamain was promoted to Major-General, 29 October 1915, for distinguished service in the field[19]. He became a prisoner of war on 29 April 1916[20].
On 14 November 1919 Delamain was given command of a division[21], and he was promoted to Lieutenant-General on 1 April 1920[22], with seniority later backdated to 21 December 1919[23]. He served as Adjutant-General in India from 10 November 1920[24] to 28 March 1923[25], when he retired from the Indian Army[26]. He was also Colonel of the 117th Mahrattas from 28 October 1921[27] until he reached the age limit, being replaced by Major-General R.C. Wilson on 18 February 1932[28].