Featured Article Summary #212

Major-General Sir Henry John Milnes Macandrew (1866–1919) was a British Indian Army officer who served in both the Boer War and the First World War. He mainly worked in the cavalry, including fighting in the Tirah campaign in India in 1897–1898, and later serving in staff roles during the Boer War. In 1914 he took command of the 5th Bengal Cavalry, and in World War I he held senior staff positions, taking part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. In 1916 he commanded the 2nd Indian Cavalry Division in the Somme and Cambrai, and in 1918 he led the newly formed 5th Cavalry Division in the Sinai and Palestine campaign. His division played a key role in major actions such as the Capture of Damascus and the Battle of Aleppo, advancing 600 miles in 38 days. He was knighted in 1919 but died later that year from wounds caused by an accidental explosion of petrol fumes at Aleppo. Henry John Milnes Macandrew was born on 7 August 1866 and educated at Inverness College before joining the British Army as a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders in 1884. He later transferred to the Lincolnshire Regiment, then began probationary service with the Bengal Staff Corps in 1888, serving in the 5th Bengal Cavalry and becoming its adjutant in 1890. During the Tirah campaign (1897–1898) he worked as transport officer, was promoted to captain in 1897, and received recognition including being mentioned in despatches and awarded the India Medal with two clasps. Macandrew was sent from India to South Africa in 1900 to fight in the Boer War. He took part in major battles including Paardeberg, Poplar Grove, and Driefontein, later serving in operations around the Transvaal and the occupation of Pretoria. He then held intelligence roles for much of the war, was awarded the DSO and other medals for his service, and received the DSO personally from King Edward VII in England in October 1902. After returning to India, Macandrew was given staff roles based on his experience in the Boer War. He was first appointed station staff officer in May 1903, then became brigade major to Inspector-General Douglas Haig in November, chosen because Haig trusted his intelligence and past work together; the post was meant to last one year but continued until 1905, when he was promoted to major in November 1904. He later became deputy assistant quartermaster-general in 1906, and after further promotion, became lieutenant-colonel in 1912 and took command of the 5th Bengal Cavalry in February 1914. In 1914 Henry Macandrew was sent to the Western Front in France as a general staff officer to Major-General Michael Rimington of the 1st Indian Cavalry Division. After arriving in November, Rimington formed the Indian Cavalry Corps in December and brought Macandrew with him as his chief of staff. In 1915 Macandrew criticised how cavalry had been used at Neuve Chapelle and argued that effective cavalry use was essential for success, not just trench warfare. His staff work was judged differently by historians: Simon Robbins said his strict control slowed decisions, while George Morton-Jack said his performance later improved and helped set up a functioning corps headquarters.