Arthur Cecil Northey (1873 - 1931): Life in the Army
Alan Payne Family photos Diana Northey March 2020
Alan Payne Family photos Diana Northey March 2020
Types of Cameronian Regimental uniforms in 1894
Arthur Cecil was everything his father wanted him to be: very successful, married, three sons, Lieutenant Colonel in the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles Regiment) and deeply committed to Ashley Manor and his father.
In one way he exceeded his father, who had served only in times of peace, whereas Arthur fought in two major wars. His achievements were all the more remarkable as he was the ninth child and the fifth son.
In one way he exceeded his father, who had served only in times of peace, whereas Arthur fought in two major wars. His achievements were all the more remarkable as he was the ninth child and the fifth son.
Bridge-building class whilst in early training probably at Sandhurst
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Troops training against agression in Pachmarhi Hill Station, Pradesh, Central India in 1897. Above and below: On the ranges, Firing vollies, Musketry practice and The difference between Gunpowder and Cordite propellants.
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Sandhurst, Royal Military College
Arthur was schooled for military service, going to the Hermitage House School, Portland Place, Bath, where Herbert Hamilton had also attended, winning a gentleman cadetship to Sandhurst Royal Military College in 1892, aged 21.[1] He passed the qualifying exams with honours in December 1893 and took a temporary position as second lieutenant with the Leicestershire Regiment before a permanent position with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).[2]
Arthur was schooled for military service, going to the Hermitage House School, Portland Place, Bath, where Herbert Hamilton had also attended, winning a gentleman cadetship to Sandhurst Royal Military College in 1892, aged 21.[1] He passed the qualifying exams with honours in December 1893 and took a temporary position as second lieutenant with the Leicestershire Regiment before a permanent position with the Cameronians (Scottish Rifles).[2]
Above: The Pipers February 1897 and Below: ACN's ponies at Shahjahampur 1897
Below images of army life at Shahjahampur in 1896 and 1897. Right: The Cameronians Assemble and Left: The Corporals Wing
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South African War, 1899 - 1902
Arthur was only seven when the Boers declared their independence from the British Empire with their own states of the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State in 1880. The siege of British troops at Ladysmith in October 1899 focussed attention and General Sir Redvers Buller was instructed to break through the Boer encirclement. As one of the younger and highly trained officers Arthur was quickly promoted to Lieutenant and despatched to assist Buller who later promoted him to Captain.[3]
Arthur was only seven when the Boers declared their independence from the British Empire with their own states of the Transvaal Republic and the Orange Free State in 1880. The siege of British troops at Ladysmith in October 1899 focussed attention and General Sir Redvers Buller was instructed to break through the Boer encirclement. As one of the younger and highly trained officers Arthur was quickly promoted to Lieutenant and despatched to assist Buller who later promoted him to Captain.[3]
The war was followed in minute detail in England with every movement of troops reported. Arthur was wounded at Laing's Nek in the summer of 1900 at Standerton, 90 miles south of Johannesburg, where a British garrison was besieged for three months.[4] At home the serving troops were recognised as heroes but the power of the British Empire was seen as damaged by a handful of South African farmers.
With the cessation of hostilities, Arthur returned home with fellow officers and 800 reservists on the Kilonan Castle from Cape Town on 23 July arriving in Southampton on 9 August 1902.[5]
With the cessation of hostilities, Arthur returned home with fellow officers and 800 reservists on the Kilonan Castle from Cape Town on 23 July arriving in Southampton on 9 August 1902.[5]
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Peacetime, 1902 - 1914 A number of army officers retired after the Boer War but not Arthur who was then only 29. Instead he became Adjutant of Volunteers at Glasgow in 1903, recruiting better men into the service.[6] He remained in the role until March 1907 when he returned to the Cameronians.[7] However, he did his share of socialising at Ashley Manor and in Bath, as befitted a man on return from active service.[8] And he also got married in December 1905 at Datchet to Madeleine Harriett Owen, the daughter of Colonel Owen of Polesdon, Datchet. The couple honeymooned at Clevedon and Madeleine spent time with her parents whilst Arthur returned to Glasgow.[9] Following the death of his father in 1906 and the accession of his older brother George Edward, Arthur appears to have maintained an amicable relationship with the rest of his family, attending the annual Bath and County Ball in the Assembly Rooms in April 1907.[10] Right: Arthur on My First Indian Pony "Bareilly" in 1895 |
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Arthur continued to play an active military role. In 1908 the Cameronians went on a 5-day training exercise at Horsham, Sussex, in the event of a foreign invasion landing at Folkestone.[11]
In 1913 he was on duty in Malta, seen above and right. He was in command of the 2nd Battalion of the Scottish Rifles and in July that year he was promoted to Major.[12] |
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Cameronian Dinner with General Davis at Portsmouth 29 November 1894
World War 1
Arthur was in his mid-40s when hostilities broke out. He spoke French and German and was useful in a wide variety of situations.
Arthur was in his mid-40s when hostilities broke out. He spoke French and German and was useful in a wide variety of situations.
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Arthur volunteered for service and was put in charge of the 9th Battalion, Cameronians, and was sent to Rawalpindi, Pakistan, a city which was one of the main supporters of the British Army, seen left and above.
His immediate purpose appears to have been to defend the North West Frontier against possible Turkish-German attack through the Khyber Pass, as well as recruitment. |
He was awarded the 1914-15 Star.[13] By 1916 he had been promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel but was gassed in action and never really recovered. It was deemed that he could perform a useful function recruiting for the Infantry Reserve and getting recruits fit for service.[14]
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Above Left: Arthur Cecil in 1893 and Above Right: in 1903
Later Life
Arthur stood down after the war and he and Madeleine lived in South Kensington for a while, where he was appointed secretary of the local Conservative Association.[15] By 1926 they had settled in Datchet, Buckinghamshire.[16] Arthur and Madeleine had three sons, Peter (1906 - 74), Adrian (1913 - 85) and John (1918 - 42).
Arthur stood down after the war and he and Madeleine lived in South Kensington for a while, where he was appointed secretary of the local Conservative Association.[15] By 1926 they had settled in Datchet, Buckinghamshire.[16] Arthur and Madeleine had three sons, Peter (1906 - 74), Adrian (1913 - 85) and John (1918 - 42).
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Above Left: The family and friends at Danbury in 1913 and Right: On holiday at Chideock in 1914
We should recognise that Arthur was very much a family man, regardless of his military background. His photo albums are full of family, friends and the happy times they all spent on holiday in Chideock, Dorset.
Arthur died suddenly at Datchet in 1931, where his wife found him dead in the garage having pumped up the tyres of their motor car. The post mortem found he had suffered a heart attack.[17]
Arthur died suddenly at Datchet in 1931, where his wife found him dead in the garage having pumped up the tyres of their motor car. The post mortem found he had suffered a heart attack.[17]
References
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 25 August 1892
[2] Army & Navy Gazette, 20 January 1894 and 25 January 1896 and The Bath Chronicle, 8 March 1894
[3] Army & Navy Gazette, 9 December 1899 and The Standard, 31 July 1902
[4] The Daily News, 4 July 1900, The Glasgow Herald, 4 July 1900 and The Bath Chronicle, 2 January 1932
[5] The Aberdeen Daily Journal, 31 July 1902 and The Standard, 31 July 1902
[6] London Evening Standard, 15 July 1903
[7] The Scotsman, 9 May 1906 and The Bath Chronicle, 13 June 1907
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 23 March 1905 and The Scotsman, 15 July 1903
[9] Clifton Society, 28 December 1905
[10] The Bath Chronicle, 11 April 1907
[11] West Sussex County Times and Standard, 25 April 1908
[12] The Globe, 2 August 1913 and Army and Navy Gazette, 26 July 1913
[13] The Bath Chronicle, 2 January 1932
[14] The Courier, 5 August 1916, The Scotsman, 26 September 1916 and Kinross-shire Advertiser 3 September 1917
[15] Pall Mall Gazette, 17 January 1920
[16] The Buck Herald, 1 May 1926
[17] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 2 January 1932
[1] The Bath Chronicle, 25 August 1892
[2] Army & Navy Gazette, 20 January 1894 and 25 January 1896 and The Bath Chronicle, 8 March 1894
[3] Army & Navy Gazette, 9 December 1899 and The Standard, 31 July 1902
[4] The Daily News, 4 July 1900, The Glasgow Herald, 4 July 1900 and The Bath Chronicle, 2 January 1932
[5] The Aberdeen Daily Journal, 31 July 1902 and The Standard, 31 July 1902
[6] London Evening Standard, 15 July 1903
[7] The Scotsman, 9 May 1906 and The Bath Chronicle, 13 June 1907
[8] The Bath Chronicle, 23 March 1905 and The Scotsman, 15 July 1903
[9] Clifton Society, 28 December 1905
[10] The Bath Chronicle, 11 April 1907
[11] West Sussex County Times and Standard, 25 April 1908
[12] The Globe, 2 August 1913 and Army and Navy Gazette, 26 July 1913
[13] The Bath Chronicle, 2 January 1932
[14] The Courier, 5 August 1916, The Scotsman, 26 September 1916 and Kinross-shire Advertiser 3 September 1917
[15] Pall Mall Gazette, 17 January 1920
[16] The Buck Herald, 1 May 1926
[17] Bath Chronicle and Herald, 2 January 1932