Reginald Pole-Carew (British Army officer)


Sir Reginald Pole-Carew, KCB, CVO was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding 8th Division.

Background and family

Pole-Carew was the son of William Pole-Carew by his wife Frances Anne Buller, daughter of John Buller. His father was a descendant of the Pole baronets, of Shute, and served as Member of Parliament for East Cornwall.

Military career

Pole-Carew was commissioned into the Coldstream Guards in 1869. He served as a staff officer with Lord Roberts in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878 and again served with him during the Second Boer War 1899–1902. He was promoted to the substantive rank of colonel on 27 November 1899, and at the same time appointed in command of the 9th Brigade with the local rank of major-general. As such he was in command of the brigade during the Battle of Modder River on 28 November 1899. In February 1900 he was appointed in command of the Guards Brigade, shortly before the Relief of Kimberley. He later commanded the 11th Division of the South Africa Field Force, before becoming General Officer Commanding 8th Division in Southern Ireland in 1903.

Political career

Pole-Carew was Liberal Unionist Member of Parliament for Bodmin from 1910 to 1916. In 1911, he was appointed a deputy lieutenant of Cornwall. He lived at Antony House in Cornwall.

Family

On 19 February 1901 he married Lady Beatrice Frances Elizabeth Butler, daughter of James Butler, 3rd Marquess of Ormonde, in the Guards Chapel, Knightsbridge. They had two sons, the elder of whom was John Carew Pole, and two daughters.

Decorations