Philip Thomas Buston

Last updated

Philip Thomas Buston
Phillip Thomas Buston.jpg
Buston as a young Lieutenant
Born1853 (1853)
Twyford, Hampshire, United Kingdom
Died21 June 1938 (aged 8485)
Whitchurch, Shropshire, Shropshire
Allegiance Flag of the United Kingdom.svg United Kingdom
Service/branch Flag of the British Army.svg British Army
Years of service12 September 1872 - 16 February 1910
Rank Brigadier General
Unit Royal Engineers
Battles/wars Second Anglo-Afghan War

Hazara Expedition of 1891

Second Boer War
Awards Distinguished Service Order The Most Honourable Order of the Bath

Brigadier General Philip Thomas Buston CB DSO was a career officer of the Royal Engineers in the British Army, serving in India and South Africa during his long career.

Contents

Early life

Philip Buston was born in 1853 in Twyford, Hampshire, to the Reverend Roger Buston and his wife Anne Mary Buston. He lived his childhood years in Vicarage House, Twyford with his parents and siblings.

Military service

Buston was temporarily commissioned as a Lieutenant c.12 September 1872, and on 28 September 1875 it was declared that his Commission among others would be made permanent, with pay backdated to the aforementioned date. [1] The India Office and Burma Office List of 1877 accordingly has him listed as a Lieutenant attached to the Sappers and Miners of the Royal Engineers from 12 September 1872. [2]

Second Anglo-Afghan War

He took part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War as part of the 7th Company of Sappers and Miners under the command of then-Brigadier General Thomas Durand Baker, and on 4 May 1880 he was mentioned in Despatches by then-Lieutenant-General Sir Frederick Roberts, on the advisement of Brigadier-General Baker. [3]

As of 12 September 1884 Buston was promoted to captain. [4]

On 10 April 1889 he was promoted to Brevet Major, [5] and then to full Major rank on 26 January 1892. [6]

Hazara Expedition

Buston was a part of the Hazara Expedition of 1891, and is mentioned again in Despatches written on 28 August 1891 by then-Major-General William Elles in regards to the operations of the Hazara Field Force, this time in some more detail, and with heavy praise - "The pontoon section of the Bengal Sappers and Miners was commanded by Major P. T. Buston, Royal Engineers, and it was entirely due to this officer's indomitable energy and perseverance that the standing and flying bridges were established exactly when required. It was no light task to bring up the heavy boats from Attock through shallows and over rapids, dangerous in many places, with very little loss of material and no loss of life, and his successful accomplishment of the task is worthy of all praise. The movements and communications of the force were entirely dependent on its constructive capacity in roadmaking.". [7]

On 1 October 1899 Buston was further promoted to Lieutenant Colonel. [8]

Second Boer War

In a letter dated 16 April 1901, Buston was once again mentioned in Despatches for a second time by the now Earl Roberts for meritorious service, [9] and was further awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 19 April 1901. [10] [11]

Early 1900s

Following the Second Boer War, Buston was at some point between 1901 and 1904 made Brevet Colonel, and was placed on to half pay on 20 September 1904 following five years service as a regimental Lieutenant Colonel. [12] This did not last long, however, as on 21 August 1905 Buston was brought off half pay, made a Chief Engineer at Aldershot Command and granted the full rank of Colonel in the Army. [13] Further honours were given on 29 June 1906, when Buston was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, [14] and on 5 October 1907, when he was made a temporary Brigadier-General for as long as he held the position of Chief Engineer. [15] This position and temporary rank lasted until 21 August 1909, [16] after which he was put on to the half-pay list, [17] and then on to the retired pay list on 16 February 1910. [18]

Retired life

Two years after he retired, Buston was given an honorary promotion restoring his previously temporary rank of Brigadier General. [19]

In 1915, during the First World War, Buston was involved in the opening and running of a Voluntary Aid Detachment hospital at Broughall Cottage, Whitchurch, [20] and is mentioned by the War Office on 12 February 1918 in the London Gazette as having provided "very valuable" services during the course of the war. [21]

Buston died on 21 June 1938, having resided at Tilstock Lodge, Tilstock, Whitchurch for his final years.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Philip Neame</span> British Army general (1888–1978)

Lieutenant General Sir Philip Neame, was a senior British Army officer and a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces, and the winner of an Olympic Games gold medal; he is the only person to achieve both distinctions.

Colonel James Morris Colquhoun Colvin VC was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to a member of a British or Commonwealth force.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Nicholson, 1st Baron Nicholson</span> British Army officer (1845–1918)

Field Marshal William Gustavus Nicholson, 1st Baron Nicholson, was a British Army officer who served in the Second Anglo-Afghan War, the Mahdist War, the Third Anglo-Burmese War, the Second Boer War and the First World War. He became Chief of the Imperial General Staff and was closely involved in the reorganisation of the British Army in the early years of the 20th century.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bindon Blood</span> British Army General

General Sir Bindon Blood, was a British Army commander who served in Egypt, Afghanistan, India, and South Africa.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arnold Keppel, 8th Earl of Albemarle</span> British soldier, courtier and politician (1858–1942)

Arnold Allan Cecil Keppel, 8th Earl of Albemarle,, styled Viscount Bury from 1891 to 1894, was a British soldier, courtier and Conservative politician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Heneker</span> Canadian soldier who served with the British Army

General Sir William Charles Giffard Heneker, was a Canadian soldier who served with the British Army in West Africa, India, and then later on the Western Front during the First World War. A notable military strategist and tactician, he became one of the most experienced and highly decorated Canadians in the British Empire, and one of only a handful of Canadians to reach the rank of full general.

Major-General Sir Harry Christopher Tytler KCB CMG CIE DSO was a British Indian Army officer who specialised in running lines of communication, and also an amateur naturalist.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis Lloyd (British Army officer)</span> British Army general (1853–1926)

Lieutenant General Sir Francis Lloyd, was a senior British Army officer. He rose to become Major-General commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding London District from 1913 to 1918.

Major-General Alexander Montagu Spears Elsmie CB CMG was a British Indian Army officer.

Colonel Charles Fairlie Dobbs CIE CBE DSO was a British Indian Army officer.

Major-General Henry Peregrine Leader, was a major-general in the British Army. He served in the Second Boer War, the First World War and the Third Afghan War. He rose in rank to command his regiment the 6th Dragoon Guards, two cavalry brigades and a cavalry division, for which he was invested with the Order of the Bath.

Brigadier-General Malcolm Orme Little, was a cavalry officer in the British Army and champion polo player. He commanded a cavalry brigade in the Second Boer War and a yeomanry brigade in the First World War.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Arthur Sandbach</span> British Army general officer

Major General Arthur Edmund Sandbach, was a British Army officer who served in the Royal Engineers and on the General Staff, eventually rising to command the 68th and 59th Divisions during the First World War.

Brigadier-General Norman William Webber was a staff officer in the British Army in World War I, who served as Chief of Staff to Lieutenant-General Sir Arthur Currie, Commander of the Canadian Corps, prior to and during the period known as ‘Canada's Hundred Days.’ He received 9 'Mentions in Despatches' during the war.

Major-General Sir Layton John Blenkinsop was a British Army officer and veterinary surgeon.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Francis George Bond</span> British Army officer

Major-General Sir Francis George Bond, was a British Army officer who served with the Royal Engineers in various campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries. He was a keen amateur sportsman, who played football for the Royal Engineers in the 1878 FA Cup Final.

Brigadier-General William Francis Howard Stafford was a British Army officer who served with the Royal Engineers in various campaigns in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Towards the end of his career, he was in command of the South Irish coastal defences.

Colonel George Hamilton Sim was a British Army officer who served with the Royal Engineers in various campaigns in the 19th and early 20th centuries. In his youth, he was a keen amateur sportsman and played association football for the Royal Engineers, being on the winning side in the 1875 FA Cup Final.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">William Rushbrooke Eden</span>

Lieutenant Colonel and Temp. Brigadier-general William Rushbrooke Eden was a career officer in the British Army. He received his commission in 1893 and actively served until the end of the First World War. He was also the great great grandson of Sir Robert Eden, 1st Baronet, of Maryland.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Charles Bertie Prowse</span> British Army officer

Brigadier-General Charles Bertie Prowse, DSO was a British Army officer. He joined the militia battalion of Prince Albert's Regiment in 1889 and transferred to a regular battalion in 1892. Prowse served in the Second Boer War from 1899 to 1902 with his regiment and as a staff officer. He was twice mentioned in despatches by Field Marshal Lord Roberts and received promotion to captain. Prowse became a major in 1914.

References

  1. "The London Gazette Publication date: 28 September 1875, Issue:24249, Page:4645".
  2. The India Office and Burma Office List. 1877.
  3. "The London Gazette Publication date: 4 May 1880, Issue:24841, Page:2845". 4 May 1880.
  4. "The London Gazette Publication date: 9 September 1884, Issue:25394, Page:4039". 9 September 1884.
  5. "The London Gazette Publication date: 12 April 1889, Issue:25923, Page:2099". 12 April 1889.
  6. "The London Gazette Publication date: 26 January 1892, Issue:26250, Page:425".
  7. "The London Gazette Publication date: 20 October 1891, Issue:26215, Page:5459". 20 October 1891.
  8. "The London Gazette Publication date: 3 October 1899, Issue:27122, Page:6007". 3 October 1899.
  9. "The London Gazette Publication date:16 April 1901, Issue:27305, Page:2605".
  10. "The London Gazette Publication date: 19 April 1901, Issue:27306, Page:2699".
  11. "Page 106 - The-VC-and-DSO-Volume-II". lib.militaryarchive.co.uk. Retrieved 13 February 2021.
  12. "The London Gazette Publication date: 20 September 1904, Issue:27715, Page:6045". 20 September 1904.
  13. "The London Gazette Publication date: 25 August 1905, Issue:27830, Page:5841". 25 August 1905.
  14. "The London Gazette Publication date: 26 June 1906, Supplement: 27926, Page: 4460". 26 June 1906.
  15. "The London Gazette Publication date: 4 October 1907, Issue:28066, Page:6668". 4 October 1907.
  16. "The London Gazette Publication date: 27 August 1909, Issue:28283, Page:6530". 27 August 1909.
  17. "The London Gazette Publication date: 17 September 1909, Issue:28289, Page:6963". 17 September 1909.
  18. "The London Gazette Publication date: 15 February 1910, Issue:28339, Page:1127". 15 February 1910.
  19. "The London Gazette Publication date: 23 August 1912, Issue:28638, Page:6287". 23 August 1912.
  20. "Broughall Cottage V.A.D. Hospital". The Great War History Hub. 4 December 2014. Retrieved 16 June 2020.
  21. "The London Gazette Publication date: 8 February 1918, Supplement:30521, Page:1933". 8 February 1918.