Charlton Spinks

Major-General Sir Charlton Watson Spinks KBE DSO (1877–1959) was a distinguished British Army officer whose career saw him rise to the esteemed position of Sirdar, or Commander-in-Chief, of the Egyptian Army.

Sir Charlton Spinks
Born1877
Died1959
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1900-1937
RankMajor-General
Commands heldSirdar of Egypt
Battles/warsWorld War I
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order

Military career

Commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Royal Artillery on March 17, 1900, Charlton Watson Spinks embarked on a remarkable military journey. He steadily advanced, achieving the rank of lieutenant on April 3, 1901. Notably, in March 1902, he was seconded for service under the Colonial Office. He was attached to the Northern Nigeria Regiment during this period, where he played an integral role. Spinks's active engagement continued, evidenced by his participation in significant campaigns. He participated in the Kano-Sokoto Campaign of 1903 and participated in operations against the Okpotos in Bassa Province in 1904.[1][2][3]

With the advent of World War I, Spinks contributed his efforts to the conflict. Subsequently, his distinguished career led him to assume the mantle of the last Sirdar of Egypt, a role he held from 1924 to 1937. This position was not challenging, as his predecessor, Sir Lee Stack, tragically met his demise through assassination while driving through central Cairo.[4]

Charlton Watson Spinks garnered several prestigious honors throughout his career. Among these, he was recognized as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire, awarded the Grand Cordon of the Order of the Nile, designated a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order, and bestowed the title of Grand Officer of the Order of the Crown of Italy. These distinctions underscore his exceptional contributions to both military service and international relations.[5][6][7]

Family

He was married to Marguerite Coleman of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.[8]

References
  1. "No. 27174". The London Gazette. 16 March 1900. p. 1792.
  2. "No. 27425". The London Gazette. 15 April 1902. p. 2503.
  3. "Famous generals sail". The Montreal Gazette. 14 August 1935. Retrieved 17 August 2013.
  4. Raafat, Samir (15 February 2001). "The Sirdaria". Cairo Times. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  5. Charles Mosley, editor, Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes (Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003), volume 1, page 805.
  6. "Announcement of Order of the Nile Honors" (PDF). The Edinburgh Gazette. 14 April 1931. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  7. "Announcement of Order of the Crown of Italy Honors" (PDF). The Edinburgh Gazette. 27 August 1927. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
  8. "Entry on Spinks and Coleman". The Peerage. Retrieved 2 July 2012.
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