Eric de Burgh

Educated at Marlborough College and the Colonial College, Hollesley Bay, De Burgh was commissioned into the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, as a second lieutenant in October 1901. In February 1902 he was seconded for service with mounted infantry during the Second Boer War,[3][4] with the local rank of lieutenant whilst serving in South Africa.[5] He later joined the Indian Army, and served in the 19th Lancers (Fane's Horse). He attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1913 to 1914.[6]

De Burgh served in the First World War and saw action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle in March 1915, the Second Battle of Ypres in April 1915 and the Battle of Loos in September 1915.[4] He later saw action at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, the Battle of Arras in April 1917 and the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917.[4]

De Burgh also fought in the Third Anglo-Afghan War in 1919.[4] He was appointed an instructor at Staff College, Quetta in 1928.[7] He went on to be a Brigadier on the General Staff at Eastern Command in India in 1930, commanding officer of the 1st (Risalpur) Cavalry Brigade in 1931 and District Officer Commanding Lahore District in 1934.[7] After that he attended the Imperial Defence College.[6] He then became Deputy Chief General Staff at Army Headquarters India in 1935, District Officer Commanding Rawalpindi District in 1936 and General Officer Commanding 1st Indian Division in 1937.[7] His last appointment was as Chief of the General Staff in India in 1939 at the start of the Second World War before retiring in 1941.[7]

In retirement, De Burgh lived at Ard Cairn outside Naas and, in 1960, he acquired Bargy Castle in County Wexford.[8]

In 1923, De Burgh married Mary Fanshawe, daughter of General Sir Edward Fanshawe; they had two daughters.[8] He was the maternal grandfather of singer Chris de Burgh.[8]

• Smart, Nick (2005). Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War. Barnesley: Pen & Sword. ISBN 1844150496.