Laurence Oliphant (British Army officer)

Oliphant was commissioned into the Grenadier Guards in October 1866,[1] was promoted to lieutenant and captain in December 1869, and to captain and lieutenant-colonel in December 1876. He was regimental major from November 1882, and served in the Sudan Campaign in 1885. Promoted to colonel in 1886, he was lieutenant-colonel in command of the 3rd battalion from October 1889, and colonel in command of the Grenadier Guards Regiment from July 1894.[2]

Oliphant was promoted to major general on 26 November 1898, and in February 1900 received a temporary appointment commanding the Militia at Aldershot.[3][4] Later the same year he went to South Africa to serve in the Second Boer War, where he was in command of the Elandsfontein district and Klerksdorp sub-district. For his service he was mentioned in despatches (including by Lord Kitchener dated 23 June 1902),[5] and was created a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the October 1902 South Africa Honours list.[6] After the end of the war in June 1902, he had stayed on in South Africa for several months as General officer in command of the Potchefstroom district.[7][8] He left Cape Town on the SS Kildonan Castle in late November, arriving home the following month.[9] On his return he was appointed a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in the November 1902 Birthday Honours list,[10] and was invested with the insignias of both CB and CVO by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 18 December 1902.[11]

Laurence was appointed Major General commanding the Brigade of Guards and General Officer Commanding the 9th Brigade and Home District for three years from 1 January 1903.[12][2] He then served as General Officer Commanding-in-Chief for Northern Command in 1907; he retired in 1911.[13]

He later held the office of Justice of the Peace for Perthshire.[13]

Laurence was the only son of Laurence Oliphant, 8th of Condie, Member of Parliament for Perth who died when Laurence was sixteen.[14][15] In 1878 he married Hon. Mary Monica Gerard and together they went on to have two sons and a daughter.[13] His ancestral seat, Newton of Condie, was destroyed by fire in 1864.[16]