Frederick McCracken

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Frederick McCracken
Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath
Distinguished Service Order

KCB, DSO (18 August 1859 – 8 August 1949) was a British Army officer who saw regimental service in Africa during the late nineteenth century, and later held senior command during the First World War. He commanded an infantry brigade in the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) of 1914, was appointed to command 15th (Scottish) Division in the New Armies from 1915 to 1917, and then briefly commanded XIII Corps on the Western Front before being posted to a home command in the United Kingdom.[1]

Early career

Born in 1859, the youngest son of R. de Crez McCracken of Kent, he studied at

major on 14 August 1885. Serving on the Egyptian frontier later in the year, he saw action at the Battle of Ginnis.[3][4]

He married Ann Liston Glover in 1887; the couple had a son and two daughters before Ann's death in 1923.[5]

In April 1892 he was seconded to the staff and appointed Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General[6] in Barbados.[5] He received a full promotion to Major on 27 March 1897,[4] and when his term on the staff expired in April that year he returned to his regiment.[7]

At the outbreak of the

lieutenant-colonel on 29 November 1900. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO),[8] as well as the Queen's medal with three clasps, and the King's medal with two.[3] After the end of the war in June 1902, McCracken and the rest of the 2nd battalion was sent to Egypt, where they arrived on the SS Dominion in November 1902.[9]

First World War

"Until after dark Brigadier-General McCracken maintained his stand under severe gun and rifle fire, and did not retire until the rear of the column was in safety. He then withdrew skilfully and with comparatively few casualties. I consider that his ready and daring handling of the rear-guard averted a mishap which might have been a disaster. I am glad to be able to bring his action to your notice, as I think it deserves recognition."

– Major-General

Edmund Allenby writing to General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, 1 November 1914.[10]

After the Boer War, McCracken received a full promotion to lieutenant-colonel in 1903, then a brevet promotion to colonel in 1905. He commanded a battalion of his regiment until 1907, when he was placed on half-pay.

7th Infantry Brigade, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general, a position he was holding on the outbreak of the First World War.[3]

He commanded the 7th Brigade when it was sent to France in 1914 as part of

3rd Division.[12] At the Battle of Le Cateau in August, McCracken was briefly disabled by an artillery shell on the 26th and was relieved by Colonel W. D. Bird, one of his battalion commanders.[13] The 7th Brigade covered the retreat of II Corps, and after a personal recommendation to the corps commander by Major-General Edmund Allenby, who was commanding the Cavalry Division, McCracken was promoted to major-general in October,[10] and appointed Inspector of Infantry.[14]

In 1915 he took command of 15th (Scottish) Division,[5] a New Army division, and led it through the Battle of Loos, the Battle of the Somme, and the Battle of Arras. Whilst he had been praised for his resilience in command of 7th Brigade, reports on his command of the 15th Division were less favourable, with one observer describing him as "weak and lazy". These failings did not stop him being promoted to command XIII Corps in June 1917.[15] He remained with the corps until March 1918, when he was sacked and sent home to take over Scottish Command.[16]

During the war, he was mentioned in despatches a further seven times, and made a

Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath. He retired from the army in 1922, and died in August 1949, a few days before his ninetieth birthday.[3]

Notes

  1. ^ Davies 1997, p. 167.
  2. ^ "No. 24751". The London Gazette. 12 August 1879. p. 4903.
  3. ^ a b c d Who Was Who.
  4. ^ a b Hart′s Army list, 1903
  5. ^ a b c d e Obituary in The Times.
  6. ^ "No. 25229". The London Gazette. 17 May 1892. p. 2497.; "No. 26295". The London Gazette. 7 June 1892. p. 3352.
  7. ^ "No. 26841". The London Gazette. 13 April 1897. p. 2078.
  8. ^ "No. 27490". The London Gazette. 31 October 1902. p. 6903.
  9. ^ "The Army in South Africa - The War office and reservist". The Times. No. 36920. London. 8 November 1902. p. 10.
  10. ^ a b Chapter 24, Memoirs of Forty-Eight Years Service, General Sir Horace Smith-Dorrien, 1923. Digitised copy.
  11. ^ "No. 28018". The London Gazette. 3 May 1907. p. 2994.
  12. ^ Edmonds, p. 419
  13. ^ Edmonds, p. 172
  14. ^ McCracken, Frederick; Survey of the Papers of Senior UK Defence Personnel, 1900–1975.
  15. ^ Robbins, p.65
  16. ^ Robbins, pp. 65–6; Who Was Who

References

Military offices
Preceded by GOC 15th (Scottish) Division
1915–1917 		Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC XIII Corps
1917–1918 		Succeeded by
Preceded by GOC-in-C Scottish Command
1918–1919 		Succeeded by
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