Allegiance United Kingdom Name Sir Monro, | Years of service 1878–1920 | |
 | ||
Commands held 13th Infantry Brigade2nd London Division2nd DivisionI Corps3rd ArmyMediterranean Expeditionary Force1st ArmyBritish Army in India Battles/wars First World WarThird Anglo-Afghan War Education Royal Military Academy Sandhurst Similar People John French - 1st Earl of Yp, Joseph Joffre, Ferdinand Foch, Alexander von Linsingen, Albert I of Belgium | ||
General Sir Charles Carmichael Monro, 1st Baronet, (15 June 1860 – 7 December 1929) was a senior British Army officer who served during the Second Boer War and the First World War and became Commander-in-Chief, India for the latter part of the conflict. From 1923 to 1929 he served as Governor of Gibraltar.
Contents
Early military career
Educated at Sherborne School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Monro was commissioned into the 2nd Regiment of Foot as a second lieutenant on 13 August 1879. He was promoted to lieutenant on 15 May 1881 and to captain on 24 July 1889.
He attended the Staff College, Camberley from 1889 to 1890 and, promoted to major on 23 February 1898, he served as a brigade major until he was appointed a deputy assistant adjutant general on 15 April 1899. He vacated that appointment in February 1900, as he went to South Africa to serve in the Second Boer War, where he was present at the Battle of Paardeberg in 1900. Promoted to temporary lieutenant-colonel in 1900, he was brevetted to lieutenant-colonel on 29 November 1900. On 28 March 1903, he was promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant-colonel and appointed commandant of the School of Musketry. Promoted to colonel in 1906, he was appointed Commander of 13th Infantry Brigade in Dublin on 12 May 1907, with the temporary rank of brigadier-general. Promoted to major-general on 31 October 1910, on 31 March 1912 he became General Officer Commanding 2nd London Division.
First World War
On 5 August 1914, at the start of the First World War, Monro was deployed to France as General Officer Commanding 2nd Division and played an important part in the First Battle of Ypres. On 27 December 1914 he became General Officer Commanding I Corps, with the temporary rank of lieutenant-general. On 15 July 1915, he was made General Officer Commanding Third Army, with the temporary rank of general. He was promoted to the permanent rank of lieutenant-general on 28 October. In October 1915, during the later stages of the Gallipoli Campaign, General Ian Hamilton was dismissed as Commander-in-Chief of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force and replaced by Charles Monro. Monro subsequently ordered the evacuation of troops from Gallipoli.
In 1916 Monro briefly commanded the British First Army in France before becoming Commander-in-Chief India later that year. As Commander-in-Chief, India Monro had responsibility for the Mesopotamian campaign. Robertson told him to “keep up a good show” (1 August 1916) in Mesopotamia but not to make any further attempt to take Baghdad, but this was overruled by Curzon and Chamberlain on the War Committee. Monro inspected Maude’s forces on his way out to India, and after receiving his favourable report the War Committee authorised Maude to attack (18 September 1916). On 1 October 1916, Monro was promoted to the substantive rank of general as a reward for his wartime service.
Later life
In May 1921, Monro was created a Baronet, of Bearcrofts in the Shire of Stirling. In 1923 Monro was appointed Governor of Gibraltar. Monro died in 1929 and is buried in Brompton Cemetery, London. His baronetcy became extinct upon his death.