Guy Beatty

Guy Archibald Beatty, born 22 June 1870 at Poona in India, was the son of Surgeon-General Thomas Berkeley Beatty, of the Indian Medical Service and the brother of Brigadier-General

Lionel Nicholson Beatty. He was educated at Newton College and Charterhouse School.{{cite web|access-date=20 December 2013|publisher=Western Front Association|title=Brigadier-General Guy Archibald Hastings Beatty|url=http://www.westernfrontassociation.com/great-war-people/the-british-generals-biographies/3122-brigadier-general-guy-archibald-hastings-beatty-cmg-dso.html}}

On 2 September 1887 he was commissioned as a second-lieutenant in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment.{{London Gazette|date=2 September 1887|issue=26312|page=4378}} Then on 2 August 1892, he was seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps,{{London Gazette|date=2 August 1892|issue=26312|page=4378}} and later transferred to the British Indian Army in March 1894.{{London Gazette|date=30 March 1894|issue=26499|page=1832}} Beatty first saw active service on the North-West Frontier in 1897. He was promoted to captain in February 1901,{{London Gazette|date=15 February 1901|issue=27285|page=1157}} and mentioned in despatches, for service in the Boxer Rebellion in May that year.{{London Gazette|date=14 May 1901|issue=27313|page=3280}} His next promotion was to major in 1908.{{London Gazette|date=7 February 1908|issue=28107|page=899}}

In November 1914, Beatty, and the 9th Hodson's Horse, which was part of the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade, attached to the 1st Indian Cavalry Division, in the Indian Cavalry Corps, arrived in France. Beatty commanded the regiment and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel in March 1915.{{London Gazette|date=17 March 1915|issue=29512|page=2948}} It was while still the regimental commander that he was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order (DSO).{{London Gazette|date=1 June 1917|issue=30111|supp=y|page=5468}} Then in December 1917 he was promoted to command the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade, awarded a bar to his DSO, for a second award, and promoted to temporary brigadier-general

in February 1918.{{London Gazette|date=1 February 1918|issue=30507|supp=y|page=1599}}{{London Gazette|date=5 February 1918|issue=30511|supp=y|page=1715}} In March 1918 the Indian Cavalry were withdrawn from the Western front and the 8th (Lucknow) Cavalry Brigade moved to Egypt, where it was reorganized and the units went on to Palestine where they saw service in General Allenby's final campaign.

Following the Armistice with Turkey, Beatty was given command of British forces in north-east Persia and Transcapia. For post-war operations in the Balkans, Beatty was appointed a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in May 1919.{{London Gazette|date=30 May 1919|issue=31373|supp=y|page=6947}} In July 1920, while still holding the appointment of brigadier general he was promoted to brevet colonel.{{London Gazette|date=30 July 1920|issue=32001|supp=y|page=8052}} In the Third Afghan War he was in command of the 6th Indian Infantry Brigade and, on 17/18 September 1919, was involved in the destruction of Yar Muhammed's fort at Chora.Robson Crisis on the Frontier. pp.89–91 Then when the rank of brigadier-general was abolished, in December 1920 he became a colonel commandant, while still in command of his brigade.{{London Gazette|date=20 December 1920|issue=32175|supp=y|page=12696}} He was again mentioned in despatches in January 1921, while commanding a British Indian Army brigade, co-operating with Russian and Turkish troops against the Turkestan Bolshevik Army.{{London Gazette|date=7 January 1921|issue=32184|supp=y|page=166}} The following month he was promoted to substantive colonel, with seniority backdated to November 1919.{{London Gazette|date=22 February 1921|issue=32236|supp=y|page=1524}} He was given command of the Rawalpindi divisional area in India in 1920, soon after he took the 75th Indian Infantry Brigade to Iraq as re-inforcements to quell an insurrection, and was once more mentioned in despatches, defending the Persian lines of communications.{{London Gazette|date=1 July 1921|issue=32379|supp=y|page=5338}} He left Iraq in February 1921 and in March 1921 he was again promoted to temporary brigadier general,{{London Gazette|date=15 March 1921|issue=32261|supp=y|page=2185}}

In September 1921, Beatty was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Star of India.{{London Gazette|date=13 September 1921|issue=13742|city=Edinburgh|page=1525}} In October 1921 he became temporary colonel commandment of 1st Indian Cavalry Brigade{{London Gazette|date=7 March 1922|issue=32631|page=1954}} and at the end of the year in December was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath.{{London Gazette|date=29 December 1922|issue=32782|supp=y|page=3}}

In April 1924, Beatty was appointed as an Aide de Camp to King George V.{{London Gazette|date=22 April 1924|issue=32929|page=3299}} His final brigade command was as commander of the 4th Indian Cavalry Brigade in August 1925.{{London Gazette|date=25 August 1925|issue=33095|page=5567}} That lasted until October 1925, when, with his tenure in command over, he was placed on the half pay list.{{London Gazette|date=23 October 1925|issue=33095|page=6845}} The following year in November he was promoted to major general,{{London Gazette|date=5 April 1927|issue=33263|page=2213}} and restored to full pay in August 1927.{{London Gazette|date=19 August 1927|issue=33304|page=5396}} He then began a four-year tour as the Military Adviser-in-Chief, Indian State Forces. At the end of which he was knighted as a Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire,{{London Gazette|date=3 June 1931|issue=33722|supp=y|page=3269}} just before retiring from the army on 20 June 1931.{{London Gazette|date=3 July 1931|issue=33732|page=4344}} His final military appointment was as the Regimental Colonel for the 4th Duke of Cambridge's Own Hodson's Horse.{{London Gazette|date=15 April 1932|issue=33817|page=2480}}

Beatty married Mabel Reynolds in 1905 and they had a son and daughter, both of whom died on active service.

Sir Guy Archibald Hastings Beatty died at his home in Budleigh Salterton, Devon in 1954 aged 83.

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• {{cite book|first=Brian|last=Robson|publisher=Spellmount Publishers|year=2004|title=Crisis on the Frontier|isbn=1862272115}}

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Category:1870 births

Category:1954 deaths

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of the Bath

Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order

Category:Companions of the Order of the Star of India

Category:Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Indian Army cavalry generals of World War I

Category:Royal Irish Regiment (1684–1922) officers

Category:British military personnel of the Boxer Rebellion

Category:British military personnel of the Third Anglo-Afghan War

Category:British people in colonial India

Category:19th-century British Army personnel

Category:Military personnel from Pune