Harry Scobell

Scobell was born in Hanover Square, he was the son of Col.

Henry Sales Scobell & his wife Catherine Sarah Jenner Bedford. His maternal great grandfather was Edward Jenner. After attending Eton College, rather than attend Sandhurst, Scobell obtained a commission as a second lieutenant in the Worcester Militia in 1878."Promotions and Appointments" in, [https://books.google.com/books?id=LtoRAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA534 The United Service Magazine], Volume 147, p. 534. Retrieved 28 October 2009. In 1879, he obtained a transfer from the militia, joining the 2nd Dragoons (Royal Scots Greys).London Gazette, [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/24729/pages/3682 30 May 1879], p. 3862.

Over the next ten years, saw little active service, but Scobell achieved promotion to captain by 1886.[https://books.google.com/books?id=T60aAAAAMAAJ&pg=PT30 Hart's Annual Army list, Militia list, and Imperial Yeomanry List for 1898], (London: John Murray, Albemarle Street, 1898) p. 68. In 1889, he was seconded from the Scots Greys to serve as the adjutant of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry.London Gazette, [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/25989/pages/5778 London Gazette 1 November 1889], p. 5778. In 1896, Scobell would be promoted to major in the Scots Greys.

In 1899, Scobell deployed with his regiment to South Africa to fight in the Boer War. At the start of the war, Major Scobell commanded C Squadron. Initially, the regiment patrolled the area between the Orange and Modder rivers.[http://www.angloboerwar.com/units%20imperial/2nd_dragoons.htm Anglo Boer War: 2nd (Royal Scots Greys) Dragoons] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081013022012/http://www.angloboerwar.com/units%20imperial/2nd_dragoons.htm |date=13 October 2008 }} retrieved on 25 October 2009. With the start of Lord Roberts' offensive against the Boer Republics, Scobell saw his first action at the Battle of Paardeberg before participating in the relief of Kimberly.

Following the Battle of Paarderberg, Scobell's squadron captured a strategic hill east of Bloemfontein. With 65 men, Scobell rode 35 miles, forcing his way past the Boer commandos defending the rail line in order seize the heights. Through the night, Scobbel's men held the hill despite being outnumbered by Boer commandos.

Scobell's squadron was left at Utival (also known as Zilikats Nek). There they were eventually joined by five companies from the 2nd battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment, with a section of guns from O Battery, RHA.[http://www.angloboerwar.com/units%20imperial/lincoln_regt.htm Anglo Boer War: Lincoln Regt.] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081119090931/http://www.angloboerwar.com/units%20imperial/lincoln_regt.htm |date=19 November 2008 }} retrieved on 27 October 2009. While Scobell had kept a strong picket line out to watch for Boer commandos, this was changed when he was superseded as the commander of the garrison. With the Scots Greys came under the command of an infantry colonel, the picket outposts were decreased.Sir John Frederick Maurice, Maurice Harold Grant, History of the war in South Africa, 1899–1902, Volume 3 (London: Hurst and Blackett limited, 1908), pp. 238–239. This allowed when the outpost was attacked by a force of Boer commandos on 10 July 1900. Most of the squadron was captured during the disaster which ensued. The defeat allowed the Boers to hold Zilikats Nek. Scobell was able to escape with part of his command, having to shoot their way through the Boer commandos[http://www.angloboerwar.com/battles/zilikats.htm Battle of Zilikats Nek]{{dead link|date=November 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} retrieved on 27 October 2009.

After nearly dying in the battle at Zilikat's Nek in the Magaliesberg, he captured Barberton. A review of the action at Zilikats's Nek exonerated Scobell and he was given the local rank of lieutenant-colonel on 1 December 1900 and placed in command of the 1st Regiment, Brabant Horse.London Gazette, [http://www.london-gazette.co.uk/issues/27286/pages/1234 19 February 1901, Issue No. 27286], p. 1234. On 27 July 1901, Scobell was ordered to assume command of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers.Ciaran Byrne, The Harp and Crown, the History of the 5th (Royal Irish) Lancers, 1902 – 1922, (Lulu Books, 2008) p. 21.

As part of the British effort to defeat the Boer insurgency, General French appointed Scobell to command a column of cavalry. Scobell's command including detachments from the 9th Lancers and the Cape Mounted Rifles.H.W. Kinsey, "[http://samilitaryhistory.org/vol015nk.html The Capture of Lotter's Commando]", in Military History Journal, Vol 1 No 5. Retrieved 28 October 2009. One of the most effective commandos operating in the Cape Province was the band commanded by Commandant Lötter. In the midst of a six-day mission, Scobell received information that Lötter's commando was laagered near the town of Petersburg in a gorge called Groenkloof. Quickly acting on the new intelligence, Scobell's column surprised Lötter's commando at the Battle of Groenkloof on 5 September 1901. In exchange for 10 dead troopers, Scobell's column killed 13, wounded 46 and captured the rest of Lötter's command, effectively destroying one of the most successful Boer units operating in the Cape. In recognition of his success, Scobell was granted the brevet rank of colonel.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Promotion of Colonel Scobell |date=12 September 1901 |page=8 |issue=36558 }}

For his service in the war, Scobell received the Queen's South Africa Medal (with six clasps), the King's South Africa Medal (with two clasps), and was mentioned in despatches several times (including by Lord Roberts on 31 March 1900,{{London Gazette|issue=27282 |page=846 |date=8 February 1901}} and by Lord Kitchener on 23 June 1902{{London Gazette |issue=27459 |date=29 July 1902 |pages=4835–4837 }}).

With the end of the war approaching, Scobell returned to London on board the steamer Plassy in February 1902,{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=The War – return of troops|date=31 January 1902 |page=6 |issue=36679}} and was received in audience by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace the following May.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Court Circular intelligence |date=13 May 1902 |page=9 |issue=36766}} His brevet rank was confirmed and he was transferred back to his old regiment, the Scots Greys, as its commander on 2 August 1902.{{London Gazette|issue=27460|page=4963|date=1 August 1902}} He was appointed in command of the 1st Cavalry Brigade based at Aldershot on 1 April 1903, with the temporary rank of Brigadier-General.{{Cite newspaper The Times |title=Important Military Appointments |date=17 January 1903 |page=11 |issue=36980}} Promoted to Major-General, he was appointed Inspector of cavalry in May 1907.{{London Gazette|issue=28021|page=3303|date=14 May 1907}} From 1909, he commanded the British garrison in South Africa. His final posting was as General Officer Commanding Cape District, the position he held until 1911.

From 1908 to his death he was colonel of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers.{{cite web|url=http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D05L.htm |title=5th Royal Irish Lancers |publisher=Regiments.org |accessdate=10 August 2016 |url-status=bot: unknown |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070609150708/http://regiments.org/regiments/uk/cav/D05L.htm |archivedate=9 June 2007 }} He died in Rondebosch in 1912.Uys, Ian S. (1992). South African Military Whoʼs Who, 1452–1992. Fortress Publishers, {{ISBN|978-0-9583173-3-7}}

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{{British Governors of the Cape Colony}}

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Category:1859 births

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