Ralph Berners

Ralph Abercrombie Berners
Born(1871-06-14)14 June 1871
Died25 February 1949(1949-02-25) (aged 77)
AllegianceUnited Kingdom
Service / branchBritish Army
Years of service1890–1920
RankBrigadier-General
Commands21st Brigade
9th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
Battles / warsHazara Expedition of 1888
First World War
Third Anglo-Afghan War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches

Brigadier-General Ralph Abercrombie Berners DSO (14 June 1871 – 25 February 1949) was a British Army officer who briefly commanded the 4th Division during the First World War.

Military career

Educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, Berners was commissioned into the Royal Welch Fusiliers on 28 October 1890.[1] He was posted to India and took part in the Hazara Expedition in 1888 and then joined the International Squadron in Crete in 1897.[2]

After a tour in command of the regimental depot in the early 20th century, Berners was given command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment in France in May 1915 during the First World War. He commanded his battalion at the Battle of Loos in September 1915 and then transferred to the 9th Battalion of his regiment, which was also engaged on the Western Front.[2] He was appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order on 4 June 1917.[3]

After Major-General William Lambton was incapacitated on 12 September 1917, Berners briefly took over command of the 4th Division and remained in command until he was relieved on 21 September 1917.[4] He went on to command a brigade in the 2nd Indian Division in 1919 during the Third Anglo-Afghan War, before retiring in 1920.[2]

References

  1. ^ "No. 26101". The London Gazette. 28 October 1890. p. 5688.
  2. ^ a b c "Obituary: Brigadier General Ralph Abercrombie Berners D. S. O.". The Red Dragon.
  3. ^ "No. 13099". The Edinburgh Gazette. 4 June 1917. p. 1060.
  4. ^ Becke, Archibald Frank (1935). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 1: The Regular British Divisions. London: His Majesty’s Stationery Office. p. 57. OCLC 929528172.