Major General Sydney Buxton Pope CB DSO (9 February 1879 – 1955) was a British officer who served in the

British Indian Army The Indian Army was the force of British Raj, British India, until Indian Independence Act 1947, national independence in 1947. Formed in 1895 by uniting the three Presidency armies, it was responsible for the defence of both British India and ...

Early life and education

Pope was born 9 February 1879 at

Dacca Dhaka ( or ; , ), List of renamed places in Bangladesh, formerly known as Dacca, is the capital city, capital and list of cities and towns in Bangladesh, largest city of Bangladesh. It is one of the list of largest cities, largest and list o ...

Bengal Bengal ( ) is a Historical geography, historical geographical, ethnolinguistic and cultural term referring to a region in the Eastern South Asia, eastern part of the Indian subcontinent at the apex of the Bay of Bengal. The region of Benga ...

. He was educated St. Pauls School and

Christ's College, Cambridge Christ's College is a Colleges of the University of Cambridge, constituent college of the University of Cambridge, England. The college includes the Master, the Fellows of the College, and about 450 undergraduate and 250 graduate students. The c ...

Military career

Pope was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the 4th battalion,

Royal Dublin Fusiliers The Royal Dublin Fusiliers was an infantry regiment of the British Army created in 1881 and disbanded in 1922. It was one of eight 'Irish' regiments of the army which were raised and garrisoned in Ireland, with the regiment's home depot being l ...

on 12 July 1900. He transferred to the Royal Irish Regiment on 4 May 1901, and then to the

on 8 April 1903. He was promoted to

lieutenant A lieutenant ( , ; abbreviated Lt., Lt, LT, Lieut and similar) is a Junior officer, junior commissioned officer rank in the armed forces of many nations, as well as fire services, emergency medical services, Security agency, security services ...

on 4 August 1903 while attached the

113th Infantry The 113th Infantry were an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. The regiment traces their origins to 1800, when they were raised as the 1st Battalion, 7th Regiment of Bombay Native Infantry. The regiment's first action was in Egypt duri ...

. He transferred to the

58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force) The 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force) was an infantry regiment of the British Indian Army. It was raised in 1849 as the 5th Regiment of Punjab Infantry. It was designated as the 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force) in 1903 and became 5th B ...

on 25 February 1904. He served on the campaign against the Mohmands on the North West Frontier during 1908. He was promoted to

captain Captain is a title, an appellative for the commanding officer of a military unit; the supreme leader or highest rank officer of a navy ship, merchant ship, aeroplane, spacecraft, or other vessel; or the commander of a port, fire or police depa ...

on 4 May 1910. He served as aide-de-camp to the commander of the

4th (Quetta) Division The 4th (Quetta) Division was an infantry division of the British Indian Army. It was formed by Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, General Kitchener while he was Commander-in-chief of British Raj, India. During World War I the division rema ...

from 5 December 1913 to 23 February 1914. From February 1914, he was at the Quetta Staff College. Pope served during the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

. He served mostly on the

staff Staff may refer to: Pole * Walking staff, an instrument used for balance when walking * Staff, a weapon used in stick-fighting ** Quarterstaff, a European pole weapon * Staff of office, a pole that indicates a position * Staff (railway signalling) ...

in France and Palestine. For his service during WWI, he was awarded the

Distinguished Service Order The Distinguished Service Order (DSO) is a Military awards and decorations, military award of the United Kingdom, as well as formerly throughout the Commonwealth of Nations, Commonwealth, awarded for operational gallantry for highly successful ...

(DSO), the French

Legion d'honneur The National Order of the Legion of Honour ( ), formerly the Imperial Order of the Legion of Honour (), is the highest and most prestigious French national order of merit, both military and civil. Currently consisting of five classes, it was ...

and the Egyptian

Order of the Nile The Order of the Nile (''Kiladat El Nil'') was established in 1915 and was one of the Kingdom of Egypt's principal orders until the monarchy was abolished in 1953. It was then reconstituted as the Republic of Egypt's highest state honor. Sulta ...

, 3rd class. He was promoted to

major Major most commonly refers to: * Major (rank), a military rank * Academic major, an academic discipline to which an undergraduate student formally commits * People named Major, including given names, surnames, nicknames * Major and minor in musi ...

on 4 May 1916. He was appointed Brevet Lt-Col 1 January 1919 and Brevet Colonel 3 May 1921. Appointed Deputy Adjutant and Quartermaster General for Baluch District 1 July 1922 to 31 July 1923 as a temporary Colonel. Promoted Colonel 29 April 1924 with seniority from 3 May 1921. Appointed temporary Brigadier Commanding 8th Indian Infantry Brigade from 4 July 1926 to 4 July 1930. Promoted Major - General 29 October 1930 and awarded the

Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregi ...

the same year. He was on the unemployed list from 18 October 1930 to 27 October 1931. Appointed District Commander Waziristan District 16 November 1931 to 27 August 1934. Appointed D. A. & Q. M. G., Southern Command 27 August 1934 to 27 August 1938. Retired Major - General 27 August 1938. He was appointed the Colonel of the 4/19 Hyderabad Regiment (late the 98th Infantry) from 28 August 1931 to 31 May 1949 and was the first colonel of the

Kumaon Regiment The Kumaon Regiment is one of the oldest infantry regiments of the Indian Army. The regiment traces its origins to the 18th century and has fought in every major campaign of the British Indian Army and the Indian Army, including the two world war ...

. He was appointed the Colonel of the 5/13 Frontier Force Rifles (late the 58th Vaughans Rifles) 24 February 1933. In retirement he was appointed a King's Messenger, an appointment he relinquished on 27 June 1940.London Gazette 12 July 1940

Notes

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pope, Sydney Companions of the Distinguished Service Order British Indian Army generals Indian Army personnel of World War I Companions of the Order of the Bath 1879 births 1955 deaths British people in colonial India