Edward Cecil Bethune

Lieutenant-General Sir Edward Cecil Bethune KCB CVO was a British soldier who raised and led his own regiment, Bethune's Mounted Infantry, in the Second Boer War and directed the Territorials in the First World War.

Career
Baptised on 4 August 1855 in the church of the Holy Trinity at Paddington, second son of Admiral Charles Ramsay Bethune, 24th of Balfour, and his wife Frances Cecilia Staples, his chosen career was the British Army.

At age 20 he gained a commission in the 92nd Foot (The Gordon Highlanders), seeing service in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in Afghanistan from 1878 to 1880 and the First Boer War in South Africa from 1880 to1881. In 1886 he transferred to a cavalry regiment, the 6th Dragoon Guards (The Carabiniers). In 1895 he was promoted to Major and joined the 16th (The Queen's) Lancers.

Posted again to South Africa on the outbreak of the Second Boer War in 1899, as a Lieutenant-Colonel he raised and commanded Bethune's Mounted Infantry. His unit fought at Colenso, Spion Kop, and at the Relief of Ladysmith. In 1900 he was recalled to the 16th Lancers as a Brevet Colonel, becoming their commanding officer and heading a cavalry brigade. Then he was moved to staff work, acting as Assistant Adjutant-General of the Field Force in South Africa. The war over, he was promoted to Brigadier-General in 1905, placed on the General Staff, put in command of the Eastern Sub-District of the Cape Colony and awarded the CB in the 1905 Birthday Honours.

Raised to Major-General in 1908, he was appointed Colonel of the 4th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards, an honour he held until 1920, and was awarded the CVO in 1909. Until 1912 he was General Officer Commanding West Lancashire Division, Territorial Force, Western Command, becoming Director General, Territorial Force in 1912, Promoted to Lieutenant-General in 1913, he was created KCB in 1915 and served throughout the First World War, retiring in 1920 after 45 years. In his retirement he served as Chairman of the Metropolitan Area of the Royal British Legion. Dying in his home at 5 Eldon Road, his will was proved by his widow on 17 December 1930.

Family
On 25 October 1890 at Ootacamund in India he married Mary Lilian Elliot Lockhart (1870-1948), daughter of Brigadier-General William Elliot Lockhart and his wife Fanny Ada Clare Carden. A son Edward died in infancy and their daughter Mary Cecilia (Molly) Bethune married Dr Gerald Evan Spicer, son of Sir Evan Spicer, paper magnate and Chairman of London County Council.