Sir Redvers Buller

Sir Redvers Buuler Was born on the 7th December 1839 at Downes, Crediton, Devon. He was commissioned as an Ensign in the Kings Royal Rifles on 23rd May 1858 and promoted to Lieutenant four years later. He took part in various campaigns, was mentioned in despatches and rose in rank to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 11th November 1878 by which time he was serving in Natal. It was here on 17th June 1879, that he was awarded the VC for rescuing two officers and a trooper. In 1880 he returned to Britain. In February 1881 he was sent back to South Africa as Chief of Staff to Sir Evelyn Wood who commanded the troops and acted as Governor of Natal. Whilst Buller was in Egypt in 1883 he was promoted to Major General where he remained until August 1886 returning to Ireland for a civil post. In November 1886 he returned to military duty as under-secretary for Ireland. In the October of 1887, as Quartermaster-General he succeeded Lord Wolseley as Adjutant General until September 1897. He succeeded the Duke of Connaught, on 9th October 1898, to command the troops at Aldershot where he remained for almost a year.

He arrived in Cape Town on 30th October 1899. The following day he split his force into three, taking the largest under his direct command as the Relief force for Ladysmith. He spent the next four months in Natal, finally relieving Ladysmith on 1st March 1900, after which he took his army across Northern Natal, recapturing the towns held by the Boers.

Buller was not too well liked by his officers for what they saw as indecision to press home the attack at both Colenso and Spioenkop. He was however well respected by the rank and file for his interest in their welfare.

He left South Africa in October of 1900 to resume his command at Aldershot. He was relieved of this post however, after a speech criticising the War Office for not allowing him to complete the final two years of his career in command in South Africa.

He died on 2nd June 1908 and was buried with full military honours in a churchyard near the family estate in Crediton, Devon.

In the field he lived in luxury, iron bathroom, sumptuous kitchen with a fine battery of culinary accessories. Buller confided to one of Queen Victoria’s ladies-in-waiting that “he had had his pint of champagne every day during the campaign and that his only privation was an occasional lack of butter”. He once told someone “I have always considered that I was better as a second in a complex military affair than chief in command.”

In “My Early Life” Winston Churchill says of Buller…”He was a characteristic British personality. He looked stolid. He said little and what he said was obscure.”