Lieutenant-General Sir Walter Sinclair Delamain KCB KCMG DSO (18 February 1862 – 6 March 1932) was an officer of the British Indian Army.[1]
Early service
Delamain was born in Saint Helier, the son of Charles Henry Delamain and Susan Sarah Christina Gun. He attended the Royal Military College and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Princess Charlotte of Wales's (Berkshire Regiment) on 22 October 1881.[4] On 13 January 1885 he was seconded for service with the Indian Staff Corps,[5] and was commissioned as a lieutenant in the Bombay Staff Corps on 1 February 1885, with seniority of 22 October 1881.[6] He was promoted to captain, 22 October 1892,[7] and given the temporary rank of Major, 4 November 1898.[8] As Commandant of the Native Military Base Depot during the Boxer Rebellion he was mentioned in despatches.[9] On 26 May 1901 he was appointed a Special Service Officer on the staff of the China Field Force,[10] and his rank of major was made substantive on 10 July 1901.[11] In October 1902 he was in command of a detachment from the 23rd Bombay Rifles (renamed as the 123rd Outram's Rifles the following year) sent via Aden to British Somaliland as reinforcement during the Somaliland campaign.[12] In 1905 he was again mentioned in despatches for his service with the Outram's Rifles, commanding the escort to the Aden Boundary Commission for eight months,[13] was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 14 April,[14] and promoted to lieutenant-colonel, with seniority of 12 January 1905.[15] On 12 January 1908 he was made brevet colonel,[16] and substantive colonel on 1 January 1911.[17] He was appointed assistant adjutant-general on 17 November 1912.[18]
First World War
Delamain was appointed temporary brigadier-general, 27 September 1914.[19] He commanded the 16th (Poona) and 17th (Ahmednagar) Brigades at the Battle of Es Sinn.[20] His conduct was described as "admirable" in General Nixon's despatch,[21] and Delamain was promoted to major-general, 29 October 1915, for distinguished service in the field.[22] He became a prisoner of war on 29 April 1916.[23]
Post-war
On 14 November 1919 Delamain was given command of a division,[24] and he was promoted to lieutenant-general on 1 April 1920,[25] with seniority later backdated to 21 December 1919.[26] He served as Adjutant-General, India from 10 November 1920[27] to 28 March 1923,[28] when he retired from the Indian Army.[29]
Delamain was also colonel of the 117th Mahrattas from 28 October 1921[30] until he reached the age limit, being replaced by Major-General R.C. Wilson on 18 February 1932.[31]
Bibliography
References
