Page:Dictionary of National Biography, Second Supplement, volume 2.djvu/107

 and Hindu — for what he had done. In 1900 the gold medal of the Kaiser-i-Hind order was awarded him on this account. In January 1898 lie went to Egypt, with the local rank of major-general, to command the British brigade in the advance up the Nile for the recovery of Khartoum. He brought it into such condition that it was able to march 140 miles in a week. On 8 April the Anglo-Egyptian army under Sir Herbert Kitchener attacked the Mahdist forces under Mahmoud in their intrenched camp on the Atbara. The British brigade was on the left. Gatacre was one of the first men to reach the zariba, and would have been speared if his orderly had not bayoneted his aissailant. Kitchener's despatch spoke of his untiring energy and devotion to duty, his gallant leading of his men, and his hearty co-operation throughout (Lond. Gaz. 24 May 1898). Some said that he drove his officers and men too hard, but he was unsparing of himself. 'In the ranks they call him "General Backacher" and love him' (, p. 61). He was promoted major-general on 25 June. In the further operations, which ended with the capture of Omdurman (2 Sept.), he commanded a division of two British brigades. He was again mentioned in despatches, received the thanks of parliament, and was made K.C.B. (15 Nov.). He received the British and Egyptian medals with two clasps and the Medjidie (2nd class). On 15 Dec. he was made a freeman of Shrewsbury, and in February 1899 he received a reward for distinguished service.

On 8 Dec. 1898 he took over command of the eastern district. On 21 Oct. 1899 he embarked for South Africa, to command the third division of the army corps sent out under Sir Redvers Buller [q. v. Suppl. II]. With one exception all the battalions of his division went to Natal to save Ladysmith, while Gatacre himself remained in Cape Colony, charged with the defence of the railway from East London to Bethalie and the country on each side of it. On 2 Dec. Buller asked Gatacre if he could not close with the enemy, or otherwise hinder their advance southward. On the night of 9 Dec. Gatacre made an attempt to seize the railway junction at Stormberg. He had by this time three battalions (Northumberland fusiliers, royal Irish rifles, and royal Scots), some mounted infantry, and two batteries of field artillery. Without good maps and led astray by the guides, his force, instead of surprising the enemy, was itself surprised on the march. A confused fight followed, in which some mischances occurred, and retreat became necessary. Many men were left beliind, worn out with fatiffae, and out of a total of 3035 there was a loss of 696. 'I think you were quite right to try the night attack, and hope better luck next time,' was Buller's reply to Gatacre's report of his failure. Lord Roberts on his arrival investigated the facts, and came to the conclusion that Gatacre had shown want of judgment and of ordinary precaution (Lond. Gaz. 16 March 1900).

By his orders Gatacre acted on the defensive for the next three months, barring recomiaissances on 23 Feb. and 5 March 1900. On 15 March he crossed the Orange river at Bethulie with his division, now numbering 5000 men, and came in touch with the main army, which was at Bloemfontein. He was placed in charge of the lines of communication. On the 19th he was told 'it is very desirable British troops should be seen all over the country,' and was asked if he could send a force to Smithfield, which he did. On the 28th Lord Roberts telegraphed, 'If you have enough troops at your disposal, I should like you to occupy Dewetsdorp,' and he sent there three companies of the Irish rifles and two of mounted infantry. On the 31st, in consequence of De Wet's successful stroke at Sannah's Post, there came orders to draw in outlying parties, especially the Dewetsdorp detachment. These were passed on without delay, and the detachment reached Reddersburg on 3 April. There it was surrounded, and surrendered after twenty-four hours' fighting, when Gatacre with a small relieving force was within a few miles of it. It is not easy to see where he was in fault ; but he was held responsible for what had occurred, was relieved of his command on 10 April, and returned to England (Maurice, ii. 300-11 and 614). He was informed that there was no slur upon his honour, his personal courage, his energy and zeal, 'which are beyond all question.' He received the Queen's medal for South Africa with two clasps.

He resumed command of the eastern district at Colchester, and remained there till 8 Dec. 1903. He was placed on the retired list on 19 March 1904, but was employed for some months in comiection with remounts and the registration of horses. Having joined the board of the Kordofan trading company, he went out to explore rubber forests in Abyssinia towards the end of 1905. He caught fever from camping in a swamp, died at Iddeni ou 18 Jan. 1906,