George Pomeroy Colley

Sir George Pomeroy Colley KCSI CB CMG (born November 1, 1835 - † February 27, 1881 at Majuba Hill , South Africa ) was a British major general and commander in chief in the First Boer War .

Life

George Pomeroy Colley joined the 2nd Queen's Regiment in 1852 . He served in South Africa from 1854 to 1860 . In 1860 he and his regiment were transferred to China as part of the British contingent in the British-French expedition in the Second Opium War . He took part in the capture of the Taku forts and the occupation of Beijing .

Colley took part in Garnet Wolseley's expedition to West Africa in 1873 to fight the Ashanti . He was one of the 35 officers who later formed the basis of the " Ashanti ring ". The group gained significant influence on the Victorian British Army through mutual support and assumed leadership positions by the end of the century. In 1862 Colley graduated from the staff academy for a year and then served in Devonport for five years . In 1870 he worked with Lord Cardwell in the War Department on the reform of the British Army . In 1871 he went to the staff academy as a professor.

In 1875 Colley accompanied Wolseley to Natal in South Africa. In 1879, as Brigadier General , he became its chief of staff in the Zulu War . In 1880 Colley Wolseley was succeeded as High Commissioner and Commander in Chief in Natal.

During the First Boer War, Colley was Commander in Chief of the British troops. His attempt to drive the Boers from the Drakensberg in order to relieve the British garrisons led to the Battle of Laing's Nek on January 28, 1881 . There he suffered defeat. After his supplies fell into the hands of the Boers , he led his troops to the top of Majuba Hill, an extinct volcano. The Boers opened the attack on this and in the following battle on Majuba Hill Colley suffered a defeat and was killed himself.

literature

The biography Life of Sir George Pomeroy Colley was written by Lieutenant General William Francis Butler , another member of the "Ashanti Ring".

Web links

Commons : George Pomeroy Colley - Collection of Images, Videos and Audio Files

Individual evidence

^ William F. Butler: The life of Sir George Pomeroy-Colley. 1835-1881. Including services in Kaffraria, in China, in Ashanti, in India and in Natal. Murray, London 1899.

personal data
SURNAME	Colley, George Pomeroy
BRIEF DESCRIPTION	British Major General and Commander in Chief in the First Boer War
DATE OF BIRTH	November 1, 1835
DATE OF DEATH	February 27, 1881
Place of death	Majuba Hill , South Africa

[1] William F. Butler: The life of Sir George Pomeroy-Colley. 1835-1881. Including services in Kaffraria, in China, in Ashanti, in India and in Natal. Murray, London 1899.