Barter, General Charles St Leger

Category: Business and political leaders

 

Sir Charles St Leger Barter, KCB, KCMG, CVO (1857–1931) was a career British Army officer.

He was the son of the Rev J T Barter of Bercham, Co Cork and a graduate of the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, beginning his military career with a commission in the 105th Foot in 1875.

Later attending staff college in 1883, he served in several military campaigns including the Ashanti Expedition (1895–1896) and the Tirah Campaign.

In 1899-1902 he was in command of the 2nd battalion of the Yorkshire Light Infantry, serving in South Africa during the Second Boer War.

They served with General Bruce Hamilton in the Transvaal during the later stages of the war, and he was in command at Ermelo in March 1902.

After the war had ended in June 1902, Barter resigned his command of the battalion and was placed on half-pay, leaving Cape Town for Southampton the following month. In September 1902 he was appointed assistant adjutant-general of the Thames District.

 

He completed a tour as GOC of a British Indian Army brigade in 1913. With his experience and training, Barter was appointed GOC for the 47th (2nd London) Division TF in August 1914 at the outset of the First World War.

He led the division to France in March 1915 and by May 1915 the division was fighting at Aubers Ridge.

Major General Barter and the 47th Division continued fighting on the Western Front and participated in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

It was during action at the Somme that the 47th Division and General Barter were involved in the battle for High Wood.

Charles Barter was awarded the KCB (1916) and KCMG (1918) for his service and retired from the Army in 1918.

And he is on the site because he had a most dramatic spiritual experience when he was in India.

Observations

For iPad/iPhone users: tap letter twice to get list of items.

• General Barter, of the British Army, sees the ghosts of a European in civilian dress, on a horse, accompanied by two native servants