Sir Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor | |
|---|---|
 Chaytor,c. 1918 | |
| Nickname(s) | Fiery Ted |
| Born | (1868-06-21)21 June 1868 Motueka, New Zealand |
| Died | 15 June 1939(1939-06-15) (aged 70) London, England |
| Allegiance | New Zealand |
| Service | New Zealand Army |
| Years of service | 1886–1924 |
| Rank | Major General |
| Commands | New Zealand Military Forces (1919–24) ANZAC Mounted Division (1917–18) New Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade (1915–17) Wellington Military District (1910–14) South Island Battalion (1902) |
| Battles / wars | |
| Awards | Knight Commander of St Michael and St George Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order Commander of the Order of the Bath Mentioned in Despatches (7) Order of the Nile (Egypt) Commander of the Order of the White Eagle (Serbia) |
Major GeneralSir Edward Walter Clervaux Chaytor,KCMG, KCVO, CB, ADC (21 June 1868 – 15 June 1939)[1] was a farmer, and a military commander of New Zealand troops in theBoer War and theFirst World War.
Born inMotueka, New Zealand, Chaytor was the son ofJohn Clervaux Chaytor and his wife Emma, daughter of Edward Fearon. His paternal great-grandfather was the industrialist and politicianSir William Chaytor, 1st Baronet. He was educated atNelson College from 1880 to 1884,[2] and was then a sheep farmer atSpring Creek nearBlenheim.
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In the Boer War Chaytor was a captain in the Third New Zealand Contingent and a lieutenant colonel in the Eighth New Zealand Contingent. After the Boer War Chaytor became a professional officer in the New Zealand Army. In the First World War he was in theNew Zealand Expeditionary Force in Egypt and Gallipoli. At the end of 1915, he was given command of theNew Zealand Mounted Rifles Brigade, which was part of theEgyptian Expeditionary Force in theSinai and Palestine campaign and soon after was promoted to brigadier. In 1916 prior to theBattle of Romani he personally reconnoitred the Turkish position from an aircraft. He was appointed aCompanion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the1917 New Year Honours.[3]
In 1917, Chaytor took over theAustralian and New Zealand Mounted Division, and was promoted to temporary major general in April.[4] When taking part in the assault onRafa he ignoredChetwode's order to withdraw from the attack and took the town's main defensive position. In 1918Chaytor's Force captured Amman in Jordan and thousands of prisoners.
Chaytor was appointedCommandant of the New Zealand Military Forces in 1919 and in this role oversaw a major reorganisation of the Territorial Force. On the occasion of the royal visit byEdward, Prince of Wales to Australia and New Zealand, he was appointed aKnight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in 1920.[5] He was appointed honorary colonel of the1st (Canterbury) and12th (Nelson and Marlborough) Regiments in 1920.[6] He retired from the military in 1924, being replaced as commandant by Major GeneralCharles Melvill. He lived inLondon until his death on 15 June 1939.
He married Louisa Jane Collins, daughter of Charles Sweeney Collins, on 17 October 1898. Together they had three children. Son Edward John Clervaux Chaytor (1903–1976) was aBrigadier in theRoyal Artillery; daughter Katherine, marriedSir Robert Gooch, 11th Baronet.
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Major GeneralAlfred William Robin | Commandant of New Zealand Military Forces December 1919 – March 1924 | Succeeded by Major GeneralCharles Melvill |
| Preceded by Major GeneralHarry Chauvel | General Officer CommandingANZAC Mounted Division 1917–1918 | Succeeded by Brigadier GeneralGranville Ryrie |
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Other | |
