Rectory Lane Cemetery, Berkhamsted

General Sir Horace Lockwood Smith-Dorrien GCB GCMG DSO ADC 1858-1930 had a distinguished if at times controversial military career and is greatly respected in Berkhamsted. He distinguished himself in the Second Boer War and held senior commands in the British Expeditionary Force in World War I. He commanded the British II Corps at the Battle of Mons and the battle of Le Cateau, where he fought a vigorous and successful defensive action contrary to the wishes of the Commander-in-Chief, Sir John French, with whom there was a personality clash. History has rather vindicated Smith-Dorrien’s action. In the spring of 1915, he commanded the British Second Army at the second battle of Ypres. French relieved him of his command when he requested permission to retreat from Ypres to a more defensible position. Smith-Dorrien played no significant role in the rest of the War. His final position was as Governor of Gibraltar from July 1918 until May 1923. He married Olive Crofton Schneider in 1902. There were three sons. Lady Smith-Dorrien played an active role on the Home Front in World War I for which she received several awards. General Sir Horace died on 12th August 1930 from injuries sustained in a car accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Jenny Sherwood