No.18
Major-General Charles Townshend was notorious for his command of the Mesopotamian forces which, after several victories over the Turks, surrendered at the Siege of Kut in April 1916. While his men suffered and died in captivity, Townshend lived in relative luxury. But, like many World War One generals, he had an interesting back story. He had attained considerable fame by his sterling defence of Chitral in 1895, but we’d like to concentrate on his time as CO of the 12th Sudanese Battalion from 1896-98.
As a young lieutenant he had fought in the failed attempt to relieve General Charles Gordon, besieged in Khartoum in 1885. Now, a decade later, he was back, specially selected by General Herbert Kitchener to led the 12th.
