Sir James Melville Babington | |
|---|---|
 Lt. Gen. Babington in 1900 | |
| Born | 31 July 1854 Corstorphine, Scotland |
| Died | 15 June 1936 (aged 81) |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1873–c.1919 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Commands | 23rd Division Lowland Mounted Brigade 1st Cavalry Brigade |
| Battles / wars | Bechuanaland Expedition Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Mentioned in Despatches Commander of the Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) Officer of the Military Order of Savoy (Italy) War Cross for Military Valor (Italy) |
Lieutenant General Sir James Melville Babington KCB, KCMG, DL (31 July 1854 – 15 June 1936)[1] was a British Army officer and a renowned leader of cavalry, making a name for himself for his actions in the Second Boer War.[2] He was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force and one of the most respected British generals in the First World War,[3] in command of the 23rd Division. After the war he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy.
General Babington's image was chosen by Paul McCartney and used by the Beatles to depict the fictional "Sgt. Pepper" for the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.[4]
- ^ Genealogy page Archived 28 July 2012 at archive.today, retrieved 25 August 2011.
- ^ "Babington Chasing the Boers". The Examiner. 6 May 1901. Retrieved 20 July 2012.
- ^ Kitchener's Army: The Raising of the New Armies 1914 1916 by Peter Simkins
- ^ Marinucci, Steve (13 May 2017). "Who's the Real Sgt. Pepper? New Beatles Book Unveils Identity of Soldier Seen on Album Cover".