Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend | |
|---|---|
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| Born | 21 February 1861 London, United Kingdom |
| Died | 18 May 1924 (aged 63) Paris, France |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | Royal Marines (1881–1886) British Army (1886–1920) |
| Years of service | 1881–1920 |
| Rank | Major general |
| Commands | 6th (Poona) Division[1] 4th Rawalpindi Brigade[1] 9th Jhansi Brigade[1] 54th East Anglian Division[1] 44th Home Counties Division[1] Orange River Colony District 12th Sudanese Battalion |
| Battles / wars | Mahdist War Hunza–Nagar Campaign Chitral Expedition North-West Frontier First World War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Distinguished Service Order |
| Relations | George Townshend, 1st Marquess Townshend |
| Member of Parliament for The Wrekin | |
| In office 20 November 1920 – 26 October 1922 | |
| Preceded by | Charles Palmer |
| Succeeded by | Howard Button |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Independent Parliamentary Group |
Major General Sir Charles Vere Ferrers Townshend, KCB, DSO (21 February 1861 – 18 May 1924) was a British soldier who during the World War I led an overreaching military campaign in Mesopotamia. His troops were besieged and captured at the Siege of Kut (December 1915 – April 1916), which was possibly the worst defeat suffered by the Allies.
Controversially and in contrast to the miserable captivity endured by his men, Townshend was held on Prinkipo, where he was treated like an esteemed guest until his release in October 1918. He was briefly a Conservative Member of Parliament from 1920 to 1922.