Alfred Ernest Irvine (1876-1962)
Ulsterman commanded 4th DLI and 112th Infantry Brigade awarded DSO and Bar
Alfred Ernest Irvine, the son of John and Rebecca Mary Anne Irvine, was born in Londonderry, Ireland on 28 September 1876. He had one brother who served as a captain in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was killed in action in 1916. Alfred was educated privately until he went to King’s College, London. On 10 April 1895 he was commissioned into the 4th Battalion Durham Light Infantry (DLI) and in 1897 transferred to the 2nd Battalion. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1899 and to captain in 1903. In 1911 he was stationed at the Colchester Garrison in Essex and was appointed adjutant of the 4th Battalion in November 1913 and retained that position until he left for France.
He disembarked in France on 17 August 1915. Two weeks later, he was promoted to major and on 31 May 1915, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) and was mentioned in despatches the following month. He was promoted acting lieutenant colonel on 15 December 1916, in command of the battalion until 15 August 1917. During this period he was promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel and twice mentioned in despatches. At the end of this posting, he was promoted to temporary brigadier general in command of the 112th Infantry Brigade until September 1918 and during this period was twice mentioned in despatches and made an Officer of the Order of Leopold, awarded the Croix de Guerre and made a Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George. In February 1919 he was awarded a Bar to the DSO and in June was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath, being again mentioned in despatches.
Alfred Irvine married Katharine Helen Graham, daughter of Brigadier General Graham, Royal Marines, in Rochester Cathedral on 14 February 1920 and they had a son, who was born in Ulster in 1925. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1923 and in April 1929 Alfred retired as an honorary brigadier general and moved to Wotton-under-Edge in Gloucestershire, where he died in January 1962.
The award of the DSO was gazetted on 31 May 1916 and the citation reads:
” For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. During a critical period and continuous bombardment by the enemy lasting three days he was up with his front companies each night directing and organising the defences. His energy, cheerfulness and splendid example were invaluable”.
The award of the Bar to the DSO was gazetted on 1 February 1919 and the citation reads:
” For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 8 and 9 September near Havrincourt. The plans for attack on the village necessitated the possession of a slag heap known to be held by the enemy. Pushing out patrols to locate the exact position of the enemy, he went out himself, and with his intelligence officer, made a personal reconnaissance about 200 yards in front of the outposts to the top of the slag heap, and as he was not fired on ordered the patrols to push on there. Next morning, he again went up to the outpost line and reconnoitred some 250 yards beyond under constant sniping. The knowledge he gained enabled him to capture a post and light field gun and his personal determination cleared up the situation”.
Birth date: 28-Sep-1876
Death date: 1-Jan-1962
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: 2 Cleveland Road, Ealing, Middlesex (1891 Census)
Colchester Garrison, Colchester, Essex (1911 Census)
Education: 2 Cleveland Road, Ealing, Middlesex (1891 Census)
King’s College, London University
Family: Father: John Irvine
Mother: Rebecca Mary Anne Irvine (nee Nixon)
Brother: Gerard Foster Irvine (Later Captain in the Royal Warwickshire Regt. who died of his wounds in 1916)
Wife: Anne Katharine Helen Irvine (nee Graham) (Daughter of Brig.-General H M C W Graham, Royal Marines)
Son: James Eccles Malise Irvine (Later a County Court Judge)
Military service:
4th & 2nd Battalions Durham Light Infantry
Brigadier General
Medal(s): Companion of the Order of the Bath
Companion of the Order of St Michael & St George
Distinguished Service Order & Bar
Mentioned in Despatches (6)
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Croix de Guerre (Belgium)
Officer of the Order Of Leopold
Gender: Male
Contributed by John Edwards