Complex sentence: Lord Roberts became the last Commander-in-Chief of the Forces on 3 January 1901 and served in that role for three years before the post was abolished as recommended by Lord Esher in the Esher Report in February 1904.
Split into simpler sentences: Lord Roberts became the last Commander-in-Chief of the Forces on 3 January 1901. He served as Commander-in-Chief for three years before the post was abolished as recommended by Lord Esher in the Esher Report in February 1904.