Frederick Roberts , 1st Earl Roberts Field Marshal Frederick Sleigh Roberts , 1st Earl Roberts ( 30 September 1832 – 14 November 1914 ) was a British soldier who was one of the most successful commanders of the 19th century . He served in the Indian rebellion , the Expedition to Abyssinia and the Second Anglo - Afghan War before leading British Forces to success in the Second Boer War . He also became the last Commander - in - Chief of the Forces before the post was abolished in 1904 . Early life . Born at Cawnpore , India , on 30 September 1832 , Roberts was the son of General Sir Abraham Roberts , a native of County Waterford in the south - east of Ireland . At the time Sir Abraham was commanding the 1st Bengal European Regiment . Roberts was named Sleigh in honour of the garrison commander , Major - General William Sleigh . His mother was Edinburgh - born Isabella Bunbury , daughter of Major Abraham Bunbury from Kilfeacle in County Tipperary . Roberts was educated at Eton , Sandhurst and Addiscombe Military Seminary before entering the East India Company Army as a Second Lieutenant with the Bengal Artillery on 12 December 1851 . He became ADC to his father in 1852 , transferred to the Bengal Horse Artillery in 1854 and was promoted to lieutenant on 31 May 1857 . Indian Rebellion of 1857 . Roberts fought in the Indian Rebellion of 1857 ( also known as the Indian Mutiny ) seeing action during the siege and capture of Delhi where he was slightly wounded , and being present at the relief of Lucknow , where , as Deputy Assistant Quartermaster - General , he was attached to the staff of Sir Colin Campbell , Commander - in - Chief , India . He was awarded the Victoria Cross medal for actions on 2 January 1858 at Khudaganj . The citation reads : He was also mentioned in despatches for his service at Lucknow in March 1858 . In common with other officers he transferred from the East India Company Army to the Indian Army that year . Abyssinia and Afghanistan . Having been promoted to second captain on 12 November 1860 and to brevet major on 13 November 1860 , he transferred to the British Army in 1861 and served in the Umbeyla and Abyssinian campaigns of 1863 and 1867 – 1868 respectively . Having been promoted to brevet lieutenant colonel on 15 August 1868 and to the substantive rank of captain on 18 November 1868 , Roberts also fought in the Lushai campaign of 1871 – 1872 . He was promoted to the substantive rank of major on 5 July 1872 , appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath ( CB ) on 10 September 1872 and promoted to brevet colonel on 30 January 1875 . That year he became Quartermaster - General of the Bengal Army . He was given command of the Kurram field force in March 1878 and took part in the Second Anglo - Afghan War , distinguishing himself enough at the Battle of Peiwar Kotal in November 1878 to receive the thanks of Parliament , be promoted to the substantive rank of major - general on 31 December 1878 and be advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath ( KCB ) on 25 July 1879 . In September 1879 he was despatched , along with Maurice Abraham Cohen an expert in the Urdu language , to Kabul to seek retribution for the death of Sir Louis Cavagnari , the British envoy there . He was also given the local rank of lieutenant - general on 11 November 1879 . After completing his mission to occupy Kabul , he was appointed commander of the Kabul and Kandahar field force and led his 10 , 000 troops across 300 miles of rough terrain in Afghanistan to relieve Kandahar and defeat Ayub Khan at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September 1880 . For his services , Roberts again received the thanks of Parliament , and was advanced to Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath ( GCB ) on 21 September 1880 and appointed Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire ( CIE ) during 1880 . After a very brief interval as Governor of Natal and Governor and Commander - in - Chief of the Transvaal Province and High Commissioner for South Eastern Africa with effect from 7 March 1881 , Roberts ( having become a baronet on 11 June 1881 ) was appointed Commander - in - Chief of the Madras Army on 16 November 1881 . Promoted to the substantive rank of lieutenant - general on 26 July 1883 , he became Commander - in - Chief , India on 28 November 1885 and was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ( KCIE ) on 15 February 1887 and to Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire ( GCIE ) on reorganisation of the Order on 21 June 1887 . This was followed by his promotion to a supernumerary general on 28 November 1890 and to the substantive rank of general on 31 December 1891 . On 23 February 1892 he was created Baron Roberts of Kandahar in Afghanistan and of the City of Waterford . After relinquishing his Indian command and becoming Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India ( GCSI ) on 3 June 1893 , Lord Roberts was relocated to Ireland as Commander - in - Chief of British forces there from 1 October 1895 . He was promoted field marshal on 25 May 1895 and received the Order of St Patrick during 1897 . Second Anglo - Boer War . On 23 December 1899 Roberts returned to South Africa on the RMS " Dunottar Castle " to take overall command of British forces in the Second Boer War , subordinating the previous commander , General Redvers Buller . His appointment was a response to a string of defeats in the early weeks of the war and was accompanied by the despatch of huge reinforcements . For his headquarters staff , he appointed military men from far and wide : Lord Kitchener ( Chief of Staff ) from the Sudan , Frederick Burnham ( Chief of Scouts ) , the American scout , from the Klondike , David Henderson from the Staff College , Neville Chamberlain from Afghanistan and William Nicholson ( Military Secretary ) from Calcutta . Roberts launched a two - pronged offensive , personally leading the advance across the open veld t into the Orange Free State , while Buller sought to eject the Boers from the hills of Natal . Having raised the Siege of Kimberley , at the Battle of Paardeberg on 27 February 1900 Roberts forced the Boer General Piet Cronjé to surrender with some 4 , 000 men . After another victory at Poplar Grove , Roberts captured the Free State capital Bloemfontein on 13 March . His further advance was delayed by his disastrous attempt to reorganise his army ' s logistic system on the Indian Army model in the midst of the war . The resulting chaos and shortage of supplies contributed to a severe typhoid epidemic that inflicted far heavier losses on the British forces than they suffered in combat . On 3 May Roberts resumed his offensive towards the Transvaal , capturing its capital Johannesburg on 31 May . Having defeated the Boers at Diamond Hill and linked up with Buller , he won the last victory of his career at Bergendal on 27 August . The Boer forces disintegrated , and with the war apparently effectively over , Roberts handed over command on 12 December to Lord Kitchener . He returned to England to receive yet more honours : he was made a Knight of the Garter and also created Earl Roberts of Kandahar in Afghanistan and Pretoria in the Transvaal Colony and of the City of Waterford and Viscount St Pierre . He became a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John on 11 March 1901 and then a Knight of Justice of that order on 3 July 1901 . On 9 August 1902 he was also appointed one of the first members of the Order of Merit . He was also awarded the German Order of the Black Eagle during the Emperor´s visit to the United Kingdom in February 1901 . Later life . Honours . 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 . He was the initial president of the Pilgrims Society during 1902 . In retirement was a keen advocate of introducing conscription in Britain ( directing the National Service League ) to prepare for a great European war . Following his return from the Boer War , he was instrumental in promoting the mass training of civilians in rifle shooting skills through membership of shooting clubs , and a facsimile of his signature appears to this day on all official targets of the National Smallbore Rifle Association . Roberts became vice - president of the Public Schools Alpine Sports Club during 1903 . Part of the history of skiing , a forerunner of the downhill ski race , the " Roberts of Kandahar Cup " occurred during Crans - Montana ( Crans - sur - Sierre ) eight years later on 11 January 1911 , organised by winter sports pioneer Arnold Lunn , with the trophies donated by Lord Roberts . The name Kandahar is still used for the premier races of the World Cup circuit . On 28 February 1908 he was awarded the Volunteer Officers ' Decoration in recognition of his service in the Volunteer Force . His long list of honorary military posts included : honorary colonel of the 2nd London Corps from 24 September 1887 , honorary colonel of the 5th Battalion , the Sherwood Foresters ( Derbyshire Regiment ) from 29 December 1888 , honorary colonel of the 1st Newcastle upon Tyne ( Western Division ) , Royal Artillery from 18 April 1894 , honorary colonel of the Waterford Artillery ( Southern Division ) from 4 March 1896 , colonel - commandant of the Royal Artillery from 7 October 1896 , honorary colonel of the 3rd Battalion , the Loyal North Lancashire Regiment from 1 January 1898 , honorary colonel of the City of London Imperial Volunteers from 10 March 1900 , honorary colonel of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion , the Gloucestershire Regiment from 5 September 1900 , colonel of the Irish Guards from 17 October 1900 , honorary colonel of the 2nd Hampshire ( Southern Division ) , Royal Garrison Artillery from 15 August 1901 , honorary colonel of the 3rd ( Dundee Highland ) Volunteer Battalion , the Black Watch ( Royal Highlanders ) from 19 September 1903 , honorary colonel of the North Somerset Yeomanry from 1 April 1908 , honorary colonel of the 6th Battalion , the City of London ( Rifles ' ) Regiment from 1 April 1908 , honorary colonel of the 1st Wessex Brigade from 1 April 1908 , honorary colonel of 6th Battalion , The Gloucestershire Regiment from 1 April 1908 , honorary colonel of The Waterford Royal Field Reserve Artillery from 2 August 1908 and honorary colonel of 1st ( Hull ) Battalion , The East Yorkshire Regiment from 11 November 1914 ( three days before his death ) . Additionally he was Colonel of the National Reserve from 5 August 1911 . He took part in the funeral procession following the death of Queen Victoria in January 1901 and the funeral procession following the death of King Edward VII in May 1910 . Curragh Incident . Roberts was approached for advice about the Ulster Voluntary Force , formed in January 1913 by Ulstermen who had no wish to be part of a Home Rule Ireland . Too old himself to take active command , Roberts recommended Lt - Gen Sir George Richardson , formerly of the Indian Army , as commander . On the morning of 20 March — the morning of Paget ’ s speech which provoked the Curragh Incident , in which Hubert Gough and other officers threatened to resign rather than coerce Ulster — Roberts , aided by Wilson , drafted a letter to the Prime Minister , urging him not to cause a split in the army . Roberts had asked the CIGS French to come and see him at Ascot on 19 March ; French had been too busy but invited Roberts to visit him when next in London . On the morning of 21 March Roberts and French had an acrimonious telephone conversation in which Roberts told French that he would share the blame if he collaborated with the Cabinet ’ s “ dastardly ” attempt to coerce Ulster , and then , after French told him that he would “ do his duty as a soldier ” and obey lawful orders , put the phone down on him . Soon after , Roberts received a telegram from Hubert Gough , purporting to ask for advice , although possibly designed to goad him into further action . Roberts requested an audience with King George V , who told him that Seely ( Secretary of State for War ) , to whom the King had recently spoken , had complained that Roberts was “ at the bottom ” of the matter , had incited Gough , and had called the politicians “ swine and robbers ” in his phone conversation with French . Roberts indignantly denied this , claiming that he had not been in contact with Gough for “ years ” and that he had advised officers not to resign . Roberts ’ claim may not be the whole truth as Gough was on first name terms with Roberts ’ daughter and later gave her copies of key documents relating to the Incident . Roberts also had an interview with Seely ( he was unable to locate French , who was in fact himself having an audience with the King at the time ) but came away thinking him “ drunk with power ” , although he learned that Paget had been acting without authority ( in talking of “ commencing active operations ” against Ulster and in offering officers a chance to discuss hypothetical orders and to threaten to resign ) and left a note for Hubert Gough to this effect . This note influenced the Gough brothers in being willing to remain in the Army , albeit with a written guarantee that the Army would not have to act against Ulster . After Roberts ’ s lobbying , the King insisted that Asquith make no further troop movements in Ulster without consulting him . Roberts wrote to French ( 22 March ) denying the “ swine and robbers ” comment , although French ’ s reply stressed his hurt that Roberts had thought so ill of him . Death . Roberts died of pneumonia at St Omer , France , on 14 November 1914 while visiting Indian troops fighting in the First World War . After lying in state in Westminster Hall ( one of two non - Royals to do so during the 20th century , the other being Sir Winston Churchill ) , he was given a state funeral and was then buried in St . Paul ' s Cathedral . Roberts had lived at ' Englemere ' at Ascot in Berkshire . His estate was probated during 1915 at £77 , 304 ( equivalent to £ today ) . Family . Roberts married Nora Henrietta Bews on 17 May 1859 ; they had six children of whom three , a son and two daughters , survived infancy . His son Frederick Hugh Sherston Roberts VC was killed in action on 17 December 1899 at the Battle of Colenso during the Boer War . Roberts and his son were one of only three pairs of fathers and sons to be awarded the VC . Today , their Victoria Crosses are in the National Army Museum . His barony became extinct , but by the special remainder granted with them he was succeeded in the earldom and viscountcy by his elder surviving daughter , Aileen . She was succeeded by her younger sister Edwina , who died in 1955 , when the title became extinct . Legacy . In 1914 , Lady Roberts unveiled a memorial statue to her late husband in Kelvingrove Park , Glasgow . There is an equestrian statue of Roberts on Horse Guards Parade in London . Roberts Barracks at Larkhill Garrison and the town of Robertsganj in Uttar Pradesh are named after him . Lord Roberts French Immersion Public School in London , Ontario , Lord Roberts Junior Public School in Scarborough , Ontario , and Lord Roberts Elementary Schools in Vancouver , British Columbia , and Winnipeg , Manitoba are named after him . Roberts is also a Senior Boys house at the Duke of York ' s Royal Military School . The Lord Roberts Centre – a facility at the National Shooting Centre built for the 2002 Commonwealth Games , and HQ of the National Smallbore Rifle Association ( which Roberts was fundamental in founding ) is named in his honour . On 29 May 1900 Pretoria surrendered to the British commander - in - chief , Lord Roberts . Due to the frequency of malaria and because the area had become too small , he relocated his headquarters from the vicinity of the Normal College to a high - lying site 10 km south - west of the city – hence the name Roberts Heights . Roberts Heights , a busy military town , the largest in South Africa and resembling Aldershot , soon developed . On 15 December 1938 the name was changed to Voortrekkerhoogte and again to Thaba Tshwane on 19 May 1998 . The grave of Roberts ' charger Vonolel ( named after a Lushai warrior whose descendants Roberts had fought in 1871 ) is marked by a headstone in the gardens of The Royal Hospital Kilmainham in Dublin .