John Charles Ardagh facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
John Charles Ardagh
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| Born | 9 August 1840 Rossmire, County Waterford |
| Died | 30 September 1907 (aged 67) Glynllivon Park, Caernarfon |
| Buried |
Church of St Mary & All Saints, Broomfield, near Taunton, Somerset
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| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service/ |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1859 – 1902 |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Unit | Corps of Royal Engineers |
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Sir John Charles Ardagh (born August 9, 1840 – died September 30, 1907) was a very important officer in the British Army. He was from both England and Ireland. Sir John did many jobs during his career. He was a military engineer, which means he helped build things for the army. He was also a surveyor, an intelligence officer (like a spy!), and helped manage colonies.
Contents
Meet Sir John Charles Ardagh
His Early Life and Education
John Charles Ardagh was born in 1840 in County Waterford, Ireland. His father was a vicar, which is a type of priest. John first went to school in Waterford.
In 1857, he started studying at Trinity College, Dublin. He was very good at math and even won a prize for Hebrew. At first, he thought about becoming a priest like his father. But then, he decided he wanted a military career instead.
In 1858, he took an exam to join the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich. He did so well that he got first place! In 1859, he officially became a lieutenant in the Royal Engineers.
Becoming a Military Engineer
After more training, John Ardagh became a military engineer. He helped build important forts to defend Britain. One of his first big projects was Popton Fort in Wales.
Building in New Brunswick
In 1861, there was tension between Britain and the United States. John was sent to New Brunswick in Canada. His job was to build a military telegraph line. This line would help the army communicate faster.
His journey there was quite an adventure! His ship, the Victoria, faced terrible storms. John and his troops worked hard to save the ship. Their bravery was praised by the Commander-in-Chief himself, the Duke of Cambridge.
Newhaven Fort and Other Projects
After returning, John was put in charge of building Newhaven Fort. He was very clever in how he designed it. Instead of making the ground flat, he made the fort blend in with the land. It was also one of the first British forts built mostly with concrete! He even designed a special "Equilibrium Bridge" that used weights to open and close a drawbridge.
He continued to work on other defense projects. He also traveled to inspect forts in places like Halifax and Bermuda.
In 1871, John Ardagh saw German troops enter Paris after France lost a war. He studied the defenses of Paris and other cities like Belfort and Strasbourg. He was promoted to captain in 1872 and later attended the Staff College.
Working in Military Intelligence
In 1875, John Ardagh joined the intelligence branch of the War Office. This meant he was involved in gathering secret information for the army. He traveled to the Netherlands for intelligence duties.
Reporting on Turkey
In 1876, he was sent to Turkey during a war against Serbia. He quickly became an expert in understanding the land for military plans. In just 15 days, he mapped out nearly 150 square miles around Constantinople! He planned defenses for important areas like the Dardanelles and the Bosphorus. The Turks later built these defenses based on his ideas.
He also reported on other conflicts and even went to Bulgaria. After recovering from an illness, he returned to the War Office.
International Borders and Egypt
From 1877 to 1878, John worked for the Foreign Office in Italy. He then became a military advisor at the Congress of Berlin. His knowledge of Turkish areas was very helpful. He was given an award called the Companion of the Bath.
He then worked on commissions to draw the borders of Bulgaria and later between Turkey and Greece. He was promoted to major in 1880.
Adventures in Egypt
In 1882, John Ardagh was sent to Egypt. He spent almost four years there. His first job was to help defend Alexandria after it was attacked by the British fleet. He also led the intelligence department there.
He was part of important battles like Kassassin and the Battle of Tel-el-Kebir. For his service, he received several medals and was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
Fighting in the Sudan
John stayed in Egypt with the British army. In 1884, he went with a British force to the Eastern Sudan. He was the chief of the intelligence department. He was present at the Battle of El Teb and helped rescue 700 people from Tokar.
He believed the army should have gone to Berber to help General Gordon in Khartoum. He later wrote that if they had, the mission to rescue General Gordon might not have been needed. He received another award, the Companion of the Bath (military).
In 1884, when a mission to rescue Khartoum was planned, John thought they should go by land. But the commander decided to go by boat up the Nile River. John was in charge in Cairo. He worked very hard during this difficult time. After the campaign, he was promoted to colonel. He also took part in the battle of Ginnis, where a large enemy army was defeated.
Serving in India
In 1887, John Ardagh returned to London. He worked on plans for sending troops overseas and for defending Britain at home. From 1888 to 1893, he was an aide-de-camp (a personal assistant) to the Commander-in-Chief of the Army.
He also became the private secretary to the Viceroy of India, the Marquis of Lansdowne. He stayed in India for several years, helping the Viceroy. He received two more awards: the Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire and the Knight Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire.
The South African War
From 1895 to 1896, John Ardagh was the commandant of the School of Military Engineering. Then, he became the Director of Military Intelligence at the War Office. He was promoted to major-general in 1898.
When the South African War started in 1899, some people criticized his department. They said his team didn't provide good enough information about the enemy. However, John had actually prepared a detailed report. He estimated that Britain would need 40,000 soldiers to defend its colonies and 200,000 to attack the enemy.
Copies of his report were later shown to the government. These documents proved that John Ardagh had done his job well and was not to blame.
Later Years and Legacy
After leaving the War Office in 1901, John Ardagh continued to serve his country. He helped investigate claims from other countries during the South African War. He also helped settle a border dispute between Chile and Argentina.
In 1902, he retired from active military service at age 62. But he still worked for the Foreign Office. He became a member of the Permanent Court of Arbitration at The Hague, which helps solve international disagreements. He was also appointed a director of the Suez Canal Company. For his work, he was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.
John Ardagh also served on the council of the British Red Cross Society. In 1906, he was one of Britain's delegates at a conference to update the Geneva Convention, which sets rules for how wars should be fought and how prisoners should be treated.
His last public duty was at a Red Cross conference in London in 1907. He received a medal for his help during the Russo-Japanese War.
Sir John Charles Ardagh passed away on September 30, 1907. He is buried in Somerset, England.
His Personal Life
In 1896, John Ardagh married Susan. She was the widow of the 3rd Earl of Malmesbury.
Besides his military work, John was involved in other important groups. He was on the council of the Royal Geographical Society, which promotes geography. He was also a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers. In 1897, he received an honorary degree from Trinity College, Dublin.
He also enjoyed writing. He published an article about British rule in Egypt and wrote for other magazines. John was also a talented artist! He made 140 water-color drawings, which his wife later gave to the Royal Engineers Institute. His wife also wrote a book about his life in 1909.
