Brigadier General Robert Henry Frederick McCulloch

This black and white portrait photograph of Brigadier General Robert Henry Frederick McCulloch is signed and dated 1913 on the mount and measures approximately 95 × 145 mm. The photograph is framed and glazed, with McCulloch’s Royal Artillery badge and medal ribbons attached to the head of the frame, now showing wear. The mount bears some rubbing and staining to the verso.

Robert McCulloch (1869–1946) was a highly decorated British Army officer whose career spanned the Matabele campaign, the South African War, and the First World War. His honours included the Italian Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus, the French Legion of Honour, the French Croix de Guerre, and multiple British campaign medals, represented by the ribbons attached to the present frame.

Genealogy

Robert Henry Frederick McCulloch was born at 34 Henrietta St, Bath on 21 October 1869 and baptised 24 Nov 1869. He was the eldest surviving son of Robert and Lucy McCulloch of Hymenstown House, Cahir, County Tipperary. Robert and Lucy had at least four children but only Robert survived into adulthood. 

Hymenstown House (National Inventory of Architectural Heritage)

Robert Sr is described as a Gentleman on Robert Jr's birth certificate. Robert Sr was born in Scotland in 1826 and died in Italy in 1900.

Calendars of Wills and Administrations, 1858-1922

Robert M’Culloch of Hymenstown House, Cahir, died in Italy in 1900. In September of the following year, the probate court in Waterford appointed Bessie Rice to administer his estate (despite there being a will). This likely being because his son Robert Jr was in South Africa. The estate was first valued at about £2,201 but later officially increased to about £4,215. 

Robert Sr was born at Balgray Tower which was commissioned by his father, Moses McCulloch in 1820 and designed by David Hamilton. 

Moses made his fortune from Moses McCulloch & Co., Iron Founders. Moses McCulloch & Co., listed in the Mackintosh Architecture catalogue under “Iron founders and smiths”, was one of Scotland’s earliest and most established architectural ironworking firms based in Glasgow. Moses first established an ironmongery in Cumberland Buildings on the Gallowgate in Glasgow and is recorded as commencing ironfounding approximately 1810.

Advertisements for Moses McCulloch & Co.

After McCulloch’s death in 1831, the firm continued under the management of his trustees, including his nephew James Somerville. In the 1860s, the business passed to co-partners William Borland and James Beith. When Borland left to establish the City Iron Foundry in 1872, Beith became the sole partner and continued until his death in 1887. In 1899, the firm was purchased by its manager Alexander Hill.

Around the turn of the twentieth century, the company’s output was described in contemporary accounts as “first-class work”, with a range of products that included structural castings such as columns and beams extensively used in the construction of warehouses, lamp pillars for street lighting (often supplied to the Corporation of Glasgow), stable fittings, cast iron windows, and specialist mountings for baker’s ovens.

Moses McCulloch & Co. remained active for well over a century but was eventually liquidated in 1962. See Mackintosh Architecture for more details.

Education and Early Career

Robert Henry Frederick McCulloch was educated at Eastman’s Royal Naval Academy, Bath College, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He joined the Royal Artillery on 27 July 1888 and was promoted to Lieutenant on 27 July 1891.

He served in Matabeleland in 1896, commanding a section of the 10th Mountain Battery, Royal Artillery. During this campaign he was slightly wounded, mentioned in Despatches, and appointed a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 7 May 1897):

South African War and Pre-War Service

McCulloch was promoted to Captain on 23 January 1899. During the South African War he served as DAAG, Lines of Communication (1900–01), and took part in operations in Cape Colony, earning the Queen’s Medal with two clasps.

His subsequent appointments included:

• Divisional Adjutant, Royal Artillery (10 October 1901 – 31 March 1903)
• Adjutant, Royal Artillery (1 April 1903 – 11 December 1903)
• Adjutant, Militia (12 December 1903 – 11 December 1906)

He was promoted to Major on 8 March 1909.

First World War Service

McCulloch served throughout the European War (1914–18). His wartime promotions and commands included:

• Temporary Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Artillery (9 January 1916 – 10 March 1916)
• Lieutenant Colonel (11 March 1916)
• Temporary Brigadier General (4 February 1917 – 7 September 1918)
• Brigadier General, Royal Artillery, Heavy Artillery, 19th Army Corps, British Armies in France (4 February 1917 – 1 October 1917)
• Brigadier General, Royal Artillery, Heavy Artillery, 11th Army Corps, British Armies in France (15 November 1917 – 7 September 1918)

He was appointed CMG in 1916 and was also made an Officer of the Legion of Honour. His decorations included the French Croix de Guerre and the 1914 Star.

Honours and Medals

• CMG
• DSO
• BSAC Medal, reverse Rhodesia 1896 (Lieut., R.A.)
• Queen’s South Africa Medal with two clasps (Capt., D.S.O., R.A.)
• 1914 Star with bar (Major, D.S.O., R.G.A.)
• British War Medal
• Victory Medal (Brigadier General)
• Legion of Honour (France), Officer
• Order of St Maurice and St Lazarus (Italy), Officer
• Croix de Guerre (France)

Source: DSO Recipients (VC and DSO Book).

Brigadier General Robert H. F. McCulloch died suddenly on 16th October 1946 at his home on Hayling Island, Hampshire at the age of 76.

Brig.-Gen. R. H. F. McCulloch. (1946, October 18). The Times