Ernest William Stuart King Maconchy

Ernest William Stuart King Maconchy retired from the Indian Army on 28 January 1914. But he was ‘dug out’ of retirement on 19 July 1915 to command 178th Brigade, 59th (2nd North Midland) Division TF. He commanded for a year in the rank of Colonel and he was only made up to Brigadier-General in June 1916. 59th Division did not deploy to France until February 1917. By this time Maconchy was nearly 57.

It is surprising that a man of his age should have been sent on active service at this period of the war. He lasted only a few weeks before being ‘degummed’ by his divisional commander, Arthur Sandbach, who was himself ‘degummed’ three days later! Maconchy’s successor, T W Stansfeld, was only 39 and had begun the war as a mere captain.