Gerald Meade Gloster

Gerald Meade Gloster was the son of the Rev. Thomas Gloster, Rector of Castleterra, Co. Cavan. He was commissioned in the Devonshire Regiment from the Militia on 12 November 1884. He was Adjutant of 1st Battalion Devonshire Regiment from December 1894 until December 1898 and of the 3rd Volunteer Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment from September 1900 until September 1904. He saw active service on the North West Frontier (1897-98), serving with the Mohmand Field Force and the Tirah Expeditionary Force, and in South Africa (1899-1900).

He assumed command of 1st Devonshire on 2 October 1910 at the age of 46. He took his battalion to war in August 1914, originally as part of 8th Brigade, 3rd Division, then from 30 September 1914 as part of 14th Brigade, 5th Division. Gloster was wounded on 20 October at Canteleux, near La Bassée.

When he returned to action, in April 1915, it was as CO 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment. In August 1915 he was given command of 64th Brigade, 21st Division. He was the first man to command this New Army formation in the field. Gloster survived 21st Division’s disastrous baptism of fire at Loos and the division’s subsequent reconstruction under Claud Jacob. But David Campbell (who succeeded Jacob in May 1916) had Gloster sent home as soon as he discovered his age (52), apparently without further enquiry into his military abilities.

Brigadier-General Gloster later commanded 176th Brigade (August 1916-February 1917) and 216th Brigade (February 1917-March 1918) at home. He retired from the army in June 1919.