Francis Gathorne-Hardy

General Sir John Francis Gathorne-Hardy (14 January 1874 – 21 August 1949) was a British Army officer who served during the First World War.

He was born in 1874 as a younger son of John Gathorne-Hardy, 2nd Earl of Cranbrook, and Cicely Marguerite Wilhelmina Ridgway. Gathorne-Hardy received his education at Eton College and graduated from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.

Gathorne-Hardy commenced his military career when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Grenadier Guards on 10 October 1894. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant on 1 January 1898. In February 1900, he was seconded for special service in South Africa, where he performed Army transport duties during the Second Boer War. During the conflict, he was promoted to the rank of captain on 2 May 1900 and served with the Lovat Scouts during its later stages. He remained in South Africa until July 1902, after the end of the war. For his service, he was awarded the brevet rank of major on 22 August 1902.

Following his return from South Africa, Gathorne-Hardy was appointed Superintendent of Gymnasia in the Home District in October 1902. He was promoted to the rank of major in October 1909 and became a brigade major in January 1908. In April 1914, he was appointed as a general staff officer, grade 2 at the War Office.

During the First World War, in March 1915, he succeeded Brigadier General Reginald Hoskins as general staff officer, grade 1 (GSO1), of the 7th Division. He was promoted to the substantive rank of major general in June 1919.

After the war, Gathorne-Hardy held commands in Egypt and India. In June 1922, he was appointed director of military training at the War Office. He achieved the rank of lieutenant general in May 1928 and was placed on half-pay in October 1928. Subsequently, he served as Commander-in-Chief at Northern Command from 1931 to 1933 and as Commander-in-Chief at Aldershot Command from 1933 to 1937. He was promoted to the full rank of general in October 1933.

In his personal life, Gathorne-Hardy married Lady Isobel Constance Mary Stanley on 10 December 1898. She was the daughter of Frederick Stanley, 16th Earl of Derby, and Lady Constance Villiers.