Frederick Sleigh Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts was a British Soldier who served in India, Abyssinia and Afghanistan before leading the British Forces to success in the Second Boer War. He became the last Commander-in-Chief of the Forces before the post was abolished in 1904. While in South Africa he was at the Siege of Kimberley, the Battle of Paardeberg, the Battle of Poplar Grove, the Battle of Diamond Hill and the Battle of Bergendal. Roberts received many awards: Victoria Cross (1858-India); Companion of the Order of the Bath (1872-Afghanistan); Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (1878-Afghanistan);Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1880-Afghanistan) and Companion of the Order of the Indian Empire in the same year. He was Commander-in Chief, India in 1885 was advanced to Knight Commander of the Order of India (1887) and then Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Indian Empire later that year. He became Knight Grand Commander of the Order of the Star of India. The same year he relinquished his Indian command and became Commander-in-Chief of British Forces in 1895 made a Knight of the Order of St Patrick. In 1899 he returned to South Africa to take overall command of British Forces in the Second Boer War. December 1900 Roberts handed over command to Lord Kitchener and returned to England where more honours were awarded. He was made a Knight of the Order of the Garter; created Earl Roberts of Kandahar, Pretoria and Waterford and Viscount St Pierre. He became a Knight of Grace of the Order of St John (1901) and then Knight of Justice of the Order of St John. The Kaiser awarded him the German Order of the Black Eagle and was among the original recipients of the Order of Merit in the 1902 Coronation Honours. Roberts died in 1914. He was given and State Funeral and buried in St Paul's Cathedral.Individual image taken from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.frederick sleigh roberts, earl roberts, india, abyssinia, afghanistan, british forces, second boer war, commander-in-chief, south africa, siege of kimberley, battle of paardeberg, battle of poplar grove, battle of diamond hill, battle of bergendal, victoria cross, companion of the order of the bath, knight commander of the order of the bath, knight grand cross of the order of the bath, companion of the order of the indian empire, knight commander of the order of india, knight grand commander of the order of the indian empire, knight grand commander of the order of the star of india, knight of the order of st patrick, knight of the order of the garter, viscount st pierre, knight of grace of the order of st john, knight of justice of the order of st john, order of the black eagle, order of merit, st paul's cathedral, london

As well as his army positions, Kelly-Kenny was very interested in politics in his native County Clare. In the Second Anglo-Boer War he was , as a Lieutenant-General, General Officer Commanding the 6th Division of the South African field forces. He was twice mentioned in dispatches and received the Queen's South African Medal with four clasps. He was involved in the relief of Kimberley, the battles of Paardeberg, Poplar Grove and Driefontein. Lieutenant-General Kitchener was appointed commander and over-ruled Kelly-Kenny's plan to besiege Cronji and bombard his force from a safe distance. Kitchener ordered an assault on the Boer trenches. The result was "Bloody Sunday" - an unnecessary sacrifice of hundreds of lives on the British side. Kelly-Kenny was involved in the engagements at Poplar Grove and Driefontein where the 6th Division distinguished itself. These were viewed as key to destroying the Boer morale and winning the war. General Kelly-Kenny was a close friend of King Edward VII. Appointments made, at the insistence of the King, were often challenged. Due to his loyalty and abilities Kelly-Kenny was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath and received a knighthood in a private audience. Once again others tried to have him moved from the War Office but the King intervened again and he remained in his position. He was conferred with the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (1904), Grand Cross of the Red Eagle (1905 - Germany), Grand Cross of the Rising Sun (1906 - Japan) and on his return to Britain he received the Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (1906) Individual image taken from photographed poster of tobacco and cigarette cards.kell-kenny, county clare, lieutenant-general, kimberley, queen's south african medal, paardeberg, poplar grove, driefontein, kitchener, bloody sunday, cronji, boer war, trenches, knight commander of the order of the bath, war office, king, king edward vii, knight grand cross of the order of the bath, grand cross of the red eagle, grand cross of the rising sun, knight grand cross of the royal victorian order