Lord Farnham DSO

Arthur Kenlis Maxwell was born on 2 Oct 1879, the son of Somerset Henry Maxwell of Caldewood, the 10th Baron Farnham, and Lady Florence Jane Taylour. In 1900 he inherited his father’s title and estate in County Cavan to become the 11th Baron Farnham. He was educated at Harrow and went on to RMA Sandhurst. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 10th Hussars on 12 Aug 1899, lieutenant 1 April 1900. He served in the Boer War but suffered ill health afterwards and resigned his regular commission on 29 Mar 1905. However he continued his army career as an officer in the North Irish Horse and was a major on 20 Nov 1912. When war broke out he was in Antrim and then moved to England with a squadron of NIH to Hemel Hempstead. His war service initially was as a staff officer but in July 1916 he returned to the NIH to lead them at Third Ypres. In Sep 1917 he commanded the 10th Bn Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers with distinction at Cambrai then was moved to the 2nd Bn R I Fus. This battalion was forced to surrender in March 1918 and he and his 250 men became PoWs. He was Deputy Lieutenant of County Cavan. On 8 Oct 1903 he was married to Aileen Selina Coote. They had 5 children. He died on 5 Feb 1957.

Regimental Details | Soldiers