Remembered Today: Major Arthur Raymond Boscawen SAVAGE {Intelligence Officer, Dublin District). Royal Field Artillery who died 18/05/1921 GRANGEGORMAN MILITARY CEMETERY Ireland, Republic of

Major Arthur Raymond Boscawen Savage Royal Field Artillery  is a reminder that some who served would have an ignominious career and death. 

Arthur Savage commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery 23rd July 1887 from the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. 

Savage came from a military family. His father Colonel Henry Savage served with the 91st Foot (later Argyle and Sutherland Highlanders) in South Africa. Grandfather General John Boscawen Savage Royal Engineers fought in the Peninsular War, and great-grandfather, General Sir John Boscawen Savage, commanded the Marines in the battle of the Nile. Arthur Savage would not have the illustrious military career enjoyed by his forefathers. He would rise to the rank Major by July 1903, however reports of unfitness to command, non payment of mess bills, and drink problems would see him retired to the Reserve of officers in May 1906.

Savage was recalled to serve on commencement of WW1 and  deployed to France in July 1915 with 126 Brigade RFA, a war raised Kitchener K4 unit part of the 37th Division. No doubt he was many of officers recalled to the colours to provide experience to New Army units.

In June 1916, Arthur's son, Second Lieutenant John Raymond Boscawen Savage Royal Flying Corps, was killed aged 17, when his aircraft was shot down. Casualty Details | CWGC

Major Arthur Savage would leave the Western Front, and on 11th November 1916 he was appointed officer in charge of the  Royal Artillery record office in Salonika. A year later he returned to the UK on leave during which a medical board found him unfit for service for a month. He was struck off the  strength  of the Salonika Force. By June 1918 Savage's ill health found him back on the Reserve of Officers list.  He moved to Ireland, and where he was appointed as an intelligence officer at Dublin Castle, only be forced to retire due to adverse reports. 

He was temporally able to return to service in March 1919 for a few months in the Cable Censorship Department. Another return to service occurred in November when he was re-commissioned as a staff offer, only to released again in April 1921.

He applied, and was accepted as an Auxiliary in the Royal Irish Constabulary, the notorious 'Back and Tans, raised during the  Irish War of Independence. However Arthur Savage would not serve, he died on 18 May 1921 aged 52  of a drink related illness. 

Major Arthur Raymond Boscawen Savage was buried  in Grangegorman Military Cemetery, Dublin, Republic of  Ireland.

CWGC Casualty Details AJOR ARTHUR RAYMOND BOSCAWEN SAVAGE

Major Arthur Savage, Royal Field Artillery, Later Intelligence Officer, Dublin District

Major Arthur Raymond Boscawen SAVAGE RFA