General Sir Neville Gerald Lyttelton GCB, GCVO (28 October 1845 - 6 July 1931) was a British Army Officer. He served as Chief of the General Staff.

Army career

Born at Hagley in Worcestershire, he was the son of 4th Baron Lyttelton.

He attended Eton College and was commissioned in the Rifle Brigade in 1865.

He was fought at the battle of Omdurman. Lyttelton commanded the 4th Brigade and then the 2nd and 4th Divisions in South Africa between 1899 and 1900: he was involved in the Siege of Ladysmith, a protracted engagement during the Second Boer War. He was Commander-in-Chief, South Africa from 1902 to 1904.

In 1904 he was appointed Chief of the General Staff: this was a new post created on his appointment and replaced the post of Commander-in-Chief of the Forces; it was retitled Chief of the Imperial General Staff shortly after his successor was appointed in 1908. At that time he moved on to become Commander-in-Chief, Ireland in which post he continued until his retirement in 1912.

Later career

He was a member of the Mesopotamia Commission.

He died at the Royal Chelsea Hospital on 6 July 1931.

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