Malcolm Orme Little

Malcolm Orme Little was born on 29 November 1857^[1] at Sussex Square, Hyde Park Gardens, Paddington, Middlesex, England, he was the second son of General Sir Archibald Little, KCB and his wife Jane (née Orme).^[2]

He obtained his first commission as an infantry second-lieutenant in the Royal North Gloucester Militia^[a] on 26 September 1877.^[4] On 11 May 1878, he obtained a regular commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 17th Lancers^[1] after graduating from the Royal Military College. He had been an Honorary Queen's Cadet.^[5] On the same date, he resigned his Militia Commission.^[6] On 19 October 1878, he transferred to the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers,^[7] his father's regiment.^[8] On the same date, the 9th Lancers departed Sialkot, India to take part in the Second Anglo-Afghan War.^[9]

Little remained with the 9th Lancers for the rest of the century: he was promoted to lieutenant on 25 February 1880,^[10] to captain on 20 October 1886,^[11] to Major on 5 September 1894,^[12] and to lieutenant-colonel (and to command of the regiment) on 15 March 1900.^[13] By this time, the 9th Lancers were on active service in the Second Boer War.^[14] The regiment formed part of the 3rd Cavalry Brigade^[14] and took part in the battles of Modder River (28 November 1899) and Magersfontein (10-11 December 1899), Relief of Kimberley and Battle of Paardeberg.^[8] He was mentioned in despatches from Lord Methuen dated 15 February 1900^[15] and Lord Roberts dated 31 March 1900.^[16] Little took over command of the brigade^[17] and was promoted to the local rank of brigadier-general in South Africa on 10 July 1900.^[18][b] He was awarded a Brevet Colonelcy on 29 November 1900^[20] and his local rank was confirmed on 8 April 1902,^[21][c] when he took command of another brigade (possibly the Australian Brigade), which moved to Aberfeldy in the Orange River Colony.^[22] He was again mentioned in a despatch on 23 June 1902, this time by Lord Kitchener, who wrote that Little had "proved himself as a capable leader of mounted troops in the field."^[23] The war ended with the Peace of Vereeniging in late May 1902, and Little left Cape Town the following month arriving at Southampton in late July.^[24]

After four years in command of the 9th Lancers, and having served the normal period in command, Little was retired on half-pay – for the first time – on 15 March 1904.^[25] On 24 June 1904, as part of Edward VII's Birthday Honours, he was invested as a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB).^[26] He was recalled to active service on 4 May 1905 as a Staff Officer for Imperial Yeomanry and was promoted to the substantive rank of colonel.^[27] He retired for the second time on 17 October 1908.^[28]

With the outbreak of the First World War, Colonel Little was once again recalled to active service. On 18 September 1914 he was temporarily appointed as an Inspector of Remounts.^[29] On 20 January 1915, he was appointed as brigade commander,^[30] of the second line yeomanry 2/1st Welsh Border Mounted Brigade under the command of the 63rd (2nd Northumbrian) Division in the Newcastle area of Northumberland.^[31] In April 1916, the brigade joined the 1st Mounted Division in East Anglia^[32] but by July it had left for the Morpeth, Northumberland area.^[33][d] At this time he was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier-general.^[35] On 13 June 1917 he relinquished his command,^[36] and retired for the third and final time and was granted the honorary rank of brigadier-general in August 1917.^[37]

Little won the International Polo Cup in 1886 for Britain alongside John Henry Watson, Captain Thomas Hone, and Captain the Hon. Richard Lawley, 4th Baron Wenlock.^[38][39]

Little married Iris Hermione Brassey^[40] (10 November 1879^[41] or 1880^[42] – 6 August 1970), the daughter of Albert Brassey and the Hon. Matilda Maria Helena Bingham,^[43] on 7 July 1903 at St George's, Hanover Square, Westminster, London.^[2] He was appointed as a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) later.^[43] On 19 January 1923, Little was commissioned as a Deputy Lieutenant for the County of Warwick.^[44]

Little's son, Malcolm Archibald Albert Little (1904–1944), was a colonel in the 9th Lancers, and a strong polo player. Another son, Ian Little, was a leading economist.

Brigadier-General Malcolm Orme Little, CB, CBE died on 1 February 1931 at his home 'Dunsmore', Rugby, Warwickshire.^[43]

• Becke, Major A.F. (1936). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2A. The Territorial Force Mounted Divisions and the 1st-Line Territorial Force Divisions (42–56). London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-12-4.
• Becke, Major A.F. (1937). Order of Battle of Divisions Part 2B. The 2nd-Line Territorial Force Divisions (57th–69th) with The Home-Service Divisions (71st–73rd) and 74th and 75th Divisions. London: His Majesty's Stationery Office. ISBN 1-871167-00-0.
• Clarke, W.G. (1993). Horse Gunners: The Royal Horse Artillery, 200 Years of Panache and Professionalism. Woolwich: The Royal Artillery Institution. ISBN 09520762-0-9.
• Frederick, J.B.M. (1984). Lineage Book of British Land Forces 1660–1978. Wakefield, Yorkshire: Microform Academic Publishers. ISBN 1-85117-009-X.
• Hanwell, Major W. (1949). A Short History of the 9th Queen's Royal Lancers, 1715-1949. Aldershot: Gale & Polden.
• James, Brigadier E.A. (1978). British Regiments 1914–18. London: Samson Books Limited. ISBN 0-906304-03-2.