British general, born on the 5th of April 1862, and joined the army in 1880. He served in the Burma campaign and the Hazara expedition of 1891, and greatly distinguished himself in the Hunza-Nagar operations, winning the V.C. and promotion to brevet-major in 1892. He took part in the Isazai expedition of 1892 and for his services in the relief of Chitral in 1895 was promoted brevet lieutenant-colonel. After some years on the staff, he commanded brigades in India from 1904 to 1910, was promoted major-general in 1909, and in 1912 became adjutant-general at Simla. This position he held until November 1915 when, now a lieutenant-general, he was summoned to Mesopotamia to lead the force being organized for relief of Kut. This was composed mainly of two Indian divisions which had been fighting in Flanders and were arriving in driblets. The urgency of the situation obliged Aylmer to push up the Tigris with little preparation; but he inflicted two severe defeats upon the Turks before being brought up, 23 m. short of Kut, by the lines of Hannah on the left bank of the river. He halted for six weeks for reinforcements and war material before striking afresh, this time on the right bank. His plan involved a long night march and assault on the enemy defenses, some 10 m. short of Kut, at daybreak. But one of his divisions did not arrive on time, and when delivered the attack failed; Aylmer was thereupon replaced by another general. He was given the K.C.B., and after returning to India he commanded a division there for some time. Gen. Aylmer was the author of an important tactical study on Protection in War (1912).
