Thomas Hope Stavert, born 7th July 1859, was first commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 100th Foot (1st Battalion Leinster Regiment), 14th January 1880, and promoted Lieutenant, 25th August 1880, Captain, 28th June 1885, Major, 2nd December 1893, Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment, 23rd May 1903 to 22nd May 1907, Brevet Colonel, 28th May 1906, Colonel, 27th November 1907, and retired on 19th July 1913 with the rank of Brigadier General. Stavert first saw active service during the South African War of 1899-1902, when he took part in the operations in the Cape Colony and Orange Free State, May 1900, and the operations in the Orange River Colony, May – November 1900, including the action at Wittebergen, and the operations in the Transvaal, October 1900. Subsequently he took part in further operations in the Transvaal, March – April 1901 and July 1901, and the operations in the Orange River Colony, November 1900 to March 1901 and April 1901 to May 1902.
During the Boer War the 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment saw service with Sir Leslie Rundle’s 8th Division, or the “Starving 8th” as they were more popularly known, from the fact that, almost always on reduced rations, the division was continuously marching and counter-marching as they swept the veldt searching for Boer commandos. Stavert is mentioned on a number of occasions in F.E. Whitton’s regimental history, “The Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regiment”. Stavert, then a lieutenant, is listed as being among the officers serving with the 109th (Bombay Infantry) Regiment in 1881, when that regiment was linked with the 100th (Prince of Wales’s Royal Canadian) Regiment to form the Leinster Regiment. In 1882 Whitton records that he volunteered to take over the office of Officers’ Mess, a task at which he apparently excelled, Whitton noting that “After a careful investigation of prices, Lieutenant Stavert startled the Mess by declaring that he could give three good meals and coffee for 4s 3d a day; a prediction which was scouted by many as the mess man had been charging about 7s for the same meals. Lieutenant Stavert, however, proved a s good as his word and not only delivered the goods but shewed a handsome profit as well”. By removing the inefficiency of the messman who had previously presided, Stavert did much to improve mess conditions for his fellow officers, saving a considerable sum in the process, Whitton recording that the “battalion owes much to the foresight and energy of Lieutenant Stavert”.
Whitton mentions Stavert several times for his services during the Boer War. Initially, with the rank of Major, he is noted as having commanded a post at Klip Nek, comprising two guns and three and a half companies of men. The post overlooked and commanded the entrance to Rooikranz, which was a route for Boer forces. Later Stavert commanded two and a half companies of the 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment during the attack on the Boer position at Slapkranz, 28th June 1900, which ended with some 4,000 Boers and three guns being taken. In October 1900, the 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment’s chaplain and padre having been invalided, Stavert was appointed to act for the Church of England soldiers of the battalion and Captain O’Shea for the Roman Catholic soldiers. Between them they were responsible for burying all who died or were killed and Major Stavert read the service each Sunday. Afterwards, during April, May and June 1901, with Rundle’s column the 1st Leinsters saw much action. Whitton records that “Early in April the 16th Brigade started to march to Harrismith. The road up Van Reenan’s Pass was very steep and the wagons had to be taken up by double teams. We arrived near Harrismith on 11th April. The idea now was to clear the country of everything that could be of use to the Boers and to destroy all mills, etc. Accordingly on 18th April a column under General Rundle, including three of our companies, under Major Stavert, started for Bethlehem. There was some rather heavy firing each day and quite a little engagement on the 26th, several yeomen being killed, wounded, or missing on this march. On the 28th our companies had to take a hill to enable a mill to be burned. The hill was almost precipitous and a good height, but our companies took it in great style under a good deal of fire and we were much complimented on their performance. The column now marched to Fouriesburg in two divisions, burning mills and collecting Boer property and at Fouriesburg small columns were sent out in all directions on the same duty. Our companies did much good work on these columns, were often under rather heavy fire and received much praise for their work. On the 31st May an advanced column under Lieutenant-Colonel Reay of the Manchesters, including our companies, marched to Slapkranz, General Rundle following with the rest of the troops. Our companies occupied Slapkranz and took Surrender Hill and another kopje in great style under the fire of some 20 Boers, who were well placed. On 3rd June they had quite a little battle at a mill and fired 2,000 rounds before they drove out the Boers. The next day the force marched through the Golden Gate and during the next two days the going was terrible, down one long and very steep hill and up and down several others, with the road in very bad order; and the whole force had to help the wagons, making the road and letting the wagons down with ropes, etc. We now met the 16th Brigade at Eland’s River Drift and on the 10th returned to Harrismith. The work done by the detachment was recognized in the following order: - ‘The Lieutenant-General Commanding desires me to inform all ranks of the detachment Leinster Regiment how much he appreciates the manner in which they have carried out all the duties entrusted to them during the late operations. He particularly remarked the dashing manner in which they advanced up Surrender Hill as they could not tell that it was not strongly held by the enemy and he stated that it had been noticed by himself and all his staff how well and cheerfully they worked at road-making, helping wagons, etc. Lieutenant-Colonel Reay desires me to thank the detachment for all their work while with his column and to say how proud he is to have had them under his command.’” During this sweep in early June of 1901 the column that the Leinsters formed part of destroyed or seized some 7,000 tons of grain, 1,400 cattle, 7,100 sheep and goats, 1,450 horses, quantities of weapons, ammunition and explosives, and accounted for some 53 Boers killed and wounded. Stavert is next mentioned by Whitton for having led back to Ireland an advance guard of officers of the regiment, following the cessation of hostilities in South Africa, Stavert and his fellow officers landing at Queenstown (now Cobh, county Cork) on 27th October 1902, and is further mentioned as succeeding to command of the 1st Battalion in May 1903 in place of Colonel H. Martin.
For his services during the Boer War Stavert was awarded the Queen’s Medal with 3 clasps and the King’s Medal with 2 clasps.
Stavert relinquished command of the 1st Battalion Leinster Regiment in June 1908 and was succeeded by Lieutenant-Colonel Sir A.A. Weldon on 12/7/1908. After relinquishing command of the 1st Leinsters, Stavert was appointed Officer Commanding No. 12 District, Irish Command, with the rank of Colonel, from 30/6/1908 and retired from the Reserve of Officers with the rank of Brigadier-General on 19/7/1913.
The Queen’s South Africa Medal and King’s South Africa were Stavert’s sole medal entitlements.
