James Melville Babington

Sir James Melville Babington
Lt. Gen. Babington in 1900
Born	(1854-07-31)31 July 1854 Corstorphine, Scotland
Died	15 June 1936(1936-06-15) (aged 81)
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1873–c.1919
Rank	Lieutenant General
Commands	23rd Division Lowland Mounted Brigade 1st Cavalry Brigade
Battles/wars	Bechuanaland Expedition Second Boer War First World War
Awards	Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George Mentioned in Despatches Commander of the Legion of Honour (France) Croix de guerre (France) Officer of the Military Order of Savoy (Italy) War Cross for Military Valor (Italy)

Lieutenant General Sir James Melville Babington KCB, KCMG, DL (31 July 1854 – 15 June 1936)^[1] was a British Army officer and a renowned leader of cavalry, making a name for himself for his actions in the Second Boer War.^[2] He was Commander of the New Zealand Defence Force and one of the most respected British generals in the First World War,^[3] in command of the 23rd Division. After the war he was Commander of the British Forces in Italy.

General Babington's image was chosen by Paul McCartney and used by the Beatles to depict the fictional "Sgt. Pepper" for the album Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band in 1967.^[4]