Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement/De Montgomery, Raymond Harvey
DE MONTMORENCY, RAYMOND HARVEY, third Viscount Frankfort de Montmorency (1835–1902), major-general, born at Theydon Bower, Epping, Essex, on 21 Sept. 1835, was only son of Lodge Raymond, second viscount (1806-1889), by his wife Georgina Frederica (d. 1885), daughter of Peter Fitzgibbon Henchy, Q.C., LL.D., of Dublin. Educated at Eton and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, he was commissioned as ensign in the 33rd duke of Wellington's regiment on 18 Aug. 1854, promoted lieutenant on 12 Jan. 1855, and served with his regiment during that year in the Crimea in the war with Russia. He did duty in the trenches at the siege of Sevastopol, and took part in the storming of the Redan on 8 Sept., when Sevastopol fell. For his gallantry at the assault he was recommended for the Victoria Cross, but he did not receive it. For his services during the campaign he was given the British medal with clasp for Sevastopol and the Turkish and Sardinian medals.
De Montmorency accompanied his regiment to India. During the Indian Mutiny in 1857–8 he was in charge of a detachment against the mutineers in central India, and for his services he received the Indian Mutiny medal.
Promoted captain on 29 March 1861, de Montmorency exchanged into the 32nd duke of Cornwall's light infantry, and from 6 Dec. 1861 to 31 Dec. 1864 was aide-de-camp to his uncle by marriage, Major-general Edward Basil Brooke, commanding the troops in the Windward and Leeward Islands.
From 4 Juno 1865 de Montmorency was aide-de-camp to Lieut.-general (afterwards Field-marshal) Sir John Michel [q. v.], commanding the troops in British North America, and next year took part in the repulse of the Fenians, receiving the British medal for his services.
While travelling in Abyssinia, he volunteered under Sir Robert Napier, afterwards Lord Napier of Magdala [q. v.], in the hostilities against King Theodore (Oct. 1867). He accompanied the expedition to the gates of Magdala, when all volunteers were recalled. For his service he received the war medal.
De Montmorency commanded the frontier force during the operations in the Sudan in 1886–7, and received the Khedive's bronze star. In 1887 while commanding the troops at Alexandria with the local rank of major-general, he directed the operations of the British field column of the frontier force during the operations on the Nile, and was mentioned in despatches. He was promoted major-general on the establishment on 30 Nov. 1889, and succeeded to the peerage on the death of his father on 25 December.
From 1890 to 1895 Lord Frankfort commanded a first-class district in Bengal, and from 1895 to 1897 the Dublin district. He retired from the service on 21 Sept. 1897, on attaining 62 years of age. A keen soldier, a strict disciplinarian, and a master of the art of drill, kind-hearted and open-handed, he died suddenly of apoplexy at Bury Street, St. James's, London, on 7 May 1902, and was buried on the 12th in the village churchyard of Dewlish, Dorsetshire, with military honours.
De Montmorency married on 25 April 1866, at Montreal, Canada, Rachel Mary Lumley Godolphin, eldest daughter of Sir John Michel [q. v.]. She survived him. By her he had two sons and three daughters. The eldest son, Raymond Harvey de Montmorency (1867–1900), captain of the 21st Lancers, distinguished himself in the charge of his regiment at Omdurman in 1898 and was awarded the Victoria Cross for his gallantry. He served in the South African war and was killed in action in February 1900 at Molteno, in Cape Colony, at the head of the corps of scouts which he had organised and which bore his name.
[The Times, 8 May 1902; regimental records; private information.]