Lieutenant General Strickland commanded the Jullundur Brigade in France, in the rank of Brigadier General, throughout most of 1915.
He was born on 3 August 1869, the son of a Major in the Warwickshire Regiment. He was educated at Warwick School and was commissioned into the Norfolk Regiment in 1888. His military career then encompassed service in Burma and in Egypt, taking part in the battles of Atbara and Obdurman; later in operations around the White Nile he was appointed DSO. Later still he served in Northern Nigeria having joined the West African Frontier Force. He was appointed to command the Northern Nigeria Regiment in 1909.
In 1913 he returned to England and on promotion to Lieutenant Colonel in 1914 he was appointed to command the 1st Battalion,The Manchester Regiment; his Battalion at that time was serving as part of the Jullundur Brigade stationed in India.
Together with the rest of the Jullundur Brigade, the Manchesters sailed for France and their story is told elsewhere in the website.
After the fierce fighting in Givenchy the Battalion was paraded and was heartily congratulated on their splendid achievements in the battle by General Willcocks who stated "I want to tell Colonel Strickland in front of you all what I think of him. He is a first class soldier and you are a brave lot of men ......" Lieutenant Colonel Strickland took over command of the Jullundur Brigade, being promoted to Brigadier General on 10 March 1915. He continued in command for the battles of Neuve Chapelle and 2nd Ypres. In June 1916 he took command of the 1st Division.
Major General Strickland survived the war and was created KCB in 1919. He served later in Ireland where history relates that his actions there ensured that he occupies a notable place in British constitutional history.
He was created KBE in 1923 and promoted to Lieutenant General in 1926.His final military appointment was GOC British Forces in Egypt. During his long service he was also awarded the CB, CMG, Croix de Guerre (France), Croix de Guerre (Belgium) and Medjidie Medal 3rd Class (Turkey). He retired in 1931 and died at his home in Norfolk on 24 June 1951.
His portrait by Passano is held in the National Portrait Gallery and can be viewed on line.
The University of Birmingham Centre for War Studies list of Generals' Nicknames lists at No12 that "He is interesting from a nickname point of view because he has two nicknames, one given him by his officer contemporaries, the rather anodyne 'Strick', and the one given him by his men , the less than anodyne 'Hungry Face'."
A free full Oxford University Press biography is available on line through local libraries see http://www.oup.com/oxforddnb/info/freeodnb/libraries/