Page "William Jervois" Paragraph 2

Jervois joined the British Army in 1839, and was educated and commissioned as a Royal Engineer.

As a Second Captain he saw service in the 7th Xhosa War, 1846-1847 during which he drew military sketches of British Kaffraria ( now part of the Eastern Cape Province ) in South Africa.

Returning to Britain in 1848, he became the Commanding Royal Engineer for the London District in 1855 and Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications the following year.

Major Jervois became Secretary of a Royal Commission set up on 20 August 1859 to examine the state and efficiency of land-based fortifications against naval attack.

It was specificlly tasked to consider Portsmouth, Spithead, the Isle of Wight, Plymouth, Portland, Pembroke Dock, Dover, Chatham and the Medway.

Their report was published on 7 February 1860 ; and, amongst others, proposed several options for a ring of defences around London, none of which were adopted, although elements were used in the later London Defence Scheme.

Jarvois went on to oversee the design of the resulting new fortications which became known as the Palmerston Forts.

In 1864 and 1865, he reviewed fortifications in Canada, submitting what became a politically controversial report that stated that the Great Lakes and Upper Canada were not defensible.

In 1871 he was sent to advise on fortifications in India and then worked on the defences of Cork harbour, which were completed in 1874.