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.

General Babington's image was chosen by Paul McCartney and used by the Beatles to depict the fictional "Sgt.

From January 1889 to July 1890, Captain Babington was Aide-de-camp to Sir Evelyn Wood when the latter was commanding at Aldershot.

This post was both a liberal military education and a marked compliment to the Lancer's ability: Sir Evelyn was known to surround himself with only the most capable of officers.

FieldMarshal Lord Roberts liked men who could move when movement was necessary, and the first thing he did on hearing of Babington’s failure was to supersede him in his command.

"[10] He was regarded as an expert in the management and deployment of every sort of mounted troop,[11] and he later gained many a decisive victory in South Africa, earning himself a name to be feared among the Boers.

He held the French Croix de guerre with Palm, and the Italian Croce di Guerra.

[17] Babington lived at Pinnacle Hill, near Kelso, Roxburghshire, which his family came to through the Maitlands of Penpont.