Colonel Richard Henry Jelf CMG (2 February 1844 – 26 April 1913)[1] was a British army officer and commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
[citation needed] He saw service on the Bechuanaland Expedition (1884-1885), as Director of Military Telegraphs (and was honourably mentioned, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel).
[citation needed] He retired in 1901 but was recalled to employment as temporary Major-General in the same year, becoming Governor and Commandant of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich,[5] a post he retained until 1912.
[9] In 1882, Jelf commissioned a bell for St Mary's church in Newfoundland's Bay of Islands, where Curling was priest.
[citation needed] A third son, Richard John Jelf, joined the Royal Engineers and after being invalided home from South Africa shot himself and was buried at sea in June 1900[13] - a plaque commemorating him and his parents is displayed in Ashbourne's St Oswald's Church.