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- File:Text document with red question mark. svg This article includes a list of references, related reading or external links, but its sources remain unclear because it lacks inline citations. Please improve this article by introducing more precise citations where appropriate. Field Marshal Sir Charles Yorke, GCB was a British Army officer. Yorke was the son of Colonel John Yorke (a Deputy Lieutenant of the Tower of London from 1795 to 1826), and his wife, Juliana née Dodd. He was commissioned as an ensign in the 35th (Sussex) Regiment of Foot on 22 January 1807, became a lieutenant on 18 February 1808, and on the 25th, exchanged to the 52nd (Oxfordshire) Regiment of Foot. He served with that regiment throughout the Peninsular War, being present at Vimeiro, Fuentes de Oñoro, Ciudad Rodrigo, Badajoz, Salamanca, Vitoria, the Pyrenees, Nivelle, the Nive, and at Orthez, where he was severely wounded. He was also wounded at Badajoz and the Nivelle. He afterwards received the Peninsular silver medal with ten clasps and promoted to captain on 24 December 1813. At Waterloo, Yorke was extra aide-de-camp to Major-General Adam, who commanded the brigade of which the 52nd formed part of. He received the Waterloo medal. He was placed on half pay on 25 February 1816, but was appointed to the 13th (1st Somersetshire) Regiment of Foot on 7 August 1817, and exchanged back to the 52nd on 2 July 1818. On 9 June 1825, he was given an unattached majority, and again went on half pay. On 30 November 1826, he was made a lieutenant colonel and inspecting field officer of militia. He became a colonel on 23 November 1841, and was assistant quartermaster general, first at Cork and afterwards at Manchester from 1842 to 1851. On 11 November 1851, Yorke was promoted to major general. He was sent to the Cape of Good Hope, and served in the 8th Cape Frontier War of 1852 as second in command under General Cathcart. He was given a reward for distinguished service on 13 July 1853. In May 1854, he succeeded Colonel Airey as Military Secretary, and consequently did not serve in the Crimea. As Military Secretary, he was responsible for much of the paperwork at military headquarters in London. Yorke was made colonel of the 33rd (The Duke of Wellington's) Regiment of Foot on 27 February 1855, and KCB on 5 February 1856. He became a lieutenant general on 13 February 1859, and was promoted to GCB on 29 June 1860, when he ceased to be military secretary. In that office it is said that, as Lord FitzRoy Somerset had 'softened the asperity of the Iron Duke, Sir C. Yorke neutralised the exuberant kindness of the Duke of Cambridge'. He was made colonel commandant of the 2nd battalion of the Rifle Brigade on 1 April 1863, and became a general on 5 September 1865. On 5 April 1875, he was appointed Constable of the Tower, and on 2 June 1877 he was made a field marshal, a reward for competence and long service rather than distinction. He died, unmarried, at his home, 27 South Street, Grosvenor Square, on 20 November 1880, and was buried on the 24th at Kensal Green Cemetery.
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