Born in 1865 on Jersey, Dunsterville studied with close friend Rudyard Kipling at the United Services College. 

He joined the British Army Infantry in 1884. Later he was transferred to the Colonial Indian Army and served in Waziristan and China. In the 1st World War, he moved to India. 

The Russian Civil War began and the British Empire became involved since Tsar Nicholas II and George V were cousins. 

Three British commanders were sent over to Russia. One of which was Dunsterville. He was initially stationed in Persia, being commander of British Intervention Troops in Persia. He was there for a month, before being driven out by Bolsheviks. 

Lionel Dunsterville returned to the UK as Major-General. He died in 1946.