DEEDES, CHARLES PARKER, Lieutenant,
was born 9 August 1879, at Nether Broughton, near Melton Mowbray, son of the
Reverend Philip Deedes, of Little Parmlon, Essex, and Josephine, daughter of
Joseph Parker, of Brettenham
Park, Suffolk. He was educated at Winchester College, and at the Royal
Military College, Sandhurst, and joined the Yorkshire Light Infantry, as
Second Lieutenant, 11 February 1899. He became Lieutenant 9 October 1899. He
served in the South African War, as Adjutant, 20th Battalion Mounted Infantry,
from December 1901 to 31 May 1902, taking part in operations in the Transvaal,
April to December 1901, and April to 31 May 1902; operations in Orange River
Colony, January to March 1902; operations in Cape Colony, March, 1901.
He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 29 July 1902]; received the
Queen's Medal with five clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Charles Parker
Deedes, Lieutenant, The King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry. In recognition
of services during the operations in South Africa". He became Captain 21
March, 1903, and served as Adjutant, 1st Battalion King's Own Yorkshire Light
Infantry, 6 April, 1905 to 5 April, 1908. Captain Deedes passed the Staff
College, 1911, and was General Staff Officer, 3rd Grade, Scottish Command, 1
April 1912 to 4 May 1913; GSO, 3rd Grade, War Office, 5 May to 4 August 1914.
During the European War he was GSO, 3rd Grade, at GHQ, France, 5 August 1914
to 8 February 1915; GSO, 2nd Grade, GHQ, 9 February 1915 to 2 January 1916;
was promoted Major 15 September 1915; was GSO2, 14th Army Corps, British
Expeditionary Force, 3 January to 3 April, 1916; GSO1, 2nd Division, British
Armies in France, 14 April 1916 to 6 May 1917; GSO1, War Office (temporary), 7
May 1917 to 13 January 1918; became Temporary Brigadier General and Deputy
Director of Staff Duties, War Office (temporary), 1 February 1918. He was
given three Brevets: that of Major 3 June 1915; of Lieutenant Colonel 1
January 1917, and of Colonel 1 January 1918. He was seven times mentioned in
Despatches. Brevet Colonel Deedes was created a CMG, 1916, and a CB, 1919;
was a Chevalier of the Legion of Honour, and holds the American Distinguished
Service Medal and the French Croix de Guerre. He was an excellent cricketer;
besides playing in 1898 for the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and
captaining the Staff College Cricket Eleven, Camberley, in 1911, he has played
for Hertfordshire, and is a Member of the MCC and the Free Foresters. Captain
Deedes married, 4 July 1906, at Brompton Oratory, London, Eve Mary, only
daughter of Captain Stanley Dean-Pitt, CB, RN, and they had two children:
Charles Julius, born 18 October 1913, and Mary Josephine, born 7 March, 1910.
KCB (m), CMG,
DSO, QSA (5) CC OFS Trans SA 01 SA 02, KSA (2), 1914 Star, BWM, Victory
Medal with MID, Defence Medal, 1935 Jubilee, 1937 Coronation, Distinguished
Service Medal (USA), Order of the Crown (Belgium) 3rd Class,
Legion dHonneur (France) 5th Class, Croix de Guerre (France).
KOYLI Regimental
Museum 1992.
