DOUGLAS, WILLIAM, Major, was born at
Cranborne Lodge, Dorset, 13 August 1858, son of William Douglas, of the East
India Civil Service, and of his wife, Caroline (nee Hare). He was educated at
Bath; was gazetted to the 1st Battalion The Royal Scots 30 January 1878, and
was promoted to Lieutenant 25 November 1878, serving as Adjutant, 1st
Battalion The Royal Scots, 24 March, 1880 to 23 March, 1887. He served in the
Bechuanaland Expedition, 1884-85; became Captain 24 June, 1885; was Adjutant,
3rd Royal Scots (Militia), February 1888 to February 1893; and Adjutant, 1st
Royal Scots, 20 February 1893 to 20 August 1894. He was promoted to Major 24
July 1895; was at the Staff College, 1896-97. He served in South Africa,
1900-02, and took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to
May 1900. Operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November
1900, including the actions at Belfast (26 and 27 August) and Lydenberg (5 to
8 September). He was in command of 1st Battalion Royal Scots from 24 August
1900, and in command of a column, and took part in the operations in the
Transvaal, November 1900 to November 1901. He was mentioned in Despatches
[London Gazette, 16 April, 1901], received the Queen's Medal with three
clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "William
Douglas, Major (now Lieutenant Colonel), Royal Scots, Lothian Regiment In
recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa". The
Insignia were presented to him in South Africa. Major Douglas had been
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 5 December 1900. He was given the Brevet of
Colonel 10 February 1904; became Colonel 1 March, 1906; was Colonel, General
Staff, 6th Division, and subsequently became (when the name of the appointment
was changed) GSO, 1st Grade, 8th Division (the 6th Division becoming the 8th
Division), Irish Command, 1 March, 1906, to 31 October 1909. He was created a
CB in 1908; was Brigade Commander, 14th Infantry Brigade, 1 November 1909 to 9
November 1912; became Major General 10 August 1912; commanded the 42nd (East
Lancashire) Division from May 1913, to 11 March, 1917. He served in the
European War from 1914; in Egypt, 10 September 1914 to 4 May 1915; the
Dardanelles, 5 May 1915 to 2 January 1916 (Despatches twice [London Gazette,
21 September 1915 and November 1915]; created a KCMG November 1915); Sinai,
1916-17, including the Battle of Romani and taking of El Arish; commanded the
Desert Column from 23 October 1916, to 8 December 1916 (Despatches twice,
December 1916 and 6 July 1917; Croix de Guerre with Palm [London Gazette, 21
May 1917]); commanded the Western Reserve Centre in 1917 and 1918. He
married, in December 1885, Ellen Lytcott (a Lady of Grace of St John of
Jerusalem), daughter of S Taylor, Crown Solicitor, Barbados.
