GIFFARD, WILLIAM CARTER, Major and
Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, was born 25 June, 1859, son of Major E C Giffard,
60th Rifles, and L Gillies Lowndes. He was educated at Winchester College,
and Sandhurst, and entered the Army 11 May 1878; became Lieutenant, Welsh
Regiment, 13 March, 1880. He served in the South African War, 1881; became
Captain 17 August 1886; served in the Sudan in 1888 (Suakin); was present at
the action at Gemaizah. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 11
January 1889]; received the Medal with clasp, and the Fourth Class Medjidie
and Khedive's Star. He was employed on the Gold Coast 16 October 1897 to
June, 1899, and served in West Africa, 1897-99, in the Northern Territories,
Gold Coast; was present in the Expedition to Karaga (slightly wounded); was
mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 7 March, 1899]; received the Medal
with clasp, and was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 8 July 1899. He
had been promoted to Major 14 June, 1899. Major Giffard served in the South
African War from 1899 to 1902, on the Staff (as Station Commandant) 15
December 1899 to 27 February 1900; in command of the 1st Battalion Welsh
Regiment, 4 March to 23 April, 1900. He took part in the operations in Orange
Free State, March to May 1900, including actions at Poplar Grove and
Driefontein (wounded); Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River. Operations in
the Transvaal, May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg,
Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, east
of Pretoria, 1900, including action at Belfast (26 and 27 August); operations
in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899 to 1900. He was mentioned in
Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with
five clasps; King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "William Carter
Giffard, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Welsh Regiment. In recognition of
services during the recent operations in South Africa". Towards the end of
the Boer War he was Commandant at Barberton. He retired with the rank of
Lieutenant Colonel 7 January 1903. He served in the European War; commanded
13th (S) Battalion Welsh Regiment, April 1915 to March 1916, at home and in
France, and was employed in command of other battalions at home till February
1918 (Despatches; 1914-15 Star, and Brevet of Colonel 3 June, 1918). Colonel
W C Giffard married, in 1906, Cecil Margaret Stewart, daughter of Mrs Schwabe.
