NASH, WILLIAM FLEETWOOD, Major, was
born 27 September 1861, son of Henry Fleetwood Nash, of Upton Lea, Slough,
Buckinghamshire. His mother was Maria, daughter of Charles Wilkinson, of
Hornsea, Yorkshire. He was educated at Rugby and Sandhurst, and obtained
his commission 22 January 1881, and joined the 34th Regiment of Infantry
(afterwards called the Border Regiment) at, Carlisle. He was Adjutant of
the Militia. In 1889 he was promoted Captain, and in 1894 was selected as
Adjutant of the 1st Border Regiment. He served in the Burmese
Expedition of 1889-90, when he was entrusted with the care of the battalion
treasure chest. He received the Medal and clasp inscribed 'Burma,
1889-1892'. On 31 October 1898, he was promoted to the rank of Major. He
proceeded with the 1st Battalion to South Africa on the outbreak of war
there in 1899, and in November of the same year was specially selected to
raise and command a battalion, afterwards called the Imperial Light
Infantry, and took part in many engagements in Natal, notably Spion Kop, in
which action, on the retirement being ordered, he was one of the last, to
leave the top of the hill which he and his battalion had held with much
tenacity. The record of his services in South Africa as given in the Army
List is as follows: 'South African War, 1899-1902'. In command Imperial
Light Infantry from December 1899; operations in Natal, 1899; Relief of
Ladysmith, including operations of 17 to 24 January 1900, and action at
Spion Kop; operations of 5-7 February 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz;
operations on Tugela Heights (14 to 27 February 1900), and action at
Pieter's Hill; operations in Natal (March to June 1900), including action at
Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June); operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River,
1899; operations in the Transvaal from 30 November 1900. Despatches [London
Gazette, 8 February 1901]; created a Companion of the Distinguished Service
Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "William Fleetwood Nash, Major,
Border Regiment. In recognition of services during the recent
operations in South Africa". Lieutenant Colonel Nash was mentioned in
Despatches by Sir R Buller, re the Relief of Ladysmith, in which he
reported: "Major (Local Lieutenant Colonel) W F Nash, Border Regiment,
commanded the Imperial Light Infantry. The extremely good work done by this
battalion is due to the excellent, manner in which it was commanded by
Lieutenant Colonel Nash". He received the Queen's Medal with five clasps,
inscribed, LN, Trans, TH, RofL, CC and the King's Medal with two clasps. He
retired from the Army in November 1905, and was placed on the List of
Reserve of Officers. On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was
appointed to the command of the Border Depot and 34th Regimental District at
Carlisle, with the temporary rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He died at
Carlisle on the 28th December 1915, after a short illness following a severe
operation for an internal complaint, at the age of 54. He was a fine
soldier, being a man of great coolness and resource, and very keen on his
profession.
