PERCEVAL, CLAUDE JOHN, Major, was
born 28 September 1864, third son of General John Maxwell Perceval, CB.
He entered the Royal Artillery, as Lieutenant, 28 July 1883; was promoted to
Captain 1 April 1892, and was Adjutant, Royal Artillery, 17 December 1897 to
2 January 1899. He served in the South African War, 1899-1902; on Special
Service, 3 January to 19 January 1900; employed with Transport 20 January
1900 to 1 September 1901; as Extra Staff Officer for Transport 2 September
1901 to 7 September 1902. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free
State, February to May 1900, including actions at Houtnek (Thoba Mountain),
Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; in the Transvaal in May and June
1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and
12 June); in Orange River Colony (May to 29 November 1900), including
actions at Wittebergen (1 to 29 July); also in Cape Colony, south of Orange
River, 1899-1900, including actions at Colesberg (1 January to 12
February). He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 17 June 1902];
received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and the King's Medal with two
clasps. He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
[London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "Claude John Perceval, Major, Royal
Artillery. In recognition of services during the operations in South
Africa". He was invested by the King 24 October 1902. On 30 November 1901,
he was promoted to Major; he was Brigade Major, Royal Artillery,
South-Eastern District, Southern Command, 1 April to 17 November 1903; GSO2,
Staff Officer for Defence, Southern Command, 18 November 19O3 to 31 May
1905; GSO2, Coast Defence, Southern Command, 1 June 1905 to April 1907;
DAQMG, India, 14 November 1908 to 13 November 1912. He became Lieutenant
Colonel 21 October 1911. Lieutenant Colonel Perceval served in the European
War from 1914, as AA and QMG, 7th Division, BEF, 5 to 25 October 1914; AA
and QMG, 29th Division, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 18 January to 8
June 1915; GSO1, 29th Division, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 9 June to
16 August 1915; Brigade Commander, 86th Infantry Brigade, Mediterranean
Expeditionary Force, 17 August to 20 December 1915; was promoted to Colonel
21 December 1915; was Brigadier General, General Staff, 12th Army Corps,
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 21 December 1915 to 1916; AQMG, Scottish
Command, 26 June to 28 July 1916; GSO1, GHQ, Home Forces, 29 July 1916 to 30
April 1917; Inspector, Royal Garrison Artillery, Home Forces in Great
Britain, 21 December 1917, and Temporary Brigadier General. He was
mentioned in Despatches three times; created a CMG in 1915, and a CB in
1918. He married, in 1898, Isabel Gordon, only daughter of Colonel Morison,
of Bognie, Aberdeen, and they had three daughters.
CB (m), CMG, DSO,
QSA (4) CC Joh D-H Witt (Maj, RFA), KSA (2) (Maj DSO, RGA), 1914 Star (Lt
Col DSO RGA), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Brig-Gen), 1911 Delhi Durbar (Maj
DSO).
Spinks (complete)
1979 £1,150. Spink 1982 (minus CB/CMG) £600.
