PIKE, WILLIAM WATSON, Major, was born
10 March, 1860, son of William Pike, JP, of Glendaray. He entered the Army
in 1882, and became Major, Royal Army Medical Corps, 4 February 1894 (12
years' service). He served in the South African War, 1899 to 1902; was
present at the Relief of Kimberley; took part in the operations in the Orange
Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 24
February); actions at Poplar Grove and Driefontein; operations in the
Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; operations in Cape
Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in Cape Colony, 1901. He
was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February and 16 April, 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 Watson Pike. Major, Royal Army Medical Corps. In
recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa". The
Insignia were presented by the King 3 June, 1901. He became Lieutenant
Colonel 4 February 1903; Colonel, 9 November 1911. Colonel Pike served in the
European War from 1914; was appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services 31
October 1915: Director of Medical Services, 1st Army, BEF, 1 November 1915 to
20 July 1917; was promoted to Temporary Surgeon General 1 November 1915, and
to Major General 3 March, 1917. He was mentioned in Despatches; created a
CMG, 1916, and a KCMG, 1919. Sir W W Pike was a Rugby International, Ireland,
1879-83, and a Hockey Inter-Provincial, Ireland, 1898. He was an FRCSI.
