PILLEAU, HENRY CHARLES, Captain, was
born at Bermuda 17 February 1866, only child of Colonel H G Pilleau, RE, and
a great-nephew of General Thomas Addison, CB, Colonel Commanding the Queen's
Regiment. He was educated at Wellington College, and the Royal Military
College, Sandhurst, where he was Senior Under-Officer, and passed out with
honours, taking the prize for military topography. He was gazetted to the
Royal West Surrey Regiment in February 1887; became Lieutenant in July 1889,
and Captain in March 1896. He served in the South African War, 1899-1902,
and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith, and actions of Colenso, Spion
Kop, Vaal Kranz and Pieter's Hill; operations on Tugela Heights, also in
Natal, including Laing's Nek. He was twice mentioned in Despatches [London
Gazette, 8 February and 10 September 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, 27 September 1901]: "Henry
Charles Pilleau, Captain, Royal West Surrey Regiment. In recognition
of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the
King 24 October 1902. Major Pilleau served in the European War; was
promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on the 18th of September 1914, and was
mortally wounded in the Battle of the Aisne. Notwithstanding his dying
condition, Lieutenant Colonel Pilleau continued for four hours to direct his
men. It was not known till dark, when retiring, that he had been wounded.
He died a week afterwards, on the 21st of September 1914, in the American
Ambulance of Neuilly. In July 1904, he had married Edith Maud, daughter of
Lieutenant Colonel W E Mockler, 4th Battalion West India Regiment.
DSO, QSA (5) T-H
OFS RofL Trans L-N (Capt, DSO, RWS Regt), KSA (2) (Capt, Queens), 1914 Star
and Bar (Maj, DSO), BWM, Victory Medal (Lt Col).
Christies 1983
£580. Glendinings 1987 £680.
