SARGENT, HARRY NEPTUNE, Major, was
born 6 April 1866, son of Major General E W Sargent. He was educated in
Ireland, and entered the Devonshire Regiment 10 November 1886; was
transferred to the Army Service Corps 15 May 1890; became Captain 7 January
1892; was Adjutant, Army Service Corps, 1 January 1895 to 28 February 1898.
He served with the Nile Expedition in 1898, and was present at the Battle of
Khartoum; was employed as Staff Officer to the Commandant, Assouan, for British Troops
and Stores. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September
1898]; was given the Brevet of Major 6 November 1898; received the Medal
with clasp, and the Khedive's Star. He became Major 1 April 1900. Major
Sargent served also in the South African War, as DAAG 13 November 1899 to 8
July 1902; took part in the Relief of Ladysmith, including operations of 17
to 24 January 1900, and action at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 February
1900, and action at Vaal Kranz; during the operations on Tugela Heights (14
to 27 February 1900), and action at Pieters Hill; took part in the
operations in Natal (March to June 1900), including action at Laing's Nek (6
to 9 June); in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to October 1900; also
during operations in Cape Colony, November and December 1899 (Despatches;
Sir R H Buller, 30 March and 9 November 1900 [London Gazette, 8 February
1901]; Queen's Medal with six clasps, and King's Medal with two clasps). He
was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service .Order [London Gazette,
26 June 1902]: "Harry Neptune Sargent, Major, Army Service Corps. In
recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". Invested by
the King 18 December 1902. He was Assistant Director of Supplies and
Transport, 3rd Army Corps, and Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport,
Irish Command, 1 October 1903 to 31 May 1905, and Deputy ADS and T, 1 June 1905 to 30 September
1906, and was promoted Lieutenant Colonel 27 October 1906. He commanded the
Army Service Corps in Dublin, 1906-8, and the Service Companies, ASC,
Aldershot, 1908-11, being given the Brevet of Colonel 27 October 1909, and
promoted Colonel 4 October 1911. He was Colonel in Command, ASC Records,
Woolwich Dockyard, 1 August 1912 to 14 December 1913, and from 15 December
1913 to the outbreak of the European War, AD of S and T, Aldershot Command.
He served in the European War as AQMG, 1st Corps, 5 August to 26 December
1914, and was in the retreat, from Maubeuge, the Battles of the Marne and
the Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres. From 27 December 1914 to 21 May
1916, he was DA and QMG, 1st Corps, and Temporary Brigadier General, and was
present at the Battle of Loos, then becoming DA and QMG, Reserve Army. This
position he held until October, and from October 1916 to 19 December 1917,
he was DA and QMG of the 5th Army (Temporary Major General 7 July 1916 to 19
December 1917); was present at the Battles of the Somme, operations south of
Arras, and the Third Battle of Ypres. He was Chief of the British Mission
Headquarters, and a CBE in 1919; became Commander of the Legion of Honour,
and received the American Distinguished Service Medal. He married (1st)
Ethel, daughter of Daniel Twomey, of
Kolor, Penshurst, Victoria, Australia, and (secondly), Olive,
daughter of Colonel N Tufnell, of Laiileys, Chelmsford, Essex.
