| Golightly | Robert Edmund | | Captain | GOLIGHTLY, ROBERT EDMUND, Colonel, was born 16 September 1856, son of Reverend Canon Golightly, Shipton Moyne, Tetbury. He was educated at Eton and Sandhurst; became Sub-Lieutenant in 1875; Sub-Lieutenant, King's Royal Rifles, in 1876. He served in the Afghan War, 1878-80, being present at the action of Takt-i-Pul, advance and occupation of Kandahar and Khelat-i-Ghilzai; marched from Kandahar to Kabul with the force under Sir Donald Stewart; was present at the Battle of Ahmed Khel and action of Urzoo (Despatches); marched from Kabul to Kandahar with the force under Sir F Roberts, and was present at the Battle of Kandahar on 1 September. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 July 1880]; received the Medal with two clasps, and the Bronze Star. He was Superintendent of Army Signalling in the Mari Expedition; Acting Quartermaster to the 2nd Battalion KRR during the Boer Campaign of 1881; Adjutant to the 2nd Battalion 1881-85; Captain, 1886. He commanded the Mounted Infantry, 6th Brigade, Upper Burma Field Force, 1886-87; was twice mentioned in Despatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 25 November 1887]: "Robert Edmund Golightly, Captain, King's Royal Rifle Corps, Mounted Infantry, Burma Expeditionary Force. For services in Burma". He was acting AAG, Meerut Division, in 1889; Adjutant, 1st Volunteer Battalion Durham Light Infantry, in 1890; commanded 1st Battalion Imperial Yeomanry, in South Africa, 1900 to 25 April 1901 (Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; promoted Colonel in the Reserve of Officers; Queen's Medal, four clasps); commanded 8th Provisional Battalion 1902-8; appointed Section Commandant No 1, Lines of Communication, 14 November 1914; appointed Defence Commander No 1, Lines of Communication, December 1916; appointed Assistant Director Territorial and Volunteer Forces, April 1918. He was created a CBE in 1918. Colonel Golightly married, in 1886, Agnes Frances, daughter of W M'Dowell Aiken. His favourite recreations were shooting, hunting, motoring, cricket and golf.
DSO (gold), Afghan (2) Ahmed Khel, Kandahar (Lieut. Robt. E. Golightly. 2/60th Foot), letter ‘y' in surname officially corrected; Kabul to Kandahar Star (Lieut. R.E. Golightly 2/60 Foot); IGS 1854 (2) Burma 1885-7, Burma 1887-89 (Captain R.E. Golightly 4th Bn. K.R.Rif.C.); QSA (4) CC Tr Witt SA01 (Capt. R.E. Golightly D.S.O. 1/Impl. Yeo.), last clasp loose on ribbon. Spinks Nov 04 £5,500. Liverpool Dec 05 with a 3 clasp QSA but clasps not stated £7,500.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | King's Royal Rifle Corps |
