| Pink | Francis John | | Captain | PINK, FRANCIS JOHN, CB, CMG, DSO, Colonel (Temporary Brigadier General), was born 19 November 1857, son of Charles Pink, of Woodend House, Hants, and Hester Goldsmith, daughter of John Cousins Stares, of the Manor House, Upham. He entered the Queen's Regiment as Second Lieutenant 10 February 1878, from the Royal Wiltshire Militia; served in the Afghan War, 1879-80; as Officiating Sub-Assistant Commissary General, Khyber Line (Medal); became Lieutenant 9 March 1881; Captain 31 March 1888; served with the Burmese Expedition, with 2nd Battalion The Queen's, and as Orderly and Intelligence Officer to Brigadier General Lockhart, 1886-87 (Despatches), and DAA and QMG, 3rd Brigade, 21 Sept, 1887 to 31 March 1889; and later as Staff Officer to the Karen Field Force. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 2 September 1887, and 15 November 1889, and on a later occasion], and received the Medal with two clasps; was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 12 November 1889]: "In recognition of services during operations in Burma. Francis John Pink, Captain, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey) Regiment". (Insignia presented by the Queen 1 August 1890). He was attached to the Egyptian Army in 1895, and served in the Expedition to Dongola in 1896, taking part in the operations of 7 June and 19 September; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 3 November 1896] (Egyptian Medal and two clasps). Colonel Pink was employed with the Egyptian Army from 10 May 1895 to 29 April 1899, and again from 28 Sept, 1909 to 20 May 1910, in command of troops at Khartoum. In the Nile Expedition of 1897 (Despatches [London Gazette, 25 January 1898]; clasp to Egyptian Medal); and subsequent operations till the fall of Khartoum (commanded 2nd Battalion Egyptian Army in Macdonald's Brigade at battles of Atbara and Khartoum); Despatches 24 May and 30 September 1898; Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel, British Medal, Khedive's Medal, and two clasps to Egyptian Medal. He became Major 30 December 1896; Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 16 November 1898; Brevet Colonel 16 November 1934; Lieutenant Colonel 2 March 1905, and Colonel 2 March 1909. He served in the South African War, 1899-1902, and commanded the 2nd Battalion The Queen's Regiment, 1900-1902, in the field; was present at the actions of Colenso and all subsequent actions up to and including Relief of Ladysmith, Allamand's Nek and subsequent operations in Transvaal and Orange River Colony up to signing of Peace (Despatches, CMG, Queen's Medal, five clasps, King's Medal, two clasps). He commanded 1st Battalion The Queen's Regt, 1905-9; was Colonel commanding No 10 District (Hounslow), 1911-1914: also IC Records on outbreak of war with Germany; commanded SR Brigades, 1914-16, as Temporary Brigadier General in the Southern and Northern commands. He married, in 1909, Alice Evelyn (died 1916), daughter of the Reverend John Fleming, MA, of Edinburgh. He voluntarily retired on retired pay 17 September 1916 (Despatches, Honorary Brigadier General). He was granted a Distinguished Service Pension.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | (Queen's) Royal West Surrey Regiment |
