| Whigham | Robert Dundas | | Major | WHIGHAM, ROBERT DUNDAS, Major, was born 5 August 1865, son of David Dundas Whigham, of Prestwick, Ayrshire, NB, and Ellen Murray, youngest daughter of James Campbell, of Craigie, Ayrshire. He was educated at Fettes College, Edinburgh, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the 1st Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment, as Lieutenant, 9 May 1885; was Adjutant, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, 18 January 1892 to 17 January 1896, and was promoted to Captain 3 March 1892. He was employed with the Egyptian Army 29 December 1897 to 20 December 1898, and served in the Nile Expedition of 1898 with the 13th Sudanese Battalion, and was present at the battles of the Atbara and Khartoum (Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898]; Egyptian Medal with two clasps; Medal). He served in the South African War, 1899-1902, first as ADC to Major General Sir Hector Macdonald, KCB, commanding the Highland Brigade (6 February to 23 December 1900), and afterwards as DAAG at Army Headquarters 24 December 1900 to 16 October 1902. He was promoted to Major 1 August 1900. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, and Vet River (5 and 6 May); in Orange River Colony (May to 29 November 1900), including actions at Wittebergen (1 to 29 July) and Witpoort; in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; again in Cape Colony, north of Orange River, 1900; in the Transvaal, January 1901 to 31 May 1902; also during further operations in Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, December 1900 (Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 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]: "Robert Dundas Whigham, Major, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was invested by the King 24 October 1902. Major Whigham was Brigade Major, 2nd Army Corps, 1 November 1902 to 25 October 1904; DAAG, Headquarters of Army, 1 October 1906 to 2 February 1908, and 3 February 1908 to 15 April 1909; was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 3 February 1908, and to Colonel 4 October 1911; was GSO1, War Office, 10 April 1912 to 15 September 1914. He served in the European War from 1914, as GSO1, 2nd Division, BEF, 16 September to 26 December 1914; as Brigadier General, General Staff, 1st Army Corps, BEF, 27 December 1914 to 16 July 1915; as Sub-Chief of the General Staff, BEF, 17 July to 22 December 1915; Deputy Chief of the Imperial General Staff, War Office, 23 December 1915 to 28 April 1918; was promoted to Major General 1 January 1916; was Divisional Commander, 59th Division, BEF, 19 June to 26 August 1918; Divisional Commander, 62nd Division, BEF, 27 August 1918 to 31 March 1919; Divisional Commander, Light Division, British Army of the Rhine, 2 April 1919. He was twice mentioned in Despatches; created a CB in 1915; promoted to Major General; wounded; created a KCMG in 1919, and was made a Commander of the Legion of Honour. Sir Robert Whigham has been a Member of the Army Council since 1918. He married, in 1899, Isabel Adeline, youngest daughter of F A Muntz, of Rossmore, Leamington.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Warwickshire Regiment |
