| Heath | Ronald Macclesfield | | Captain | HEATH, RONALD MACCLESFIELD, Captain, was born 5 March, 1876, son of Lieutenant Colonel J M Heath, CMG. He was educated at Marlborough; joined the York and Lancaster Regiment 15 May 1897 becoming Lieutenant 29 July 1899, and Captain, Middlesex Regiment, 2 August 1902. He served in South Africa, 1899-1902, employed with the Mounted Infantry, taking part in operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg 12 to 26 February; actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain), Vet River (6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, including actions at Elands River (4 to 16 August); operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900, including actions at Wittebergen (1 to 18 July); operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in the Transvaal and Orange River Colony 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902; operations in Cape Colony, August and September 1901. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902]; awarded the Queen's Medal with six clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Ronald Macclesfield Heath, Captain, Middlesex Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was employed with the Egyptian Army 4 June 1905 to 3 June 1913, and commanded the Camel Corps of the Egyptian Army in the Sudan from 1908 to 1912: took part in the operations in Southern Kordofan, 1908 (Egyptian Medal and clasp, and 4th Class Osmanieh), and in operations in Southern Kordofan, 1910; Sudan, 1910 (Medal and clasp, and 3rd Class Medjidie). He served with the Army Cyclists' Corps in the early part of the European War, and was promoted to Major 1 September 1915; was Temporary Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 10th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment 19 February to 2 July 1916; Acting Lieutenant Colonel commanding 10th Battalion Warwickshire Regiment 7 September 1916 to 27 July 1917; Temporary Lieutenant Colonel commanding 10th Warwickshire Regiment 28 July 1917, to 6 April 1918; Temporary Brigadier General commanding the 56th Infantry Brigade, British Armies in France, 7 April 1918. He was mentioned in Despatches; given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 1 January 1918; created a CMG in 1919, and awarded the French Croix de Guerre.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | (Duke of Cambridge's Own) Middlesex Regiment |
