As a regimental collector to The Queen's it's great to see a few groups unknown to me - thanks for sharing to all.
One of my favourites from my collection, Lt-Col. H.F Warden, DSO
Lieutenant-Colonel Hugh Fawcett WARDEN, DSO
Distinguished Service Order (George V type)
Queen’s South Africa Medal, clasps: Cape Colony, Tugela Heights, Orange Free State, Relief of Ladysmith, Transvaal
King’s South Africa Medal, clasps: South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902
1914-15 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal with Oak leaf device for being Mentioned in Despatches
Defence Medal
• Born 10th of March 1871 at Easthampstead, Berkshire. Son of Thomas Fawcett Warden and Elizabeth Brancker.
• Attended Haileybury 1885-1888. Played on the school’s 1st XV Rugby team.
• Gentleman cadet at RMC Sandhurst 1888-1889.
• Commissioned a Second-Lieutenant in The Royal West Surrey Regiment 29th October 1890.
• Promoted Lieutenant 11th May 1892 and Captain on 30th October 1898.
• Went to South Africa with the 2nd Battalion in 1899.
• First wounded in action at Venter’s Spruit on 21st January 1900.
• Wounded again 24th February 1900 at Tugela Heights.
• Mentioned in Lord Roberts’ despatch of 4th September 1901 and again on 29th July 1902.
• Appointed Superintendent of Gymnasia, Southern District, England, in September 1902, returning to Battalion duty in 1906.
• Promoted Major on 2nd March 1913 and married Frances Muriel Hamshaw that same year.
• Appointed as the Officer Commanding the Regimental Depot in Guildford.
• Appointed Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel on 14th August 1914 and given command of the 6th (Service) Battalion. This was the first of Kitchener’s “New Army” battalions for The Royal West Surrey Regiment.
• Warden’s battalion went to France in July 1915 and first saw action at the Battle of Loos.
• Mentioned in Despatches 1st January 1916.
• On 25th June 1916 Warden’s battalion moved to the Albert sector of the Somme front.
• Warden’s battalion went “over the top” on 3rd July 1916 losing 10 of 18 Officers and 294 other ranks. They remained in the line until relieved on 17th December 1916.
• Appointed Companion of the Distinguished Service Order 1st January 1917.
• Again Mentioned in Despatches 4th January 1917.
• Commanded the 6th Battalion during the battle of Arras during the early spring of 1917.
• Appointed commandant of the VI Corps School of Instruction 13th May 1917 (still in the rank of Temp. Lt.-Col.).
• Reverted back to substantive rank of Major in January 1918 and again appointed to command the Regimental Depot of The Royal West Surrey Regiment.
• Promoted substantive Lieutenant-Colonel on 5th November 1918.
• Appointed Commanding Officer of the 1st Battalion in early 1919, to oversee the demobilization period.
• Retired on 15th May 1920.
• In retirement Warden lived at Merry Gardens, Burley, Ringwood, Hampshire, and was a member of the Army and Navy Club. During the Second World War he served as a local Air Raid Warden.
• Died on 19th February, 1951, aged 79.
Warden as a Captain in the early 1900's:
As Lt-Col in command of 6th Bn The Queen's during WW1:
Warden post-war just before his retirement: