| Kington | William Miles | | Lieutenant | KINGTON, WILLIAM MILES, Lieutenant, was born at Cheltenham 25 April 1876, son of Colonel William Miles Nairne Kington, formerly of the 4th Hussars. He was educated at Glenalmond College and at Sandhurst, and joined the 1st Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Aden in September 1896, and became Lieutenant, in January 1899. He served in the South African War of 1899-1902, on the Staff as Brigade Signalling Officer from November 1899 to December 1900. He was present at the Relief of Ladysmith and the Battle of Colenso; operations and action at Vaal Kranz; on the Tugela Heights and action at Pieter's Hill; in the Transvaal at the beginning and end of 1900, including the action at Frederickstad, and in Cape Colony, including the action at Ruidam. He was again in the Transvaal in 1901 and 1902, and in the Orange River Colony. He was four times mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette of 8 February 9 July and 10 September 1901, and 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with five clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "William Miles Kington, Lieutenant, The Royal Welsh Fusiliers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". From February 1902 to May 1904, he was employed with the South African Constabulary, and from April 1906, in which month he received his company, to September 1910, he was an Adjutant of Volunteers and of the Territorial Force. He served in the European War, and was killed by a shell in the First Battle of Ypres on 28 October 1914. He was a very popular officer, and a man in the battalion who was present said in an account of the engagement: "For three days we remained in the trenches, firing and being fired at, without food or water. Lieutenant Hoskyns, who commanded my platoon, was killed by a sniper, and about three hours later Captain Kington, DSO, was killed. He was a very fine officer, and would crack a joke in the trenches which would set us all laughing our sides out. It made us all mad to avenge his death". He was a well-known cricketer, a member of the MCC, the I Zingari and the Free Foresters, and was an excellent shot. Captain Kington was very artistic, and has been described as a "musical genius". He married Edith, only daughter of Mr F W Soames, of Bryn Estyn, Wrexham, and left one son.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Welsh Fusiliers |
