| Yeilding | William Richard | | Captain | YEILDING, WILLIAM RICHARD, Captain, was born 13 January 1856, at Carrig Kerry, Co Limerick, son of Hugh Eldon and Margaret Yeilding, of Woodlands, Tarbert, County Kerry. He was educated at Rathmines School, Dublin; Emu's College, County Clare, and Mr Mulcaster's, Woodwich, and joined the 54th Regiment 29 November 1876, and was transferred to the BSC, 1879; served in the Afghan War, 1879-80 with the 1st Sikhs, and the 5th Gurkhas, at Jellalabad and Kabul; took part in the March from Kabul to Kandahar, and at the Battle of Kandahar (Medal with clasp and Bronze Star); with Mari Expedition, 1880; with Mahsud-Waziri Expedition 1881, and Hazara Campaign, 1888 (Black Mountain). He was mentioned in Despatches; GGO 978 of 1888, states: "Captain W R Yeilding, ACG, Divisional Transport Officer, who, under the orders of the Chief Commissariat Officer, ably superintended the transport arrangements of the Force. His powers of organization have been shown in the manner in which the large amount of Government and hired transport has been worked with complete success. I consider him a most excellent officer". Captain Yeilding, who was several times in action during the Hazara Campaign, also received the Medal with clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 30 May 1891]: "William Richard Yeilding, Captain, Indian Staff Corps". He served in the Tirah Campaign and Bazar Valley Expedition, 1897-98 (India Medal with two clasps); Tirah, 1897-98, and Punjab Frontier, 1897-98 (mentioned in Despatches); with the Somaliland Field Force, 1903-4, on the Staff. In Tirah he was present at the storming of the Sampagha and Arhanga Passes and in the fighting round Bagh, and on the return march of the 1st Division to India via the Mastura Valley. The London Gazette of 3 September 1904, publishes Lieutenant General Sir C Egerton's Despatches for Somaliland, 1903-4 (extract): "One most satisfactory feature of the campaign has been the smooth and efficient working of the Staff and of all departments. The Supply and Transport Department has, doubtless, been the most severely taxed, but owing to the admirable organization of the transport, and the foresight and resource of the Director, it has proved equal to all emergencies … Lieutenant Colonel W R Yeilding, CIE, DSO, is an officer of great force of character whom no difficulty dismays, or sudden change of plans can disconcert. His powers of organization are immense, and it is due to him that this Field Force has been able to maintain itself in the field so long". He received the African Medal with clasp, Somaliland, 1903-4, and was given the Brevet of Colonel. He was employed on special duty in Kashmir, 1892-97 (thanked by the Government of India, and by the Home Government, and created a CIE 1895); held various administrative appointments in the Supply and Transport Corps; became a substantive Colonel in 1905; was created a CB, 1908, and retired 1910. Was in receipt of a wound pension for an injury received on active service during the Somaliland Campaign, 1903-4. He married, 9 December 1881, at Calcutta, Theresa, daughter of Richard Magrath Fitzgerald, of Limerick, and they had one daughter, Eileen Geraldine, who died in 1913.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Indian Staff Corps |
