| Rowcroft | George Francis | | Captain | ROWCROFT, GEORGE FRANCIS, Captain, was born in London 4 May 1861, eldest son of Major General George Cleland Rowcroft, of Buckden, Huntingdon, and of Oriana Rachel Rowcroft, daughter of Honourable P D Souper, Registrar-General of Mauritius. He was educated at Bradfield College, at Cheltenham College, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the 54th Foot on 12 August 1879, joining his regiment in November 1879, in India, and becoming Lieutenant 26 July 1881. He was transferred on 16 November 1881, to the 15th Ludhiana Sikhs, Bengal Staff Corps, and served in the Sudan Campaign of 1885, as Adjutant of that Regiment, being present at the action of Hasheen and operations of Tamai (Medal with clasp, Bronze Star). He became Captain 13 August 1890, and served in 1895 in the Chitral Campaign (Medal and clasp). Captain Rowcroft served on the North-West Frontier of India in the Tirah Campaign, 1897-98. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 5 April 1898], and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 16 May 1899]: "George Francis Rowcroft, Captain, Indian Staff Corps. In recognition of services during the recent operations on the North-West Frontier of India". (Insignia sent to the Commander-in-Chief in India, and presented by the Officer Commanding at Ferozepore at a Review Order Parade on 5 August 1899). The DSO was given to Captain Rowcroft two years after the Tirah Campaign, but no official account was published, nor any intimation given as to the particular act for which it was awarded. In the Tirah Campaign Captain Rowcroft carried in two or three wounded men under fire, and went back alone, looking for a wounded man who had been left behind, and he also got a badly wounded officer on to a mule, when three men who helped him were in turn shot down, one after the other. He was mentioned in Despatches on two other occasions in this campaign, He was a temporary Major from 15 February 1898; was promoted to Major 13 August 1899; was temporary Lieutenant Colonel 27 April 1902, received the Delhi Durbar Medal, 1902, and promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 1 June 1904, and given the Brevet of Colonel 8 June 1907. He commanded the 15th Sikhs (Bengal Infantry), and retired with the rank of Colonel 20 November 1907. Colonel Rowcroft was MRCS and LRCP, London (St Bartholomew's Hospital). In January 1915, he became a temporary Major, Indian Medical Service. He married 24 October 1884, Florence Marion Eva, daughter of Major General Henessy, and they had two sons, Maurice George, Captain, 8th Lincolnshire Regiment, and Eric Bertram, Captain, Army Service Corps, and a daughter, Ruby Frances.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Indian Staff Corps |
