| Furse | William Thomas | | Major | FURSE, WILLIAM THOMAS, Major, son of the Venerable Archdeacon of Westminster, and Diana Monsell, was born 21 April 1865. He was educated at Eton, becoming Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery 5 July 1884. From 1890 to 1893 Lieutenant Furse was ADC to Lord Roberts when Commander-in-Chief in India, getting his Captaincy 30 May 1893. In 1897 he graduated at the Staff College. He served with distinction throughout the South African Campaign, from the 14th November 1899, to the 10th January 1900; he was DAAG, Headquarters of Army. He was then employed in South Africa on Special Service; became DAAG, South Africa, for a short period, and was appointed 15 March 1900, AAG for Transport, taking part in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (19 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River; during the operations in the Transvaal in May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June). He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February 1901], and in recognition of his services in the Boer War was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette 19 April, 1901]: "William Thomas Furse, Major, Royal Artillery. In recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa". From the 22nd January 1901 to 14 October 1904, he was employed at Army Headquarters as DAAG (Mobilization), and DAQMG (Mobilization), and was at Headquarters, acting as DAQMG (Intelligence), and GSO, 2nd Grade, from the 1st October 1905 to the 2nd August 1907, and was promoted Brevet Lieutenant Colonel on 1 January 1908, attaining substantive rank on the 24th September 1910. From 1908 to 1911 he served at the Staff College as DAAG (GSO 2nd Grade), and GSO, 2nd Grade. He became Colonel in October 1911. Colonel Furse served with distinction in the European War from 1914, and was appointed Temporary Brigadier General on the General Staff 1 January 1915, and created a CB. He was promoted Temporary Major General 27th of the following September, and Major General 1 January 1916. He commanded the 9th (Scottish) Division from 27 September 1915 to 4 December 1916, when he was appointed Master General of the Ordnance. He was created a KCB in January 1917, and promoted to Lieutenant General 1 January 1919. Lieutenant General Furse married, in 1899, Jean Adelaide, second daughter of H Evans-Gordon, of Prestons, Ightham, and they had two sons and one daughter.
KCB (m), KCMG, DSO, QSA (5) CC Paard Drief Joh D-H (Maj DSO RA), 1914 Star (Col DSO), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Maj-Gen), 1902 Coronation, 1935 Jubilee, Distinguished Service Medal (USA), Legion dHonneur (France) 3rd Class, Order of the Crown (Italy) 3rd Class, Order of the Rising Sun (Japan) 2nd Class, Order of Chai-Ho (China) 2nd Class. Spink 1988 est £3000. Liverpool 1995 (minus KCB, KCMG and foreign orders) £2150.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Artillery |
