| Peyton | William Eliot | | Captain | PEYTON, WILLIAM ELIOT, Captain, was born 7 May 1866, third son of Colonel J Peyton, 7th Dragoon Guards. He was educated at Brighton College and enlisted in the 7th Dragoon Guards in 1885; was commissioned 7th Dragoon Guards, 18 June 1887; became Lieutenant 20 June 1892, and was Adjutant 20 June 1892 to 26 March 1896. He was employed with the Egyptian Army 27 March 1896 to 24 November 1898; became Captain 8 April 1896. He served in the Expedition to Dongola, 1896, taking part in the operations of 7 June and 19 September. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 3 November 1896], and received the Egyptian Medal with two clasps. He served in the Nile Expedition of 1897; was dangerously wounded, and had his horse speared in the cavalry engagement at Salamat (Fourth Class Medjidie and clasp to Egyptian Medal). In the Nile Expedition of 1898 he was present at the Reconnaissance of 4 April, Battles of the Atbara and Khartoum. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898]; received the Medal, two clasps to the Egyptian Medal, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 15 November 1898]: "William Eliot Peyton, Captain, 15th Hussars. In recognition of services during the recent operations in the Sudan, including the Battles of Atbara and Khartoum". The Insignia were presented to him by the Queen at Windsor 1 December 1898. He was promoted to Major 15 October 1899. He served in the South African War from 19 May 1900 to 25 October 1900, as Special Service Officer. He served with Thorneycroft's Mounted Infantry. He took part in the operations in Natal, May to June 1900, including the action at Laing's Nek. Operations in the Transvaal, June to August 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony, September 1900. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February 1901; was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 29 November 1900, and received the Queen's Medal with three clasps. He became Lieutenant Colonel 10 January 1907, and commanded the 15th Hussars from 1903 to 1907; was given the Brevet of Colonel 5 May 1905, and promoted to Colonel 10 October 1907; was AQMG, HQ, India, 18 October 1907 to 2 July 1908; commanded Meerut Cavalry Brigade 3 July 1908 to 30 June 1912; was Military Secretary to HE the Commander-in-Chief in India 1 July 1912 to 7 March 1914, and Delhi Herald of Arms Extraordinary for the occasion of the Coronation Durbar 12 December 1911. On the outbreak of the European War he became GS01, 1st Mounted Division, Central Force, Home Defence, and he commanded the 2nd Mounted Division on Gallipoli Peninsula; action of 21 August 1915, and final evacuation 19 December 1915 (Despatches twice). On 26 October 1914, he was promoted to Major General. He commanded the Western Frontier Force, Egypt (20 January 1916 to 7 May 1916) in the expedition against the Senussi, including the reoccupation of Barani and Sollum, and the rescue of the shipwrecked British prisoners of HMS Tara (received special thanks of the Admiralty; Despatches). General Peyton was Military Secretary, British Armies in France, 8 May 1916 to 6 April 1918; Army Commander, Reserve Army, British Armies in France, 7 April 1918 to 3 July 1918; commanded the 40th Division during the operations in France and Flanders 4 July 1918, to March 1919; commanded the cavalry of the British Army on the Rhine. He was created a KCB (1917); Commandeur, Legion d'Honneur; was given the Order of the Nile, Second Class, 1916. He was appointed Colonel of the 15th Hussars, 1916. Sir William Peyton married (1st) Mabel Maria (who died in 1901), daughter of Lieutenant General the Honourable E T Gage, CB, third son of the 4th Viscount Gage, and they had one daughter. He married (secondly) in 1903, Gertrude (who died in 1916), daughter of Major General A E Lempriere and widow of Captain Stuart Eobertson, 14th Hussars, and they had one son.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | 15th (The King's) Hussars |
