| Sitwell | William Henry | | Major | SITWELL, WILLIAM HENRY, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, was born at Benares 20 November 1860, eldest son of Major Francis Henry Massey Sitwell, of Barmoor Castle, Northumberland, formerly of the Bengal Army, and Elizabeth Maria, only daughter of Ogle D'Olier, of Ely Place, Dublin. He was educated at Harrow, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and gazetted to the 16th Foot as Second Lieutenant, 14 January 1880; became Second Lieutenant, 5th Foot, 31 January 1880. He served in the Afghan Campaign of 1880 (Medal); was promoted to Captain 10 April, 1889; was employed as Adjutant to the Bechuanaland Border Police 20 March 1891 to 9 May 1893; was DAAG, Guernsey, 15 May 1895 to 29 August 1897. He was on Special Service, Ashanti, 7 December 1895, to 24 February 1896, and took part in the Ashanti Expedition, 1895-96 (Star). From 9 September 1897 to December 1899, he was employed with the Egyptian Army, and served in the Nile Expedition of 1898; was severely wounded at Shebalia; took part in the capture of Shendy, and in the Batties of the Atbara arid Khartoum. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 Sept, 1898]; was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 16 November 1898; received the Medal, and three clasps to the Egyptian Medal. He served also in the Nile Expedition of 1899, commanded the 14th Sudanese in the first pursuit of the Khalifa, and received a clasp to the Egyptian Medal. In South Africa, January to 31 August 1900, he commanded the 9th and 10th Mounted Infantry, 3rd Division, and afterwards raised the 22nd Mounted Infantry and commanded a Column of All Arms to the end of the war (March, 1901 to 31 May 1902). He was present in the operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 November 1900; operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899—1900; operations in the Transvaal, Orange River Colony and Cape Colony, 30 November 1900 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April, 1901, and 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with three clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901]: "William Henry Sitwell, Major and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Northumberland Fusiliers. In recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa". There is no official account of his DSO, but it is understood to have been awarded for capturing a hill in the attack on Dewetsdorp in April, 1900, two Victoria Crosses being awarded to Colonel Sitwell's command on the same occasion. Lieutenant Colonel Sitwell was given the Brevet of Colonel 2 July 1904. He commanded the 4th Northumberland Fusiliers, and on its disbandment commanded the 2nd East Lancashire Regiment from 1906 to 1908. He was promoted to Colonel 17 February 1908, and was created a CB on King Edward VII's birthday, 1908. Colonel Sitwell was AAG and GSO1, 3rd Lahore Division, 14 March, 1909 to 14 March, 1913, and received the Delhi Durbar Medal, 1910. He commanded the Quetta 1st Infantry Brigade, 1913-14, and became Temporary Brigadier General, November 1913. He served in the European War, and commanded the 34th Infantry Brigade at the landing in Suvla Bay, 6 August 1915. He commanded the 17th Reserve Training Brigade and Frees Heath Reserve Centre, 1915 to 1917. Brigadier General W H Sitwell was FRGS and JP for the county and city of Dublin. He married (first ) in London, in August 1902, Constance Selina (who died in 1908), daughter of the Honourable Sydney Meade. He married (secondly), in August 1912, Constance Evelyn Mary, daughter of Gustavus Talbot, of Marchmont House, Hemel Hempstead, and their children were Constance Ann, and William Reresby (born 2 July 1915).
CB (m), DSO, Afghan (2nd Lt, 1/5th Foot), Ashanti Star, Queens Sudan (Capt), QSA (3) Bel M-R OFS (Lt Col, DSO, N/Fus), KSA (2) (Lt Col, DSO, N/Fus), 1914 Star (Brig-Gen, CB DSO), BWM, Victory Medal with MID (Brig-Gen), 1911 Delhi Durbar, Khedives Sudan (4) Khartoum Sudan 1897 The Atbara Sudan 1899 (Bt-Lt Col, Cmdg 14 Sudanese). Sothebys 1987 £1,500.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Northumberland Fusiliers |
