| Wilson | Leslie Orrne | | Lieutenant | WILSON, LESLIE ORME, Lieutenant, was born in London 1 August 1876, eldest son of Henry Wilson, of 3 Stanhope Street, Hyde Park, London, and of Ada Alexandrina Wilson (nee Orme), of Orme Square, Bayswater, London. He was educated at St Michael's, Westgate-on-Sea, and at St Paul's School. He joined the Army as Second Lieutenant, Royal Marine Light Infantry, 1 January 1895; promoted Lieutenant 1 January 1896; served in the South African War, 1899-1900, as Adjutant, Naval Brigade; took part in the advance on Kimberley, including action at Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State, including operations at Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, including actions near Pretoria and Diamond Hill; operations in the Transvaal, including actions at Belfast: was seriously wounded on 26 August 1900, at the action of Monument Hill; received pension for wounds. He was mentioned in Despatches; awarded the Queen's Medal and five clasps, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "Leslie Orrne Wilson, Lieutenant, Royal Marine Light Infantry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by HM King Edward VII. He was ADC to the Governor of New South Wales, 1903-9. He became Captain, Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery (Territorials); promoted Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Marines, and appointed to command Hawke Battalion 63rd Division, RND. He served through operations in Gallipoli, 1914-15; was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton's Despatches, and created a CMG. Severely wounded at, the action at Beaumont Hamel, on the Ancre, on 13 November 1910, and invalided home. Passed unfit for further service, he held an appointment at the Admiralty from March 1917 to February 1916, when he as made Parliamentary Secretary to the War Cabinet. On reelection to Parliament at the General Election in December 1918, he was included in the Coalition Government as Parliamentary Secretary to the Ministry of Shipping, and was been Chairman of the National Maritime Board in 1919. He contested Poplar Division of Tower Hamlets as a Unionist in 1910, and was elected Member of Parliament for Reading, Berks, 13 November 1913. He married, in London, 10 June 1909, Winifred May eldest daughter of Captain Charles Smith, of Goderich, Sydney, New South Wales, and they had three children: Peter Leslie Orme, born 4 June 1910; David Orme, born 18 March 1913, and Majorie Leila, born 22 April 1914.
[GCSI, GCIE], GCMG, OStJ, Knight of Grace, DSO, QSA (5) CC OFS Joh D-H Belf (Lt, RMLI, HMS Monarch), 1914-15 Star, BWM, Victory Medal with MID, 1935 Jubilee, 1937 Coronation, Order of the Crown (Belgium) Grand Cordon. RM Regimental Museum, Portsmouth 1992.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Marine Light Infantry |
