| Berkeley | Christopher Robert | | Lieutenant | BERKELEY, CHRISTOPHER ROBERT, Lieutenant, was born 18 January 1877, son of Major Henry William Berkeley. He was educated at Oratory School, and at Sandhurst, and joined the Army as a Second Lieutenant in the Welsh Regiment 8 September 1897, becoming Lieutenant 5 July 1899. He served in the South African War from 1899 to 1902, and was present at the Relief of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg, and the actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein (severely wounded), Vet River and Zand River operations in the Transvaal, May and June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 2 November 1900, including action at Belfast; operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900, to 31 May 1902 serving from 14 April, 1902, as Assistant Provost-Marshal. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February and 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with six clasps, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Christopher Robert Berkeley, Lieutenant, Welsh Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was promoted Captain in the Welsh Regiment 13 May 1904; was Adjutant from 11 March 1904 to 10 March 1907, and Adjutant of Militia and in the Special Reserve from 27 February 1908 to 26 February 1912. Captain Berkeley served in the European War; was Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Brigade, BEF, 26 February 1915 to 15 April, 1916, being promoted Major 1 September 1915 and Brevet Lieutenant Colonel 1 January 1916; was employed as DAA and QMG, 15th Division, France, 16 April to 27 August 1916; as AA and QMG, 15th Division, 28 August 1916 to 25 October 1918, then becoming AQMG, QMG's Branch, GHQ, France. He was wounded; mentioned in Despatches six times; was created a CMG in 1917 and an OBE in 1919, and received the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre avec Palme. Lieutenant Colonel Berkeley married, in 1919, Nest, youngest daughter of Colonel J A Bradney, CB, of Talycoed Court, Monmouth.
CMG, DSO , OBE 1st Mil, QSA (6) RoK Paa Drie Joh DH Belf (Lieut. C.R.Berkeley. D.S.O. Welsh. Rgt.), KSA (2) (Lieut. C.R. Berkeley. D.S.O. Welsh Rgt.), 1914 Star, with bar (Captain C.R. Berkeley. D.S.O. Welsh:R), BWM, VM and MID (Lt. Col. C.R. Berkeley. D.S.O. Welsh: R.), IGS 1908 (1) Waziristan 1921-24 (Lt. Col. C.R. Berkeley. Welch R.), France, Republic, Legion of Honour, Knights breast badge, France, Croix De Guerre, 1914-1916 with palm. Dreweatts Sep 09.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Welsh Regiment |
