| Bolitho | William Edward Thomas | | Major | BOLITHO, WILLIAM EDWARD THOMAS, Major, was born at Penzance 2 July 1862, son of William Bolitho, of Polwithen. He was educated at Harrow, and Trinity College, Oxford. He played for Harrow and Oxford at Lord's Cricket Ground. He joined, as Second Lieutenant, the 1st Royal Devon Yeomanry in May 1889; served with the 7th Battalion 27th Imperial Yeomanry in the South African War, 1900-1; was wounded at Nooitgedacht, Transvaal, November 1900; took part in advance to Pretoria, Battle of Diamond Hill, and holding the Mahaliesburg range of hills. He was mentioned twice in Despatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "William Edward Thomas Bolitho, Major, 7th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 29 October 1901. He won the DSO at Nooitgedacht, Transvaal, when he led a forlorn hope up the kloof in the early morning, from General Clement's Camp, to relieve the Northumberland Fusiliers on top of the hill. He was wounded in the thigh, and lay out with his men for two days before being fetched in to an ambulance. He became Captain, 1st Royal Devon Yeomanry, 7 August 1914. He became Acting Lieutenant Colonel, 2/1st Royal Devon Yeomanry 15 September 1914, and commanded the Regiment until 11 November 1918, when he resigned on account of bad health, and went to Bath for treatment, where he died on 21 February 1919. Lieutenant Colonel Bolitho was joint Master of the Foxhounds (Western), and hunted the hounds himself. Hunting was his great passion; he was also a good cricketer and fisherman. He had married, at Inverness, 21 June, 1888, Ethel Grace Macleod, daughter of R B Aeneaes Macleod, of Cadboll, and they had two sons: William Torquill Macleod (late 19th Hussars; killed in action 24 May 1915), and Simon Bruce (who died in 1910); and one daughter, Brenda Grace.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Imperial Yeomanry |
