| Braithwaite | William Garnett | | Captain | BRAITHWAITE, WILLIAM GARNETT, Captain, was born 21 October 1870. He was educated at Marlborough, and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; was gazetted to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers 23 May 1891, becoming Lieutenant 16 May 1894. He was Adjutant, 1st Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2 March, 1898 to 5 March, 1900, and became Captain 19 July 1899, serving in the South African War from 1899 to 1902; served as Brigade Major 6 March 1900 to 27 March 1901, and as DAAG 28 March, 1901 to 4 August 1902, and as Assistant Commander. He took part, while serving as Adjutant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, in operations in Natal, 1899; Relief of Ladysmith, including action at Colenso; operations on Tugela Heights (14 to 27 February 1900) and action at Pieter's Hill. While serving on the Staff and as Assistant Commissioner, he was present at operations in the Transvaal, May and June, 1900; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900, including actions at Frederickstad (17 to 25 October); operations in Cape Colony, north of Orange River, including action at Ruidam (slightly wounded); operations in the Transvaal 30 November 1900, to April, 1901; operations in Cape Colony, April, 1902 to 31 May 1902. He was mentioned in Despatches (Sir R H Buller, 30 March, 19 June and 9 November 1900) [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]; was given the Brevet of Major; 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]: "William Garnett Braithwaite, Captain, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented to him by the King 27 October 1901. He was Adjutant, Volunteers, 26 March, 1902 to 31 December 1904; Officer, Company of Gentleman Cadets, Royal Military College, 31 January 1906 to 6 September 1907; Adjutant, Royal Military College, 7 September 1907 to 21 January 1910; promoted Major 4 May 1910; GSO3, New Zealand Military Forces, 25 May 1911 to 24 May 1914. He served in the European War from 1914; as GSO1, New Zealand Division, Egypt, and was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel 21 August 1915; commanding the 2nd New Zealand Infantry Brigade 21 December 1915 to January 1918. He was given the Brevet of Colonel 3 June, 1917; was Brigade Commander, General Staff, 16 February to 14 October 1918; Brigade Commander 19 October 1918. He was created a CMG in 1916, and CB in 1918. Colonel Braithwaite was a JP for Westmorland. He married, in 1901, Gwendolen Elizabeth, daughter of Lieutenant General E O Hewett, CMG, RE, and they had son and two daughters.
CB (m), CMG, DSO, QSA (5) CC T-H OFS RofL Trans, KSA (2), 1914-15 Star, BWM, Victory Medal with MID, Order of the White Eagle (Serbia). Regimental Museum Carnaervon 1992.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Welsh Fusiliers |
