| Cardigan, Earl of | George William Chandos | | Captain | CARDIGAN, EARL OF, GEORGE WILLIAM CHANDOS (MARQUESS OF AILESBURY), Captain, was born 21 May 1873, son of the Most Honourable Henry Augustus Brudenell-Bruee, 5th Marquess and a Baronet, and Sophia Maria, daughter of G H Pinckney, of Tawstock Court, Barnstaple. He was educated at Westminster, and joined the 3rd Battalion Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, afterwards serving for some time with the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry, with which members of his family have been identified ever since its formation more than a century ago. In November 1899, Lord Cardigan went to India, and it was whilst he was engaged in big game shooting that the storm-cloud burst over South Africa, Lord Cardigan, who held a commission in the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry and had been ADC to Lord Wolseley in 1898, at once volunteered his military services, which were accepted. He was employed with the transport, department of the Natal Field Force from 23 October 1899, up to the Relief of Ladysmith, and underwent all the privations and hard fighting in connection with that memorable siege. After the Siege of Ladysmith had been raised, Lord Cardigan took an active part in the operations which followed; attached to the 3rd Battalion of Imperial Yeomanry (Sherwood Foresters) for a short time, under Colonel Younghusband. He was employed in March, 190O, in connection with the operations around Barkly West. He was next in charge of Major General Smith-Dorrien's transport, in the advance from Kronstad to Pretoria (part of General Sir Ian Hamilton's force). Sir lan Hamilton wrote: "As to Bester's Farm, he ought to know more about it than anyone. I remember well his cutting-out expeditions with his wood-cutters, and very gallant expeditions they were". He continued with General Smith-Dorrien until August. He also took part in the exciting operations which were organized under Lord Kitchener in pursuit of De Wet, and in the Relief of Colonel Hore's force, at Elands River. For his services in this campaign, Lord Cardigan received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901], and, on the recommendation of the Field Marshal Commanding-in-Chief in South Africa, was given a commission in the Regular Army, dated 29 August 1900, in the 11th Hussars, which a former Lord Cardigan had led in the Charge of the Light Brigade at Balaklava. After being gazetted to the 11th Hussars, Lord Cardigan was temporarily attached to Paget's force, near Warmbaths, in September 1901. He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "George William Chandos, Earl of Cardigan, Captain, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Cavalry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented to him by the King 29 October 1901. He became Major in Wiltshire Yeomanry, 1903; ADC to Sir A Hunter, 1903; Major in the Middlesex Yeomanry from 1908; transferred to infantry end of 1914; trained a month with 2nd Irish Guards; posted to 8th Battalion Wiltshire Regiment (New Armies); was Second-in-Command to that battalion when it was formed into a depot unit, when he transferred to ASC From November 1915, till the division was broken up in March 1919 was Second-in-Command of Guards' Divisional Train, and OC Headquarters Company. Since that same date, he was attached to the Northern Divisional Train.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Imperial Yeomanry |
