Major-General Francis Adrian Wilson, CB, CMG, DSO (12 October 1874 – 6 May 1954) was a senior officer in the British Army who served as Chief of the General Staff in Australia from 1911 to 1912.
Francis Adrian Wilson | |
|---|---|
| Born | 12 October 1874 London, England |
| Died | 6 May 1954 (aged 79) Surrey, England |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service | British Army |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Commands | Chief of the Australian General Staff |
| Battles / wars | Second Boer War First World War |
| Awards | Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George Distinguished Service Order Mentioned in Despatches Légion d'honneur (France) |
Military career
editWilson was commissioned into the Royal Artillery as a second lieutenant on 1 July 1895,[1] and promoted to a lieutenant on 17 November 1897. He served in the Second Boer War in South Africa, during which he was promoted to captain on 6 February 1901. He was mentioned in despatches (including the final despatch by Lord Kitchener dated 23 June 1902[2]), and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO).[3] The war ended in June 1902, and Wilson returned to the united Kingdom on the SS Syria two months later, arriving in Southampton in early September.[4]
He served as Chief of the General Staff in Australia from 1911 to 1912,[5] and then returned to United Kingdom to prepare for the First World War; his service in that war led to the award of the Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George[6] and the Légion d'honneur.[7]
After the war he became Colonel Royal Artillery for Eastern Command for which service he was awarded the Companion of the Order of the Bath.[8]
Personal life
editIn 1903, he married Mabel Crosfield, with whom he had a son and a daughter. He died in 1954 at his home near Farnham, Surrey.[5]
References
edit- ^ "No. 26640". The London Gazette. 5 July 1895. p. 3818.
- ^ "No. 27459". The London Gazette. 29 July 1902. pp. 4835–4839.
- ^ "No. 27359". The London Gazette. 27 September 1901. p. 6308.
- ^ "The Army in South Africa - Troops returning home". The Times. No. 36852. London. 21 August 1902. p. 5.
- ^ a b "Maj.-Gen. F. A. Wilson". The Times. 7 May 1954. p. 11.
- ^ "No. 29886". The London Gazette (Supplement). 29 December 1916. p. 4.
- ^ "No. 30431". The London Gazette (Supplement). 14 December 1917. p. 13206.
- ^ "No. 33280". The London Gazette (Supplement). 31 May 1927. p. 3605.