Eric Thesiger
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Eric Richard Thesiger DSO
, TD
(17 February 1874 – 2 October 1961), styled The Honourable from 1878, was a British
soldier and page to Queen Victoria.
and his wife Adria Fanny Heath, daughter of Major-General John Coussamker Heath. His older brothers were Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford
and the diplomat Wilfred Gilbert Thesiger. Thesiger was educated at Winchester College
and in 1884, he was nominated Page of Honour
to the Queen, a post he fulfilled for the following six years. In 1893, he became a Staff Commissioner of Police.
as private during the Boer War
. In 1900, he was advanced to a lieutenant and in 1902 he became a second lieutenant. He was transferred as major from the Yeomanry into the Territorial Force
in 1908. In the First World War Thesiger was wounded twice and was mentioned in despatches as many times.
He was appointed to the 10th Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1917, commanding it until 1918, and subsequently the 10th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment for another year. In March of the latter year, he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO) and in August, he received the Territorial Decoration
(TD). He was awarded an Officer of the French Croix de guerre
in October and some days later, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
Thesiger was further honoured with the Order of the Crown of Belgium. He retired from the Territorial Army in 1929, having reached the age limit.
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
, TD
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(17 February 1874 – 2 October 1961), styled The Honourable from 1878, was a British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
soldier and page to Queen Victoria.
Background
He was the fourth son of Frederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron ChelmsfordFrederic Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford
General Frederic Augustus Thesiger, 2nd Baron Chelmsford GCB, GCVO, was a British general, best known for his commanding role during the Anglo-Zulu war. The centre column of his forces was defeated at the Battle of Isandlwana, a crushing victory for the Zulus and the British army's worst ever...
and his wife Adria Fanny Heath, daughter of Major-General John Coussamker Heath. His older brothers were Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford
Frederic Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford
Frederic John Napier Thesiger, 1st Viscount Chelmsford GCSI, GCMG, GCIE, GBE, PC was a British statesman who served as Governor of Queensland , Governor of New South Wales from 1909 to 1913, and Viceroy of India from 1916 to 1921, where he was responsible for the creation of the Montagu-Chelmsford...
and the diplomat Wilfred Gilbert Thesiger. Thesiger was educated at Winchester College
Winchester College
Winchester College is an independent school for boys in the British public school tradition, situated in Winchester, Hampshire, the former capital of England. It has existed in its present location for over 600 years and claims the longest unbroken history of any school in England...
and in 1884, he was nominated Page of Honour
Page of Honour
While a page is a comparatively low-ranking servant, a Page of Honour is a ceremonial position in the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom. It requires attendance on state occasions, but does not now involve the daily duties which were once attached to the office of page...
to the Queen, a post he fulfilled for the following six years. In 1893, he became a Staff Commissioner of Police.
Career
Thesiger joined the Surrey YeomanrySurrey Yeomanry
The Surrey Yeomanry was a unit of the British Army formed as volunteer cavalry in 1794 during the French Revolutionary Wars. In 1901 the Regiment was granted the title Princess of Wales's which was changed to Queen Mary's when George V became the King...
as private during the Boer War
Boer War
The Boer Wars were two wars fought between the British Empire and the two independent Boer republics, the Oranje Vrijstaat and the Republiek van Transvaal ....
. In 1900, he was advanced to a lieutenant and in 1902 he became a second lieutenant. He was transferred as major from the Yeomanry into the Territorial Force
Territorial Force
The Territorial Force was the volunteer reserve component of the British Army from 1908 to 1920, when it became the Territorial Army.-Origins:...
in 1908. In the First World War Thesiger was wounded twice and was mentioned in despatches as many times.
He was appointed to the 10th Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment in 1917, commanding it until 1918, and subsequently the 10th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment for another year. In March of the latter year, he was decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO) and in August, he received the Territorial Decoration
Territorial Decoration
The Territorial Decoration was a medal of the United Kingdom awarded for long service in the Territorial Force and its successor, the Territorial Army...
(TD). He was awarded an Officer of the French Croix de guerre
Croix de guerre
The Croix de guerre is a military decoration of France. It was first created in 1915 and consists of a square-cross medal on two crossed swords, hanging from a ribbon with various degree pins. The decoration was awarded during World War I, again in World War II, and in other conflicts...
in October and some days later, he was promoted to lieutenant-colonel.
Thesiger was further honoured with the Order of the Crown of Belgium. He retired from the Territorial Army in 1929, having reached the age limit.