Francis Adrian Wilson
Francis Adrian Wilson | |
---|---|
Born | 12 October 1874 London, England |
Died | 6 May 1954(1954-05-06) (aged 79) Surrey, England |
Allegiance | United Kingdom |
Service/ | British Army |
Rank | Major-General |
Commands held | 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) |
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.
Military career
Wilson 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
In 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
- ^ "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.
Military offices | ||
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Preceded by Major General John Hoad | Chief of the Australian General Staff 1911–1912 | Succeeded by Brigadier General Joseph Gordon |
- v
- t
- e
- Edward Hutton
- Harry Finn
- William Bridges
- John Hoad
- Francis Wilson
- Joseph Gordon
- James Legge
- Godfrey Irving
- Hubert Foster
- James Legge
- Brudenell White
- Harry Chauvel
- Walter Coxon
- Julius Bruche
- John Lavarack
- Ernest Squires
- John Northcott
- Brudenell White
- Vernon Sturdee
- John Northcott
- Vernon Sturdee
- Sydney Rowell
- Henry Wells
- Ragnar Garrett
- Reg Pollard
- John Wilton
- Thomas Daly
- Mervyn Brogan
- Francis Hassett
- Arthur MacDonald
- Donald Dunstan
- Phillip Bennett
- Peter Gration
- Lawrence O'Donnell
- John Coates
- John Grey
- John Sanderson
- John Sanderson
- Frank Hickling
- Peter Cosgrove
- Peter Leahy
- Ken Gillespie
- David Morrison
- Angus Campbell
- Richard Burr
- Simon Stuart