William Desmond Villiers-Stuart (1872 - 1961)

Born 11 Apr 1872 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England, United Kingdom

Ancestors

Died 25 Jan 1961 at age 88 in Balmaclellan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland

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Biography

William Villiers-Stuart was born in Lincolnshire, England.

William Villiers-Stuart was awarded the Commander of the Order of the British Empire.

Brigadier-General William Desmond Villiers-Stuart was born on 11 April 1872. He was the son of Captain Henry John Richard Villiers-Stuart and Jane Rigby Murray^[1][2]. He married Erica Cecil Shepley, daughter of Robert Winterbottom Shepley, on 25 June 1926^[3]. He died on 25 January 1961 at age 88, without issue.^[4]. He is buried at Balmaclellan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. ^[5]

Military Career Timeline

• He fought in the Tirah Campaign in 1897, where he was dangerously wounded.
• He fought in the North-West Frontier between 1897 and 1898.
• He fought in the Waziristan Campaign between 1901 and 1902.
• He fought in the First World War, where he mentioned in dispatches three times.
• He was commissioned with the rank of Colonel, in the service of the 1st Battalion, 5th Royal Gurkhas.
• He was Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel of the 9th (Service) Battalion, Rifle Brigade between 1914 and 1916.
• He was commander of the Nepalese Allied Contingent between 1916 and 1917.
• He was appointed Commander, Order of the British Empire (C.B.E.) in 1917.
• He was Commandant of the Mountain Warfare School, India between 1917 and 1918.
• He was commander of the 3rd Battalion, QVO Corps of Guides Infantry between 1917 and 1918.
• He gained the rank of Brigadier-General in 1918.
• He fought in the Waziristan Campaign in 1920.
• He was Commandant of the Mountain Warfare School, India in 1921.
• He fought in the Waziristan Campaign between 1922 and 1923, where he was mentioned in despatches.
• He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O.) in 1925.
• ^[6].

VILLIERS-STUART William Desmond CBE DSO of Hazelrigg, Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas died 25 January 1951 Confirmation of Erica Cecil Villiers-Stuart widow and Joseph Frederick Burrell solicitor, Sealed London 18 May ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ Fox-Davies, Arthur Charles. Armorial Families: A Directory of Gentlemen of Coat-armour. United Kingdom: T.C. & E.C. Jack, 1910.
2. ↑ * Birth Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915"
   Original data: England and Wales Civil Registration Indexes. London, England: General Register Office; Volume: 7a; Page: 40
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8912 #57030903 (accessed 8 July 2023)
   William Desmond Villiers-stuart birth registered Apr-May-Jun 1872 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire, England.
3. ↑ * Marriage Registration: "England & Wales, Civil Registration Marriage Index, 1916-2005"
   General Register Office; United Kingdom; Volume: 1a; Page: 1114
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 8753 #61998867 (accessed 8 July 2023)
   William D Villiers-stuart marriage to Erica C Shepley-shepley registered Apr-May-Jun 1926 in St. Martin.
4. ↑ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.
5. ↑ * Memorial: Find a Grave (has image)
   Find A Grave: Memorial #228249726 (accessed 8 July 2023)
   Memorial page for CBE., D.S.O Brigadier Gen William Desmond Villiers-Stuart (11 Apr 1872-25 Jan 1961), citing Balmaclellan Cemetery, Balmaclellan, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland; Maintained by Linda McKinney (contributor 49799193).
6. ↑ Mosley, Charles, editor. Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage, 107th edition, 3 volumes. Wilmington, Delaware, U.S.A.: Burke's Peerage (Genealogical Books) Ltd, 2003.
7. ↑ Probate: "England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1995"
   Principal Probate Registry. Calendar of the Grants of Probate and Letters of Administration made in the Probate Registries of the High Court of Justice in England, eary 1961
   Ancestry Sharing Link - Ancestry Record 1904 #13841627 (accessed 29 October 2022)
   William Desmond Stuart probate on 18 May 1961 in London, England. Died 25 Jan 1961 in Castle Douglas.

• Gould, Tony. Imperial Warriors: Britain and the Gurkhas. United Kingdom: Granta Books, 2000.