| McCracken | Frederick William Nicholas | | Lieutenant Colonel | McCRACKEN, FREDERICK WILLIAM NICHOLAS, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, was born 18 August 1859, youngest son of R de Crez McCracken, of Blackheath, Kent, and of Elizabeth (Geary), his wife. He was educated at Sandhurst; joined the 49th Foot, as Second Lieutenant, 13 August 1879, and became Lieutenant 28 July 1880, in the Royal Berkshire Regiment He served in the Egyptian Campaign, 1882, and was present at the surrender of Kafr Dowar (Medal and Khedive's Star). He was Adjutant, 1st Berkshire Regiment, 21 March 1883 to 9 October 1885; became Captain 15 December 1884. He served in the Suakin Campaign, 1885; M'Neil's Zeriba; took part in the reconnaissance to Hasheen; actions at Hasheen and Tofrek; operations at and destruction of Tamai. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 15 August 1885]; received the Brevet of Major 14 August 1885, and two clasps to the Medal. He served on the Egyptian Frontier, 1885-86, and was present at the action of Giniss; was DAAG, Barbados, 1892 to 1897. He became Major 27 March 1897, and served throughout the campaign in South Africa. He was in command of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment from 12 October 1901 to 5 May 1902; was present in operations in the Orange Free State, March to May 1900; operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July and August 1900, including actions at Zilikat's Nek; operations in Orange River Colony, May to July 1900; operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899 to 1900, including actions at Colesberg; operations in the Transvaal, November 1900 to July 1901; operations in Cape Colony, July 1901 to 31 May 1902; in command of a Column of mixed troops 21 June to 5 July 1900. At the conclusion of the war he was in command of a section of the blockhouse line on the railway and across country in Cape Colony, garrisoned by four battalions. He was mentioned in Despatches twice [London Gazette, 4 May 1900, and 29 July 1902]; received the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 20 November 1900; the Queen's Medal with three clasps, and the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Frederick William Nicholas McCracken, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Berkshire Regiment. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia, Warrant, etc, were sent direct, 10 January 1903. He became Lieutenant Colonel 30 April 1903, and Brevet Colonel 13 February 1905; AAG, India, and GSO1, India, 2 December 1907 to 16 March 1911; was created a CB in 1910; was Brigadier General, General Staff, Irish Command, 9 April 1911 to 21 October 1912; Brigadier General Commanding the 7th Infantry Brigade, 3rd Division, 22 October 1912 to 4 August 1914. He served throughout the European War from 1914; was promoted Major General for distinguished service in the Field 26 October 1914; was Divisional Commander, 15th Division, New Armies and British Armies in France, 22 March 1915 to 16 June 1917; Temporary Lieutenant General 17 June 1917 to 31 December 1918; commanding the 13th Army Corps, British Armies in France, 17 June 1917 to 13 March 1918; GOC-in-Chief, Scottish Command, 5 May 1918 to 8 June 1919. He was seven times mentioned in Despatches; was created a KCB in 1917, and promoted Lieutenant General 1 January 1919; appointed Commander of the Military Order of Savoy, Italy, 1917; Commander of the Order of Leopold (Belgium) in 1918, with Belgian War Cross; Commander of the Legion of Honour in 1919. In 1887 Lieutenant General Sir F W N McCracken married Ann Liston, daughter of T C Glover, of Mount Grange, Edinburgh, and Earlsferry House, Elie, Fife, Scotland, and they had one son, who died in 1914, aged 16, and had two daughters.
KCB (m), DSO, Egypt (2) Suakin 1885 Tofrek, QSA (3) CC OFS Trans, KSA (2), 1914 Star and Bar, BWM, Victory Medal with MID, Khedives Sudan Khartoum, Legion dHonneur (France) 3rd Class, Order of the Crown (Belgium) 3rd Class, Croix de Guerre (Belgium), Order of Savoy (Italy) Military 3rd Class. Salisbury Wardrobe Military Museum 1996.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | (Princess Charlotte of Wales's) Royal Berkshire Re |
