| Sargent | Harry Neptune | | Major | SARGENT, HARRY NEPTUNE, Major, was born 6 April 1866, son of Major General E W Sargent. He was educated in Ireland, and entered the Devonshire Regiment 10 November 1886; was transferred to the Army Service Corps 15 May 1890; became Captain 7 January 1892; was Adjutant, Army Service Corps, 1 January 1895 to 28 February 1898. He served with the Nile Expedition in 1898, and was present at the Battle of Khartoum; was employed as Staff Officer to the Commandant, Assouan, for British Troops and Stores. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 September 1898]; was given the Brevet of Major 6 November 1898; received the Medal with clasp, and the Khedive's Star. He became Major 1 April 1900. Major Sargent served also in the South African War, as DAAG 13 November 1899 to 8 July 1902; took part in the Relief of Ladysmith, including operations of 17 to 24 January 1900, and action at Spion Kop; operations of 5 to 7 February 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz; during the operations on Tugela Heights (14 to 27 February 1900), and action at Pieters Hill; took part in the operations in Natal (March to June 1900), including action at Laing's Nek (6 to 9 June); in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to October 1900; also during operations in Cape Colony, November and December 1899 (Despatches; Sir R H Buller, 30 March and 9 November 1900 [London Gazette, 8 February 1901]; Queen's Medal with six clasps, and King's Medal with two clasps). He was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service .Order [London Gazette, 26 June 1902]: "Harry Neptune Sargent, Major, Army Service Corps. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". Invested by the King 18 December 1902. He was Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport, 3rd Army Corps, and Assistant Director of Supplies and Transport, Irish Command, 1 October 1903 to 31 May 1905, and Deputy ADS and T, 1 June 1905 to 30 September 1906, and was promoted Lieutenant Colonel 27 October 1906. He commanded the Army Service Corps in Dublin, 1906-8, and the Service Companies, ASC, Aldershot, 1908-11, being given the Brevet of Colonel 27 October 1909, and promoted Colonel 4 October 1911. He was Colonel in Command, ASC Records, Woolwich Dockyard, 1 August 1912 to 14 December 1913, and from 15 December 1913 to the outbreak of the European War, AD of S and T, Aldershot Command. He served in the European War as AQMG, 1st Corps, 5 August to 26 December 1914, and was in the retreat, from Maubeuge, the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne and the First Battle of Ypres. From 27 December 1914 to 21 May 1916, he was DA and QMG, 1st Corps, and Temporary Brigadier General, and was present at the Battle of Loos, then becoming DA and QMG, Reserve Army. This position he held until October, and from October 1916 to 19 December 1917, he was DA and QMG of the 5th Army (Temporary Major General 7 July 1916 to 19 December 1917); was present at the Battles of the Somme, operations south of Arras, and the Third Battle of Ypres. He was Chief of the British Mission Headquarters, and a CBE in 1919; became Commander of the Legion of Honour, and received the American Distinguished Service Medal. He married (1st) Ethel, daughter of Daniel Twomey, of Kolor, Penshurst, Victoria, Australia, and (secondly), Olive, daughter of Colonel N Tufnell, of Laiileys, Chelmsford, Essex.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Army Service Corps |
