Falkner | Thomas Felton | | Reverend | FALKNER, THOMAS FELTON, The Reverend, was born 17 July 1847, son of Thomas Falkner, of Bath, and of Caroline Elizabeth, daughter of William Stratton Large, of that city. He was educated at Christ's College, Cambridge (BA, 1870; MA, 1875). He was Sub-Warden of St Thomas's College, Colombo, 1872-79; Chaplain to the Bishop of Colombo, 1873; Chaplain to the Forces, Colombo, 1874-75. He was Priest, in Charge of Woolland, Dorset, 1879-81; became Chaplain to the Forces 15 Sept, 1881; served at Aldershot, Bermuda, Guards' Depot, Chatham, Aldershot, Portsmouth, and with the South African Field Forces, 1899-1900, having been promoted to Chaplain to the Forces, Third Class, on 15 September 1891, and to Second Class on 15 September 1896. During the South African War he was present in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. Operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River (5 and 6 May) and Zand River. Operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Pretoria. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April, 1901]; was promoted to Chaplain, First Class; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April, 1901], for services with Lord Methuen's Division and the Brigade of Guards: "The Reverend Thomas Felton Falkner, MA, Chaplain to the Forces, First Class. In recognition of services during the recent operations in South Africa". He was the first Church of England Chaplain to receive this distinction. The Insignia were presented to him by the King 25 July 1901. Mr Falkner became Rector of Burnham Westgate with Burnham Norton, King's Lynn, on the presentation of the Master and Fellows of Christ's College, Cambridge, in November 1903. Mr Falkner married, in 1877, Maria Louisa, eldest daughter of the Reverend James Bacon, BD, and they have two sons: Eric Felton (qv), Lieutenant Colonel, CMG, DSO, born 30 March, 1880, and Harold Arthur, born 6 February 1882; and two daughters: Mabel Irene, born 26 July 1883, and Dorothy Mary, born 7 February 1885.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Army Chaplain's Department |