Colville | George Northcote | | Captain | COLVILE, GEORGE NORTHCOTE, Captain, was born 9 July 1867, son of Lieutenant General Sir Fiennes M Colvile, KCB. He was gazetted to the Oxfordshire Light Infantry 5 February 1887; became Lieutenant 3 May 1889, and Captain 9 November 1894. Captain Colvile served in the South African War, 1899 to 1901, employed with Mounted Infantry, and was Embarking Staff Officer, Cape Town. He was severely wounded. He was present at operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including actions at Vet River (5 and 0 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including action near Johannesburg; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 November 1900; operations in Orange River Colony (May to November 1900), including actions at Ladybrand (2 to 5 September) and Bothaville; operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900; operations in Cape Colony, December 1900 to March, 1901. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with four clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "George Northcote Colvile, Captain, Oxfordshire Light Infantry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was promoted to Major 25 August 1906, and retired 10 July 1907. On the outbreak of the European War he served from 1914, first in the 7th Battalion Sherwood Foresters, and later he rejoined the 52nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry; was Colonel in the 7th Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, July 1915; was mentioned twice in Despatches, and he was given the honorary rank of Brigadier General 28 October 1917. He married, in 1894, Eleanor Harriet, daughter of Sir W A Ferguson Davie, Baronet.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Oxfordshire Light Infantry |