Lieutenant-Colonel W. H. Persse second Dragoon guards
Nov 11, 2018 14:59:48 GMT
Post by sampeter on Nov 11, 2018 14:59:48 GMT
William Horsley Persse was born on 16th October 1863 and educated at Wellington College. He was commissioned into the 4th Battalion East Surrey Regiment in March 1883 receiving his regular Army Commission in May 1885 moving to the Hampshire Regiment.
Just two months later transferring to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays). Serving in India between 1886 and 1895. At the end of that detachment in 1895 Persse was promoted to Captain and was seconded on Special Service to the Egyptian Army. Appointed as Squadron commander to the Egyptian Cavalry he was present in the Expedition to Dongola in 1886 and took part in the Battles of Firket on the 7th June and Hafir, 19th to 26th September. For his Service he was mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 3rd Nov 1896) and was awarded The Order of Medjidie 4th class in addition to the Queens Medal and The Khedives Medal with two Clasps.
Persse next took part in The Nile Expedition 1897 in command of the 1st Squadron engaged in railway protection duties, (Further Clasp to the Egyptian Medal). Taking part in the reconnaissance of the Atbara River on the 21st March , “for which he received his Second Mention in Despatches” ( London Gazette 24th May 1898) for Gallantry in which his Squadron dislodged a superior force from a wooded area of the Atbara River.
In a sharp engagement on the 4th April near Abadar, Persse was severely wounded in the forearm while directing his men, but sufficiently recovered to take part in the Battle of Atbara River on the 8th April gaining further clasp to his Egyptian Medal. Just before the capture of Khartoum, Persse took part in the Battle of Omdurman once again mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30th Sept 1898) and received his 5th clasp to the Egyptian Medal.
Now a Major, Persse stayed in Egypt till the recon-quest of the Sudan, being then placed in command of the Egyptian Cavalry with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. 1n 1902 he was awarded the 3rd class Medjidie (London Gazette 23rd Sept 1902).
He took part in the operations in Southern Sennar in south eastern Sudan, January to March 1904 against the Slave trader Ibrahim Wad Mahmud. Persse commanded the attack on Jebel Jerok on the 11th February and after three days of fighting Jebel Jerok was captured killing most of the rebels and releasing many slaves. For this Persse gained his 6th clasp to the Egyptian Medal.
Persse returned to the UK with the 2nd Dragoon Guards in 1906 and retired after 28 years of active service on 25th February 1911.
After three years of retirement Persse was recalled to active duty in August 1914 and placed in Command of the Second reserve Regiment of Cavalry. He served in France from March 1917 to September 1918 gaining The 1914 Star, The British War Medal 1914-20 and the Victory Medal.
Lieutenant-Colonel William Horsley Persse died in 1959 aged 96 years.
Just two months later transferring to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queens Bays). Serving in India between 1886 and 1895. At the end of that detachment in 1895 Persse was promoted to Captain and was seconded on Special Service to the Egyptian Army. Appointed as Squadron commander to the Egyptian Cavalry he was present in the Expedition to Dongola in 1886 and took part in the Battles of Firket on the 7th June and Hafir, 19th to 26th September. For his Service he was mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 3rd Nov 1896) and was awarded The Order of Medjidie 4th class in addition to the Queens Medal and The Khedives Medal with two Clasps.
Persse next took part in The Nile Expedition 1897 in command of the 1st Squadron engaged in railway protection duties, (Further Clasp to the Egyptian Medal). Taking part in the reconnaissance of the Atbara River on the 21st March , “for which he received his Second Mention in Despatches” ( London Gazette 24th May 1898) for Gallantry in which his Squadron dislodged a superior force from a wooded area of the Atbara River.
In a sharp engagement on the 4th April near Abadar, Persse was severely wounded in the forearm while directing his men, but sufficiently recovered to take part in the Battle of Atbara River on the 8th April gaining further clasp to his Egyptian Medal. Just before the capture of Khartoum, Persse took part in the Battle of Omdurman once again mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 30th Sept 1898) and received his 5th clasp to the Egyptian Medal.
Now a Major, Persse stayed in Egypt till the recon-quest of the Sudan, being then placed in command of the Egyptian Cavalry with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. 1n 1902 he was awarded the 3rd class Medjidie (London Gazette 23rd Sept 1902).
He took part in the operations in Southern Sennar in south eastern Sudan, January to March 1904 against the Slave trader Ibrahim Wad Mahmud. Persse commanded the attack on Jebel Jerok on the 11th February and after three days of fighting Jebel Jerok was captured killing most of the rebels and releasing many slaves. For this Persse gained his 6th clasp to the Egyptian Medal.
Persse returned to the UK with the 2nd Dragoon Guards in 1906 and retired after 28 years of active service on 25th February 1911.
After three years of retirement Persse was recalled to active duty in August 1914 and placed in Command of the Second reserve Regiment of Cavalry. He served in France from March 1917 to September 1918 gaining The 1914 Star, The British War Medal 1914-20 and the Victory Medal.
Lieutenant-Colonel William Horsley Persse died in 1959 aged 96 years.