With the Indians in France.

[206thCEF]

Written by General Sir James Willcocks DSO. d.1920

Willcocks was born in Baraut, Meerut District, United Provinces, India, the son of an officer in the East India Company's army. He was educated in England and passed out from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst in January 1878 (having only got in on the third attempt), being commissioned into the 100th Foot in the Punjab...........

After briefly serving in the South African War in 1902, he returned to India. He was promoted substantive Colonel in March 1902, although at this time he was serving as a Brigadier-General. He was promoted Major-General and given a brigade in 1906, commanded the Bazar Valley Field Force in February and March 1908, was given command a division in March 1908 and promoted Lieutenant-General for distinguished service in the field following his command of the Mohmand Field Force in July 1908. He was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the 1907 Birthday Honours. In 1910 he was appointed to the command of the Northern Army. In the 1913 New Year Honours he was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of India (KCSI). He was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in 1914.

In 1914 he was given command of the Indian Corps in France. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George (GCMG) in the 1915 Birthday Honours and was promoted General in May 1915, but resigned in September 1915 after friction with Sir Douglas Haig, who commanded the First Army.

In May 1917 Willcocks was appointed Governor of Bermuda, a post in which he served until 1922. He was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath (GCB) in the 1921 Birthday Honours. He later returned to India and died at Bharatpur in 1926.

From the American Libraries Internet Archive.

Joe

http://www.archive.org/details/withindiansinfra00will