Harry Edward de Robillard Wetherall - Gloucestershire 1st/Oxon Bucks L

[Nick1914]

Dear All, can anybody enlighten me concerning the above. Despite being a later WW2 Lt-general and Knight little appears to be on-line. I can't even find an obituary on the Times Site?

Best info so far is a short bio on page 330 of Nick Smart's "British Generals of the Second World War". Commissioned into the Glosters in 1909 & later CO the 4th Oxon & Bucks in 1917.

Apparently came from a distinguished military family.....there are quite a few famous Wetherall generals in the 18th/19th Century but who was his father? Which school did he attend? Did he attend Sandhurst?.....I can't find him on the Sandhurst Collection Archives. Marital status?

Finally something came to me.....was he in any way related to General Sir Ian Wetherall Hamilton?

Many thanks in advance. Nick

[HERITAGE PLUS]

Nick

He was the son of Henry and Blanche Wetherall.

Dave

[HarryBrook]

His obituary was published in The Times on Tuesday November 27 1979. His wife Vera Gwendolen died on August 9 1974. They lived at Bagborough, Somerset.

[HarryBrook]

London Gazette notification of the award of the M.C.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29074/supplement/1693

and D.S.O.

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30340/supplement/10705

citation for D.S.O. (for an action near Wieltje on 22.8.1917)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30561/supplement/2897

Edited to add the citation for the D.S.O. The M.C. was for distinguished service generally.

Mentioned in Despatches twice.

In the Despatch of Sir John French of 14.1.1915

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30561/supplement/2897

and of Sir Douglas Haig of 7.11.1917

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30434/supplement/13235

He also received this Ethiopian award in 1949

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/38620/supplement/2607

[Nick1914]

Many thanks chaps much appreciated. Early career still not transparent even from the obit. I look forward to any additional insights on his earlier life.

Best, Nick

[HarryBrook]

He held commissions in the Militia and Territorial Force prior to a Regular Commission in the Gloucestershire Regt. being first gazetted to the Glamorgan Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia)

Gazetted 2nd Lt. 23.2.1906, The Glamorgan R.G.A. (Volunteers)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27889/page/1353

Appointed, as 2nd Lt., to the Glamorgan R.G.A. at the formation of the Territorial Force. Dated 26.7.1908

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28171/page/6222

Promoted Lt. 6.2.1909

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28229/page/1661

Having passed the Competitive Examinations of Officers of the Special Reserve &c he was commissioned as 2nd Lt. into The Gloucestershire Regt. 22.5.1909

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28253/page/3872 (heading on previous page)

Promoted Lt. 1.11.1911

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28550/page/8250

Promoted temp. Capt. 15.11.1914

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29001/supplement/10557 (heading on page 10552)

Promoted [substantive] Capt. 10.5.1915

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29198/supplement/5952

Temporary Major from 21.6.1916 to 26.8.1916

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29678/supplement/7325

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29816/supplement/10823

Temp. Lt.-Col. whilst Commandant of a School of Instruction 17.12.1916 (Name of school not found)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29947/page/1653

Temp. Lt.-Col. Ox & Bucks L.I. from 26.5.1917 to 16.8.l918

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30256/supplement/8959

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31090/supplement/15248

Temp. Lt.-Col. Machine Gun Corps from 16.8.1918 to 30.8.1919

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31006/supplement/13383

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31563/page/11789

Concludes his military progression up to end of August 1919.

The Army Lists give his date of birth as 22 February 1889

[Nick1914]

Dear Harry, great. Many thanks for your research. These officers with a route to a Regular commission via the Milita & SR are always a bit tricky. Just what I was after.....I'm very pleased.

Best regards, Nick

[HarryBrook]

Henry or Harry Edward de Robillard Wetherall was the son of Capt. Henry Augustus Wetherall (1849 - 1906) and Blanche Jane (formerly Champagne) (1856 - 1899).

In the 1901 census he was living at Hove, Sussex, and was recorded twice in the census. First, at Belvedere School, 2, 5 and 6, Belmont Dyke Road, Hove as Harry E. Wetherall, aged 12 years, scholar, born West London; and at 47, St. Aubyn's Road, Hove as Harry Wetherall, aged 12 years, born London, Belgrave Square. Head of the household was Henry Augustus Wetherall, aged 52 years, widower, Capt. late Coldstream Guards, born Berks., Sandhurst.

Belvedere School appears to have been a preparatory School. In the 1911 census Harry Wetherall was serving in 1st Bn. Gloucestershire Regt. based at Portsmouth.

Appointed Adjutant of 3rd Bn. Gloucestershire Regt. 15.9.1919

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32127/supplement/11199

Appointed Adjutant in the Gloucestershire Regt. 12.12.1922 (the Bn. not stated)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32795/page/1071

Replaced as Adjutant by Capt. M. A. James, V.C., M.C. 12.12.1925 (end of usual three year term)

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33113/page/8199

Transferred to York and Lancaster Regt. 20.6.1927 and promoted to Major

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33286/page/3977

Appointed G.S.O. for Weapons Training, Scottish Command 27.5.1930

https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33613/page/3569

The obit appears to carry on his career from this last gazette notification.

[Nick1914]

Dear Harry, again big thanks for your efforts. New critical info already added to my officer casualties dbase.

Nick