William Henry Hippisley

W H Hippisley was born on 1 Dec 1855 and joined the Royal Berkshire Militia on 15 Mar 1873. He transferred as a sub-lieutenant to the Scots Greys. He was a lieutenant on 29 Jan 1876 and appointed adjutant of the Greys in 1877. In 1878 he was in South Africa for the Zulu War on detachment to the KDG. He was promoted to captain on 1 June 1884 and served on the Nile expedition, commanding a detachment of Greys in the Heavy Camel Regiment. He took part in the operations of the desert column and was at Abu Klea, Abu Kru and the reconnaissance to Mettemah. He was second-in-command of the regiment from 5 July 1896 and during the Boer War he was commanding officer from 25 Sep 1900 until 16 June 1902. He retired to the village of Sparsholt at the foot of White Horse Hill in Oxfordshire. He was a keen supporter of bands and kitted out the Kingston Lisle United Brass Band, at his own expense. He died in 1908.
The photo shows him in the rank of major c1895 with medals for South Africa 1879 and Egypt 1884. There is a decoration at his neck which is the Order of St Stanilov, presented to him by the Tzar when he went with other officers to Russia on 2 Feb 1895.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers