The Yeomanry


Lieutenant-Colonel T A Wight-Boycott DSO


This group photo taken in 1914 shows Lieut-Col Wight-Boycott sitting in the middle of the front row of officers. Next to him sits Major R A Richardson who had been in the Warwickshire Yeomanry for many years, at least since 1900. The body language between the two men is rather telling. Richardson had probably been expecting to be promoted to the command of the regiment on the retirement of Colonel Frank Dugdale in 1914 but he was superceded by Colonel Wight-Boycott who transferred from the Staffordshire Yeomanry. At the end of the front row on the left of the photo is Captain Valentine who was killed leading his squadron at Huj.

Thomas Andrew Wight-Boycott was born in 1872, son of Cathcart Boycott Wight-Boycott, of Rudge Hall, Salop, and Elizabeth Grazebrook. He was educated at Eton, and was an officer in the Staffordshire Yeomanry Cavalry from 1894, and previously held a commission in the North Staffordshire Militia. He was given command at Aldershot of 550 untrained men, whom he trained and formed into a regiment and took out to South Africa. He served in South Africa 1900-1902 with the Imperial Yeomanry; was twice mentioned in Despatches; received the Queen's Medal with clasp, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Thomas Andrew Wight-Boycott, Major, 4th Battalion Imperial Yeomanry (Lieutenant, Staffordshire Imperial Yeomanry). In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". Lieutenant Colonel T A Wight-Boycott was given command of the Warwickshire Yeomanry in 1914, and in February 1915, was made Temporary Brigadier General of the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade. Brigadier General Wight-Boycott was mentioned in Despatches by Sir Charles Momo. He died on 30 March 1916, of disease contracted on active service at Gallipoli. He had married Anne Catherine, daughter of Reverend John Morgan, Rector of Llandudno, North Wales, and they had one daughter.


Colonels Commandant | Warwickshire Yeomanry


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by Stephen Luscombe