William Stirling Bannatyne

William Stirling Bannatyne was born at Farme, Lanarkshire on 9 Dec 1868, the son of Lieutenant-Colonel John Millar Bannatyne, also an officer in the King’s Regiment, who had fought in the Indian Mutiny. The family had a strong connection to the regiment as there was also another Lieutenant-Colonel William Bannatyne who served in the 1st Battalion from 1858 until 1882.
William Stirling Bannatyne was educated in Switzerland, and after Sandhurst was commissioned into the King’s in August 1888. He was a lieutenant in May 1890 and a captain in June 1896. He served in the South African War of 1899-1902, taking part in operations in Natal, including actions at Rietfontein and Lombards Kop. He was at Ladysmith while it was under siege, being part of the sorties on 7 and 10 December and the action of 6 Jan 1900. He also fought at Laing’s Nek and in Transvaal east of Pretoria, Belfast and Lydenburg.
From March 1900 to October 1902 he was appointed Provost-Marshal, first on General Lyttleton’s staff and then at Middelburg. He was mentioned in Despatches (8 Feb 1901) and received the Queen’s Medal with 3 clasps and the King’s Medal with 2 clasps. From South Africa he went to Gibraltar to serve as DAAG (Deputy Assistant Adjutant-General) and General Staff Officer (2nd Grade). He was in Gibraltar from 1903 to 1907 during which time he was promoted to major in 1904. Further staff appointments followed, working for Sir Charles Douglas in 1910 and then in the 2nd London Division. He was appointed to the command of the 1st Battalion of his regiment on 17 Feb 1912 and went to France with them on 12 Aug 1914.
He led the battalion in the Battle of Mons, the retreat from Mons, the battles of the Marne and Aisne and finally the actions in Flanders. He was mentioned in Sir John French’s Destpatch of Sep 1914. However, he was killed in action near Ypres on 24 October 1914. He was shot through the heart from a loop-holed house in the village of Nord Westhoek, about 5 miles from Ypres. The photo shows him wearing a staff forage cap and staff aiguillettes. The regimental blue frock-coat displays King’s collar badges and the rank of major.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers