Charles Parsons (British Army officer)
| Sir Charles Parsons | |
|---|---|
| Born | 9 May 1855 |
| Died | 25 June 1923 (aged 68) |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Rank | Major-General |
| Battles/wars |
Anglo-Zulu War Anglo-Egyptian War Second Boer War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George |
Major-General Sir Charles Sim Bremridge Parsons KCMG CB FRGS was an officer of the British Army.
Biography
He was born on 9 May 1855, the elder son of John Parsons of Ringmore, Shaldon. He was educated at Rugby and the Royal Military Academy.[1]
Parsons served in the Gaika and Zulu campaigns, including the battles of Isandhlwana and Ulundi, and was mentioned in despatches and awarded the South Africa Medal with clasp for 1877-8-9. He served in the Transvaal War, including the actions at Laing's Nek and Ingogo, was mentioned in despatches and general orders for gallantry, was severely wounded and had his horse shot. During the Egyptian campaign of 1882 he was present at Mahsama, Kassassin and Tel-el-Kebir, was again mentioned in despatches and had his horse shot, and was awarded brevet rank as a major, the Egypt Medal with clasp, the fifth class of the Order of the Medjidie and the fourth class of the Order of Osmanieh. He commanded the Egyptian Artillery during the Dongola campaign, including at the action at Hafir, for which he was mentioned in despatches, promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel, and awarded the Khedive's Sudan Medal with clasp. In 1896 he was appointed Governor of the Red Sea Littoral, and was employed on a special mission in Eritrea when Kassala was handed over to the Egyptian government, for which he was advanced to the second class of the Order of the Medjidie. In 1898 he commanded at the capture and defence of Gedaref, being mentioned in despatches again, promoted brevet colonel, and granted a further clasp to the medal. For his service he was made KCMG in 1899.[1]
Parsons was assistant adjutant-general at Woolwich from 1898 to 1899, colonel on the staff for the Royal Artillery in Ireland in 1899, and was assistant inspector-general of the lines of communication in South Africa from 1900 to 1901 during the Second Boer War, for which he was mentioned in despatches. He commanded the regular forces in Canada from 1902 to 1906, and was made CB in the 1906 Birthday Honours. He also served as a commissioner of the Royal Hospital, Chelsea.[1]
Parsons was married in 1898 to Margaret, only daughter of Alfred Christian CMG; they had two daughters. He lived at 28 Onslow Square, SW7 and was a member of the Naval and Military Club. He died on 25 June 1923.[1]
References
- 1 2 3 4 Who Was Who, 1916–1923, third edition (A. & C. Black, 1962) p. 817.