British & Commonwealth Military Badge Forum - 7th Battn. Imperial Yeomanry.

BOLITHO, WILLIAM EDWARD THOMAS, Major, was born at Penzance 2 July, 1862, son of the late William Bolitho, of Polwithen. He was educated at Harrow, and Trinity College, Oxford. He played for Harrow and Oxford at, Lord’s Cricket Ground (two years for Harrow, and two years for Oxford). He joined, as Second Lieutenant, the 1st Royal Devon Yeomanry in May, 1889: served with the 7th Battn. 27th Imperial Yeomanry in the South African War, 1900-1; was wounded at Noitgedacht, Transvaal, Nov. 1900 took part in advance to Pretoria, Battle of Diamond Hill, and holding the Mahaliesburg range of hills. He was mentioned twice in Deapatches, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette, 27 Sept. 1901): “William Edward Thomas Bolitho, Major, 7th Battn. Imperial Yeomanry. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.” The Insignia were presented by the King 29 Oct. 1901. He won the D.S.O. at Noitgedacht, Transvaal, when he led a forlorn hope up the kloof in the early morning, from General Clement’s Camp, to relieve the Northumberland Fusiliers on top of the hill. He was wounded in the thigh, and lay out with his men for two days before being fetched in to an ambulance. He became Captain, 1st Royal Devon Yeomanry, 7 Aug. 1914. He became Acting Lieutenant-Colonel, 2/1st Royal Devon Yeomanry 15 Sept. 1914, and commanded the Regt. until 11 Nov. 1918, when he resigned on account of bad health, and went to Bath for treatment, where he died on 21 Feb. 1919. Lieut-Colonel Bolitho was joint Master of the Foxhounds (Western), and hunted the hounds himself. Hunting was his great passion; he was also a good cricketer and fisherman. He had married, at Iverness, 21 June, 1888, Ethel Grace Macleod, daughter of H. B. Ænæas Macleod, of Cadboll, and they have two sons: William Torquill Macleod (late 19th Hussars; killed in action 24 May, 1915), and Simon Bruce (who died in 1910) : and one daughter, Brenda Grace.