Groups and Single Decorations for Gallantry 109
A Great War ‘Western Front’ D.S.O., M.C. group of five awarded to Brigadier-General F. S. Thackeray, Highland Light Infantry, attached Royal Dublin Fusiliers and West Riding Regiment, who was five times Mentioned in Despatches during the Great War, and later served as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Lincolnshire Regiment, and Commander, Shanghai Area, British Troops in China
Distinguished Service Order, G.V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar; Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914 Star, with clasp (Capt: F. S. Thackeray. High: L.I.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Brig. Gen. F. S. Thackeray.) mounted court-style, light contact marks, very fine (5)
£2,800-£3,200
D.S.O. London Gazette 1 January 1917. M.C. London Gazette 23 June 1915. M.I.D. London Gazettes 17 February 1915; 22 June 1915; 4 January 1917; 24 May 1918; 28 December 1918.
Frank Staniford Thackeray was born in Cardiff in 1880, the son of a stockbroker, and was educated at Charterhouse and Oriel College, Oxford, where he was also a keen golfer. He joined the University’s Officers Training Corps and was commissioned Second Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry on 4 December 1901. Advanced Captain on 18 December 1912, he served with the 2nd Battalion during the Great War on the Western Front from 13 August 1914. Wounded in early 1915, he was twice Mentioned in Despatches within the first year of War, as well as being awarded the Military Cross, and in July 1915 he was seconded for service as Brigade Machine-gun officer.
Thackeray was promoted to temporary Major, before being attached to the 9th Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers as Lieutenant-Colonel in March 1916 for some eighteen months. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the New Year's Honours’ List of 1917, and was Mentioned in Despatches a third time in February of that year. Next attached to the 7th Battalion, West Riding Regiment as Lieutenant-Colonel in November 1917, shortly afterwards he was Mentioned in Despatches for a fourth time. Subsequently attached to the 20 (Service) Battalion, Durham Light Infantry for two months, July to August 1918, before returning to the 7/West Riding Regiment, he was a Brigadier Commander (temporary Brigadier-General) by the time the war ended, and received a fifth Mention in Despatches in December 1918. After a brief spell with the 6th and 15th Battalions, King’s Own Scottish Borderers, from April to August 1919, he was subsequently appointed Chief Instructor at the Junior Commanders School at Strensall from August to December 1919.
In April 1920 Thackeray was appointed Brigadier Major, London District, a post he held until October of 1921, helping to organise the Territorial Force. He became a Colonel in 1923 enjoyed a year’s secondment in India from 1926 to 1927, before taking-up his next role as Lieutenant-Colonel of the Lincolnshire Regiment in June 1927. This he clearly enjoyed as there are many references to him in the Lincolnshire newspapers, organising and appearing at various social events. In November 1931 he was selected to command the 138th (Lincolnshire and Leicestershire) Infantry Brigade, Territorial Army. He also had his image included in the National Portrait Gallery in London in December 1931.
Thackeray’s final military appointment was as Commander, Shanghai Area, British Troops in China, a posting he held from July 1933 to March 1936, and for which job he was granted the temporary rank of Brigadier and appointed an Aide de Camp to the King. He retired in August 1936, and was granted the rank of Honorary Brigadier General. He returned home and settled with his wife in Minehead in Somerset. There was clearly still a little bit of ‘commanding’ left in him, as in May 1938 he was appointed as the new Scout Commissioner for West Somerset. He died in Winchester in August 1960.
Sold with a large quantity of copied research, including various photographic images of the recipient.
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