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William Knox (British Army officer)

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Sir William Knox
Born20 October 1847
Died14 December 1916
Buried
Temple, Midlothian
AllegianceUnited Kingdom United Kingdom
Service / branch British Army
Years of service1867-1910
RankLieutenant-General
Commands8th Division
Battles / warsExpedition to Abyssinia
Third Anglo-Ashanti War
Russo-Turkish War
Second Anglo-Afghan War
Anglo-Zulu War
Second Boer War
AwardsKnight Commander of the Order of the Bath

Lieutenant-General Sir William George Knox, KCB (20 October 1847 – 14 December 1916) was a British Army officer who became General Officer Commanding 8th Division.

Military career

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Born the son of General Thomas Edmond Knox,[1] William Knox was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1867.[2] He took part in Expedition to Abyssinia in 1868, in the Third Anglo-Ashanti War in 1874 and in the Russo-Turkish War in 1877.[2] He also fought in the Second Anglo-Afghan War in 1878, was promoted to captain on 23 January 1879,[3] and fought in the Anglo-Zulu War later the same year.[2] Promoted to major on 21 April 1880, he was appointed Commander of the Royal Horse Artillery at Curragh Camp that year, and promoted to lieutenant-colonel on 2 October 1891.[3] After promotion to colonel on 27 August 1898, he then took part in the Second Boer War (1899–1902), being present at the defence of Ladysmith in 1900.[2]

Knox stayed in South Africa until after the war ended in May 1902, and two months later left by the SS Briton for Southampton.[4] For his service in the war, he was mentioned in despatches (including by Lord Kitchener dated 23 June 1902),[5] received the Queen's South Africa Medal,[3] and was appointed a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) in the April 1901 South Arica Honours list (the order was dated to 29 November 1900,[6] and he was only invested as such after his return home, by King Edward VII at Buckingham Palace on 24 October 1902).[7]

Following his return to the United Kingdom, Knox was on 9 September 1902 appointed a Major-General on the Staff Commanding Royal Artillery of the 3rd Army Corps, stationed in Ireland.[8][9] He was appointed General Officer Commanding 8th Division in Southern Ireland in 1905 before retiring in 1910.[2]

Family

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In 1889 he married Alice Dundas, daughter of Sir Robert Dundas, 1st Baronet.[10]

References

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  1. ^ Armorial families: a directory of gentlemen of coat-armour by Arthur Charles Fox-Davies p.186
  2. ^ a b c d e Liddell Hart Centre for Military Archives
  3. ^ a b c Hart′s Army list, 1903
  4. ^ "The Army in South Africa - Troops returning home". The Times. No. 36821. London. 16 July 1902. p. 11.
  5. ^ "No. 27459". The London Gazette. 29 July 1902. pp. 4835–4837.
  6. ^ "No. 27306". The London Gazette. 19 April 1901. p. 2695.
  7. ^ "Court Circular". The Times. No. 36908. London. 25 October 1902. p. 8.
  8. ^ "Naval & Military intelligence". The Times. No. 36866. London. 6 September 1902. p. 8.
  9. ^ "No. 27486". The London Gazette. 21 October 1902. p. 6652.
  10. ^ The Peerage.com
Military offices
Preceded by General Officer Commanding the 8th Division
1905–1906
Succeeded by