William Norcott
Sir William Norcott | |
|---|---|
 Sir William Norcott (centre) arriving in Jersey | |
| Born | 12 December 1804 Chelmsford, Essex |
| Died | 23 January 1886 (aged 81) St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex |
| Allegiance |  United Kingdom |
| Service |  British Army |
| Years of service | 1822–1878 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles / wars | Crimean War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Lieutenant General Sir William Sherbrooke Ramsey Norcott KCB (12 December 1804 – 23 January 1886) of the Rifle Brigade was a British Army officer who fought during the Crimean War, was an Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria and became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.
Early life
[edit]Norcott was born on 12 December 1804 in Chelmsford Essex, the second son to General Sir Amos Godsell Robert Norcott CB KCH who had commanded a battalion of the 95th Rifles at the Battle of Waterloo.[1]
Military career
[edit]Norcott was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1822[2] and made a Captain of the 52nd Regiment in on 21 February 1840.[3] Later the same year (7 August) he returned to the Rifles and on 1 August 1847 he was promoted to major.[4]
During the Crimean War he fought at the Battle of Alma and commanded 1st Battalion, the Rifle Brigade at the Siege of Sevastopol.[2]
Between 1855 and 1868 he was Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria,[3] then went on to become Lieutenant Governor of Jersey between 1 October 1873 to 30 September 1878.[3]
He was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Bath in 1877 and became a General in 1879.[3]
Later years
[edit]After his retirement he wrote some letters to The Times newspaper disputing some of the claims made about the battle of Alma.[5]
Family
[edit]In 1848 he married Frances Marrianne Durant; they had six children,[1] at least 3 sons became soldiers.
- Charles Hawtrey Bruce Norcott born 25 April 1849 became a General of the Rifle Brigade.
- Walter Gordon Norcott born about 1851, became a Lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Munster Fusiliers (also served in the Royal Bengal Fusiliers)[6]
- Gerald Alfred born about 1861 became a Major of the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (having originally joined the 47th Foot and who died of Pneumonia whilst on staff service during World War I.[7]
References
[edit]- ^ a b Maunsell, Robert George (6 August 1903). "History of Maunsell or Mansel, and of Crayford, Gabbett, Knoyle, Persse, Toler, Waller, Castletown; Waller, Prior Park; Warren, White, Winthrop, and Mansell of Guernsey". Cork, Guy and Company, Limited – via Internet Archive.
- ^ a b Cork past and present
- ^ a b c d "William Sherbrooke Ramsay Norcott". www.familiesunearthed.com.
- ^ "No. 20776". The London Gazette. 24 September 1847. p. 3406.
- ^ "Mr Kinglake on the Crimea". The Times. 25 March 1863. p. 5. Archived from the original on 29 May 2006.
- ^ "No. 30831". The London Gazette (8th supplement). 6 August 2018. p. 9302.
- ^ "The Channel Islands and The Great War". www.greatwarci.net.