William Fox-Pitt (British Army officer)

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Major-General

William Augustus Fitzgerald Lane Fox-Pitt

CVO; DSO; MC
Born28 January 1896
London, England
Died26 April 1988 (aged 92)
Buried
Caundle Marsh, England
Allegiance United Kingdom
Service/branch British Army
Years of service1914–1947
RankMajor-General
Service number9184
UnitCheshire Regiment
Welsh Guards
Commands held1st Battalion, Welsh Guards
20th Independent Infantry Brigade (Guards)
5th Guards Armoured Brigade

27th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade
Battles/warsFirst World War
Second World War
AwardsDistinguished Service Order
Military Cross
Alma materCharterhouse

Major-General William Augustus Fitzgerald Lane Fox-Pitt CVO DSO MC (28 January 1896 – 26 April 1988) was a British Army officer who served in both the First World War and Second World War.[1]

Early life[]

Fox-Pitt was born in London on 28 January 1896[2][3] to Lieutenant-Colonel W. A. Fox-Pitt, a soldier with the Grenadier Guards. For his education he attended Charterhouse School before following his father into the army, joining the Cheshire Regiment in August 1914.[1]

Military service[]

First World War[]

He sailed for France with the Cheshire Regiment in October 1914 before transferring to the newly formed Welsh Guards the following year. While with the regiment he was wounded in fighting at the Hohenzollern Redoubt. Commanding a company at Ginchy on the Somme in 1916 he won a Military Cross for his actions.[1] The citation for the award stated:[4]

For conspicuous gallantry during operations. When commanding the left company of a line holding a position, he succeeded in getting into touch with troops on his left and establishing connections all through. His company was not only heavily shelled, but was fighting continuously at close quarters for twenty-four hours, and inflicted heavy loss to the enemy.

— Edinburgh Gazette

He was injured once more during 1918.[1]

Interwar years[]

Remaining with the Welsh Guards after the war, Fox-Pitt commanded the 1st Battalion between 1934 and 1939 followed by command of the whole regiment.[1]

Second World War[]

During the Battle of France, Fox-Pitt was made an acting Brigadier and given command of 20th Guards Brigade. It sailed to France with two battalions, to defend Boulogne. During the Battle of Boulogne, they held the town for two days before being evacuated. For his "leadership and personal example" during the battle, he was awarded a Distinguished Service Order.[1] He then commanded the 5th Guards Armoured Brigade.[5] He was then given the acting rank of Major-General, and placed in command of the East Kent District in 1943.[1] He reverted to his prior rank and was dispatched to Africa where he commanded the 27th (N Rhodesia) Infantry Brigade.[6]

Post war[]

From 1945 to 1947 Fox-Pitt was aide-de-camp to King George VI, given the honour rank of Major-General, and retired from the army.[1]

Later life[]

Fox-Pitt was a member of HM Bodyguard of the Honourable Corp of Gentlemen-at-Arms between 1947 and 1966 and was also Standard Bearer from 1961 to 1963. He was also appointed Deputy Lieutenant for Dorset in 1957.[1]

An enthusiastic hunter, Fox-Pitt enjoyed shooting and fishing and was chair of the Blackmoor Vale hunt.[1]

He died at the age of 92 and his ashes were interred at Caundle Marsh, Dorset.[7]

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j "Maj-Gen W. A. F. L. Fox-Pitt". The Times. Vol. 63070. 2 May 1988. p. 14.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  2. ^ The National Archives; Kew, London, England; 1939 Register; Reference: RG 101/2197C
  3. ^ FreeBMD. England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2006.
  4. ^ "The Edinburgh Gazette". The Edinburgh Gazette. No. 13012. 16 November 1916. p. 2077.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  5. ^ Joslen 2003, p. 156.
  6. ^ Joslen 2003, p. 456.
  7. ^ Ancestry.com. Dorset, England, Church of England Deaths and Burials, 1813-2010 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2011.

Joslen, H. F. (2003) [1990]. Orders of Battle: Second World War, 1939–1945. Uckfield, East Sussex: Naval and Military Press. ISBN 978-1-84342-474-1.

External links[]

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