Personalities » | Major-General Sir Harold Daniel Edmund Parsons

Major-General Sir Harold Daniel Edmund Parsons KCMG CB

Colonel-Commandant, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

Born 3^rd July, 1863 - Died 13^th February, 1925

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Major-General Sir Harold Daniel Edmund Parsons, K.C.M.G., C.B, Colonel-Commandant, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

Born 3^rd July, 1863; Commissioned from Sandhurst in "The Queen's," R.W, Surrey Regt., 10^th May, 1882; promoted Captain, 12^th April, 1891; Major (R. W. Surrey Regt.), 29^th September, 1898; attached to Ordnance Store Department, 1^st March, 1890; appointed D.A.C.G., O.S.D., 8^th October, 1890; O.O. 4^th Class and Captain, 1^st April, 1896; O.O. 3^rd Class, 1^st April, 1900; Major, A.O.C., 1^st February, 1904; O.O. 2^nd Class and Lieut.-Colonel, 2^nd November, 1904; O.O. 1st Class and Colonel, 1st August, 1910; appointed Tempy. Brig.-General, 10th October, 1914.; Tempy. P.O.O. and Tempy. Hon. Major-General, 4^th August, 1916; promoted Hon. Major-General, 1^st January, 1917; D.E.O.S., War Office, 10^th June, 1918; promoted Major-General, 29^th June, 1918; Principal Ordnance Officer, 30^th June, 1920. Retired 3^rd July, 1923. Appointed Colonel-Commandant, R.A.O.C., 18^th October, 1924. Died 13^th February, 1925.

Staff Services, etc.–A.D.O.S. Scottish Command, 14^th February, 1910 to 14^th September, 1910; A.D.O.S., S. Africa, 4^th November, 1910 to 24^th May, 1914; D.D.O.S. L. of C., France, 10^th September, 1914 to 9^th October, 1914; D.O.S. France, to 30^th May, 1918.

War Services, etc.–Burmese Expedition, 1886-1888. Served as Supt. Army Signalling, 3^rd Brigade; Medal with 2 clasps. S. African War, 1889-1902. Operations in the Orange Free State, February to May, 1900. Operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900. Operations in Cape Colony, north of Orange River. Operations in the Transvaal, February to March, 1901. Operations in Cape Colony, 30^th November, 1900 to January, 1901. Appointed to act in a superior Departmental Rank (A. Ord. Dept.) from 9^th October, 1899. Despatches, London. Gazette, 16^th April, 1901. Queen's medal with 3 clasps; King's medal with 2 clasps; C.M.G.

1914-1919. On Staff. France and Belgium, 10^th September, 1914 to 31^st May, 1918. Despatches, London Gazette, 17^th February, 1915, 1^st January, 1916, 4^th January, 1917, 11^th, 12^th, 17^th, and 20^th December, 1918. Granted hon. rank of Major-General. American Distinguished Service Medal; Order of Leopold 3^rd Class; Bulgian War Cross; Order of St. Stanlslas 2^nd Class with swords; 1914 Star; British War Medal; Victory Medal; K.O.M.O.; O.B,

Medals

A medal dealer (Gordons) advertised the following in their Winter Catalogue 2003. They appear to have been estimated at £675 and on the back cover there was a picture of the undermentioned.

An exceptional group of twelve miniatures attributed to: Major-General Sir H.D.E. Parsons Colonel-Commandant Royal Army Ordnance Corps, late The Queen's (Royal West Surrey)

Order of St Michael & St. George (KC.M.G.), gold and enamel; Order of the Bath (C.B.), gold and enamel; I.G.S. 1854-95, 2 Clasps: BURMA 1885-7, BURMA 1887-9; Q.S.A. 1899-1900,3 Clasps: C.C., O F,S,, TRNS., K.S.A, 2 Clasps: S.A. 01, S.A. 02; 1914 Star; B.W.M.; Y.M., with M.I.D. Oakleaf. Belgium: Order of Leopold with Swords and rosette on ribbon (representing Commanders neck badge), gilt and enamel; Imperial Russia: Order of St. Stanislaus with swords (representing 2^nd Class neck badge) gilt and enamel; United States: Army Distinguished Service Medal; Belgium: Croix de Guerre. Mounted loose style as worn, and housed in a Spink & Son Ltd., case.

Major General Sir Harold Daniel Edmund Parsons, K.C.M.G., C.B., (1863-1925). Born in London and educated at Edinburgh Academy and Dulwich College; joined the Royal West Surrey Regt., 1882, and served with the 2^nd Btn., in India 1882-1890; Supt. Army Signalling, 3^rd Brigade for the Burma Campaign 1886-88; transferred to the Army Ordnance Dept, 1890; served in South Africa (M.I.D. 16/4/1901; C.M.G.), and in the Great War (M.I.D. seven times – 17/2/1915, 1/1/1916, 4/1/1917, 11/12/1918, 12/12/1918, 17/12/1918, 20/12/1918; K.C.M.G.; CB); Major General Parsons was appointed Principal Ordnance Officer, 1920, and retired 1923; in October 1924, just before his death, he was appointed Colonel-Commandant, Royal Army Ordnance Corps.

Funeral

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