9376 Brigadier Frank Hole WITTS, DSO, MC, Irish Guards, 8 Infantry Brigade, General List: 09/05/1941

Buchanan Parish Kirk is situated in the village of Milton of Buchanan, Stirlingshire (halfway between Drymen and Balmaha). The kirkyard contains a large number of CWGC graves because of it's proximity to the military hospital at Buchanan Castle. It is a place of unrivaled beauty and tranquility.

 

Tom,
Many thanks for the lovely photos of a beautiful but solemn setting.
Really appreciate the photo of Brigadier Witts' grave.


From The Times, Monday, May 12, 1941;

OBITUARY, FALLEN OFFICER

Brigadier Frank Hole Witts, D.S.O., M.C., A.D.C., who died of heart failure at a military hospital on Friday at the age of 54, served in France all through the last War, when he was wounded three times, and had since had a distinguished career as a staff officer.

The son of the late Canon F.E. Broome Witts, he was educated at Radley and Trinity College, Oxford, and joined the Irish Guards in August, 1914. For his service during the Four Years' War with the 1st and 2nd Battalions of his Regiment, and afterwards on the Staff, he received the D.S.O. and M.C. and was twice mentioned in despatches.

From 1925 to 1929 he was Administrative Staff Officer at London District, in which capacity he carried out the reunion of the Guards Divisions for the memorial parade at Horse Guards. He was promoted major in 1926 and brevet lieutenant-colonel in 1928. In 1933 he was selected to command the 1st Battalion, King's Own Royal Regiment (Lancaster). He was promoted full colonel in 1935, and from 1935-37 acted as A.Q.M.G., Aldershot Command.

In 1938 he was made A.D.C. to the King. His last appointment was to the command of the 8th Infantry Brigade. In 1919 he married Ruth Leonide Brocklebank.

 

Personal Number: 9376
Rank: Brigadier
Name: Frank Hole WITTS, DSO, MC
Unit: Irish Guards

London Gazette : 1 September 1914
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28886/page/6904/data.pdf
The undermentioned to be Second Lieutenants. Dated 15th August, 1914:— '
Irish Guards.
Frank Hole Witts.

London Gazette : 6 November 1915
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29356/supplement/11016/data.pdf
Irish Guards.
Lieutenant F. H. Witts to be temporary Captain. Dated 3rd October, 1915

London Gazette : 16 February 1916
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29476/supplement/1778/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS.
Irish Guards.
The undermentioned Lieutenants, from Special Reserve', to be Lieutenants on augmentation of establishment:—
Dated 17th February, 1916.
F. H. Witts, but to rank for seniority from the 7th June, 1915, with precedence next below M. J. Livingstone-Learmonth.

London Gazette : 1 January 1917
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29886/supplement/43/data.pdf
TO BE AWARDED THE MILITARY CROSS..
Capt. Frank Hole Witts, Ir. Gds.

London Gazette : 6 October 1917
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30325/supplement/10352/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF.
The undermentioned appts, are made:—
Staff Capts.—
Capt. F. H. Witts, M.C., I. Gds., and to be secd. 26th Aug. 1917.

London Gazette : 3 June 1919
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31370/page/6821/data.pdf
AWARDED THE DISTINGUISHED SEBVICE ORDER .
Capt. Frank Hole Witts, M.C., I.Gds.

London Gazette : 23 July 1919
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31470/supplement/9398/data.pdf
The undermentioned appts. are made:—
GENERAL STAFF.
3rd Grade. - Capt. F. H. Witts, M.C.,I. Gds., vice Capt. R. W. Mockridge, Dorset R. 9th July 1919.

London Gazette : 10 February 1920
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/31774/supplement/1774/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
I. G'ds
Capt. F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C., is restd. to the estabt. 29th Nov. 1919.

London Gazette : 26 January 1923
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/32790/page/608/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
I. G'ds.—
Capt, F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C., is seed, whilst a student at the Staff College. 22nd Jan. 1923.

London Gazette : 17 April 1926
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33155/page/2861/data.pdf
FOOT GUARDS
I. G'ds.—
Capt. F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C., to be Maj. 14th Mar. 1926.

London Gazette : 13 August 1929
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33525/page/5276/data.pdf
COMMANDS AND STAFF.
Bt. Lt.-Col. F. H. Witts, D.S.O.,M.C., I. G'ds., relinquishes the appt. of D.A.A. & Q.M.G., London Dist. 8th Aug. 1929.

London Gazette : 14 November 1933
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/33995/page/7372/data.pdf
King's Own R. —
Maj. & Bt. Lt.-Col. F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C., from I. G'ds., to be Lt.-Col. 15th Nov. 1933.

London Gazette : 15 November 1935
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34220/page/7226/data.pdf
The undermentioned appts. are made: —
Col. F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C., to be A.Q.M.G., Aldershot Comd. 8th Nov. 1935.

London Gazette : 12 October 1937
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34443/page/6307/data.pdf
COMMMANDS AND STAFF.
The undermentioned appts. are made: —
Col. F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C., from A.Q.M.G., Aldershot Comd., to be Comdr., 8th Inf. Bde., and granted the temp, rank of Brig, whilst so empld. 1st Oct. 1937.

London Gazette : 25 November 1938
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/34574/page/7433/data.pdf
Col: (temp. Brig.) F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C. (late King's Own R.), is apptd. A.D.C. to The KING, nth Nov. 1938, vice Col. (temp. Brig.) W. Platt, D.S.O. (late Wilts. R.) promoted.

London Gazette : 4 July 1941
https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/35207/supplement/3808/data.pdf
The KING has been graciously pleased to approve of the following appointment:—
Col. H. W. V. Stewart, C.B.E., D.S.O. (1556), is apptd. A.D.C. to The KING, loth May 1941 (vice Col. (temp. Brig.) F. H. Witts, D.S.O., M.C. (9376), deceased).

 

https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/2458061/frank-hole-witts/
BRIGADIER FRANK HOLE WITTS
Awards: Distinguished Service Order, Military Cross; Twice mentioned in Despatches, 1914-18 War.
Regiment & Unit: Irish Guards Cdg. 8th Inf. Bde.
Secondary Unit, Regiment: and General List
Date of Death: 09 May 1941
Age 54 years old
Buried or commemorated at BUCHANAN CHURCHYARD EXTENSION
Grave Reference: Plot 2. Sec. J. Grave 1.
Location: United Kingdom
Additional Info: Son of the Revd. Canon F. E. Broome Witts, and of Margaret Witts (nee Bourne), of Upper Slaughter, Gloucestershire; husband of Ruth Leonide Witts (nee Brocklebank), of Twyford, Hampshire.

 

Today I saw these memorials in the church at Upper Slaughter , Glos.
I thought I would search the forum first before looking anywhere else.

 

See Post 226 & 228 for updates on him: BEF rearguard action on the Nieuport-Dunkirk canal (May 29th till May 31st 1940)

There is an amazing local school booklet on their village(s) Upper Slaughter: https://prestburyhistory.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/thankful-villages-ww1.pdf

Once more thanks to dbf's work and Owen's observation.