William Henry HIPPISLEY

William Henry HIPPISLEY (1855) continued to reside at Sparsholt Manor after he had sold Lambourne Place to his brother-in-law. He was educated at Eton and gazetted Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Militia on the 15th March 1873, but resigned on the 3rd April 1875 to join the regular army in which he was gazetted Sub-Lieutenant on 22nd May 1875, being subsequently posted to the 7th Hussars with the same seniority. He transferred to the 2nd Dragoons on 29th January1876 as Lieutenant, was appointed Adjutant on 24th November 1877 (resigning on 18th June 1881), promoted Captain on 1st June 1884, Major in 1893, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1900 and he retired in 1902.

During the Zulu War of 1879 he served with the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards, taking part in the cavalry affair at Erzungayan, and receiving the medal with clasp. He accompanied the reinforcements sent to South Africa during 1881 and served as Staff Officer at Pine Town Camp. During the Nile Expedition of 1884-5, he commanded a detachment of the Royal Scots Greys attached to the Heavy Camel Corps, and took part in the operations of the Desert Column, including the actions of Abu Klea and Abu Kru and the reconnaissance to Mettameh. For his services he received the medal with two clasps and the Khedive Star. He served in the South African war of 1899-1902, taking part in the relief of Kimberley and commanding the 2nd Dragoons from March to December 1901; he received the Queen's Medal with three clasps and the King's Medal with two clasps.

He was a member of the mission which waited upon the Czar of Russia when that sovereign was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of his regiment, and was decorated with the Order of St Stanilov; he was presented with a gold cigarette case by the Czar when that Monarch visited Great Britain on his wedding tour. Major Hippisley (as he was then) commanded the Royal Escort of the Scots Greys sent from Hounslow to receive his Imperial Majesty when he landed at Leith on 22nd September 1896. He was also presented with a signed photograph by the Kaiser.

William married Flora HARGREAVES on 16th September 1886 in Wokingham, Berkshire. Flora was born in Arborfield, Berkshire in about 1862 and was the daughter of Thomas and Sarah HARGREAVES of Arborfield Hall. William and Flora had two children together - Henry Hargreaves Sulivan, born 23rd August 1887 in Arborfield, and Lilian Edith, born 11th January 1891 and Sparsholt. William died on 28th June 1908 and was buried at Sparsholt, where an east end window was inserted to his memory by his widow. Flora HIPPISLEY (nee HARGREAVES) died on 27th May 1939 and was also buried at Sparsholt. Some of their descendants are still alive today.

See: Pictorial catalogue of AZW graves

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"William Henry Hippisley was born in 1855 and was educated at Eton. He was gazetted Lieutenant in the Royal Berkshire Militia on 15 March 1873, but resigned in April 1875 to join the regular army in which he was gazetted Sub-Lieutenant on 22 May 1875, being subsequently posted to the 7th Hussars with the same seniority. He transferred to the 2nd Dragoons on 29 January 1876 as Lieutenant, was appointed Adjutant on 24 November 1877, promoted Captain on 1 June 1884, Major in 1893, Lieutenant-Colonel in 1900. He was appointed second in command on 5 July 1896, and was Commanding the Greys from September 1900 to June 1902.

During the Zulu War of 1879 he embarked for the Cape on 27 February 1879, with the reinforcements. He was attached as a volunteer to the 1st (King's) Dragoon Guards, taking part in the cavalry affair at Erzungayan, and subsequently did duty at Fort Newdigate with the squadron under Major Marter, of the King’s Dragoon Guards (Medal with clasp).

Hippisley accompanied the reinforcements sent to South Africa during 1881 and served as Staff Officer at Pine Town Camp. During the Nile Expedition of 1884-5, he commanded a detachment of the Royal Scots Greys attached to the Heavy Camel Corps, comprising two officers and 37 men, and took part in the operations of the Desert Column, including the actions of Abu Klea and Abu Kru, and the reconnaissance to Mettameh (Medal with two clasps and Khedive’s Star). He served in the South African war of 1899-1902, taking part in the relief of Kimberley and commanded the 2nd Dragoons in South Africa from March to December 1901 (Queen's Medal with three clasps and King's Medal with two clasps).

Major Hippisley, as he was then, was a member of the mission which waited upon the Czar of Russia when that sovereign was appointed Colonel-in-Chief of his regiment, and was decorated with the Order of St Stanislas; he was presented with a gold cigarette case by the Czar when that Monarch visited Great Britain on his wedding tour, and he commanded the Royal Escort of the Scots Greys sent from Hounslow to receive his Imperial Majesty when he landed at Leith on 22 September 1896."
Medals sold for £17000

Source: Dixnoonanmedals

Good get Littlehand .
cheers 90th.