William Leslie Davidson, C.B.

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[Known as Leslie] Colonel, 4th General base Depot, Royal Horse Artillery. Died 3rd August 1915. Aged 65. Born 31 January 1850 at Inchmarlo, Kincardinshire, Scotalnd. Son of Patrick Davidson and of Mary Ann Leslie, his wife, of Inchmarlo, Kincardineshire; husband of Lady Theodora Davidson. Served in the Zulu War, 1879 (Mentioned in Despatches); Afghan War, 1880; and South African War, 1899 (Mentioned in Despatches). Was a Gentleman-Usher to H.M. The King, and J.P. for County Kincardine.

Buried in ST. SEVER CEMETERY, ROUEN, Seine-Maritime, France. Officers section, Plot A. Row 1. Grave 3.

Extract from Du Ruvigny's Roll of Honour:

DAVIDSON, WILLIAM LESLIE, C.B., J.P., Col. on the Staff, ILA., 2nd s. of the late Patrick Davidson, of Inchmarlo, co. Kincardine, LL.D., J.P., D.L., by his wife. Mary Anne, eldest dau. of William Leslie, 10th Laird of Warthill, co. Aberdeen ; b. Aberdeen, :31 Jan. 1850; educ. the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (passing in twenty-seventh and out twenty-seventh), and entered the. Army as Lieut. 7 July, 1869; was promoted Capt., 24 Jan. 1880 ; Major, 7 June, 1885 ; Lieut.-Col., 25 June, 1896 ; and Col., 23 Jan. 1900. He was for some time A.D.C. to the Commander-in-Chief in India. and subsequently to the Governor of Gibraltar ; served through the Zulu Campaign (wounded at Ulundi—mentioned in Despatches, medal with clasps), 1879. Had charge of Cetewayo for some time in Cape Town. Took part in the Afghan War (medal), 1880. Served in the South African War, 1899-1900; commanded the R.H.A. on the forced march to the Relief of Kimberley : Was present at Paardeburg, Poplar Grove. Driefontein and Karoo Siding, and afterwards commanded the town defences of Bloemfontein (twice mentioned in Despatches, Queen's medal with four clasps and C.B.). He retired in 1907, and in 1913 was appointed Gentleman Usher to the King. On the outbreak of the European War, in Aug. 1914, although 63 years of age, he immediately volunteered for active service and was sent to command No. 4 General Base Depot at Rouen. There he fell a victim to over-exertion and died on active service, 3 Aug. 1915, from heart failure. Be was buried with full military honours in the portion of the cemetery at Rouen reserved for British officers. A brother officer wrote : "He died when in the fulfilment of a duty to his country, towards which he devoted a life-time full of energy and heartiness. I felt sure that with his keen and vigorous sense of duty he would spare no pains to try and take his share of work in the Nation's task." Another "A soldier to the backbone, he leaves a very fine record." One from Rotten : "He was such a favourite amongst us all that we all feel the loss of a dear friend." A naval officer: "He has given everything and laid down his life for the country like many another gallant gentleman." A relation from France : "I can't be thankful enough for those two afternoons that I saw him over this side, nor will I ever forget him, as I looked back, standing there in the sun, his hand raised in farewell, laughing with pure joy of life and the summer day. He was so smart and upright, with his rows of decorations, as he stood beside his pony, a British officer on active service. And he was so kind to everyone, all there seemed to be his friends and to want a word from him as they passed." He m. at the Oratory, Brompton, 1 Feb. 1887, Lady Theodora, née Koppel, eldest surviving dau. of William Coutts, 7th Earl of Albemarle, and had two sons and four daus. : Donald Alastair Leslie, Lieut. Royal Flying Corps, formerly a Page of Honour to His Majesty King Edward VII, now (1916) on active service with the British Expeditionary Force, returned home severely wounded, b. 6 Oct. 1891; Colin Keppei. Lieut. R.A., now (1916) on active service, b. 1 Sept. 1895; Doris, b. May, 1888 and d. 14 Oct. 1888; Hilary, b. 13 April, 1889; Vera Marian, b. 6 Aug. 1893, m. 17 Dec. 1919, Aylmer Probyn Maude, Lieut. Rifle Brigade; and Lena Theodora, b. 14 Sept. 1894. His nephew, Capt. D. H. Davidson, younger, of Inchmarlo, was also killed in action (see his notice).

Source. Roll-of-honour MiddlesexLordsWW1

Obituary

COL. WILLIAM LESLIE DAVIDSON, C. B. (Royal Artillery), born on January 30, 1850, died of heart failure in France on August 3 while holding a depot command at the base. He was a fine, free hitter, and represented the Royal Artillery at cricket, football, rackets, and billiards. In 1809 he was in the Woolwich Eleven, scoring 8 and 50 v. Sandhurst, and had been a member of the M.C.C. since 1873. He took part in the Zulu, Afghan and Boer Wars, was mentioned in despatches twice, and received the C. B. in 1901.

Please see Pictorial catalogue of AZW Graves & Memorials for his grave details

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Montrose, Arbroath and Brechin review; and Forfar and Kincardineshire advertiser. - Friday 03 October 1913

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The Scotsman - Saturday 07 August 1915