Major Henry Hyde Williamson Nason
2nd Battalion Royal Guernsey Light Infantry
Commander 2nd Reserve (home) Battalion
Born 8 March 1857, the son of Major General John Nason,
49th Regiment, and of Abigal Mary Williamson.
Resident at Glencoe, St Martin's, Guernsey.
He was educated at Harrow, and entered Cambridgeshire
Militia 1 May 1875;
entered the 44th Regiment 8 December 1878; became Captain
the Essex Regiment on 10 December 1884, and was promoted
Major 7 October 1895. Major Nason served in the South
African War, 1899-1902, and was present at the Relief
of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, including
operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions
at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River (5 and 6 May)
and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and
June 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria
and Diamond Hill (1 to 12 June); operations in the Transvaal,
east of Pretoria, including action at Belfast (26 and
27 August); operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange
River, 1899-1900, including actions at Colesberg (1
to 29 January); operations in the Transvaal, April to
31 May 1902.
He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 8 February
and 10 September 1901]; received the Queen's Medal with
six clasps; the King's Medal with one clasp, and was
created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
[London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Henry Hyde
Williamson Nason, Major, Essex Regiment. In recognition
of services during the operations in South Africa".
The decoration was awarded for services in the field
at the actions of Paardeberg, Driefontein, etc. The
Insignia were presented by the King 29 October 1901.
He retired from the Essex Regiment 8 March 1905, and
became Lieutenant Colonel commanding 2nd Reserve Battalion
Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, 1913. Major Nason served
in the European War, at Albert and Aveluy Wood, February
1916, on Senior Officers' Instructional Course.
In 1916 he was appointed to command the 2nd Reserve
Battalion Royal Guernsey Light Infantry.
He was mentioned in Despatches 2 March 1917.
He married, in 1899, Florence, daughter of Colonel
E A Hannay, and they had two sons: Second Lieutenant
Robert Fortescue Nason, Seaforth Highlanders, born on
13 February 1900, and Claude Fortescue Nason, born on
23 February 1904.
Source:
DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book)
Essex Regiment
Source:
AngloBoerwar.com
