27 Facts About James Willcocks

James Willcocks was educated in England and passed out from the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, in January 1878, being commissioned into the 100th Foot in the Punjab.

In late 1879, shortly after being promoted lieutenant, James Willcocks persuaded his superiors to send him to the Second Afghan War, where he served as a transport officer.

James Willcocks was promoted captain in what was by now the Prince of Wales's Leinster Regiment in August 1884.

In 1889 James Willcocks served as an intelligence officer in the Chin-Lushai expedition and in 1891 in the Manipur expedition.

James Willcocks was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1899 New Year Honours.

James Willcocks was accompanied aboard ship by a number of officers who took part in the War of the Golden Stool.

Colonel Lugard became High Commissioner following the proclamation of the new Protectorate of Northern Nigeria on 1 January 1900, and James Willcocks succeeded him as colonel-commandant of the Frontier Force, being granted the local rank of colonel on the same day.

In early January 1902, James Willcocks received orders to go to South Africa, and issued a statement to say how welcome he found this order, as he had never before been unemployed.

James Willcocks was graded as a colonel on the staff while employed on special service in South Africa.

James Willcocks was promoted to the substantive rank of colonel on 29 March 1902, on the day he took up command with the temporary rank of brigadier general while so employed.

James Willcocks was promoted major general and given a brigade in 1906, was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1907 Birthday Honours, and commanded the Bazar Valley Field Force against the Zakka Khel clan of the Afridi in February and March 1908, was given command a division in March 1908 and promoted lieutenant-general for distinguished service in the field following his command of the Mohmand Field Force in July 1908.

James Willcocks was appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1907 Birthday Honours.

James Willcocks was appointed Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath in 1914.

In 1914 James Willcocks was given command of the Indian Corps in France.

James Willcocks was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St Michael and St George in the 1915 Birthday Honours, and was promoted general in May 1915, but resigned in September 1915 after friction with Sir Douglas Haig, who commanded the First Army.

James Willcocks was given the colonelcy of the Loyal Regiment from April 1916 until his death.

In May 1917, James Willcocks was appointed Governor and General Officer Commanding the Imperial fortress of Bermuda, being sworn in by the Chief Justice of Bermuda at the entrance to the Council Chambers in Hamilton on 2 June 1917.

James Willcocks was placed on the sale list in 1914 and was sold in 1918.

James Willcocks was the first ship Willcocks saw at Bermuda when he arrived in 1917.

James Willcocks dropped a message of goodwill to the people of Bermuda, which was Bermuda's first air mail.

James Willcocks was a passenger in the first descent by a submarine in local waters.

James Willcocks was the life patron of the Bermuda War Veterans Society.

James Willcocks was appointed Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath in the 1921 Birthday Honours.

James Willcocks authored his memoirs The Romance of Soldiering and Sport, which was published in 1925.

James Willcocks later returned to India and died at Bharatpur in 1926.

James Willcocks married Winifred Way, the second daughter of Colonel George Augustus Way, CB, BSC, on 29 July 1889, at Calcutta.

James Willcocks died at Moti Hahal Palace, Bharatpur, Rajputana, India, on 18 December 1926.