William Norcott
Lieutenant General Sir William Sherbrooke Ramsey Norcott KCB (12 December 1804 – 23 January 1886) of the Rifle Brigade was a British Army officer who fought during the Crimean War, was an Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria and became Lieutenant Governor of Jersey.
Sir William Norcott | |
|---|---|
 Sir William Norcott (centre) arriving in Jersey | |
| Born | 12 December 1804 Chelmsford, Essex |
| Died | 23 January 1886 (aged 81) St Leonards-on-Sea, Sussex |
| Allegiance |  |
| Service/ |  |
| Years of service | 1822–1878 |
| Rank | Lieutenant General |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards | Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath |
Early life
William Norcott was born on 12 December 1804 in Chelmsford Essex, the second son to General Sir Amos Godsell Robert Norcott CB KCH who had commanded a battalion of the 95th Rifles at the Battle of Waterloo.[1]
Military career
Norcott was commissioned into the Rifle Brigade in 1822[2] and made a Captain of the 52nd Regiment in on 21 February 1840.[3] Later the same year (7 August) he returned to the Rifles and on 1 August 1847 became a Major.
During the Crimean War he fought at the Battle of Alma and commanded 1st Battalion, the Rifle Brigade at the Siege of Sevastopol.[2]
Between 1855 and 1868 he was Aide-de-Camp to Queen Victoria,[3] then went on to become Lieutenant Governor of Jersey between 1 October 1873 to 30 September 1878.[3]
He was awarded the Knight of the Order of the Bath in 1877 and became a General in 1879.[3]
Later Years
After his retirement he wrote some letters to The Times newspaper disputing some of the claims made about the battle of Alma.[4][5]
William died at 87 on 23 January 1886 in St. Leonard's-on-Sea, Sussex.
Family
In 1848 he married Frances Marrianne Durant; they had six children,[1] at least 3 sons became soldiers.
- Charles Hawtrey Bruce Norcott born 25 April 1849 became a General of the Rifle Brigade.
- Walter Gordon Norcott born about 1851, became a Lieutenant-colonel in the Royal Munster Fusiliers (also served in the Royal Bengal Fusiliers)[6][7]
- Gerald Alfred born about 1861 became a Major of the Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) (having originally joined the 47th Foot and who died of Pneumonia whilst on staff service during World War I.[8]
References
| Military offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| New regiment | Colonel of the 1st Battalion, The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment 1881–1885 |
Succeeded by Sir Richard Thomas Farren |
| Preceded by Sir William O'Grady Haly |
Colonel of 47th (Lancashire) Regiment of Foot 1878–1881 |
Succeeded by Loyal Regiment (North Lancashire) |
| Preceded by Sir Alfred Horsford |
Colonel-Commandant of the 2nd Battalion, The Prince Consort's Own (Rifle Brigade) 1885–1886 |
Succeeded by Sir Alexander Macdonnell |
| Government offices | ||
| Preceded by Sir Philip Guy |
Lieutenant Governor of Jersey 1873–1878 |
Succeeded by Sir Lothian Nicholson |