William Rycroft

Sir William Henry Rycroft KCB KCMG (1861 – 1925) was a British Army officer who rose to the rank of major general, and colonial governor of British North Borneo.

Rycroft was the second of six children of Sir Nelson Rycroft, 4th Baronet, and his wife Juliana Ogilvy. His elder brother Richard became the 5th baronet.

Rycroft was educated at Eton College and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He enlisted in the British Army in 1871. In 1879 he was appointed to the 71st (Highland) Regiment of Foot^[2] which became part of the Highland Light Infantry in 1881. He took part in the Gordon Relief Expedition in 1884–85. He transferred to the 7th Dragoon Guards in 1886, attended the Staff College, Camberley, 1891–1892, was Deputy Assistant Adjutant General at York 1895–1896, served on the North-West Frontier in India 1897–1898 and served on the Staff during the South African War 1899–1900. He served in Somaliland from 1902 to 1905, was regimental commander of the 11th Hussars from 1904 to 1908, was in South Africa again from 1911 to 1912 and was Assistant Quartermaster general (QMG) in Southern Command from 1913 to 1914.

He fought in the First World War, which began in the summer of 1914, and was mentioned in despatches seven times for his service throughout the conflict. He was promoted to the temporary rank of brigadier general and succeeded William Hickie as a deputy adjutant and quartermaster general (DAQMG) in September 1914.^[3] Promoted to the permanent rank of major general in June 1915,^[4] he was general officer commanding (GOC) of the 32nd Division 1915–16. He was Major-General of Administration in the Army of the Black Sea 1918–20, then Major-General of the HQ Irish Command 1920–21, by which time the war was over.

A year later he retired from the army and served as governor of North Borneo from 1922 until his death. After his death, his predecessor Aylmer Cavendish Pearson took over the governorship for the second time.^[5][6][7]

Rycroft was appointed CB in the 1910 Birthday Honours,^[8] CMG "in recognition of meritorious services during the war" in 1915,^[9] and knighted KCMG "for services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Field" in the 1918 New Year Honours.^[10] After the war he was awarded the additional knighthood of KCB "for valuable services rendered in connection with Military Operations in the Balkans" in the 1919 Birthday Honours;^[11] made Grand Commander of the Greek Order of the Redeemer^[12] and awarded the Greek Medal of Military Merit;^[13] awarded the Serbian Order of the White Eagle, 2nd Class (with Swords);^[14] made commandeur of the French Legion of Honour;^[15] and made a Grand Officer of the Order of the Star of Roumania.^[16] He was a Knight of Grace of the Order of the Hospital of St John of JerusaJem.^[17]

• Portraits of Sir William Henry Rycroft at the National Portrait Gallery, London