Individual Details
Lt Col John Line Templer Widdicombe
(20 Jan 1899 - 3 Feb 1990)
John Line Templer Widdicombe was born on 20 January 1899, Lansdown, India .He enlisted in London on 19 October 1914, giving his age as 19, and joined the ranks in Perth, Scotland as a Driver, no. 49911,R.H.& R.F.A. on 21 October 1914, but was discharged on 5 January 1915 for having made a false statement as to age on enlistment.
First commissioned on 27 October 1916 making Lieut 27th October 1917. On 1 May 1917 he was attached to the 9th Gurkha Rifles as Quartermaster. He served in the operations in Mesopotamia, February 1918-March 1919 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 21 February 1919) and awarded the Order of the Star of Romania. With the Garhwal Rifles he served in Afghanistan and the N.W. Frontier, June-September 1919 and Waziristan, January-July 1920. Posted to the 7th Gurkha Rifles 1928. He attained the rank of Captain 27th October 1920; "The KING has approved the retirement of the following officers, under the provisions of the Royal Warrants dated 25th Apr. 1922 and 25th Apr. 1923, with effect from the dates specified:— ... Lieutenants. ... L. T. Widdicombe. [sic] 7th Sept. 1923" (The London Gazette (23 November 1923), p. 8067).
Major 27/10/1934. Joins the S.U.L 1stNovember 1935. 11th June 1945 relinquishes commission due to ill health.
1937 Bankrupt due to an unsettled account in Rangoon.
He married Violet Katherine and had one son Anthony Saville Templer Widdicombe. Died February 1990 in Hampshire.
First commissioned on 27 October 1916 making Lieut 27th October 1917. On 1 May 1917 he was attached to the 9th Gurkha Rifles as Quartermaster. He served in the operations in Mesopotamia, February 1918-March 1919 and was mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 21 February 1919) and awarded the Order of the Star of Romania. With the Garhwal Rifles he served in Afghanistan and the N.W. Frontier, June-September 1919 and Waziristan, January-July 1920. Posted to the 7th Gurkha Rifles 1928. He attained the rank of Captain 27th October 1920; "The KING has approved the retirement of the following officers, under the provisions of the Royal Warrants dated 25th Apr. 1922 and 25th Apr. 1923, with effect from the dates specified:— ... Lieutenants. ... L. T. Widdicombe. [sic] 7th Sept. 1923" (The London Gazette (23 November 1923), p. 8067).
Major 27/10/1934. Joins the S.U.L 1stNovember 1935. 11th June 1945 relinquishes commission due to ill health.
1937 Bankrupt due to an unsettled account in Rangoon.
He married Violet Katherine and had one son Anthony Saville Templer Widdicombe. Died February 1990 in Hampshire.
Events
| Birth | 20 Jan 1899 | Lansdowne, Bengal, India | |||
| Christen | 4 Mar 1899 | Lansdowne, Bengal, India | |||
| Military service | 1916 - 1948 | Indian Army |  | ||
| Marriage | 12 Jul 1926 | Rangoon, Burma - Violet Katherine Albany Savile | |||
| Death | 3 Feb 1990 | Martins Crawley, Winchester, Hampshire, England, United Kingdom |
Families
| Spouse | Violet Katherine Albany Savile (1900 - 1981) |
| Child | Anthony Saville Templer Widdicombe (1928 - 2003) |
| Child | John Line Saville Widdicombe (1931 - 1931) |
| Child | Jeremy George Widdicombe |
| Child | H. James Widdicombe |
| Father | Lt Col George Templer Widdicombe (1867 - 1952) |
| Mother | Lydia Constance "Dilda" Baird (1873 - 1944) |
| Sibling | Violet Katherine Widdicombe (1900 - 1981) |
| Sibling | Phyllis Widdicombe (1903 - 1994) |
| Sibling | George Line Templer Widdicombe (1907 - 1952) |
Notes
Military service
First name(s)
John Line Templer
Last name
Widdicombe
Rank
Lieutenant Colonel
Year
1916-48
Regiment
Regiment as transcribed
4 Burma Rifles
Collection area
India Office Records and Private Papers
Date of commission
27 Oct 1916
Start date
1916
End date
1948
Date range
1916-1948
Record reference
IOR/L/MIL/14/67763
Scope and content
Number: IA 242; Highest Rank: Lieutenant Colonel; Regiment: 4 Burma Rifles; 1/7 Gurkha Rifles; Date of commission: 27 Oct 1916
Country
India
Record set
Indian Army Records Of Service 1900-1947
Category
Military Service & Conflict
Subcategory
Regimental & service records