British General. His service of thirty-six years in the British Armey began upon his commission in the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1863, and he steadily rose through the officer corps: promoted to First Lieutenant in 1866, Captain in 1878, Major in 1881, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in 1886, and Brevet Colonel in 1887. He participated in numerous actions against hostile forces in South Africa, Burma, India, and the Northwest Frontier (present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan). His promotion to Brigadier General came in 1889 and the following year he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). In 1898 he was invested a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) and promoted to Major General soon before the outbreak of the Second Boer War. In 1899, he was given command of British forces in Natal, South Africa. He was mortally wounded during the first battle of the Boer War, the Battle of Talana Hill (near Dundee) on October 20, 1899, and died three days later. Despite the loss of Penn Symons and a higher number of casualties than the Boer forces, the battle resulted in a British victory.
British General. His service of thirty-six years in the British Armey began upon his commission in the 24th Regiment of Foot in 1863, and he steadily rose through the officer corps: promoted to First Lieutenant in 1866, Captain in 1878, Major in 1881, Brevet Lieutenant Colonel in 1886, and Brevet Colonel in 1887. He participated in numerous actions against hostile forces in South Africa, Burma, India, and the Northwest Frontier (present-day Pakistan and Afghanistan). His promotion to Brigadier General came in 1889 and the following year he was made a Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB). In 1898 he was invested a Knight Commander of the Order of the Bath (KCB) and promoted to Major General soon before the outbreak of the Second Boer War. In 1899, he was given command of British forces in Natal, South Africa. He was mortally wounded during the first battle of the Boer War, the Battle of Talana Hill (near Dundee) on October 20, 1899, and died three days later. Despite the loss of Penn Symons and a higher number of casualties than the Boer forces, the battle resulted in a British victory.
Inscription
Erected by his Wife
in Loving Memory of
Major Genl. Sir W. Penn-Symons
who fell mortally wounded at the
Battle of Talana Hill
on the 20th of October 1899.
'I have fought the good fight,
I have finished my course,
I have kept the faith.'
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