Oliver Nugent

Who was Oliver Nugent?

Major-General Sir Oliver Stewart Wood Nugent KCB DSO was a British Army officer known for his command of the 36th Division during the First World War and particularly at the Battle of the Somme.

He was the son of Major General St George Nugent and Emily, daughter of the Right Honourable Edward Litton, who was a senior Irish judge and MP for Coleraine at Westminster

Nugent was educated at Harrow and Sandhurst before joining the Royal Munster Fusiliers in July 1882. Transferring in April 1883 to the King's Royal Rifle Corps, he served in the Hazara, Miranzai and Chitral expeditions, being mentioned in dispatches again and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order. After promotion to Major he served in the Second Boer War where he was wounded and taken prisoner at the battle of Talana Hill. The First World War saw him serving in England until 1915 when he was appointed to command the 41st Infantry Brigade on the Western Front. In September 1915 he was appointed to command the 36th Division with which he served until 1918. He was promoted Major-General 1 January 1916.