George Colborne was born on 22 February 1864, the eldest son of Sir Edmund Charles Nugent, 3rd Baronet of Waddesdon and his wife Evelyn Henrietta Gascoigne. He was educated at Eton.
In October 1899 Nugent and his brigadier were transferred to Cape Colony as part of the troop build-up for the Second Boer War. Colville took command of 1st Brigade in Lord Methuen's 1st Division, with Nugent as his Aide-de-Camp. Advancing to relieve Kimberleyat the beginning of the war, Methuen attempted a night attack at Belmont on 22–23 November 1899. He sent Colville off with his brigade to assault Gun Hill: although the attack was a failure, Nugent received his first Mention in Dispatches for his work that night. He distinguished himself again at the Battle of Modder River and was present at the Battle of Magersfontein. When Colville was promoted to command 9th Division, Nugent went with him and served at the Battles of Poplar Grove and Driefontein. However, in May 1900, while Lord Roberts was closing in on Johannesburg, a Yeomanry battalion under Colville's command was cut off and forced to surrender, Colville was made a scapegoat and sent home. Nugent also returned to the UK, because he had been appointed with the rank of Major as one of the first officers of the Irish Guards, newly-forming in London.
Service in London
In 1901 Nugent was made Commandant of the School of Instruction for Officers of the Auxiliary Forces. Based at Chelsea Barracks, this provided training for the part-time officers of the Militia, Yeomanry and Volunteers. In May 1908 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and took command of 1st Battalion Irish Guards. As CO of 1st Irish Guards, Nugent was appointed a Member of the Royal Victorian Order by King Edward VII in January 1909. Nugent became commander of the Regiment and the Regimental District in July 1909. This brought him the rank of Temporary Colonel, and also made him ex-officio commander of 5th London Infantry Brigade in the Territorial Force, newly formed from the Volunteers. The 5th London Bde comprised four battalions of the London Regiment and formed part of the 2nd London Division. He was promoted to substantive Colonel in December 1911. On completion of his four-year term commanding the district and brigade, Nugent was appointed Commandant of the Duke of York's Royal Military School at Dover.
Nugent was still Commandant at Dover when War broke out. But when Charles Fitzclarence, VC was transferred to command 1st Brigade in the British Expeditionary Force, Nugent was brought back to command 5th London Brigade. In October 1914, 2nd London Division was selected for service on the Western Front and progressive training was carried out through the winter. Nugent's 5th London Bde was the leading element of the division to land in France on 9 & 10 March 1915. In May the division took its place in the line and was designated 47th Division, with the brigades numbered consecutively: 5th London became 141st Brigade. 47th Division took part in fighting at the battles of Aubers Ridge and Festubert, but 141 Bde was only marginally involved. During a quiet period of trench-holding, Nugent was killed by a stray bullet on 31 May.
George Nugent, born 5 November 1892, Captain and Adjutant of 3rd Bn Grenadier Guards in the First World War, succeeded his grandfather as the 4th Baronet in 1928 and died in 1970.
Terence Edmund Gascoigne Nugent, Lieutenant, Irish Guards in 1915, later Lt-Col, created Baron Nugent in 1960. In 1935 he married Rosalie Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughy, daughter of Brig.-Gen Charles Strathavon Heathcote-Drummond-Willoughby, who had commanded 6th London Bde alongside Nugent's brigade in 2nd London Division.
