Frederick William Lumsden
Encyclopedia
Brigadier General
Frederick William Lumsden VC
, CB, DSO & Three Bars
(14 December 1872 – 4 June 1918) was a British officer in Royal Marine Artillery and later the General Staff, during the First World War
. During his service he was decorated four times for valourous service and saw action in several major campaigns before he was killed just months before the war's end in June 1918 with the rank of Brigadier-General. Amongst his decorations was the Victoria Cross
, the most prestigious award available to British or Commonwealth
troops.
on 14 December 1872. At a young age he returned to Britain and attended Bristol Grammar School
until the age of eighteen when he joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a junior officer. Serving in the Marine Service until 1907, Lumsden then entered the Staff College, qualifying in 1910. He then became the second staff officer at Singapore
, not returning home until called home for war service in the months leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.
Between 3 April and 4 April 1917 at Francilly, France
, Major Lumsden undertook to bring in six captured enemy field-guns which had been left in dug-in positions 300 yards in front of the British troops. The enemy were keeping these guns under very heavy fire. Major Lumsden led four artillery teams and a party of infantry through the hostile barrage, and despite casualties they eventually got all the guns away. He himself made three journeys to the guns and then stayed there directing operations until the last gun had been taken back.
He was killed in action at Blairvill, near Arras, France
, on 4 June 1918.
In 1920, the Mess of the Royal Marines commissioned H. Donald Smith to paint two portraits of Lumsden. The work is now housed in the Royal Marines Museum
in the Royal Marine Artillery Barracks, Southsea
, Portsmouth
, England
. His Victoria Cross is also displayed at the museum.
Brigadier General
Brigadier general is a senior rank in the armed forces. It is the lowest ranking general officer in some countries, usually sitting between the ranks of colonel and major general. When appointed to a field command, a brigadier general is typically in command of a brigade consisting of around 4,000...
Frederick William Lumsden VC
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, CB, DSO & Three Bars
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(14 December 1872 – 4 June 1918) was a British officer in Royal Marine Artillery and later the General Staff, during the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. During his service he was decorated four times for valourous service and saw action in several major campaigns before he was killed just months before the war's end in June 1918 with the rank of Brigadier-General. Amongst his decorations was the Victoria Cross
Victoria Cross
The Victoria Cross is the highest military decoration awarded for valour "in the face of the enemy" to members of the armed forces of various Commonwealth countries, and previous British Empire territories....
, the most prestigious award available to British or Commonwealth
Commonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
troops.
Early career
Frederick William Lumsden was born into a military family in Frizabad, IndiaIndia
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
on 14 December 1872. At a young age he returned to Britain and attended Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School
Bristol Grammar School is a co-educational independent school in Clifton, Bristol, England. The school was founded in 1532 by two brothers, Robert and Nicholas Thorne....
until the age of eighteen when he joined the Royal Marine Artillery as a junior officer. Serving in the Marine Service until 1907, Lumsden then entered the Staff College, qualifying in 1910. He then became the second staff officer at Singapore
Singapore
Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...
, not returning home until called home for war service in the months leading up to the outbreak of hostilities in August 1914.
Between 3 April and 4 April 1917 at Francilly, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Major Lumsden undertook to bring in six captured enemy field-guns which had been left in dug-in positions 300 yards in front of the British troops. The enemy were keeping these guns under very heavy fire. Major Lumsden led four artillery teams and a party of infantry through the hostile barrage, and despite casualties they eventually got all the guns away. He himself made three journeys to the guns and then stayed there directing operations until the last gun had been taken back.
He was killed in action at Blairvill, near Arras, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, on 4 June 1918.
In 1920, the Mess of the Royal Marines commissioned H. Donald Smith to paint two portraits of Lumsden. The work is now housed in the Royal Marines Museum
Royal Marines Museum
The Royal Marines Museum is located in Eastney , England, and is open to the public every day of the week throughout the year apart from Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Boxing Day...
in the Royal Marine Artillery Barracks, Southsea
Southsea
Southsea is a seaside resort located in Portsmouth at the southern end of Portsea Island in the county of Hampshire in England. Southsea is within a mile of Portsmouth's city centre....
, Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. His Victoria Cross is also displayed at the museum.