Frederick William Lumsden: Map

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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.

Early career

Frederick William Lumsden was born into a military family in Frizabad, India

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