| Twynam | Humphrey Martin | | Major | (in the accounts that follow, this recipipient's name is spelled Twyham, Twyhan and Twynam). TWYNAM, HUMPHREY MARTIN, Major, was born 16 March 1858, youngest son of Thomas Twynam, of Fair Oak, Hampshire. He was educated at Sherborne School, and became Second Lieutenant, 33rd Foot, 11 May 1878, and 59th Foot, 30 October 1878. He served in the Afghan War, 1879-80; was present at the actions of Ahmed Khel and Urzoo; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 30 July 1889], and received the Medal with clasp. A 1913 letter to The Shirburnian, referring to Twyman's obituary, gave a more detailed account of his 'gallant behaviour' at Ahmed Khel. When the British column came under attack the leading Companies of the 59th and, to their right, the 2nd Battalion 60th Rifles, were ordered to wheel inwards. This enabled the guns, loaded with grapeshot, to be brought up and effectively deployed. However the 21-year old Twynam saw that the Battalion Sergeant-Major of the 60th was wounded in the knee and had consequently been left behind, with the Ghazi rapidly bearing down on him. It is reported that Twynam tried to carry him but 16-stone man shouted 'For God's sake, Sir, go back to your Regiment; you can do me no good and I am too heavy to carry'. Twynam accounted for several of the enemy before the group came under fire from the opening salvos of the British guns. The matter was at an end when the Sergeant-Major and his remaining assailants were killed by grape, although 'by a miracle' Twynam escaped injury. He was later fated with a torch parade by his brother officers as well as others from the 60th, who are said 'unanimously' to have recommended him for a Victoria Cross. The Colonel, however, refused to make the recommendation so no formal application was made ( although the Commander-in-Chief Sir Donald Stewart did, as he promised mention Twynam in his despatch). He was promoted to Captain 1 October 1887; took part in the operations in Chitral, with the Relief Force in 1895 (Medal and clasp); was ADC to Major General, India, 13 May 1896 to 5 March 1899; served on the North-West Frontier of India, 1897-98, in the Tochi Expedition, on the Staff; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 11 February 1898], and received a clasp. He served in the South African War, 1899-1902, employed with the South African Constabulary, taking part in operations in the Transvaal; was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 29 July 1902]; received the Queen's Medal with clasp, the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 31 October 1902]: "Humphrey Martin Twynam, Major, The East Lancashire Regiment (South African Constabulary). In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". He was promoted to Major 24 May 1900, and retired from the East Lancashire Regiment 16 March 1906. He became Lieutenant Colonel commanding the 5th Royal West Kent Regiment, and died at his residence, 1 Hayes Road, Bromley, Kent, on 9 April 1913. He had married Naomi (who died in 1911), daughter of George Leopold Seaward. Lieutenant-Colonel H.M. Twyman, D.S.O., was recommended for the Victoria Cross by his brother Officers following his gallantry at the Battle of Ahmed Khel. A letter from an old friend to Twyman's old school magazine, The Shirburnian, in 1913 detailed the circumstances: 'The obituary notice of Lieutenant-Colonel H.M. Twynam, D.S.O., in The Times of April 11th, says 'His services in the Afghan War, 1879-80, where he was present at the actions of Ahmed Khel and Urzoo, were Mentioned in Despatches, and he received the Medal and clasp'. This is correct; but how few know the dramatic and gallant incident connecting his name with the former battle! The force under Sir Donald Stewart was on the march, when suddenly a considerable body of the enemy was observed on the crest line of some hillocks on the left flank. The Column was halted, and shortly afterwards came the order to deploy in echelon of Companies - left and right alternately and in that formation to advance upon the enemy. On the right of the 59th (2nd East Lancashires) were the 2nd Battalion, 60th Rifles. The leading Companies of both Regiments halting more or less on an alignment. Next arrived the order for the leading Companies of the two Battalions to wheel inwards, to allow the guns, then hurried into position, to break up the enemy's onslaught with grape. During this movement young Twyman noticed that the retiring Company of the Rifles had left behind them their Battalion Sergeant-Major, standing, but severely wounded in the knee. Twyman immediately rushed to his assistance, and in an instant the Ghazio were upon both. The Sergeant-Major called out "For God's sake, Sir, go back to your Regiment; you can do me no good and I am too heavy to carry". He was a man weighing some sixteen stone. Twyman, however, was busily engaged, and had already accounted for three of his assailants, with three or four more fiercely at him, when came the first discharge of grape from our guns. The grape mercifully missed him, laid out two of his opponents and the others hesitated, giving Twyman time to look round, when he saw that the poor Sergeant-Major's troubles were at an end, and he forthwith made for his Company, but, before he reached it, the second discharge of grape whistled past him and around him, yet by a miracle he escaped. His own account was as short and as modest as he could make it, but his brother Officers assured me that in those few moments he disposed of five and some say seven of his opponents, and that in the middle of it he tried to lift or assist and as far as he could protect the Sergeant-Major until he discovered just after the first discharge of grape that he had been killed behind him. That night the Regiment sat him on the wall of a native well, and marched past him with torches, in which many of the 60th joined. His fellow Officers were unanimous that he should be recommended for the V.C. The Colonel alone refused to recommend him, and the reply received from the Commander-in-Chief was that no recommendation for the Victoria Cross could be forwarded without the Colonel's signature, but that the Officer referred to, would be Mentioned in Despatches'. He was indeed Mentioned in Despatches by Lieutenant-General Sir Donald Stewart , K.C.B.: 'The gallant behaviour of Sub.-Lieutenant H.M. Twyman, 59th Foot, is brought specially to notice' [London Gazette 30.7.1880 refers). Twyman, who was 21 years of age at the time, had been educated at Sherborne School and the Royal Military College. He subsequently served in the Chitral Relief Force in 1895 and on the North West Frontier 1897-8 as an A.D.C. to Major-General G. Corrie Bird, C.B., commanding the Tochi Field Force, for which services he was again Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 11.2.1898 refers). Promoted Major in May 1900 he served in the Boer War with his Regiment and was attached to Baden-Powell's South African Constabulary on its formation in October 1900. He rose to command 'A' Division, a force of over 2000 men which was heavily engaged in the Guerilla War in the Transvaal as Mounted Infantry rather than a Police Force. He was Mentioned in Despatches on the recommendation of Baden-Powell for 'zealous work and energy in command of 'A' Division' and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazettes 29.7.1902, 31.10.1902 and War Office records refer). Major Twyman retired from the East Lancashire Regiment in March 1906 and was subsequently appointed Lieutenant-Colonel commanding the 5th Battalion, Royal West Kent Regiment. He died in 1913 while still in command and his funeral was attended with full military honours with nearly 500 troops being on parade in full review order. DSO, Afghan (1) Ahmed Khel (Lt), IGS 1895 (2) RofC P-F 1897-98 (Capt), QSA Trans (Maj, DSO, E Lancs Regt), KSA (2) (Maj DSO, E Lancs Regt). Liverpool 2000 £2,100. Spink 2001 £2,760. Morton and Eden Jul 06 £3,700
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | South African Constabulary |
