| Caulfeild | Algernon Montgomerie | | Lieutenant | CAULFEILD, ALGERNON MONTGOMERIE, Lieutenant, was born 28 August 1860, 4th son of Lieutenant Colonel Montgomerie Caulfeild, Weston Park, Lucan, County Dublin. He was educated at the Royal Academy, Gosport, and Heidelberg College, and joined the 66th Berkshire Regiment 17 December 1881; served in Afghanistan; was present at the engagement at Giriskh with the Walli's mutinous troops at the Battle of Maiwand (wounded) as a Corporal, and subsequent defence of Kandahar (Medal for distinguished conduct in the field, and Medal with clasp). He, though wounded at Maiwand, saw to Captain Melliss, who was also wounded, being placed on a camel. He afterwards got a mule, and rode with Lieutenant Lynd, who was wounded, taking him to Kandahar. The late Sir John Slade, then in command of E Battery, B Brigade, recommended him for the VC. He was made a Sergeant, and asked, when the Distinguished Conduct Medal was given him by Her late Majesty Queen Victoria, to change his name from Sergeant Williams to Sergeant Caulfeild, and soon after was given a commission in the 5th Fusiliers. He served in Burma, 1886-88, as Brigade Transport Officer to Major General Sir Robert Low, KCB; was mentioned in Despatches, 2 September 1887, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 25 November 1887]: "Algernon Montgomerie Caulfeild, Lieutenant, Northumberland Fusiliers. For services in Burma". He was made a Captain in the 2nd Border Regiment. In 1889 he was serving with mounted infantry in the Chin Lushai country {Medal with three clasps). He was promoted to Major, 23 February 1898, and retired 27 August 1902. He served in the European War, as Second in Command of the Border Regiment, and was killed in action on 9 August 1915, at Gallipoli. The following are some details sent by relatives: The first is a letter written by the only surviving officer of the 6th Border Regt, 29th Division, who was wounded at Suvla in the attack on Hill 70, Gallipoli Peninsula, .10 August 1915: Mayfield, Freshfield, near Liverpool.
dear Miss caulfeild, I am sorry to say I can hold out no hope of Major Caulfield being alive; in fact, when I made up the return I felt I ought to have shown him as killed, but I could find no man that ever saw him again after he went off towards the fire on Burnt Hill—he went walking off towards the Turkish trenches as if he were walking down Piccadilly. Captain Gilbanks, who went off in that direction with his Platoon, was killed, and his Platoon practically wiped out. Any men of it that I have seen did not see him. It is possible that his body will never be found. I feel I have lost a great friend, and one of the bravest comrades it was possible to serve with; he did not know what fear was. I saw him down the front of the two supporting companies under a hail of bullets in a way no living man could forget. There is another point that may go to prove that he is killed; as far as I know he was the only man that wore leggings. Well, during the attack on Burnt Hill an officer called Blake, attached to the South Wales Borderers, who was next me in Hospital, said that on the 21st he saw as he passed a smartly dressed Major lying near the top dressed in leggings; of course he had no time to look, and afterwards we were driven off the Hill again. If I hear any more I will let you know. I am glad to feel I have been privileged to serve under Major Caulfeild. Colonel Broadrick I know had the highest opinion of him, and we all know that if he had chosen he could have obtained a comparatively soft job; but he preferred to go into action leading men. Please accept my deepest, sympathy. Yours very truly, G Darwell
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Northumberland Fusiliers |
