Frederick William Lumsden

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 life
Frederick William Lumsden was born into a military family in Frizabad, India on 14 December 1872. His father, James Foot Lumsden, worked in the Indian Civil Service. At a young age he returned to Britain and attended Bristol Grammar School.

Military career
At the age of eighteen, Lumsden 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.

Awards and decorations
On 1 January 1917, Major Lumsden was awarded his first Distinguished Service Order "for distinguished service in the field".

On 8 June 1917, the awarding of the Victoria Cross to Major Lumsden was approved. This was for actions that took place between 3 and 4 April 1917 in Francilly, France. The citation in the London Gazette reads as follows: Maj. Frederick William Lumsden, D.S.O., R.M.A.

For most conspicuous bravery, determination and devotion to duty.

Six enemy field guns having been captured, it was necessary to leave them in dug-in positions, 300 yards in advance of the position held by our troops. The enemy kept the captured guns under heavy fire.

Maj. Lumsden undertook the duty of bringing the guns into our lines.

In order to effect this, he personally led four artillery teams and a party of infantry through the hostile barrage. As one of these teams sustained casualties, he left the remaining teams in a covered position, and, through very heavy rifle, machine gun and shrapnel fire, led the infantry to the guns. By force of example and inspiring energy he succeeded in sending back two teams with guns, going through the barrage with the teams of the third gun. He then returned to the guns to await further teams, and these he succeeded in attaching to two of the three remaining guns, despite rifle fire, which had become intense at short range, and removed the guns to safety.

By this time the enemy, in considerable strength, had driven through the infantry covering points, and blown up the breach of the remaining gun.

Maj. Lumsden then returned, drove off the enemy, attached the gun to a team and got it away.

Death and remembrance
He was killed in action at Blairvill, near Arras, France, on 4 June 1918. He is buried in the Berles New Military Cemetery, Berles-au-Bois, France.

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.