Cavendish, Hugh Crawford

CAVENDISH,

HUGH CRAWFORD

BORN 1 JANUARY 1881

Hugh Crawford Cavendish

was born in Cochin (now Kochi), Southern India, on 1 January 1881, son of Alexander Carnegie Cavendish (b 1845 in Bristol) and Joanna May Campbell Cavendish (née Crawford b 1854 in India). His parents were married in Madras in 1876.

Hugh had an older brother, Alexander, (b 1879), a younger sister Mary Carnegie (b 1882) and a younger brother James Robert Carnegie (b 1885). Hugh and his three siblings were all baptised in Madras.

Hugh’s older brother, Alexander, entered the School on 10 May 1889, aged 9. Hugh entered the School on 22 September 1892, aged 11, at the same time as his younger brother James Robert Carnegie, aged 7. The family lived at 5 Northcote Road, Bristol and his father worked as an agent for the Bank of Madras. Alexander Carnegie Cavendish died in India on 5 April 1893 and the three children left the School in the same month. Hugh and James attended Bedford Modern School from September 1893.

Hugh Crawford received his commission on passing out of Woolwich in November 1899. He served in the South Africa War and was awarded the Queen’s medal with two clasps. Hugh, aged 27, married Marjory Philippa George,

Fifth Panel aged 27, in Fleet Church, Dorset on 8 September 1908. At that time, he was living at Fleet House near Weymouth. Moving back to India, his daughter, Barbara Anne Crawford, was born on 6 July 1909. The 1911 census records Hugh, aged 30, and his wife Marjory as living in Jullundur Cantonments, Punjab India. A son, Hugh Edward Cavendish, was born in 1912 in Fleet, Dorset but died in infancy.

In 1914, Hugh became a Major and went to Belgium in the first battle of Ypres, serving in the 7th Division. He

was wounded and returned home. In July 1915 he returned to the front serving with the Royal Field Artillery, B

Battery, 87th Brigade. Hugh died in the Battle of the Somme, on 1 August 1916,

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CONT. CAVENDISH,

HUGH CRAWFORD

BORN 1 JANUARY 1881

aged 35, leaving his parents and widow, Marjory, of Upper Chilland House, Winchester. His War Grave is in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz (grave reference VIII G 2). It is likely his body was moved to this cemetery from one of the many smaller ones in the area after the Armistice.

Hugh was mentioned in despatches in the London Gazette on two occasions: 17th February 1915 and 4th January 1917.

Hugh is commemorated on several memorials. The life of Hugh Crawford Cavendish is commemorated in the church of the Holy Trinity in Fleet, Dorset.

Inside the church is a wooden cross bearing his name.

There is also a brass plate (see below) with the inscription ‘In thankfulness to God for the most dear memory of a very true and gallant Soldier, Hugh Crawford Cavendish…’

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