Herbert Lumsden
1897 - 1945
1897 - 1945
Lieutenant-General Herbert William Lumsden, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, was born in Santiago, Chile on April 8, 1897, the son of John and Anna Lumsden. He was educated at The Leys School, in Cambridge.
Lieutenant-General Herbert William Lumsden, CB, DSO & Bar, MC, was born in Santiago, Chile on April 8, 1897, the son of John and Anna Lumsden. He was educated at The Leys School, in Cambridge.
He served in the ranks with the Territorial Force for ten months before passing into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery in August 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross on July 26, 1918 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during 13 days of continuous fighting in charge of a forward section.
He served in the ranks with the Territorial Force for ten months before passing into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He was commissioned into the Royal Horse Artillery in August 1916. He was awarded the Military Cross on July 26, 1918 for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during 13 days of continuous fighting in charge of a forward section.
He married Mary Alice Roddick on April 1923. They would go on to have two sons, Michael and Peter.
He married Mary Alice Roddick on April 1923. They would go on to have two sons, Michael and Peter.
Despite standing 6ft tall, he became a successful amateur rider and was among the best soldier riders of the inter-war period. He achieved one of his earliest victories on The Pilot XIII in the Royal Artillery Welter Hunters’ Chase at Sandown on April 14, 1925. (They followed up a fortnight later by winning the Subalterns’ Cup Chase at Aldershot.) That same afternoon, April 14, 1925, Henry rode the winner of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, Speedy Minstrel.
Despite standing 6ft tall, he became a successful amateur rider and was among the best soldier riders of the inter-war period. He achieved one of his earliest victories on The Pilot XIII in the Royal Artillery Welter Hunters’ Chase at Sandown on April 14, 1925. (They followed up a fortnight later by winning the Subalterns’ Cup Chase at Aldershot.) That same afternoon, April 14, 1925, Henry rode the winner of the Royal Artillery Gold Cup, Speedy Minstrel.
In June of that year he transferred from the Royal Artillery to the 12th Royal Lancers, a cavalry regiment. Two months later he was promoted from lieutenant to captain.
In June of that year he transferred from the Royal Artillery to the 12th Royal Lancers, a cavalry regiment. Two months later he was promoted from lieutenant to captain.
His best horse was Foxtrot, whom he acquired for 270 guineas after he’d won a Hurst Park selling chase in December 1925 and sent him to be trained by Percy Woodland. Captain Lumsden rode him to victory at Newbury three weeks later, on New Year’s Eve.
His best horse was Foxtrot, whom he acquired for 270 guineas after he’d won a Hurst Park selling chase in December 1925 and sent him to be trained by Percy Woodland. Captain Lumsden rode him to victory at Newbury three weeks later, on New Year’s Eve.
He won eight races on Foxtrot in 1926. They included the Grand Military Gold Cup (left & below), the 12th Royal Lancers’ Challenge Cup at Beaufort Hunt and a walkover for the Beaumont Challenge Cup at Fontwell. They won two optional selling chases at Chelmsford, dead-heating in the first of them with Bilbie Rees’s mount Ardeen.
He won eight races on Foxtrot in 1926. They included the Grand Military Gold Cup (left & below), the 12th Royal Lancers’ Challenge Cup at Beaufort Hunt and a walkover for the Beaumont Challenge Cup at Fontwell. They won two optional selling chases at Chelmsford, dead-heating in the first of them with Bilbie Rees’s mount Ardeen.
They won that year’s Royal Artillery Ubique Handicap Chase at Sandown (below)e on April 6, completing a double for the rider initiated by Raft Man in the Royal Artillery Welter Hunters’ Chase. One of Foxtrot’s best performances came in defeat when second to future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Thrown In in the Viscount Tredegar’s Challenge Cup at Newport.
They won that year’s Royal Artillery Ubique Handicap Chase at Sandown (below)e on April 6, completing a double for the rider initiated by Raft Man in the Royal Artillery Welter Hunters’ Chase. One of Foxtrot’s best performances came in defeat when second to future Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Thrown In in the Viscount Tredegar’s Challenge Cup at Newport.
Captain Lumsden finished second on Foxtrot in the 1927 Grand Military Gold Cup. However, they won the Royal Artillery Ubique Handicap Chase for the second year running. They finished fifth in the 1928 Grand Military Gold Cup.
Captain Lumsden finished second on Foxtrot in the 1927 Grand Military Gold Cup. However, they won the Royal Artillery Ubique Handicap Chase for the second year running. They finished fifth in the 1928 Grand Military Gold Cup.
Altogether, he rode in nine Grand Military Gold Cups between 1924 and 1938. He finished second on Old Spinster in 1935.
Altogether, he rode in nine Grand Military Gold Cups between 1924 and 1938. He finished second on Old Spinster in 1935.
Captain Lumsden rode Foxtrot in the 1928 Grand National.
Captain Lumsden rode Foxtrot in the 1928 Grand National.
Following the ‘Easter Hero’ debacle at the Canal Turn that year which had resulted in half the field being put out of the race, they were among a handful of survivors coming back onto the ‘racecourse proper’, albeit a fence behind the leaders. They pulled up soon after the water jump. This was Captain Lumsden’s second Grand National attempt. He had ridden Wallsend in 1926 but fell on the first circuit.
Following the ‘Easter Hero’ debacle at the Canal Turn that year which had resulted in half the field being put out of the race, they were among a handful of survivors coming back onto the ‘racecourse proper’, albeit a fence behind the leaders. They pulled up soon after the water jump. This was Captain Lumsden’s second Grand National attempt. He had ridden Wallsend in 1926 but fell on the first circuit.
He was promoted to major in 1931 and held staff appointments in the cavalry for the next four years, being GSO3 of Aldershot Command and then Brigade Major of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1936. In 1938 he was given command of his old regiment, the 12th Royal Lancers in succession to Colonel Richard McCreery.
He was promoted to major in 1931 and held staff appointments in the cavalry for the next four years, being GSO3 of Aldershot Command and then Brigade Major of the 1st Cavalry Brigade. He was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel in 1936. In 1938 he was given command of his old regiment, the 12th Royal Lancers in succession to Colonel Richard McCreery.
He was widely praised for his command of his regiment during the arrival in Dunkirk in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was promoted again and commanded a tank brigade before being appointed General Office Commanding (GOC) of 6th Armoured Division in the Home Command in October 1941. Later that year he was given command of the 1st Armoured Division and saw service in the North African Campaign.
He was widely praised for his command of his regiment during the arrival in Dunkirk in 1940 as part of the British Expeditionary Force and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). He was promoted again and commanded a tank brigade before being appointed General Office Commanding (GOC) of 6th Armoured Division in the Home Command in October 1941. Later that year he was given command of the 1st Armoured Division and saw service in the North African Campaign.
He was wounded twice in 1942 and, on his return to service, was appointed commander of the X Corps for the Second Battle of El Alamein. He was given command of the VIII Corps in Britain in January 1943 and command of II Corps in July, before being sent to the Pacific as Winston Churchill's special military representative to United States Army General Douglas MacArthur.
He was wounded twice in 1942 and, on his return to service, was appointed commander of the X Corps for the Second Battle of El Alamein. He was given command of the VIII Corps in Britain in January 1943 and command of II Corps in July, before being sent to the Pacific as Winston Churchill's special military representative to United States Army General Douglas MacArthur.
On January 6, 1945, Japanese kamikaze began an assault on American naval forces transporting MacArthur’s 6th Army to a landing on Luzon, in the Philippines. Fifteen ships were hit on the first day of the bombardment and Lieutenant-General Lumsden was killed while on the bridge of the United States Navy battleship USS New Mexico. He was 47 and was the most senior British Army combat casualty of the Second World War.
On January 6, 1945, Japanese kamikaze began an assault on American naval forces transporting MacArthur’s 6th Army to a landing on Luzon, in the Philippines. Fifteen ships were hit on the first day of the bombardment and Lieutenant-General Lumsden was killed while on the bridge of the United States Navy battleship USS New Mexico. He was 47 and was the most senior British Army combat casualty of the Second World War.