Major Charles Herbert Villiers-Stuart MiD
Australian and New Zealand Army Corps HQ
by Robert Simpson
Charles Herbert Villiers-Stuart was born on 2nd September 1874 at 78 Coates Garden in Edinburgh, Scotland. He was a son to Captain Henry John Richard Villiers-Stuart and Jane Rigby Murray. Henry and Jane had been married on 4th May 1870 in St George Hanover Square in London. Henry’s father was also a Captain, his Grandfather was Lord of Bute and his Great-Grandfather was 1st Marques of Bute. Henry was born on 3rd March 1837 in London and Jane was born in 1850 in Manchester. Her father was a cotton spinner. Charles was one of seven children to them, 3 boys and 3 girls (the 7th child is not documented, and may have died young as the 1911 census for them states they had 7 children, with 6 still alive then). In the 1871 census, Henry and Jane were living with her family at Polygon in Manchester. He was listed as Captain, unattached Major of Militia. The next census for the family was in 1901 in Ireland, which listed Henry, Jane and the two youngest daughters. They were living in Castletown in County Kilkenny. His religion was shown as Irish Church. He was listed in Thom’s Official Directory of Ireland in 1910 in the section “Majestys Lieutenants of Counties, Deputy Lieutenants and Magistrates of Ireland” as living at Waterford, Carrick on Suir and was also listed in the County and Borough Directory at the same address. The 1911 census shows just Henry and Jane at Whitechurch in County Kilkenny and he was a retired Colonel and a JP. Henry passed away on 10th May 1914 at Carrick-on-Suir, Kilkenny, Ireland. Jane was his primary beneficiary, receiving effects of over £360. Jane then moved back to England, living in Farnham, Surrey, where she passed away on 12th March 1933.
Charles was living at Newton College in Newton Abbot as a pupil in the 1891 census. William was also there, both listed under their middle names. After finishing there, he went to the Royal Military College at Sandhurst, entering in 1893 as a Cadet and leaving in 1895. He was first commissioned on 16th January 1895 as a 2nd Lieutenant and was posted to Indian Staff Corps in March 1896. Harts Army List of 1908 shows Charles being promoted to Lieutenant on 16th April 1897 in Indian Staff Corps, and to Captain on 16th January 1904. It also lists his army service up until then. It reads: “Captain C. H. Villiers-Stuart served in the campaign on the North West Frontier of India under Sir William Lockhart in 1897-98 with the Tirah Expeditionary Force with the 21st Madras Pioneers, and was present in the operations between Kohat and Parachinar in September and October 1897, and in the action at Dargai on 20th October (Medal with two Clasps).” Charles then transferred to the 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force) in 1898 and was with them in the Mahsud Weziri blockade of 1901. He was listed with Indian Staff Corps as a Lieutenant in 1902. On 16th January 1904, he was promoted to Captain and was listed in Harts Annual Army List of 1908 with the 56th Infantry (Frontier Force), whose headquarters were at Kohat. He was listed as Double Company Commander on 27th February 1900. Another entry in that List shows that he had 14 years’ service with the Indian Army, He was listed in the Captains with 56 Infantry after his name and Unattached List in the Last Regiment column. In the quarterly list of British Officers in the Indian Army on 1st January 1912, he was listed as a Captain with the 56 Rifles. He graduated at the Staff College in Quetta and was appointed Brigade Major in November 1908, then became DAQMG, DAA and QMG India, holding those staff appointments at Kohat and Simla until October 1914. At the beginning of WW1, the 56th Punjabi’s were stationed at Kohat on the North-Western Frontier. They initially served with the 28th Indian Infantry Brigade, as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force.
He was entitled to the India General Service Medal 1895 with Waziristan 1901-02 and 2 other clasps for his time in India. He was also awarded the Delhi Durbar 1911 Medal as a Lieutenant-Colonel with the 56th Rifles as Deputy Assistant Adjutant and Quarter-Master-General, Kohat Brigade.
This is the uniform jacket he wore while with the 56th Rifles in India. It is on show at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum.
Charles married Joan Lascelles Shepley-Shepley on 10th September 1913. The Homeward Mail of 5th October 1912 had an article “A marriage has been arranged between Capt. Charles Herbert Villiers-Stuart, 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force), and Joan, daughter of Robert Shepley Shepley, of Torkington, Cheshire, and Troquhain, New Galloway.” According to a newspaper article, it was the first marriage in St Margaret’s Episcopal Church in New Galloway. She had been born in Chapel-En-Le-Frith in Derbyshire in 1892. Her father was a land owner. They had one child, born 9th June 1915 and named Charles Henry Villiers-Stuart.
He was appointed Brigade Major of the 29th Infantry Brigade, Indian Expeditionary Field Force, which left India in November 1914. Heading to Egypt, they were involved in the action of Sheik Syed, near Perim. After coming over with the Indian Brigade, he was transferred to General Birdwood’s Headquarters Staff of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps in December 1914, and proceeded to Gallipoli.
A01580 Group portrait of officers of the Anzac Corps Headquarters outside Shepheard’s Hotel. Back row, left to right (standing) 6th person- Maj C H Villiers Stuart, 56th Punjabi Rifles, Indian Army (Frontier Force), GSO2.
Charles was acting as Lieutenant-General Birdwood’s chief intelligence officer and was the original Intelligence Officer on Corps Headquarters.
The Australian War Memorial has some papers for Charles, under Honours and Awards (Recommendations). The first is a list titled Army Corps Headquarters, which lists “Major C. H. Villiers Stuart G.S.O. 2”, with other officers there. A letter from Divisional Headquarters at Anzac Cove on 4th July 1915 was a copy of recommendations for honours and awards in the case of the following officers; which included Major Villiers-Stuart. In the order of merit, he was equal number 3 with Major D J Glasfurd of Headquarters 1st Australian Division. The citation read “Major Villiers Stuart and Major Glasfurd (GSO11) during the landing on the 25th April performed signal service in selecting forming-up places and rendezvous and aiding in the collection of units. During the day and night of both the 25th and 26th April, by their gallantry and devotion to duty, they greatly asserted, firstly, in guiding units into allotted positions and, subsequently, in re-adjusting the line held.”
He was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch on 12th June 1915, for services he considered deserving of special mention and was published in the 2nd Supplement to the London Gazette, dated 5th August 1915. The entry was under Australian and New Zealand Forces Staff and read “Major C. H. Villiers-Stuart, 56th Rifles (killed in action).” The London Gazette of 17th August 1915 had an entry under Regular Forces Commands and Staff that the appointment was made for “Major Charles H. Villiers-Stuart, 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force), Indian Army. Dated 28th October, 1914.” To be a Brigade Major.
Charles is recorded as being killed in action at Courtney’s Post. Charles Bean wrote of him, which was included in Military Order 466 of 1915 and read, under the title “A FINE OFFICER”, “But sometimes, for no reason that I can give, it does come as an unaccountable shock. I well remember the day that we returned from Cape Helles. It has come as a shock, a heavy shock, in the morning to hear that our General was wounded, and not expected to live. In the afternoon, I heard the name of another officer mentioned, an officer on the Army Corps Staff- not an Australian, but one who had done very brave work for Australians – Major Villiers Stuart the Chief Intelligence Officer at Anzac. He was a man whose figure one had grown accustomed to see daily walking off to various corners of the position, sketching and working out his map – a British officer of the very best type, unassuming, quiet, considerate, and like most officers, British and Australian, without the knowledge of what fear is. I heard someone mention his name, and the next moment someone was saying that he had been killed about an hour before. He had been out sketching as usual – correcting some valleys in the map. One of his clerks was sitting beside him with the drawing-board on both knees. Presently two shells burst down over the landscape, about 200 yards in front of them. “About time we were moving” he had said, and he had just risen to walk back when he slipped to his knees. His companion thought he had merely fallen, but he was shot through the heart with a shrapnel pellet. He was buried that night after dark in the little cemetery at a certain corner of the beach. That shoulder, with its little collection of crosses, should be very sacred to Australians. All the crosses are simple, some of them pathetically so, just a bit of broken biscuit box nailed across another, with some name scored on it in indelible pencil – save the mark, some of them are washed out already – one of them is just the top end of an improvised broken crutch.” Driver Herbert Leslie Arthur, carried the mortally wounded Villiers-Stuart to safety, returned to recover his sketching gear and was then wounded himself (as discussed below).
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission records him as Major Charles Herbert Villiers-Stuart, aged 40, regiment 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force) attached to Headquarters Staff Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, Mentioned in Despatches and buried in grave I. H. 4 at Beach Cemetery ANZAC. He was a son of Colonel Villiers-Stuart, of Castletown, Carrick-on-Suir, Ireland; husband of Joan Villiers-Stuart, of Troquhain, Balmaclellan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
CWGC records for Beach Cemetery at map reference 79.2.9 shows that Major C H Villiers-Stuart of 56 Rifles attached to HQ Staff ANZAC is buried in plot number 1, row H, grave 4 (old number B.8.4.) and the officiating Chaplain was J Green. He is close to the grave for 202 Private John Simpson Kirkpatrick, who was killed two days later. Records also show a cross was to be added, with the wording set out as it appears. His wife also added the words “A man greatly beloved” and the verse Daniel X.11. Her address was given as Troquhain, Balmaclellan, Kirkcudbrightshire, Scotland.
He was mentioned in two local Irish papers: –
The Freemans Journal on 26th May 15.
Killed in action – Major Villiers Stuart son of the late Colonel Villiers Stuart, Castlane, Carrick on Suir has been killed in action at the Dardanelles. Deep sympathy is felt in Carrick-on-Suir district for his mother Mrs. Villiers Stuart and for his sisters, all of whom have been prominently identified with every charitable movement in the Town and District.
The Kilkenny Moderator, 2 June 1915.
Major C. H. Villiers-Stuart, 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force), who was killed in the recent fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, was attached to the General staff of Lieut-General Sir W. Birdwood, K.C.S.I., C.B., C.I.E., D.S.O., commanding the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. He entered the service the 16th January 1895 and served in the Tirah Campaign, 1897, with the 21st Madras Pioneers. He exchanged into the 56th Punjabi Rifles (Frontier Force) in 1898, and served with them in the Mahsud Weziri blockade of 1901. He was the second son of the late Lieut. Colonel Villiers -Stuart, and Mrs. Villiers-Stuart of Castlane, Carrick-on-Suir and married in September, 1913, Joan Shepley-Shepley, daughter of Robert Shepley-Shepley, Esq. of Troquhain, Kirkcudbrightshire. The news that Major Villiers-Stuart has been killed in action caused the greatest sorrow in Carrick-on-Suir and district where the family are so well known and highly respected. Much sympathy is felt for the members of the family in the loss sustained by the death of this gallant officer.
The Brisbane Courier of 5th June 1915 had a list of killed and wounded and under the heading of New South Wales, killed in action, was Major V. H Villiers Stuart, Australian and New Zealand Headquarters. He was also listed in The Queenslander of 12th June 1915.
The Irish National Roll of Honour has an entry for him which includes information from four Irish newspapers which include: –
Munster Express, May 1915. Mrs Villiers Stuart, Castleane, Carrick-on-Suir, has been informed that her son was killed in action a few days ago at the Dardanelles. Deep sympathy is felt in Carrick and the adjoining districts for Mrs Villiers Stuart and the Misses Villiers Stuart in their bereavement. Two other sons of Mrs Villers Stuart are on active service at the front. Also in June 1915. On the proposition of Mr Morrissey, seconded by Mr Bowers, a resolution was unanimously adopted to Mrs Villiers Stuart and family, Castleane, Carrick-on-Suir, on the death of Major Herbert Villiers Stuart, who was killed at the Dardanelles. Mr Morrissey said the late Major Villiers Stuart’s father was for many years an active member of the board and a very kind-hearted gentleman.
Limerick Chronicle, May 1915. Much sympathy is felt in the district with his mother and sisters, who have been always identified with charitable movements.
Irish Independent; Major C H Villiers Stuart, of Castleane, Carrick-on-Suir, left property of the gross value of £2,313.
26th May 1915. Freeman’s Journal. Deep sympathy is felt in Carrick-on-Suir district for his mother, Mrs Villiers Stuart, and for his sisters, all of whom have always been prominently identified with every charitable movement in the town and district.
Charles Villiers-Stuart is commemorated on The Great War Memorial in St Canice’s Cathedral in Kilkenny, Ireland. He is also named in the Scottish Roll of Honour in the Scottish National War Memorial, Edinburgh Castle, Edinburgh and in the Australian Commemorative Roll, located in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia.
The memorial in Edinburgh consists of several printed volumes. Charles Villiers-Stuart is in the Roll for the Indian Army, with his entry shown as above.
P02648.003 Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. c May 1915. The grave of Major C. H. Villiers Stuart, 56 Rifles Frontier Force, who was killed in action on 17 May 1915. Major Villiers Stuart was an Intelligence Officer with the Indian Army.
He was also recorded in Ireland, Casualties of World War I, 1914-1922.
C05284.The grave beside (Dawkins) is marked “In memory of Major C. H. Villiers Stuart 56 Rifles Frontier Force Killed in Action 17 May 1915”. Major Villiers-Stuart was an Indian Army Officer, who held the post of Intelligence Officer in the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps.
Two photos of his grave and a picture of Beach Cemetery.
He was entitled to the 1914-15 Star, British War and Victory medals from his WW1 service. They were issued by the Government of India. His Medal Index Card shows he was with the 56th Rifles and Indian Army. The medal rolls show he was with the 56th Rifles and the medals were issued in 1920 and 1921 from the India Office.
There are no service records for him in British or Australian Archives. National Archives Australia has fours sheets filed for him. They involve correspondence to find records for him, with Base Records sending the Director of Base Records, New Zealand Expeditionary Forces in Wellington a letter on 24th March 1916, “Herewith Army Form B 2090 A (report of death of officer), in the case of Major V. H. Villiers-Stuart who was killed in action whilst attached to the 1st Australian Divisional Headquarters. No records of this officer are held in Australia, hence its transmission to you. Kindly acknowledge receipt.” Base Records NZ replied on 19th April 1916 “Re – Major V.H. VILLIERS-STUART. I have to acknowledge receipt of your47356 of the 24th ultimo enclosing Army Form B. 2090 A. in connection with the above officer. The New Zealand Defence Department has no record of Major Villiers-Stuart and the document is being filed here in the meantime.” Another couple of papers have written on them “Major Villiers-Stuart VH Australian & New Zealand H’Qrs. Killed in action at the Dardanelles M.F.C. 3258/205 dated 26/5/15 (enlisted in NZ no attestation paper) 18/5/15 Killed in Action Gallipoli Peninsula buried at Gallipoli Peninsula A.F. B.2090A. Received” At the bottom is written “file with Misc.” In all probability, his service records would be in India, but are not online.
He also has a record at Archives New Zealand – V. H. Stuart-Villiers – Major – Casualty for [Major Charles Herbert Villiers-Stuart, 56th Punjabi Rifles attached to Headquarters Staff Australia and New Zealand Army Corps, died 17 May 1915 at Gallipoli] (R21100613), but it is not online. It probably has to do with the correspondence from Base Records in Australia.
A scrap of paper has written on it –
“Enlisted in NZ no attestation paper
Major V H Villiers-Stuart A&NZ Headquarters
1414 M C Wellington (NZ) advised 1.6.15
Vide M 818”.
It is not clear why Base Records thought he enlisted in New Zealand.
A list sent to His Majesty’s Secretary of State for India at Simla, dated 21st January 1916 included “3. First and second copies of proceedings of committee, declaration of the widow securing payment of the preferential charges, her receipt for the estate, inventory of property, and statement of particulars respecting the late Major C. H Villiers-Stuart, 56th Punjabi Rifles, Frontier Force.” On 24th January 1916, the Divisional Disbursing officer for the I. E. Forces E. and G. sent the Under Secretary of State for India, at the India Office in Whitehall London, a request on a form, asking “I have the honour to request that you will, on receipt of this intimation, kindly pay the sums are per particulars noted below and intimate the fact of yours having done so to this office.” The form read: Rank and Name of officer – Major C H Villiers-Stuart I. A. (killed in action 19-5-15), Corps – (56th Punjabis) GSO 2nd Grade ANZAC, nature of transaction with full particulars – Sale proceeds of kit received from the Officer Commanding Base Depot, I.E.F. “G” due to the estate of the deceased officer, name and address of payee – Messrs Grindley & Co., 554 Parliament Street London, for being placed to the credit of Mrs C H Villiers-Stuart, widow and next of kin of the deceased officer, total amount – £349 11s 0p and in remarks column was “In continuation of this office letter No.S/18698 dated 16-8-1915.” Another amount for £23 6s 3p was handwritten on the form with a note in red pen saying passed for payment to Grindley & Co Attorney of Executor on 9th February 1916.
His son, Charles and Joan returned to Glasgow on the Corsican in Cabin Class from Canada on 25th September 1922. Joan lived at New Galloway in Scotland in the 1950 phone book. She died on 30th July 1950. Charles died 25th January 1987 in Cheltenham, with his last address as 79 Montpelier St Cheltenham. He left probate of £219255. A notice was published in Death Notices from The Times on 31st January. In a family tree on Ancestry he is noted as Captain RIASC, but no documentation can be found to confirm that.
His medals are Indian General Service medal 1895 with 4 clasps, 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal with MiD emblem and Delhi Durbar 1911 medal.
With Charles brothers and sisters: –
William Desmond was born on 11th April 1872 in Sleaford, Lincolnshire and baptised on 14th May 1872 at Cheetham, St Mark Church of England. Charles was listed as a Lieutenant-Colonel. In 1891 census, he was at Newton College in Newton Abbot as a pupil as well. He was first commissioned in the 1st Battalion, 5th Goorkha Regiment (Frontier Force) in the Indian Army on 2nd June 1894 as a 2nd Lieutenant. In 1902 he was in the Ind S C Regiment as a Lieutenant (promoted 2nd September 1896). He was promoted to Captain on 2nd June 1903 and was Double Company Officer and Adjutant from 1st April 1900. They were headquartered at Abbottabad. He was on the unattached list in the reserve Battalion 5th Goorkhas in 1908. In WW1, he was a Major in 1915 to 1918, with the Indian Army. Another site mentions he was with 3rd Battalion, QVO Corps of Guides Infantry. Thom’s Irish Who’s Who lists his service as North West Frontier of India 1897-98, Tirah Expedition 1897-98, Waziristan Expedition 1901-2, and commanded 9th Battalion Rifle Brigade in 1914-15. In 1922, he had risen to the rank of Colonel. On the 11th May 1924, he arrived at Plymouth on Matiana from Bombay, as a Colonel in 1st Class. His intended address was St Heliers, The Avenue, Camberley, Sussex. In June 1926, he married Erica Cecil Shepley-Shepley, who had been born in Scotland in 1896. Her father was a land owner, with property in Jamaica. In 1938, they went from England to Cape Town and back. William was listed as a Brigadier-General. They were living in Scotland and intended to live there on their return. William passed away at Hazelrigg, Balmaclellan, Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland on 25th January 1961. Two books were written, based on his diaries: Villiers-Stuart on the frontier, 1894-1914 and Villiers-Stuart goes to war, both edited by Robert Maxwell. He was awarded the DSO and CBE. Erica was still alive in 1978, living in Scotland.
Kathleen Jane was born on 6th June 1873 in Parton, Scotland. She was baptised on 23rd July 1873 in Ardwick St Thomas in England. She married Henry Richmond Gale in 1903 at Carrick-On-Suir, Ireland. Kathleen died on 28th December 1958 in Oak Bay, Canada.
Gertrude Elise was born on 18th December 1875 at Parton in Scotland. In the 1911 census, she was living by herself at Portman Square in London and she was a market gardener. On 10th October 1934, she travelled on Montrose to Canada, presumably for a holiday, as she intended to return to England. She gave a London address. On 8th June 1965, she passed away in Piltdown, Ireland, leaving an estate of over £19000. She never married.
Marie Violet was born on 19th May 1877 in Kilkenny, Ireland. She was still living with her parents in the Irish census of 1901. On 26th October 1918, she married Dr James William Henry Jellett (1865-1943) in Dublin. He was an ophthalmologist. She died on 4th September 1967.
John Patrick was born on 1st March 1879 in Cappoquin, Ireland. John entered Sandhurst in 1898, left the same year and was commissioned on 25th January 1899 as 2nd Lieutenant, promoted to Lieutenant on 25th April 1901, in 1909, was on the attached list, and in 1912, was a Captain with the 55th Rifles in India. Thom’s Irish Who’s Who of 1923 also listed that he had reached the rank of Captain in 1908, served in China in 1900, the North-West Frontier of India in 1901-2 and 1908 and was in East Africa in 1903-4. On 5th December 1914, he married Phyllis Mary Read (1894-1933). He was noted as a Captain in the 55 Rifles F.F. They had two daughters. In WW1, he was awarded a DSO in 1915. By 1922, he had reached the rank of Colonel. In 1923, they were living at Castlane, Carrick-on-Suir in Tipperary. After Phyllis died in 1933, he married Eileen Nora MacLaughlin (1902-1955) on 22nd December 1933 in Savoy Chapel, Westminster. They lived in Farnham, Surrey until his death on 22nd October 1958. He was also awarded CB, OBE.
John also wrote a book “Letters of a once Punjab Frontier Force officer to his nephew: giving his ideas on fighting on the North-West Frontier and in Afghanistan.” Author Villiers-Stuart, John Patrick. It was published in 1925.
The Maryborough Military and Colonial Museum has the Military Medal for 2327 Driver Herbert Leslie Arthur, 103rd Battery, 3rd Australian Field Artillery Brigade who “At ANZAC on the night of 12th May 1915 was in charge of a fatigue party constructing a gun pit in the open under fire for two hours. He volunteered for this work and on being relieved still continued to assist in carrying sandbags across the open, during which operation, five men were wounded. When Major Villiers-Stuart was seriously wounded, Arthur conveyed him to a place of safety and returned for this Officer’s sketching instruments. He was knocked down by the blast of a shell while on the later errand.” He was wounded in 1916 and had malaria, went AWOL a few times and returned to Australia in January 1919.
MM for H L Arthur
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women
whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the
Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum,
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