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RAMC profile of:
John Handfield BRUNSKILL M.B., B.Ch.
 
 


Place or Date
of Birth:
Rathmines, Dublin on the 17th April 1875

Service Number:

TF Number:

Rank: Lt/Col

Unit:

Attached To: Staff = D.A.D.M.S. - 5th Division

Enlistment Location:

Also Served: Various - see below

Outcome: Continued to serve after the war

Date Died: 21/7/1940
Age Died: 65

Where Buried and/or Commemorated: Kingston upon Thames

Awards: MiDx4, DSO; OBE

Gazette Reference: 17/2/1915, 15/6/1916, 4/1/1917, 30/4/1919; 1/1/1917; 3/3/1919.
 


Other Information:

John was a student at Trinity College, Dublin and played for Dublin in cricket at county level, scoring 25 and 58 when Dublin beat the MCC on tour in 1895. He gained a commission in the Medical Services, at the rank of Lieutenant, on 29th November 1900, then went to West Africa 1901-1903, gaining promotion to Captain on 29th November 1903. He was then posted to India 1905 - 1909. On 29th August 1912, John was promoted to the rank of Major, and was serving under this rank when war broke out. He embarked for France on the 9th August 1914, as Deputy Assistant Director for Medical services for the 5th Division. On 26th August 1914, he was in the village of Reumont, which was under heavy shell-fire. Shells smashed into the roofs of houses and onto the roof of the church where the wounded were being treated, and so orders were issued for the field ambulance there to retire with its wounded. Unfortunately there were only two ambulance wagons available at the time. These wagons were loaded to full capacity, then John, along with two other R.A.M.C. officers remained to care for and transfer to German hands the remaining 60 wounded. He stayed there himself until captured and became a prisoner of war. Because of his devotion to duty at this time, John was mentioned in one of the first of the Commander-in-Chief’s despatches. He was repatriated (exchanged) on 29th June 1915, but returned to France the same year. He served under the rank of temporary Lieutenant Colonel from the 23rd September 1915, and became the Officer Commanding No 29 Casualty Clearing Station. He remained with this unit until 1917, when he was transferred to Mesopotamia, and served at Dunsterforce, N. Peria and Norperforce. His post as temporary Lt/Col ceased on 29th October 1917, but he gained full promoted to Lieutenant Colonel on the 28th August 1918. It is believed that he was stationed at the field hospital at Gazincourt at a time when there was a serious train accident and distinguished himself with his courage at dealing with the casualties - for which he was mentioned in dispatches. He married Elizabeth Mabel, the daughter of the late A Robinson, and was a specialist in Bacteriology. John retired on pay on the 27th April 1920 but rejoined the army in 1921 and continued to serve. He was the son of T R Brunskill. [Personal details kindly provided by Lt/Col Brunskill's grandson]


 
 
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