FETHERSTONHAUGH, Cuthbert Murchison
| Service Numbers: | 478, N353347, N472406 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 15 April 1915, Sydney, New South Wales |
| Last Rank: | Lieutenant Colonel |
| Last Unit: | Volunteer Defence Corps (SA) |
| Born: | North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 10 February 1879 |
| Home Town: | Sydney, City of Sydney, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Shore School, North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | Grazier |
| Died: | Natural causes, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia , 20 September 1961, aged 82 years |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour |
Boer War Service
| 1 Oct 1899: | Involvement Lance Corporal, 478, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles | |
|---|---|---|
| 1 Jan 1900: | Involvement Australian and Colonial Military Forces - Boer War Contingents, Lance Corporal, 478, 1st New South Wales Mounted Rifles |
World War 1 Service
| 15 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Sydney, New South Wales | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jun 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 12th Light Horse Regiment, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '3' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Jun 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 12th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Suevic, Sydney | |
| 25 Aug 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 12th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 5 Mar 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Captain, 12th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 24 Apr 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Major, 12th Light Horse Regiment | |
| 31 Oct 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Major, 12th Light Horse Regiment, Battle of Beersheba, GSW (thigh) | |
| 20 Jun 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Major, 12th Light Horse Regiment |
World War 2 Service
| 26 Mar 1942: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N353347 | |
|---|---|---|
| 26 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Lieutenant Colonel, N353347, Coonamble, New South Wales | |
| 26 Mar 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N353347 | |
| 17 Nov 1943: | Discharged Lieutenant Colonel, N353347, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA) | |
| 29 Nov 1943: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N472406 | |
| 29 Nov 1943: | Enlisted Lieutenant Colonel, N472406, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA), Dubbo, New South Wales | |
| 29 Nov 1943: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N472406 | |
| 10 Feb 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Lieutenant Colonel, N472406 | |
| 10 Feb 1944: | Discharged Lieutenant Colonel, N472406, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA) |
Battle of Beersheba
BEAN [Gullett] recounts the episode at Beersheba in which Major Fetherstonhaugh won his DSO. He makes the point that the first thought of Fetherstornhaugh "a South African veteran and a fine old soldier" was for his wounded horse and he "put the animal out of its pain with a shot from his revolver, [before he] rushed on into the trench, emptied his weapon into the nearest Turks, and then fell, shot through both legs." [V1 398] DSO '*On the 31 October 1917, in the attack on BEERSHEBA, this officer was with his Squadron supporting the leading squadron when it came in touch with the enemy trenches which formed the main defences obstructing the attack. The enemy opened a very heavy rifle and machine gun fire. Major FETHERSTONHAUGH, quickly summing up the situation, with great gallantry charged full at the trenches, mingling with the leading squadron, and thereby making the pressure so heavy as to quickly overcome the enemy and so enabled the assault to be carried on successfully to BEERSHEBA. This officer's horse was shot from under him about 40 yards from the trench but he continued to lead his men forward using his revolver with good effect until wounded in both legs.
Submitted 6 July 2017 by Trevor Fetherstonhaugh
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
Courtesy of Rod Chandler, Australia and NZ in WWI
Major C.M. Fetherstonhaugh, a grazier from Coonamble, New South Wales, found his fine charger had been hit 30 metres from the trenches. It didn't make the first 'hurdle'. The major dismounted, took out his revolver and shot it between the eyes. It was a horrible moment for him. He loved that horse. Fired up and bent on pay-back, Fetherstonhaugh rushed to the trench firing at the Turks. He killed four before being shot in both legs. Mounted stretcher bearers arrived and attended to him with the fact they had to save lives. It was their job and duty. They didn't have time to think about anything else. They just did what they had to in any accident situation. None had shirked the heaviest of fire. In the rush, some stretcher-bearers, unarmed and focused, were killed.
The AUSTRALIAN LIGHT HORSE
Roland Perry
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