Arthur Asquith
First World War
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| Awards | Mentioned in Despatches (France)Croix de guerre |
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Early life
Arthur Asquith was born in 1883, the third son of politician H. H. Asquith and his wife Helen Melland, who died when Arthur was seven in 1891. Asquith was educated at Winchester College with his brothers and later attended New College, Oxford as an undergraduate. After completing his studies, he joined the trading firm Franklin & Herrera, with whom he did extensive business in Argentina.[1]
Military career
When the
The Royal Naval Division suffered heavy casualties in the
In 1916, The Royal Naval Division, now designated the 63rd Division, was sent to the
On 17 December 1917, Asquith was badly wounded forcing his evacuation to Britain. Despite extensive surgery, his leg was amputated in January 1918, forcing his retirement from the military with the rank of brigadier general. He then served the remainder of the war with the
Honours
Citation for first Distinguished Service Order (DSO):
Temp. Lt.-Com. Arthur Melland Asquith, R.N.V.R.
For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He obtained leave to go up to the front when he heard a fight was imminent. Later, although wounded, he returned to Brigade Headquarters and gave a clear account of the situation and of the fighting, which had been going on during the night. He has previously done fine work.— London Gazette 17 April 1917[6]
Citation for first bar to his Distinguished Service Order (i.e. second DSO):
Temp. Actg. Comdr. Arthur Melland Asquith, D.S.O., R.N.V.R.
For conspicuous gallantry and determination in the attack and clearance of a village, when he personally captured ten of the enemy, and later organised its defence, and, by his contempt of danger under heavy fire, contributed greatly to the success of the operations and to the steadiness of all ranks with him.— London Gazette 17 July 1917[7]
Personal life
On 30 April 1918, four months after his injury and leg amputation, Asquith married Betty Constance Manners, sister of Francis Manners, 4th Baron Manners, a Grenadier Guards officer then serving as his aide-de-camp.[8] They had four daughters.[9]
Later life
Following the end of the war, Asquith chaired the committee which established the Royal Naval Division War Memorial outside the Admiralty building in London.[10]
In the Directory of Directors for 1935, the Hon Arthur M Asquith of 1 London Wall Buildings EC2 is listed as chairman of Brazil Plantations Syndicate Ltd, chairman of Parana Plantations Ltd and a director of San Paulo (Brazilian) Railway Co Ltd.[11]
Asquith came across many risk factors throughout his military career and eventually died of Hodgkin Lymphoma at Clovelly Court, Devon on 25 August 1939.[12]
Notes
- ^ a b Hon. Arthur Melland Asquith, Centre for First World War Studies, John Bourne, University of Birmingham, Retrieved 3 July 2008
- ^ "No. 28926". The London Gazette. 6 October 1914. p. 7917.
- ^ P.109, Bloody Red Tabs, Davies & Maddocks
- ^ a b P.110, Bloody Red Tabs, Davies & Maddocks
- ^ "No. 30485". The London Gazette (Supplement). 18 January 1918. p. 1051.
- ^ "No. 30023". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 April 1917. p. 3675.
- ^ "No. 30188". The London Gazette (Supplement). 17 July 1917. p. 7209.
- ^ Vivian Reed, ed., An American in Europe at War and Peace: Hugh S. Gibson’s Chronicles, 1918-1919, p. 707
- ^ Burke's Peerage, volume 1 (2003), p. 430
- ^ Page, p. 180.
- ^ Directory of Directors 1935
- ^ Brig.-Gen Hon. Arthur Melland Asquith, peerage.com, Daryl Lundy, Retrieved 3 July 2008
References
- Frank Davies & Graham Maddocks (1995). Bloody Red Tabs. Leo Cooper. ISBN 0-85052-463-6.
- Page, Christopher (1999). Command in the Royal Naval Division: A Military Biography of Brigadier General A. M. Asquith DSO. ISBN 9781862270480.