Charles Bunbury

Born in Dublin in 1877, Charles Charles Hamilton de St. Pierre Bunbury was born into a military family and joined the Yorkshire Regiment in February 1898.

He served in the Boer War, 1899-1902, and was present during multiple campaigns gaining the Queen’s Medal (6 clasps) and the King’s Medal (2 clasps). During the First World War, he served on the General Staff in India before joining the 2nd Battalion in May 1917. He was then appointed to command 2nd Bedfordshire Regiment during the 3rd Battle of Ypres.

After a successful attack the previous day, their regimental War Diary recounted “1 Aug. 1917. At 5.45 a.m. Lt. Colonel C.H. de St. P. Bunbury carried out a personal reconnaissance and found dispositions of Companies to be as follows: – “A” and “D” Company in JACKDAW RESERVE nr STIRLING CASTLE. “C” Coy about 300 yards behind them in trench running N. and S. between JACKDAW AVENUE and JAM AVENUE. “B” Company could not be found, but were discovered later in the day to be occupying a trench about 50 yards behind “C” Company. They thereupon moved up and relieved “D” Company who withdrew and came into Battalion Reserve occupying trenches near Battalion Headquarters.”

Bunbury commanded the 2nd Battalion The Green Howards in Palestine during the riots of 1929. He retired the following year.

Bunbury, centre, wearing cap. Officers v Sergeants football match, Cairo 1928.

Lieutenant-Colonel Bunbury died in May 1956. Colonel Ramsden wrote, “He had a highly developed capacity of making all ranks happy and this was particularly noticeable amongst the rank and file of the 2nd Battalion during his command. Having served for over 30 years in the Regiment, mainly in the 2nd Battalion, I believe that under Charles Bunbury, the 2nd Battalion was the happiest of all.”