Ancestor Details

Name of Ancestor: Cuthbert Murchison Fetherstonhaugh

Ancestor's date of birth: 10/02/1879

Ancestor's date of death: 20/09/1961

Cause of Death: Age related

Service Number: 478

Colony or State of enlistment: NSW, Place of Enlistment: Coonamble

Unit: 1^st New South Wales Mounted Rifles

Rank attained in Boer War: LCPL (LT), Date Effective: 1900 (1901)

Highest Rank attained (if served after war): LTCOL, Date Effective: 01/09/1942

Murray Page: 65

Contingent: Second New South Wales.

Ship: Southern Cross, Date of Sailing: 17/01/1900

Other Boer War Service: Also served in 3^rd New South Wales Mounted Rifles from April 1901 - until May 1902 commissioned in 'imperial or irregular corps' (Murray Page 58)

Memorial details: Hunter River Lancers Museum, Tamworth

Awards/Decorations: Queen's South Africa Medal with: Dreifontein,Johannesburg, Diamond Hill, Wittebergen and Cape Colony clasps. King's South Africa Medal with SA 1901 asnd SA 1902 clasps. 1914/15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Distinguished Service Order. War Medal 1939-45.

Personal Characteristics: Height: 168 cm, weight: 76 kg (1915), fair hair, grey eyes, fair complexion. Highly capable soldier.

Reasons to go and fight: Detail not provided

Details of service in war: February 1900 - May 1902 in Free State, Transvaal, and western Cape Colony including charge at Diamond Hill (12 June 1900) with 1NSWMR. Then in Transvaal with 3NSWMR.

Service and life after the Boer War: Married Victoria. Was a grazier at Mungarie, Coonamble NSW. Enlisted in the AIF 15 April 1915. Commissioned lieutenant. Posted to 1LH at Gallipoli 29 August 1915, promoted captain 5 March 1916. 13 March 1916 joined 12^th Light Horse in Palestine. Promoted Major 24 April 1917 and posted OC B Squadron. Commanded B Squadron 12LH during the charge at Beersheba on 31 October 1917. During the famous charge Beersheba he shot his wounded horse and charged on foot into the Turkish trenches where he was wounded in both legs. Awarded the Distinguished Service Order 4 November 1917. Mentioned in Despatches, London Gazette 18 January 1918. Highly regarded by all who served with him; General Grant's report on him was glowing. In 1919 he returned to Australia suffering Malaria. Returned to his property. On 26 March 1942 at the age of 63, he joined the AMF N353347, promoted Lieutenant Colonel 1 September 1942 he served with (commanded) E GROUP VOLUNTEER DEFENCE CORPS.

Descendant Details

Name of Descendant: Angela Lind, Killara NSW
Relationship to Ancestor: Relative by marriage

Name of Descendant: Peter Bidencope, St Ives NSW 2075
Relationship to Ancestor: Step Son

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