Robert Ponsonby Loftus Townshend (5C03)
| Date of Birth: | 8 Feb 1866 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | dsp 25 Aug 1928 |
| Generation: | 7th |
| Residence: | India, London & Sligo |
| Father: | Charles Uniacke Townshend [5C00] |
| Mother: | Tottenham, Anna Maria Sarah |
| Spouse: |
|
| Issue: | None |
| See Also: | Table VC ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Robert Ponsonby Loftus Townshend
Robert was born in Dublin and baptized at St Peter's Church on 7 March 1866.
Robert studied at Trinity College, Dublin, and page 332 of the Dublin University Calendar 1906 Vol III records that he qualified BA in Engineering in 1888. Arthur Humphrey Townsend [6C17] and the brothers Edwin Hotham Townsend [6B29] and John Sealy Townsend [6B30] were undergraduates at the same time.
Married 17 September 1925. Mary Mina was living in 1975.
Research by Dr Sanjay Chibule (1) on the history of railways in Central India shows that Robert worked as the district engineer for the construction of the Gondia-Chanda narrow gauge railway from 1905 to 1908. This railway line was the lifeline of this region for almost 110 years. He later worked on the Bengal-Nagpur railway between 1910 - 1920. The London Gazette of 17 January 1919 shows that he was promoted to Captain in the 1/36 Bengal-Nagpur Railway Battalion on 1 April 1917.
Following his service in India, Robert lived at 7, Dorset Square, Portman Square, London. He died at Joppa Lodge, Rosses Point, Sligo, Ireland. His will was proved in the Principal Probate Registry, London, on 22 October 1928 (2).
‘Slater’s Royal National Directory of Ireland, 1894’ records under the heading ‘Munster Parishes - Kilmallock, Co Limerick. Private Residents’ - “Townsend Loftus, Fairfield house.” This does not necessarily refer to Robert; it could also refer to Charles Loftus Uniacke Townsend [5C01] or Thomas Loftus Uniacke Townsend [5C02] or none of them.
(1) In 2022 Dr Chibule was a Specialty Doctor in Trauma and Orthopaedics at Rotherham General Hospital,UK
(2) London Gazette 33434 page 7053 dated 30 October 1928.