Captain Dudley Ryder Townshend (5D36)
| Date of Birth: | 6 Jul 1877 |
|---|---|
| Date of Death: | ka 21 Aug 1915 |
| Generation: | 7th |
| Residence: | Unknown |
| Father: | Nathaniel Wilmot Oliver Townshend [5D13] |
| Mother: | Strawson, Maria |
| Spouse: | Unmarried |
| Issue: | None |
| See Also: | Table VD ; Scrapbook ; Lineage ; Ancestors' Tree ; Descendents' Tree |
Notes for Captain Dudley Ryder Townshend
Dudley was educated at Haileybury and King's College, London. He was a scholar of Worcester College, Oxford following which he took up an appointment teaching mathematics at Westward Ho, Devon.
On 6 January 1901 Dudley was commissioned (1) 2nd Lieutenant in the 4th Volunteer Battalion the Devonshire Regiment so that he could assist in running the cadet corps at Westward Ho. Some time after this, and before 1909, he moved to Rossal School, Fleetwood, Lancs and was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant for service with the Rossall School Contingent, Junior Division, Officers Training Corps on 16 October 1909 (2). He was promoted Captain on 18 May 1911 (3).
Following the outbreak of the Great War in 1914, Dudley was gazetted Captain in the 11th Battalion Loyal North Lancashire Regiment and soon after transferred to 1st/6th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers which was part of the The East Lancashire Division. The lead elements of the Division set sail from Alexandria in Egypt in early April 1915 and landed at Cape Helles, Gallipoli and fierce fighting ensured to secure the beach (4). The 1st/6th Battalion set sail for Cape Helles from Alexandria in early May.
The Division was involved in three notable attempts to break out of the Helles bridgehead to capture the dominating heights around the village of Krithia. These attacks took place on 6-8 May (in which only the Lancashire Fusiliers Brigade of the Division took part), 4 June and 6-13 August. The last of these is known officially as the battle of Krithia Vineyard. It was during this last battle that Dudley was mortally wounded. His will was proved in the Principal Registry of the Probate Division of His Majesty's High Court of Justice on the 12 day of May 1916 (5).
(1) London Gazette 27633.
(2) London Gazette 28301.
(3) London Gazette 28502.
(4) During the landing of 1st Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers at Cape Helles, on 25 April 1915, two Officers and four Other Ranks were awarded the Victoria Cross. This is popularly referred to as the 'Six VC's before breakfast'. The landing beach was thereafter named 'Lancashire Landing'.
(5) London Gazette 29596.