28 February 1916 : Major Gerald Jamieson
Gerald Jamieson died of wounds on this day in 1916
Gerald Jamieson was born 3 November 1876, Bombay; his parents were Colonel Alister Jamieson and his mother Geraldine (née d'Aguilar).
He was educated at Cheltenham College and Dulwich College (1888) and then spent time in Heidelberg before returning to England and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich.
Cheltenham College, ( c) Cheltenham College Archive)
He passed out in September 1896 and joined the Royal Artillery. Three years later he was promoted to Lieutenant. Gerald was assigned to the Indian Army in 1901 attached to the 16th Cavalry and promoted to Captain in 1905 and attached to the Camel Corps.
On 21 February 1910 he married Ruth (née Cobbold), and they had two children, Frances and Alister and the family lived at Alton House, Ross, Hereford and Worcester.
In 1908 he transferred to the 9th Bhopal Infantry. Shortly before the war he was promoted to Major and as part of the 1st Indian Army sent to Europe.
The Indian Army in Flanders (eating breakfast) From The WFA stereoscope archive (c( WFA 2022
While in France he was wounded and invalided out for a while. Then in late 1915 he re-joined his regiment in Egypt, and proceeded with them to Mesopotamia shortly afterwards.
On 6th January the battalion marched the 20 miles to Sheikh Sa’sd and on 13th January they took part in the Battle of Wadi which became well known for an act of conspicuous bravery by Sepoy Chatta Singh who won a VC for rescuing his Commanding Officer who was lying wounded and helpless in open ground under constant enemy fire. Sadly, it was also at this battle that Gerald sustained the wound from which he would succumb in due course. He was evacuated to Bombay but died from the effects of blood poisoning on 28th February 1916.
He was originally provided with a significant headstone (image below) but his grave could not be maintained so he is now commemorated on the memorial at Kirkee War Cemetery.
The Kirkee War Cemetery at Pune (formerly Poona), India
28 February 1916: Major Gerald Alister Jamieson, 9th Bhopal Infantry
Sources: Dulwich College; With the Indians in France, General Sir James Willcocks; England & Wales National Probate Calendar; British Army WWI Medal Index Cards.