107597 (later 1863227) Sergeant
WILLIAM MURROW DUNSFORD
Royal Engineers

by  

Lieutenant Colonel Edward De Santis, MSCE, P.E., MInstRE
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
(April 2022)  

Figure 1. Sergeant William Murrow Dunsford, R.E. in Gibraltar, c. 1936
(Photograph courtesy of The Sapper)  

1. INTRODUCTION

            This research into the life and military service of William Murrow Dunsford was prompted by the acquisition of his medals and those of his father.  The first version of this story was rather skimpy in that many of his service details were missing.  In 2021 documents known as Royal Engineers Tracer Cards became available which, while not as detailed as the man’s full service record, did provide significant details regarding his promotions and postings.  Reliance also was placed on numerous editions of The Sapper magazine as well as volumes of the History of the Corps of Royal Engineer for information pertaining to his service.

            There is an interesting note associated with the service of this man.  Of all the research that I have done regarding senior non-commissioned officers in the Corps of Royal Engineers, and it has been considerable,[1] I have never encountered a situation where a man had been posted 18 times in 24 years, 11 of those postings being for less than one year.  This is truly unusual.  The details of these postings will be discussed in the narrative of this report with a reason, as the author thinks, for these numerous posting of short duration. 

2. EARLY LIFE AND FAMILY INFORMATION

Early Life and Family Information  

            William Murrow Dunsford was born on 7 December 1896 at Flat Bastion Married Quarters, Gibraltar (see Figure 2 below).[2]  Figure 2 shows the Married Quarters as they probably existed at the time that the Dunsfords resided there.  William’s father was a Company Sergeant Major in 1896.  These rather dingy quarters do not seem suitable for a man of his rank.

            William was the eldest son of 16712 Company Sergeant Major William George Morris Dunsford (1858-1937),[3] Royal Engineers and Sarah Henrietta Dunsford, née Murrow (1865-1929).  William’s birth was registered with the Commander Royal Engineers (CRE), Gibraltar on 19 December 1896.  The entry of birth was made in the Service Departments Register by Lieutenant G.F.A. Whitlock, R.E.,[4] Acting Adjutant, Royal Engineers, Gibraltar.[5]

            In addition to William, the Dunsford had four other children: Edward Dunsford (1897-1988), Charles Morris Dunsford (1900-1901), Alice May Dunsford (1901-1990) and George Dunsford (1905-1983).  While William had been born in Gibraltar, all his brothers and his sister were born in England.  The Dunsford family trees show the original family name as Dunford and then as Dunsford.  No explanation was found for the name change.

Figure 2.  Flat Bastion Married Quarters, Gibraltar.
(Image courtesy of The People of Gibraltar web site)  

            Young William moved home to England with his parents on 5 December 1897 when his father was posted to the Royal Engineers Supernumerary Staff at Aldershot.  The 1901 Census of England for Ramilles Barracks in Aldershot shows the following information regarding the Dunsford family:

1901 Census of England

 NOTES:

1. Dunsford family trees indicate that Charles Morris Dunsford was born in April of 1900, but he does not appear on the 1901 Census with his parents and brothers.  It is known that Charles died in 1901.  The 1901 Census was taken on 31 March 1901; therefore, Charles must have died before this date.
2. William George Dunsford’s rank of Engineer Clerk Superintending Sergeant indicates that he was serving in the Establishment for Engineer Services, as this rank is particular to that service. 

            Company Sergeant Major Dunsford was discharged from the Army at Aldershot on 10 September 1901.  He and his family took up residence on Lynchford Road in Farnborough.[6]  The 1911 Census of England provides the following information regarding the Dunsford family:

1911 Census of England

NOTE: (*) The Establishment for Engineer Service was sometimes referred to as the Royal Engineers Works Service.  It would appear that when CSM Dunsford left the Army he stayed on as a civilian Clerk in the same organization in which he was serving when he was discharged.

            Since young William grew up on the border of Aldershot Camp, “the home of the British Army,’ it is not surprising that he would follow in his father’s footsteps and enlist in the Royal Engineers when he was of age.  The start of the Great War in August of 1914 probably also had much to do with young William entering the Army when he did.  Although his brother Edward was only one year younger than William, there is no information available to indicate that he also service in the Great War.[7]   

3.  ENLISTMENT AND TRAINING  

Enlistment

            William Murrow Dunsford enlisted as a Sapper in the Royal Engineers on 2 December 1915, just prior to his 19^th birthday.[8]  He was assigned Regimental Number 107597.[9]  This Regimental Number is one of a block of numbers that had been assigned to men who were posted to the 71^st Field Company, Royal Engineers, one of the field companies of the 13^th Division.[10]          

Training

             It may be safe to assume that Sapper Dunsford’s training began with the basics that were required for each man to learn to be a soldier.  This involved military customs, the wearing of his uniform and insignia, military discipline and the use, care and maintenance of his weapon, the short, magazine Lee-Enfield rifle (SMLE).  Following a period of basic training, Dunsford then received the training necessary to make him an engineer soldier.  This involved such field engineering subjects as tunnelling, trench-building, camouflaging techniques, barbed-wire entanglements, construction and clearing of obstacles, bridging, explosives and demolitions and other skills necessary to support the infantry and artillery in the field.  Since Dunsford joined the Army 16 months after the start of the was, it may also be safe to assume that some of this training had been omitted and that he received a “short course” giving just what he needed to join his assigned unit as quickly as possible.  Any additional training that he might have required would have had to be obtained “on the job.”  

4.  POSTINGS, ASSIGNMENTS AND CAMPAIGN SERVICE

Egypt (1916-1917)

            The 13^th Division had been evacuated from Helles at Gallipoli by the time that Sapper Dunsford joined the 71^st Field Company, which was then under the command of Captain Dudley Stunnelling Collins, R.E.[11]^,[12]  On 9 January 1916 the 13^th Division was assigned to the Imperial Strategic Reserve in Egypt.  It remained in this reserve category until 15 February 1916 when the division was assigned to the Egyptian Expeditionary Forces (E.E.F.).[13]  At the time that the 13^th Division was assigned to the E.E.F., the 71^st Field Company was under the command of Lieutenant G.W. Richmond, R.E.[14]

Mesopotamia (1917-1919)

            The 13^th Division was subsequently sent from Egypt to the front in Mesopotamia where the 71^st Field Company took part in operations at Kut from 9 January to 24 February 1917 and operations at Baghdad for 25 February to 10 March 1917.[15]  During the operations in Mesopotamia the company was commanded by Captain W.H. Roberts, R.E.[16]^,[17] On 15 January 1917 Lieutenant Edward Osborne Brice Killen, R.E., an officer in Dunsford’s company, was killed in action.  He was the first of the company’s officers to be killed in the Mesopotamia campaign.  Lieutenant Killen’s medals also are in the author’s collection.

Figures 3 and 4.  Lieutenant Edward Osborne Brice Killen, R.E. and His Medals.

(Photographs from the author’s collection)

Figure 5. The Medal Index Card of Lieutenant E.O.B. Killen, R.E.

(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

Figure 6.  The River Tigris in the 71^st Field Company Area of Operations.
(Map courtesy of the History of the Corps of Royal Engineers)

            While employed in Mesopotamia the 71^st Field Company took part in the capture of the Khudhaira and Dahra Bends on the River Tigris.  The company engaged in much hard and exacting work sapping and taping trenches for night-digging by the infantry.  Often the line advanced less than a hundred yards in twenty-four hours, and casualties were heavy because the ground was flat and open.

            The main operational task of the Royal Engineers and Indian Sappers and Miners in the Mesopotamia Campaign was the bridging of the River Tigris and its tributaries.  The 71^st Field Company took part in the Shumran Crossing and the assault on Kut, which ultimately led to its capture.  Dunsford and his company then took part in the Diyala Crossing and the successful attack and capture of Baghdad.  

Figure 7.  The Bridge over the River Diyala.
(Photograph courtesy of Wikipedia)  

NOTE.  The Figure above shows a British artillery battery crossing a pontoon bridge over the River Diyala near Baghdad in March 1917. This bridge was completed by the 71st Field Company, Royal Engineers, at 11am on 10 March, following a night river crossing by the 5th Battalion, Wiltshire Regiment, 88th Field Company, Royal Engineers, and the 8th Welch Pioneers to secure a bridgehead on the Turkish held side of the river.

            Following the fall of Baghdad the 71^st Field Company was involved with the advance up the Tigris and the assault crossing of the river at Shatt al Adhaim.  The company then returned to Baghdad and took part in the defence of the city.  Its work involved planning defensive positions and supervising infantry working parties, water supply, small bridging projects, maintenance of large bridges and the improvements of communications.

            Only one section of the 71^st Field Company took part in the final offensive against the Turks in Mesopotamia.  Following the Armistice the company was withdrawn from Mesopotamia in March of 1919 and was sent to India.[18]  A list of the fatal casualties suffered by the company during the time that Dunsford served in the unit can be found in Appendix No. 1.

5. POST WAR SERVICE

Demobilization (1919-1923)

            It appears that Sapper Dunsford was demobilized following the end of the Great War of 1914-1918 after taking part in the operations in Mesopotamia.  What actually transpired can only be determined by acquiring his service papers from the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow, if those papers still exist.  Lacking those papers, his Royal Engineers Tracer Cards provide a rather detailed description of his life and military service following the war.

Chatham (1923-1928)

            Following a period of about four years in civvy street, William Murrow Dunsford re-enlisted in the Corps of Royal Engineers on 7 July 1923.  His enlistment was for a period of 6 years with the Colours and 6 years in the Army Reserve.  Upon his re-enlistment his was assigned Army Number 1863227.[19]  His tracer cards indicate that he was 26 years and 212 days old when he re-enlisted and was assigned the Corps Trade of Pioneer (Fitter), Class E. III.[20]  This classification as a Fitter would have much to do with his subsequent postings as he progressed through his military career. 

            Because of his previous war service Dunsford was quickly re-mustered as a Sapper and was posted to “E” Company in the Royal Engineers Training Battalion at the School of Military Engineering in Chatham, Kent.  On 1 October 1923 he was posted to “C” Company of the training battalion.  This posting may have been due to the reduction in size of the training battalion.  “E” and “F” Companies only were activated for mobilization purposes and probably were deactivated in October of 1923.

            Dunsford re-engaged to complete 12 years with the Colours in November 1923.  He did not wait very long to do this after his re-enlistment as it appears that he was bent on a military career – perhaps with some encouragement from his father.  On 21 June 1924 he was posted to “A” Company in the training battalion and on 30 July 1925 he was promoted to Lance Corporal.  On 7 December 1926 he was posted again to “C” Company. 

Blackdown (1928-1931)

            Lance Corporal Dunsford was posted to “B” Company of the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Searchlight (AASL) Battalion at Blackdown, Surrey on 13 April 1928.  This was a fairly common posting for many junior non-commissioned officers in the Royal Engineers during this period because of the formation and expansion of this new type of unit only a few years earlier.  While serving at Blackdown he was promoted to Corporal on 11 October 1928. 

            When Dunsford re-enlisted in 1923 his records indicate that his trade was “Fitter.”  As a Fitter he would be responsible for fabricating and installing and repairing parts for electrical and mechanical equipment such as the searchlights found in an anti-aircraft searchlight battalion. His tasks would involve working to a set of precise specifications, operating tools and machines to grind, mill and shape raw materials into the specified form, and then assemble the final product.   A typical searchlight of the period was mounted on a 4-wheel cart and was towed into position by horses or perhaps by a light truck.  The carbon-arc searchlight shown in the Figure below was manned by a 7-man section consisting of a sergeant, a corporal or lance corporal and five sappers.  Dunsford may have worked on searchlights such as this:

Figure 8.  A Royal Engineers Searchlight Section, c. 1920s.

(Photograph from the author’s collection)

Gibraltar (1931-1935)

            On 9 October 1931 Dunsford was posted abroad to Gibraltar where he served in the 1^st Fortress Company, R.E. under the command of Major R.S. Rait Kerr, DSO, MC, R.E.[21]  The role of a fortress company was to assist in the defence of ports and harbours that had significant military importance.  This was accomplished by the use of mines and searchlights and by supporting the Royal Artillery garrison usually co-located with the fortress company.  A Royal Engineers fortress company typical would provide the following services in defence of ports and harbours:

• Construction and maintenance of fortifications and gun emplacements.
• Construction of ammunition storage areas and magazines.
• Construction and maintenance of roadways.
• Water supply to units manning the fortifications.
• Supply of electricity to installations within the fortress area.
• Providing searchlight support to anti-aircraft and anti-shipping artillery batteries.
• Providing engineer works in and around the harbour and port areas.

            Dunsford was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant while with the 1^st Fortress Company.  As a Fitter Dunsford would have plenty to do with the repair and maintenance of the mechanical equipment associated with the services enumerated above. 

            In July of 1934 Major D.J. McMullen, DSO, R.E. assumed command of the company.  Other officers in the company at the time were the following:

·         Captain C. Warren, R.E.[22]

·         Captain Francis Colin C. Campbell Bradshaw, R.E.

·         Captain E.S. de Brett, R.E.[23]

            In November of 1934 Dunsford re-engaged to complete 21 years of service and on 1 August 1935 Dunsford was appointed an Acting Sergeant.  This re-engagement and promotion surely were signs of his desire to complete a military career. 

            In the October 1935 issue of The Sapper magazine Dunsford is congratulated on his promotion to Sergeant.  Also in that issue, under Station News, was the announcement of the death of the 1^st Fortress Companies mascot.  “Bonzo,” a terrier, had been the company mascot for 15½ years.  He died on 9 October 1935 and was much missed by all the men of the company.

Malta (1935-1936)

            Tensions between Great Britain and Italy had built up during this period to cause the British to more heavily fortify Malta for fear of an Italian invasion.  A number of units of the British army were sent to Malta to reinforce the garrison there.  Dunsford was selected to join an ad hoc unit designated the No. 2 Malta Reserve to take part in this build up.  He was promoted to the rank of Sergeant while serving in this unit and returned to Gibraltar on 20 July 1936 to rejoin the 1^st Fortress Company.  His promotion to Sergeant came 12 years, 5 months and 22 days after his re-enlistment in 1923.  

Gibraltar (1936)

            Sergeant Dunsford’s return to Gibraltar was short-lived.  He was posted back to the U.K. and on 4 September 1936 he arrived in London aboard S.S. Maloja. 

Figure 9.  S.S. Maloja, circa 1930s.
(Photograph courtesy of John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland)  

Blackdown (1936-1937)  

            After arriving in England Dunsford, took up residence at 48 King Street in Gillingham, Kent.  His stay in Gillingham appears to have been a temporary one, perhaps related to his plan to marry. 

            Dunsford married Lavinia Francis Clara Reed (1897-1974) at Medway, Kent in December of 1936.  He had been posted to “D” Company, 1^st Anti-Aircraft Battalion with orders dated 1 December 1936, but apparently he did not report for duty at Blackdown until after his marriage.  The address at 48 King Street was the family home of his future wife.  Lavinia was the daughter of John Thomas Reed and Lavinia Rosein Reed. [24]    

Figure 10.  The Dunsford Home at 48 King Street, Gillingham, Kent.
Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

Sunderland (1937-1938)

            Dunsford served at Blackdown with the 1^st AA Battalion while the Royal Engineers role in providing anti-aircraft searchlights was undergoing study for reorganization and ultimately for transfer to the Royal Artillery.  A new concept was being developed to create anti-aircraft searchlight units out of a number of Territorial Army (T.A.) infantry battalions.  Dunsford would soon be transferred to such a battalion.[25]

            On 20 October 1937 Sergeant Dunsford was posted to the 47^th (Durham Light Infantry) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, T.A.  The 47^th (D.L.I.) Anti-Aircraft Battalion was a search light unit formed by the conversion of the 7^th Battalion, D.L.I. It was a territorial unit which consisted of Headquarters, 386^th, 387^th and 388^th Anti-Aircraft Companies based at Sunderland and 389^th A-A Company based at South Shield. The battalion was part of the 43^rd A-A Brigade and was deployed to defend the industry of Teeside from the outbreak of war.  In early summer 1940 the battalion was transferred to the Royal Artillery and redesignated 47^th (D.L.I.) Searchlight Regiment, R.A.[26]  Dunsford spent just under three months with this unit when he was transferred to back to Kent to serve in another Territorial Army anti-aircraft battalion.  It may be assumed that his experience with these types of units had turned him into an advisor and cadre for anti-aircraft battalions.  His training and skills as a Fitter probably were used to work on the battalion’s equipment and required him to visit the various companies of the battalion.    

Kent (1938)

            On 14 January 1938 Sergeant Dunsford joined the 29^th (Kent) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, T.A. under the command of Lieutenant Colonel C.A. Grover, AMInstCE, R.E. who had been appointed on 1 November 1937.  Dunsford had only been in Sunderland for 86 days before being posted to Kent.

            In October 1935 the Kent Anti-Aircraft Group had became the 29th Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers (TA), while 317^th Company was separated to form the 36^th (Middlesex) Anti-Aircraft Battalion, Royal Engineers (TA). Two further companies were added to the 29th Battalion; the 322^nd AA Company at Horns Cross, Greenhithe and the 347^th (Kent) AA Company at Sidcup.

            In December 1935 the battalion was subordinated to the newly formed 28^th (Thames & Medway) Anti-Aircraft Group (later termed a brigade, and was based at Chatham, forming part of 1st Anti-Aircraft Division. It transferred to 27 (Home Counties) AA Group in 1 AA Division the following year. In the years before World War II, British anti-aircraft (AA) defences continued to expand, with new regiments and formations, the whole coming under Anti-Aircraft Command.  About the time that Dunsford joined the unit it was composed of the following:

• Battalion Headquarters on Watling Street in Gillingham
• 313^th (Kent) AA Company on Watling Street in Gillingham
• 314^th (Kent) AA Company on Avebury Avenue in Tonbridge
• 468^th AA Company at Archcliffe Fort in Dover[27]

            Dunsford probably visited each of these companies to perform his inspection/maintenance duties.

Ireland (1938)

            Sergeant Dunsford next posting was to the 33^rd (Fortress) Company at Queen’s Harbour in southern Ireland after spending only 117 days with the           29^th (Kent) Anti-Aircraft Battalion in Kent.  As searchlights performed a very important mission in fortress companies for harbour defence, Dunsford probably joined the 33^rd (Fortress) Company on an inspection and/or maintenance tour of duty using his training and skills as a Fitter to work on or to inspect the company’s equipment.  He remained in Ireland for only six months before being posted once again to Blackdown.

Blackdown (1938)

            Dunsford joined Headquarters Wing of the 1^st Anti-Aircraft Battalion on 11 July 1938.  On 2 August 1938 he was posted to “B” Company of the battalion.  It is possible that he may have qualified for some special skill dealing with searchlights prior to being sent to these various battalions for such short periods of time.  His service records may show the military courses that he attended and qualifications that he received in this regard.  Unfortunately his R.E. Tracer Cards do not provide this information.

6. WORLD WAR 2 SERVICE

Chatham/Gillingham (1938-1940)

            Dunsford was posted to “G” Company of the R.E. Depot Battalion on 11 November 1938.  He remained there for just under three months when he was posted to the Army Technical School at Fort Darland in Gillingham, Kent on 7 February 1939.  The Army Technical School for boys was built in 1938 and opened for its first intake that same year. Surely Sergeant Dunsford was one of the first instructors posted to the school to train potential Sappers in the skills that he had developed during his time in service.

            In March 1939 the ATS at Fort Darland served as a school for both Royal Engineers and Royal Artillery enlisted boys. In 1940 during the Dunkirk evacuation the school became a transit camp for men returning from France, the pupils having been sent home and subsequently to other Army schools.  Dunsford was at Fort Darland at that time and may have been involved in assisting the evacuees from Dunkirk.

Olton (1940-1944)

            Sergeant Dunsford had started the Second World War in 1939 as an instructor at Fort Darland and on 29 June 1940 he was posted to 269th Field Park Company, R.E. in the 61^st Infantry Division.  The 61st Infantry Division was raised in 1939 as part of the expansion of the Territorial Army in response to the German occupation of Czechoslovakia. The division was created as a duplicate of the 48th (South Midland) Infantry Division, and was assigned to home defence duties, its headquarters being located in Oxford.

            The 269^th Field Park Company was located in Olton in the West Midlands.  The Field Park Company provided the workshop and stores elements of the engineer provisions for an infantry division during the Second World War. Each infantry division had one Royal Engineers field park company on its establishment, which provided the heavy equipment, workshop and stores provision for the division as a whole. War Establishment II/195/2, issued in January 1944, determined the structure and personnel within a field park company during the campaign in North West Europe in 1944 and 1945. It remained consistent throughout the campaign.

            A Major commanded each field company, with a Captain as his second-in-command. There was a small company headquarters, including the Company Sergeant Major and Company Quartermaster Sergeant. Each company or squadron comprised three platoons; each platoon consisting of a headquarters and four sections commanded by a subaltern. Each section had a Corporal or Lance Sergeant as the commander, and eleven other Sappers.

            The nature of the trades held by the Sappers within each section was variable and was determined according to the tasks to which they were allocated. Each section was issued with one Bren gun, one Sten gun (usually carried by the section commander), and ten Lee-Enfield rifles.  As a Sergeant, Dunsford most likely served as a sergeant in one of the platoons.

France (1944-1945)

            Dunsford served with the 269^th Field Park Company until 14 February 1944, when after passing through the 7^th Training Battalion, R.E. in 1943 he joined the 983^rd Dredging Company in France.[28]  He served with this unit until 22 June 1945 when he was posted to 1 Port and Inland Waterways Replacement Depot in preparation for his return home.  On 2 July 1945 Sergeant Dunsford was placed on the “Y” List pending his release from service and on 27 August 1945 he was discharged from the Army.   P

7.  RELEASE FROM SERVICE

            William Murrow Dunsford’s total service with the Royal Engineers was reckoned as shown in the tables below.  

NOTE: The dates marked with (*) are approximate. 

NOTE: Dunsford had 18 postings during his time in the Army with 11 lasting for less than one year.

                        The following sections are presented in tabular form to summarize Dunsford’s promotions and the medals that he was awarded during his time in the Army.  They are provided to give the reader easy access to these aspects of his military career.  The tables are followed by sections dealing with his marriage, personal information and post-service life.

8.  PROMOTIONS AND APPOINTMENTS

            Dunsford received the following promotions during his time in service:

NOTE: It is unusual for a man with over 24 years of service not to be promoted beyond the rank of Sergeant.  Without his service papers it is difficult to understand this.  He had been promoted to Sergeant after almost 12½ years of service since had re-enlistment in 1923.  He had almost three years of active service during the Great War, giving him almost 15½ years of service with the Colours by 1935.  Surely he would have been eligible for promotion to Staff Sergeant or perhaps even to Warrant Officer Class II, but it appears that he never was promoted beyond the rank of Sergeant. 

9.      MEDALS, AWARDS AND DECORATIONS

            Sergeant Dunsford was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal for his service in the Great War of 1914-1918 and the Army Long Service and Good Conduct (GVIR) with bar [REGULAR ARMY] after completing 18 years of service.  The medals are name with impressed capital letters in the following manner:

British War Medal:     107597 SPR. W.M.DUNSFORD. R.E.

Victory Medal:            107597 SPR. W.M.DUNSFORD. R.E.

Army Long Service and Good Conduct Medal: 1863227 SJT. W.M.DUNSFORD. R.E.

Figure 11. The Medals of Sergeant William Murrow Dunsford, R.E.
(Photograph from the author’s collection)  

NOTE: See Appendix No. 2 for the Royal Engineers Medal Roll and Medal Index Card.

            Dunsford served during World War 2 both at home and in France.  It is likely that he received any or all of the following medals for his wartime: the 1939-45 War Medal, Defence Medal, 1939-45 Star and the France and Germany Star.  Why these medals were not included with his other medals is not known.  One might guess that as he was discharged from the Army very shortly after the war and that the medals were issued to him while he was no longer serving, that he just did not see the need to add them to his other in a group to be worn on his uniform.  Another supposition may have to do with his lack of promotion above the rank of Sergeant.  He served about half of his 24 years in that rank without receiving another promotion.  When he left the Army he may have been disillusioned by this and somewhat bitter about it.  If he did receive any of the WW2 medals he may just have decided not to mount them with his other medals.  This is conjecture on the author’s part.  

10.  POST SERVICE LIFE

            William Murrow Dunsford worked as an Engine Fitter at the Naval Base at Chatham following his discharge from the Army.  After his retirement from his civilian occupation he resided at 65 Elmfield, Gillingham, Kent.[29]

Figure 12.  Dunsford’s Residence at 65 Elmfield, Gillingham, Kent.
(Photograph courtesy of Google Earth)  

            Dunsford died at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital in Rochester, Kent on 25 April 1979.  Probably a smoker for most of his life, he died of bronchopneumonia aggravated by chronic bronchitis and emphysema.  His death was certified by R.J. Baker, MB[30] and was registered on 26 April 1976 in the District of Chatham, Sub-District of Rochester in the County of Kent.  The informant of his death was Winifred Clara Rosina Mills.[31]

            The probate of William Murrow Dunsford’s will took place at Brighton on 30 May 1979.  The will had been prepared on 13 January 1978 and designated his step-daughter, Winifred Clara Rosina Mills (1921-2012), as the sole executrix.[32]  His estate was valued at £7017 (approximately $52,900 US in 2022 currency).  One thousand Pounds was left to his niece, Dorothy May Clarke of 11 Newlands Road, Camberley.  The residue of the estate went to his step-daughter absolutely.[33]

11.   MARRIAGE, FAMILY AND PERSONAL INFORMATION  

Parents  

• Father: William George Morris Dunsford (1858-1937)

            William George Morris Dunsford was born in September of 1858 in Bristol, Gloucestershire.  He had three brothers and a sister, all born in Gloucestershire.  His father, George Dunsford (1822-?) was a Sadler from Bristol and his grandfather was William Dunsford (1774-1855) of Wraxall, Dorset.  An examination of the cited family trees found on Ancestry.com indicates that at one time the family name was spelled Dunford and that over the years the letter “s” was added to the surname.  No explanation for this change could be found during this research project.

            W.G.M. Dunsford married Sarah Henrietta Murrow (1865-1929) at Gibraltar in 1895.  When he was 74 years of age he married a second time to Clara Henrietta Cooper (1869-1962) in 1932 at Southampton, Hampshire.

            Dunsford served for 21 years and rose to the rank of Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Engineers.  He died on 15 April 1937 in Edinburgh, Scotland at the age of 78.

• Mother: Sarah Henrietta Murrow (1865-1929)

            Sarah Henrietta Murrow was born in Bishop’s Auckland, County Durham.  She was the daughter of one William Morris (1794-?).  Sarah died at Portsmouth, Hampshire in September of 1929 at the age of 64.

Marriage  

            William Murrow Dunsford married Lavinia Frances Clara Reed (1897-1974) in Medway, Kent in December 1936).  William was 40 years of age when they married.  William and Lavinia did not have any children.  Lavinia died at Chatham, Kent on 7 August 1974 at the age of 77.

Siblings  

            As previously indicated, William Murrow Dunsford had three brothers and a sister.

• Edward Dunsford (1897-1988) was born in Farnborough, Hampshire on 17 July 1897.  He married Elsie May Grove (1897-1988) in 1923 at Croydon, Surrey.  They had no children.  Edward died on Hayling Island, Hampshire on 16 February 1988 at the age of 90.  Although he was of age to serve in the Great War of 1914-1918, there is no definitive evidence that he did serve.
• Charles Morris Dunsford (1900-1901) was born in Hartley Wintney, Hampshire in April of 1900.  Sadly Charles died as an infant in 1901 and was buried on 19 January 1901 at St Peter’s Church in Farnborough, Hampshire.
• Alice May Dunsford (1901-1990) was born in Farnborough, Hampshire on 20 August 1901.  She married one Edward Arthur Vickery (1892-1986) at Portsmouth in 1925.  Alice died in Camberley, Surrey on 10 September 1990 at the age of 89.
•  George Dunford (1905-1983) was born in Farnborough, Hampshire on 2 April 1905.  He married Norah Henbest (1894-1975) in March 1945 at Surrey North Eastern, Surrey.  George and Norah did not have any children.  George died in Poole, Dorset on 20 June 1983 at the age of 78.

  ---

APPENDIX NO. 1  

Fatal Casualties in the
71^st Field Company, Royal Engineers
In Egypt and Mesopotamia (1916-1918)  

(Names listed by date of death)  

TABLE FOOTNOTES:

1. Aged 32.  Son of Arthur and Mary Anderson, of 50, Byrne Rd., Balham, London.

2. Aged 37.  Son of John and Catherine Hubbard, of Whitley Bridge, Yorks.

3. Aged 23.  Son of Thomas and Margaret Galley, of 134, Admiral St., Princes Park, Liverpool.

4. Son of Mr. J. Hayes, of Holycross, Thurles, Co. Tipperary.

5. Aged 27.  Son of Charles and Hannah Mepsted, of Stapleford Tawney, Romford; husband of Ada Mepsted, of 3, Verdun Rd., New Walsoken, Wisbech.

6. Aged 33.  Son of George Allen, of Raingate St., London; husband of Mary C. Allen, of 30, Erskine Rd., Wallasey, Cheshire. Served in the South African Campaign.

7. Aged 29.  Son of Millicent Ashton (formerly Gosling), of 1, Victoria St., Shaw Heath, Stockport, and the late Alfred Donald McKay Gosling.

8. Aged 27.  Son of Mary Jane Reynolds, of 63, Kimberley St. Wolverhampton, and the late George Reynolds.

9.  Aged 25.  Son of William and Dora Marnane, of 39, College Rd., Cork.

10.  Aged 24.  Son of Eli and Ann Seeney, of 24, Padiham Rd., Burnley, Lancs. Born at Matlock.

11.  Aged 21.  Mentioned in Despatches.  Son of Denis and Mary Clarke, of 16, Kimberley Drive, Stockton Heath, Warrington.

12.  Aged 34.  Only son of James Simpson Gilmour and Janet Culross Gilmour, of 30, Craig Rd., Tayport, Fifeshire.

13. Aged 44.  Husband of D. Baines, of 24, Chillerton Rd., Tooting Bec, London. Born at Hammersmith, London.

14.  Aged 23.  Son of Henry and Anne Bowell, of Woodcroft Villas, Cuckfield, Sussex.

15. Aged 23.  Son of David and Sarah Ann Thacker, of Blyton, Gainsborough; husband of Elizabeth Thacker, of Hemswell, Lincolnshire.

16. Aged 29.  Meritorious Service Medal.  Son of Thomas William and Agnes Martin, of 57, Etta St., Deptford, London.

17. Aged 25.  Son of Mary Jane Spencer, of 183, Ernest Rd., Buckland, Portsmouth, and the late Henry Lee Spencer.

NOTES FOR APPENDIX NO. 1  

1. All men are recorded by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and all are listed in Soldiers Died in the Great War.
2. Where Cause of Death is listed as “Died” the man died of disease or the result of an accident.  It also is possible that the official cause of death was not known for inclusion in the records.  The primary diseases that caused deaths in Mesopotamia at the time were enteric (typhoid) fever, dysentery, cholera, malaria, and typhus.  Enteric fever was prevalent throughout the entire campaign and during 1916 especially, it was one of the causes of severe illness and death. Re: DISEASE IN MESOPOTAMIA. Major F. P. Mackie, M.D., M.Sc., F.R.C.S., F.R.C.P., I.M.S.
3. “D of W” indicates died of wounds received in action.
4. “KIA” indicated killed in action.

REFERENCES FOR APPENDIX NO. 1  

1. Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
2. Soldiers Died in the Great War.

 APPENDIX NO. 2

Figure 13. Royal Engineers Medal Roll for the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)  

Figure 14. Dunsford Great War Medal Index Card.
(Image courtesy of Ancestry.com)

REFERENCES:

Books

1. History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  Volume VI.  Gallipoli, Macedonia, Egypt and Palestine, 1914-1918.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952.
2. History of the Corps of Royal Engineers.  Volume VII.  Campaigns in Mesopotamia and East Africa, and the Inter-War Years, 1919-38.  The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1952.
3. Military Operations, Egypt and Palestine.  Official History of the War, HMSO, London, 1928.

Civil Documents

1. Certified Copy of an Entry of Birth, William Murrow Dunsford, SA033548, General Register Office, 18 April 1980.
2. Certified Copy of an Entry of Death, William Murrow Dunsford, GA256587, General Register Office, 10 April 1980.
3. Abstract of the Will of William Murrow Dunsford, Principal Probate Registry, Somerset House, London, 13 January 1978.
4. 1901 Census of England, Ramilles Barracks, Aldershot, Hampshire (RG 13/1105).
5. 1911 Census of England, Reed Family of Gillingham, Kent (RG 11/3940).

Family Trees  

1. William George Morris Dunsford.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181423625/person/432358081169/facts

2. Sarah Henrietta Murrow.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181423625/person/432358081215/facts

3. William Murrow Dunsford.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181423625/person/432358081217/facts

4. Edward Dunsford.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181423625/person/432358081216/facts

5. Alice May Dunsford.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181423625/person/432358082009/facts

6. George Dunsford.

https://www.ancestry.com/family-tree/person/tree/181423625/person/432358082010/facts

Internet Web Sites  

1.      Ancestry.com Family Tree: William Murrow Dunford then Dunsford, 1896-1879.

2.      The People of Gibraltar.

https://gibraltar-intro.blogspot.com/2019/07/2019-los-patios-de-gibraltar.html

3.      Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

4.      S.S. Maloja.

By Item is held by John Oxley Library, State Library of Queensland., Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14485935

5.      29^th (Kent) Searchlight Regiment, R.A.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/29th_(Kent)_Searchlight_Regiment,_Royal_Artillery

6.      War Time Memories Project.

https://wartimememoriesproject.com/ww2/allied/battalion.php?pid=5303

7.      Fort Darland.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Darland

8.      Fallen Heroes of Normandy.

http://www.fallenheroesofnormandy.org/Servicemen/UnitShipSquadron/1208  

Military Documents  

1. Service papers of 16712 Company Sergeant Major William George Morris Dunsford, Royal Engineers.  WO97/4745, Public Record Office, London.
2. Great War Medal Index Card, R.E. Roll 101 B/59, p. 12496: William Murrow Dunsford.
3. Royal Engineers Medal Roll, British War Medal and Victory Medal, 107597 Sapper William Dunsford.
4. Royal Engineers Trace Cards, 1863227, Dunsford, W.M.

Periodicals  

1. The Sapper magazine, October 1932.
2. The Sapper magazine, June 1935.
3. The Sapper magazine, August 1934.
4. The Sapper magazine, December 1934.
5. The Sapper magazine, March 1935.
6. The Sapper magazine, September 1935.
7. The Sapper magazine, October 1935.
8. The Sapper magazine, April 1936.
9. Battle Honours of the Royal Engineers. The Institution of Royal Engineers, Chatham, Kent, 1925-1932.
10. The Royal Engineers List, July 1934.

Research Documents  

REGNUM, a computer program written by the author to determine the unit of assignment of R.E. soldiers from their Regimental Numbers.   

ENDNOTES: