COULSON, GUSTAVUS HAMILTON BLENKINSOPP,
Lieutenant and Adjutant, was born at Wimbledon, Surrey, on 1 April, 1879,
the only son of H J W Coulson, of Newbrough Hall, Northumberland, and of
Caroline Unwin, daughter of Henry Unwin, Bengal Civil Service. He was a
great-grandson of Colonel Blenkinsopp Coulson, of Blenkinsopp Castle,
Northumberland, one of a family of distinguished soldiers. He joined the
4th Battalion (Princess of Wales's Own) Yorkshire Regiment , but left it in
his twenty-first year to enter the King's Own Scottish Borderers in July,
1899. In January 1900, he went on active service to South Africa, and for
his services in this campaign he was mentioned in Despatches by Lords
Roberts and Kitchener, received the Medal with five clasps, and was created
a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September
1901]: "Gustavus Hamilton Blenkinsopp Coulson, Lieutenant, King's Own
Scottish Borderers". He was also awarded the Victoria Cross after his death
by King Edward, for his gallantry near Lambrechtfontein, when he rallied his
men and saved the guns in a rearguard action, as well as saving his
servant's life. He was mortally wounded on this occasion. The decoration
was handed to Lieutenant Coulson's representative, and was gazetted 8 August
1902: "Gustavus Hamilton Blenkinsopp Coulson, DSO, Lieutenant and Adjutant,
King's Own Scottish Borderers, 7th Mounted Infantry. Date of Act of
Bravery: 18 May, 1901. This officer, during a rearguard action near
Lambrechtfontein, on the 18th May, 1901, seeing Corporal Cranmer, 7th
Mounted Infantry, dismounted, his horse having been shot, remained behind
and took him up on his own horse. He rode a short distance, when the horse
was shot, and both Lieutenant Coulson and the corporal were brought to the
ground. Lieutenant Coulson told Corporal Cranmer to get along with, the
wounded horse as best he could, and he would look after himself. Corporal
Cranmer got, on the horse and rode away to the column. No 4792, Corporal
Shaw (Lincolns), 7th Mounted Infantry, seeing Lieutenant Coulson's position
of danger, rode back through the rearguard and took him up on his horse. A
few minutes later Corporal Shaw was shot through the body, and there is
reason to believe that Lieutenant Coulson was wounded also, as he fell off
his horse. Corporal Shaw fell off a few minutes later. This officer on
many occasions throughout the campaign displayed great coolness and
gallantry under fire". The act for which the Victoria Cross was awarded to
Lieutenant Coulson was performed under the immediate command of Major F C
Lloyd (of the Lincolns) and Colonel T D Pilcher, CB, ADC (late of the 2nd
Bedfordshire Regiment ). Lieutenant Coulson was killed at Lambrechtfontein,
Orange River Colony, on 18 May, 1901, aged 22. The following is a copy of a
letter written by Colonel (now Major-General) T D Pilcher, CB:
“Bloemfontein
dear mr coulson
24/5/01
You will doubtless have received news of the death of Lieutenant
Coulson, and I write in the name of all the officers and men of the column
which I command to tell you how sincerely we feel his loss and how much we
admire the way in which he died. It may also be some poor consolation to
you to know that before I heard of his death I recommended him for the
Victoria Cross. On 19 May Lieutenant Coulson, as Adjutant of the 7th MI,
about 300 strong (which with a pompom was acting independently under Major
Lloyd), went back to see that the camp they were leaving at Lambrechtfontein,
about fifteen miles south of Bothaville, was clear of ammunition, etc.
At this time the rearguard were attacked, and the enemy pressed on them.
Lieutenant Coulson rallied some men, and by his action saved a Maxim gun
from falling into the enemy's hands. He afterwards galloped closer under
the enemy's fire and got a wounded man on to his horse; the horse was shot.
Corporal Shaw, Lincoln Regiment, helped Lieutenant Coulson on to his own
horse, but after galloping a short distance felt himself hit through the
back and felt Lieutenant Coulson fall off. Corporal Shaw managed to get to
our carts, though severely wounded. Colonel Godfray is giving me your
address. I am asking Major Lloyd, commanding 7th MI, to write to you.
Lieutenant Coulson's body was buried on the scene of action by Dr May, whom
I sent back with an ambulance. The enemy suffered more severely than Major
Lloyd and party, for six dead Boers were found in one place, and the enemy
did not succeed in taking any of our convoy. Please accept my sincerest
sympathy in the loss of one whom I knew as a gallant, capable and
hard-working officer, and believe me,
Yours sincerely
T D Pilcher”.
VC, DSO, QSA (5)
CC Paard Joh D-H Witt (Lt KOSB).
Regimental Museum
Berwick-upon Tweed 2000.
