| Gwynn | Charles William | | Lieutenant | GWYNN, CHARLES WILLIAM, Lieutenant, was born 4 February 1870, at Ramelton, Co Donegal, Ireland, 3rd son of the Reverend John Gwynn, DD, Regius Professor of Divinity, Trinity College, Dublin, and Lucy Josephine, daughter of William Smith O'Brien, Cahirmoyle, Co Limerick. He was educated at St Columba's College, Rathfarnhain, Dublin, and at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and at the Staff College, Camberley; became Second Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, 15 February 1889, and Lieutenant 15 February 1892. Lieutenant Gwynn served on the West Coast of Africa, 1893-94, taking part in the operations against the Sofas, when he was three times wounded, mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 28 February 1894], was given the Brevet of Major 16 February 1900, and created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 8 June 1894]: "Charles William Gwynn, Lieutenant, Royal Engineers. In recognition of services in the recent operations in West Africa". He was Staff Captain (Intelligence), Headquarters of Army, 1 September 1897 to 26 June 1901; was employed on Survey Duty, Egypt, 4 October 1899 to 6 June 1901; was promoted to Captain 15 February 1900; employed on Survey Duty, Egypt, 27 June 1901 to 9 October 1901; employed with the Egyptian Army 10 October 1901 to 12 August 1904; Commissioner, Abyssinia and East African Protectorate Boundary Commission, 18 June 1908 to 1 October 1909; created a CMG 1903; became Major 1 October 1908. From 20 January 1911 to 25 September 1914, Major Gwynn was employed with the Australian Commonwealth Military Forces as Director of Military Art, Royal Military College, Duntroon. He served in the European War from 1914; was GS01, 57th Division, Central Force, Home Defence, 24 January 1915 to 2 July 1915; held a special appointment (graded GSO2) with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force 3 July 1915 to 20 July 1915; and as GSO1, 2nd Australian Division, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, 21 July 1915 to 9 December 1915. From 10 December 1915 to 28 February 1916, he commanded a brigade, 6th Australian Division, Mediterranean Expeditionary Force; and from 29 February 1916, was Brigadier General, General Staff, 2nd Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (afterwards XXII Corps), with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and afterwards with the British Armies in France; commanded 1st Midland Brigade, British Army of the Rhine, 3 March to 20 September 1919; appointed GS0.1st Division, Aldershot, 18 November 1919. He was given the Brevet of Lieutenant Colonel 3 June 1916; became Lieutenant Colonel 1 October 1916, and was given the Brevet of Colonel 1 January 1917- He was created a CB in 1918; was given the Belgian Croix de Guerre, 1918, and the Legion of Honour, 1919. Colonel (temporary Brigadier General) C W Gwynn was a Fellow of the Royal Geographical Society, and was awarded the RGS Peake Fund Medal in 1909. He married on 1 November 1904, at All Saints' Church, Raheny, Co Dublin, Mary, widow of Lieutenant Lowry Armstrong, RN. His brothers were Captain Stephen Gwynn, MP; Edward Gwynn, Fellow of Trinity College, Dublin; the Reverend Robert Gwynn, BD, Fellow, Tutor and Chaplain of Trinity College, Dublin, and J T Gwynn, ICS.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Engineers |
