| Buist | Herbert John Martin | | Captain | BUIST, HERBERT JOHN MARTIN, Captain, was born 5 May 1868, son of Major General D S Buist. He was educated at George Watson's College, Edinburgh, and Edinburgh University, and became Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps, 28 July 1891; served on the North-West Frontier, India, 1897, including operations with the Malakand Field Force, 3rd Brigade, and with the Tirah Expeditionary Force. He was mentioned in Despatches 18 March, 1898, and received the Medal with two clasps. Captain Buist served in the South African War, 1899 to 1902. He acted as Secretary to the Principal Medical Officer, Cavalry Division, and General Sir John French's Columns in Cape Colony from June, 1900, to the termination of the South African War, and was present at the Relief of Kimberley; operations in the Orange Free State, February to May 1900, including operations at Paardeberg (17 to 26 February); actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Houtnek (Thoba Mountain) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to November 1900, including actions at Belfast (26 and 27 August); operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899-1900, including actions at Colesberg in January 1900; operations in Cape Colony, June to December 1901. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April, 1901 ]; received the Queen's Medal with six clasps; the King's Medal with two clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 27 September 1901]: "Herbert John Martin Buist, Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps. In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were presented by the King 18 December 1902. He was Staff Officer to the Principal Medical Officer, South Africa, 1903 till 1906, in which year on the 1st May he became Deputy Assistant Director-General, War Office, which appointment he held till 30 April, 1910. He had been promoted to Major 28 July 1903, and became Lieutenant Colonel 22 August 1913. He served in the European War; from October 1914, to November 1915, served as Senior Medical Officer, Cape Town Base, during the German South-West operations. Front June, 1916, to May 1917, served as Officer Commanding, 37th British General Hospital, attached to the Royal Serbian Army with the Salonika Force. Acted as ADMS, British Salonika Army, from 1 June to December 1917; promoted Colonel, AMS, 28 December 1917, and appointed DMS, Lines of Communication, Salonika Army, 1 November 1918. Colonel Buist has the Croix de Guerre; the Order of St Sava (2nd Class), and was made Officier, Legion of Honour, 1917. He was mentioned in Despatches. He married, in 1912, Gertrude M K Logan, daughter of J D Logan, JP, of Matjesfontein, Cape Province, South Africa, and they had one son.
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Royal Army Medical Corps |
