| Capel Cure | Herbert | | Captain | CAPEL CURE, HERBERT, Captain, was born 23 October 1859, at Eaton Place, London, son of Robert Capel Cure, of Blake Hall, Ongar, Essex, by his first wife, who was a daughter of the Right Reverend George Murray, Bishop of Rochester. He was educated for the Navy, but was too ill at the time of the examination, and entered the 61st (Gloucestershire) Regiment 11 May 1878; He was considered in the first ranks of polo players in India between 1883 and 1894. He captained the 2nd Gloucestershire Regimental Polo Team in India, when the regiment won the Inter-Regimental Cup; played at Lucknow in 1892, and again in 1893. He was also captain of the Gloucester team which played in the Final and lost by one point (a disputed one), and again in the Baroda Tournament which was won by the regiment. He was secretary of the Karachi Races, 1883—84, and was a winner on several occasions in these races. He also managed the Karachi and Hyderabad (Scinde) Pig-Sticking Club during the same time. He won the Guzerat Pig-Sticking Cup in 1885, was a very fine revolver shot. He became Major 4 September 1895; served during the Burma Campaign, 1886-88, and for his services as Transport Officer with the Ruby Mines Column, Burma, was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 3 August 1888]: "For services during operations in Burma. Herbert Capel Cure, Captain, Gloucestershire Regiment". He also received the Medal with clasp, and was mentioned in Despatches for services during the operations in Burma. He served in the Boer War taking part in the operations in Natal in 1899, including the actions at Reitfontein and Lombard's Kop. He was taken prisoner on 30 Oct 1899 and received the Queen's Medal with clasp. He became Lieutenant Colonel 25 October 1903, and was given Brevet of Colonel 25 October 1906, becoming Colonel 25 October 1907. He afterwards commanded his regiment. The 'Times' of 21 March 1909, says: "On 19 March, at Srinagar, Kashmir, Lieutenant Colonel H Capel Cure, DSO, lately commanding 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment, aged 49". Colonel Capel Cure married, in India, Mary, daughter of W J Angerstein, of Weeting Hall, Norfolk.
The DSO Book states that he 'served in the Afghan War, 1879-80 (Medal)' but no evidence has been found to support this. The above portrait from 1904 shows him wearing the medals ribbons for the DSO, IGS and QSA only.
Obituary for ‘The Times', Friday 23 April 1909. "The death is announced from Srinagar, Kashmir of Lt Col H Capel Cure lately commanding the 1st Battalion The Gloucestershire Regiment at the age of 49. Lt Col Capel Cure took part in the Burmese expedition in 1886-7 and acted as transport officer with the Ruby Mines column. He was mentioned in despatches and obtained the medal with clasp and the DSO. During the South African war he served in Natal and received the Queen's medal with clasp. A correspondent supplies the following particulars of the accident which caused the death of Col Capel Cure: "He had just returned from a shooting expedition, which had been most successful, and was in the highest spirits. After dinner he went to see if his men had cleaned his guns. A few minutes afterwards a report was heard, and he came back into the room where he had left his wife, with a pistol in his hand, saying, ‘I have had an escape'. It appeared that his men had left an automatic Colt pistol loaded and at full cock, and on his taking it up it had gone off, the bullet grazing the fingers of his left hand. He was much annoyed with the men for their carelessness, and his wife tried to persuade him to leave things as they were for the night, but he said ‘I must have my weapons cleaned', and, taking off the magazine of the pistol, he returned to his room. Almost immediately there was a second report and a cry, followed by a fall. When the door was opened the Colonel was found dead. The action of removing the magazine placed another cartridge in the barrel and left the pistol at full cock. The Colonel was a noted revolver shot, and it is extraordinary that a man of his experience should have forgotten the danger of the last cartridge. The above facts were proved at the inquest held on March 20th, when a verdict of ‘accidental death' was returned."
DSO, IGS 1854 (2) Burma 1885-7 Burma 1887-9 (Capt Gloucester Regt), QSA (1) Natal (Major DSO Gloucester Regt).
Source: DSO recipients (VC and DSO Book) | Gloucestershire Regiment |
