George Henry Couchman DSO

George Henry Holbeche Couchman was born on 7 Dec 1859, the son of Colonel E H Couchman RA. He was educated at Haileybury and entered the army on 11 May 1878 as a sub lieutenant in the 13th Light Infantry. He was a lieutenant in 1880 and a captain in 1886. He served in Burma 1885-7 and was mentioned in dispatches and awarded the DSO in 1887. The photo shows him in the dress uniform of the Somerset Light Infantry with two stars on each shoulder denoting the rank of captain at that time. He has the Indian General Service medal with a clasp for Burma, and the DSO. He served once more in Burma in 1891-2 and was appointed DAQMG for Intelligence in Burma, 1892-98, and AAG in India, 1900-02. He was promoted to major on 9 Mar 1898, and brevet of lieutenant-colonel in October. He was appointed Commanding Officer of the 2nd Battalion in 1906 relinquishing command on 21 April 1910. After leaving the regiment he commanded the South Western Infantry Brigade, 1910-1914, retiring in Jan 1914. When war broke out he was given command of 107th Infantry Brigade, from Sep 1914 to Oct 1915, and Area Commandant BEF 1917-19, for which he was mentioned in dispatches. He was married, in 1899, to Helen Mary, daughter of Richard Chattock of Newbury. He also received a medal from the Royal Humane Society for saving a man from drowning in 1897. Colonel Couchman died in 1936.

Regimental Details | Commanding Officers