Lt-Col Augustus Geddes


Colonel Augustus David Geddes (Gussie) was killed by a shell at the 2nd battle of Ypres on 28th April 1915 while he was in command of the 'Geddes Detachment'. This force included his own regiment, the Buffs, and 3 others, given the task of filling a gap in the line to prevent the Canadians being outflanked.

He was the son of Colonel John Geddes of 4 Suffolk Square, Cheltenham. He served in the South African War and was present at the battles of Klip Drift and Paardeberg where he was severely wounded. After he recovered he was a staff officer to the base Commandant (DAAG) in South Africa from 9 Apr 1900 to 5 Jan 1902. He held other staff posts and was fluent enough in Russian to act as interpreter. He was a well educated man, having obtained a Junior Classical Scholarship at Cheltenham College, and a Senior Scholarship in 1882, as well as a Silver Medal for Classics and the Jex Blake prize for English Literature. He was the cox for the College rowing from 1881-83. He was married to Vera Colville on 3rd March 1908. He had two brothers who in 1916 had gained high rank in the army; Brig-Gen John Gordon Geddes and Lt-Col George Hessing Geddes.

1866 6 Jun. born in Dover
1887 5 Feb, Commissioned into 2nd Btn Buffs
1889 21 Nov, Lieutenant
1895 25 Oct, Captain
1898 16 Feb, Adjutant up to 8 Apr 1900
1903 4 April, Major
1904 21 Jan Staff Captain, Intelligence at the WO up to 31 Jan 08
1908 1 Oct, General Staff officer 2nd Grade, up to 6 Feb 10
1911 7 Feb, Lieutenant-Colonel
1915 7 Feb, Colonel
1915 28 April, Killed in action at Ypres.


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