Captain Godfrey Cavendish, 1912



Godfrey Cavendish joined the 97th Deccan Infantry in August 1905 and became a captain in April 1912. The 97th were to remain in India in 1914, but Cavendish was keen to fight in France. To this end he managed to have himself attached to the 9th Bopals. He joined them on 15th December 1914 and on the 17th the half battalion that he was commanding was ordered up to the support trenches at Givenchy. On the 20th Cavendish recieved orders to support the regiment ahead of him which was under attack. On the way up he was ordered to halt his men, so he went forward alone to find out why. A few yards on a German bulletcaught him in the neck. At first, his wound was thought to be slight as he seemed in good spirits while walking the two miles back to the hospital, but two days later, he died. The uniform in the photo is scarlet with dark green collar and gold lace, shoulder cords and buttons.



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by Stephen Luscombe