Austin Claude Girdwood
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Brigadier Austin Claude Girdwood (24 April 1875 – 13 March 1951) was a British Army officer.


Military career

Commissioned into the Northumberland Fusiliers on 6 June 1896, he was promoted Lieutenant in April 1898 and Captain in July 1900. He took part in the Sudan campaign and was present at the Battle of Omdurman and gained the Queen's Sudan Medal and Khedive's Medal with clasp. He thereafter saw action in the Second Boer War taking part in the fighting at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River, Magersfontein, Venterskroon and Rhenoster River and was severely wounded near Kleinfontein on 24 October 1901. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was
mentioned in despatches To be mentioned in dispatches (or despatches, MiD) describes a member of the armed forces whose name appears in an official report written by a superior officer and sent to the high command, in which their gallant or meritorious action in the face ...
. He was also awarded the Queen's South Africa Medal with four clasps and the King's South Africa Medal with two clasps. He went on to serve in the Mohmand Expedition of 1908. In 1908, he qualified for
Staff College, Camberley Staff College, Camberley, Surrey, was a staff college for the British Army and the presidency armies of British India (later merged to form the Indian Army). It had its origins in the Royal Military College, High Wycombe, founded in 1799, which i ...
having passed its exams, yet there were no vacancies. He as admitted to staff college in 1909 on special selection. He served in France during World War I, gaining promotion to Major in 1915; Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel commanding a Service Battalion of the Border Regiment, 16 July-20 August 1917 and Temporary Brigadier-General from 21 August 1917, commanding the 96th Infantry Brigade. He was made a breveted Lieutenant-Colonel in January 1918. For his war service he was made a
Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III. ...
in the
1919 New Year Honours The 1919 New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were published in ''The London Gazette'' and ''The Times'' in Jan ...
, gained the Belgian Croix de Guerre and was awarded a bar to the DSO and six times mentioned in despatches. After the war he served as the Assistant Commandant of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst and thereafter served with British forces in Iraq. He was appointed a
Companion of the Order of the Bath Companion may refer to: Relationships Currently * Any of several interpersonal relationships such as friend or acquaintance * A domestic partner, akin to a spouse * Sober companion, an addiction treatment coach * Companion (caregiving), a caregive ...
in the
1927 New Year Honours The New Year Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the United Kingdom and British Empire. They were announced on 31 December 1926. The recipients of honours are ...
while serving as the Brigade Commander, 158th (Royal Welch) Infantry Brigade. From 1927 to 1931, he served as Officer Commanding the British Troops in Ceylon with the rank of Brigadier, where he was ex-officio member of the
Legislative Council of Ceylon The Legislative Council of Ceylon was the legislative body of British Ceylon, Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) established in 1833, along with the Executive Council of Ceylon, on the recommendations of the Colebrooke-Cameron Commission. It was the first f ...
.


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Girdwood, Austin Claude 1875 births 1951 deaths British Army brigadiers Companions of the Order of the Bath Companions of the Order of St Michael and St George Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Royal Northumberland Fusiliers officers British Army personnel of the Mahdist War British Army personnel of the Second Boer War British Army generals of World War I Graduates of the Staff College, Camberley General Officers Commanding, Ceylon Military personnel from the Isle of Wight Official members of the Legislative Council of Ceylon