Gundry, HB

Lieutenant Colonel Henry Bowden Gundry

Henry was born on August 7th 1856, the eldest son of a company director, also named Henry Gundry, and his wife, Sarah. He started at Dulwich in February 1869 and a few months later his younger brother Algernon also joined the College; they would later be joined by two cousins and two second cousins. Henry was a pupil for five years, during which time he earned a scholarship, before leaving in the summer of 1874, going on to take a place at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. He passed out into the Royal Artillery, with whom he was at first assigned to the Northwest Frontier of India, seeing service in the Afghan War of 1878-9. He went on serve around the world, in locations such as St. Helena, Gibraltar and Portsmouth; he was also steadily promoted through the ranks, being made a Lieutenant as early as 1876, a Captain in 1885, a Major in 1893, and finally, in 1903, reaching the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. A year after this final promotion he retired to the South West of England with his wife, Elizabeth.
The declaration of war in 1914 meant that Henry was recalled to the Royal Artillery, and he was at first assigned to be in command of the training of the 110th Brigade Field Artillery, based at Frome in Somerset, before performing the same service for the 164th Brigade, this time at Rotherham. After they had finished training under him, both units had gone out to France, albeit without him, as due to a combination of older age and deteriorating health he had been judged unfit for front line service. He was appointed instead to command of the Lowland Brigade, but passed away not long after, on September 7th 1916, at Rhayader in Central Wales; he was buried at Broadhembury, near his Devon home.