MUSGRAVE, Herbert
| Service Number: | Officer |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | Not yet discovered |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | Royal Flying Corps |
| Born: | Adelaide, South Australia, 11 May 1876 |
| Home Town: | London, Greater London, England, United Kingdom |
| Schooling: | Harrow, England |
| Occupation: | Soldier, Pilot |
| Died: | Killed In Action, France, 2 June 1918, aged 42 years |
| Cemetery: |
Esquelbecq Military Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Adelaide National War Memorial |
Boer War Service
| 1 Mar 1898: | Involvement Second Lieutenant | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Oct 1899: | Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Lieutenant, Royal Engineers, 7th Field Company R.E. Earned QSA Medal with Five clasps: BELMONT. MODDER RIVER. PAARDEBERG. TRANSVAAL. SOUTH AFRICA 1901. | |
| 4 Sep 1901: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches, MID in Lord Roberts Dispatch. |
World War 1 Service
| 30 Nov 1914: | Involvement Major | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Feb 1915: | Honoured Companion of the Distinguished Service Order | |
| 1 Jan 1916: | Honoured Mention in Dispatches | |
| 2 Jun 1918: | Involvement British Forces (All Conflicts), Major, Officer, Royal Flying Corps, Killed in Action. |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Virtual Australia
Text supplied by Chas Schaedel and the South Australian Aviation Museum History Group
Herbert MUSGRAVE was born in Adelaide, South Australia, on 11 May 1876 and educated at Harrow School, ENGLAND. He was the son of Sir Anthony Musgrave ( Governor of South Australia) and Lady Jeanie Lucinda Field. After his Father's death in 1888 the family returned to England to live.
Herbert enlisted in the British Army on 26 March 1896 (aged 20yrs) and joined the Royal Engineers direct from the Royal Military Academy as Second Lieutenant on 1 March 1898, being promoted to Lieutenant one year later. He served throughout the Boer War, was Mentioned in Despatches on 18 February and 10 September 1901 and was awarded the Queens's Medal with 5 clasps and the King's Medal with 2 clasps. Between 3 June 1901 and 20 Septmeber 1904 he served with the South African Constabulary gaining a promotion to Captain on 1 March 1905. After attending the Staff College he was appointed to staff positions in Malta from April 1908 - 1912.
In October 1912 Musgrave learnt to fly at Bristol School and on 12 November gained RAeC Certificate 357. In March 1913 he was gazetted Squadron Commander RFC and posted to Farnborough as Office in Charge of experiments. Before the outbreak of the First World War in 1914 he was Deputy Assistant to the Director of Military Aeronautics, and after the start of hostilities he went to France as Major with the RFC Headquaters Staff (HQ). He was appointed CO of the new HQ Wireless Telegraphy Unit which became No. 9 (Wireless) Squadron before the end of 1914. This Unit was ultimately responsible for the development of the RFC system. For his work in this area Musgrave was awarded a Distinguished Service Order (DSO) on 18 February 1915 and was also Mentioned in Despatches before returning at his own request to the Army staff in March 1915.
Musgrave was again Mentioned in Despatches on 1 January 1916 and was wounded on 10 August 1916 requiring extensive surgery and recuperation for many months. Upon his recovery he returned to the Front as a member of the Royal Engineers Staff (HQ) 2nd Corps but was killed in action on 2 June 1918 whilst on patrol behind enemy lines.
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