Major Thomas Gerard DU BUISSON MC
35th Trench Howitzer Battery, Royal Field Artillery

Date of birth: 8th January 1892
Date of death: 8th October 1989

Died aged 97
Unknown
Thomas Gerard Du Buisson was born at Snower Hill, Betchworth on the 8th of January 1892 the younger son of Thomas Du Buisson and Edith Marian (nee Walters) Du Buisson of Snower Hill, Betchworth in Surrey.

He was educated at Hazelwood School until July 1905 where he was a member of the Football XI in 1902, 1903 and 1904 when he was Captain. He was a member of the Cricket XI in 1903, 1904 and 1905 when he was Captain. The school magazine wrote the following on his 1902 football season: - "(Outside right) - A very plucky little forward who should be of immense value to us in the future."

Of his 1903 football season they wrote: - "(Inside right) - Full of dash, and absolutely fearless; feeds his outside man with real gems: his faults lie in lack of finesse, and a proneness to "lose his head" at a crisis, while his marksmanship is not beyond reproach."

They wrote of his 1904 football season: - "(Inside right), Captain - Combines beautifully both with his wing partners and with the centre forward; is full of dash, but lacks coolness, and has little strategy, while his left foot is weak."

They wrote the following on his 1903 cricket season: - "Another tiny performer, whose want of height keeps his bat very horizontal. A good and plucky little field." They wrote of his 1904 cricket season: - "Did not grow, and is still too short to deal with a good length ball. Works hard in the field."

They wrote of his 1905 cricket season: - "Captain. Took the wicket, as Jameson was wanted to bowl, and often with success. A greatly improved bat, and not afraid to hit; still plays rather across a straight ball. Only wants height to make a good player."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "...goes to Rugby. These pages have been full of his exploits in school and in the field. He has been Captain of both Elevens and always conspicuous at the athletic sports."

He went on to Rugby School where he was in S. Hutchinson's House from September 1905 to June 1910. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps, achieving Certificate A in 1910. He took the examinations for entry to the Royal Military Academy Woolwich in July 1910 in which he was successful.

He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery on the 23rd of December 1911 and was posted to 114th Battery 25th Brigade. Following the outbreak of war he went with his battery to France from Southampton on board the SS "Victoria" on the 17th of August 1914, disembarking at Le Havre the following morning. He was wounded in action at Moulins on the 5th of October 1914. He was promoted to Lieutenant on the 23rd of December 1914.

In July 1915 he was appointed as Officer Commanding the 35th Trench Howitzer Battery. The battery was formed on the 8th of July 1915 at Bethune under the command of Thomas Du Buisson with a strength of one sergeant four corporals and seventeen gunners of the Royal Garrison Artillery. The Battery was equipped with four 15 inch mortars. On the 10th of July they moved by truck to join the 3rd Canadian Brigade and on the following day they moved in front of Ploegsteert Wood in support of the 13th Battalion Canadian Highlanders, firing their first shots at a machine gun emplacement 200 yards to their front on the 14th of July.

He was promoted to Temporary Captain on the 2nd of December 1915 and to Captain on the 8th of August 1916, to Acting Major on the 5th of January 1917 and to Major on the 9th of May 1917. He was wounded again in May 1917 by a shell which broke his right thigh and necessitated the amputation of his right leg. He was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig’s despatches of the 13th of November 1916 and of the 4th of April 1917 and was awarded the Military Cross in the New Year's Honours List of the 1st of January 1918. He was appointed as Officer of a Company of Gentlemen Cadets at the Royal Military College Sandhurst on the 7th of October 1918.

In 1922 he was placed on half pay due to his wounds and worked for the Equitation School at Weedon.

He was married at St Margaret's Church, Westminster to the Hon. Sylvia Grace (nee Portman) on the 25th of April 1932 and they lived at Pittern Hill House, Stratford-Upon-Avon in Warwickshire and later at Reydon Lodge, Bury Road, Newmarket in Suffolk. They also had a house in Ireland. He served as the Secretary of the Grafton Hunt and was a member of the Junior United Service Club.

He served with the No. 6 Area District Remount Office at the beginning of the Second World War and He was promoted to temporary Major on the 16th of June 1942 and was specially employed by the Indian Army from the 14th of July 1943. He was awarded the MBE (Military) for his service, which was announced in the London Gazette of the 14th of June 1945.
Went on to Rugby School

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