Captain James Melmoth DU BUISSON
B Company, 7th (Service) Battalion, Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) Regiment

Date of birth: 23rd April 1889
Date of death: 8th October 1976

Died aged 87
Unknown
James Melmoth Du Buisson was born at Betchworth on the 23rd of April 1889 the eldest 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 1902 where he was a member of the Cricket XI in 1900, 1901and 1902 when he was Captain. He was a member of the Football XI in 1899 and 1900. The school magazine wrote of his 1899 football season: - "Inside left. Shows good promise, but in matches seems afraid to take his proper place in the attack; with a little less diffidence should be of great service, as he passes nicely, can dribble, and shoots very well."

Of his 1900 football season they wrote: - "Left wing. On his day he is quick and tricky, but is very easily disheartened, and has on the whole proved disappointing; must cure himself of boring his wing partner in to touch, and learn to shoot equally with either foot."

They also wrote of his 1900 cricket season: - "A good bat, to straight bowling, and played some praiseworthy innings, but terribly feeble to crooked stuff. A fine field anywhere."

And of his 1901 cricket season: - "Another uncertain one, better to good straight bowling than to stuff worth 6d. a ball in a school match, but is improving and has played some excellent innings. A good field and will make a bowler when he is not afraid of pitching them up."

Of his 1902 cricket season they wrote: - "Captain- A good bat to straight bowling, but wants to be more aggressive to loose stuff: a good fast bowler, on his day, and excellent field."

On leaving the school the magazine wrote of him: - "....goes to Marlborough. He is Captain of both Elevens, and a first rate runner and jumper."

He went on to Marlborough College where he was in Littlefield House from September 1902 to December 1906. In 1907, he went on to Oriel College Oxford where he played Hockey, Cricket and Rugby for his college and achieved a BA in 1914. He was a member of the Oxford University Hockey XI in 1908. On leaving university he became a merchant.

On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps as a Private A/1039, giving his address as Cheriton, Dartford Road in Sevenoaks. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the 7th Battalion Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regiment) on the 12th of September 1914. He sailed to France with his battalion on the 27th of July 1915 on board the SS “Victoria” landing at Boulogne; amongst the officers making the crossing that day was Hazelwood Old Boy, Harry Jeddere-Fisher. He took part in the fighting at Ypres in 1915 and survived the early engagements on the Somme.

On the 18th of November 1916 the 7th Battalion was detailed to attack “Desire” trench as part of the Battle of the Ancre, the final stage of the Somme battle. The two leading companies from the battalion went forward in light snow at 6.10am but no word was heard of them for some time. B Company, under the command of James Du Buisson, was sent forward at 4.15pm to make contact, but the two leading platoons came under intense enemy fire from "Stump" trench and were forced to withdraw. During this attack he, another officer and seventy three other ranks were wounded.

He returned to the battalion in time to take part in the Battle of Arras where he was wounded again on the 3rd of May 1917 near the village of Vis-en-Artois during an unsuccessful attack on Cable Trench at 5.30pm; in all he was wounded three times during the war and was mentioned in despatches on three occasions.

He was married to Rosamond Felicia Palmer (nee Berryman) on the 20th of April 1920 at the Holy Trinity Church, Guildford and they had a son, Thomas M., born on the 10th of May 1921. They lived at "Cheriton", Dartford Road, Sevenoaks in Kent.

After the war he transferred to the 4th Battalion Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment); he was promoted to Captain on the 19th of March 1926 and to Major on the 20th of May 1932. He retired from the army on the 23rd of April 1939 having reached the required age.

Following the outbreak of the Second World War he was re-appointed as a 2nd Lieutenant (7524) in the Kent Cadet Corps on the 25th of November 1942. He retired from the service for a second time on the 31st of October 1945. After the war he was living at Saints Hill House, Penshurst in Kent.
Went on to Marlborough College

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