Captain Carlos Miguel Guillermo DUNHILL RE
22nd Company, Royal Engineers attached to the 17th Company, 3rd Sappers and Miners, Indian States Forces

Date of birth: 14th August 1888
Date of death: 1st December 1915

Killed in action aged 27
Commemorated on the Basra Memorial Panel 5 and 61
He was born at 10 Bolton Street, Piccadilly in London on the 14th of August 1888 the son of William Henry Carter Dunhill, barrister at law, and Alice Whittaker (nee Norton) of Folkestone House, St George's Place, Canterbury. He was christened at the Church of Our Lady Queen of Martyrs, Little Albany Street, London NW on the 6th of October 1894. He was known by his family as ?Ermo?

He was educated at a school at Burbage in Derbyshire and at the King’s School Canterbury from the 8th of June 1902 to the 2nd of July 1903. He went on to Bedford Grammar School from January 1904 to 1906.

While still at school he applied for a place at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich on the 18th of August 1906. He entered Woolwich in 1907 and was a member of the Gym VIII in 1908. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on the 18th of December 1908 and was promoted to Lieutenant on the 21st of December 1910.

He was married at St Pancras Town Hall on the 1st of February 1912 to Mary Ellen (nee McDevitt). They lived at 6 Knaresborough Place in South Kensington.

On the outbreak of war he was serving with the 22nd Company Royal Engineers and he embarked for France on the 5th of November 1914. He was promoted to Captain on the 18th of December 1914 and was later attached to the Indian Army.

While in Bombay he wrote his wife a letter dated the 9th of October 1915: -

"My own Little Wife,
I enclose the £4 I promised and I fear you may not hear from me for some time after this; but Cox & Co., in London will send you £5 a month c/o Thos. Cook & Son’s. I have been mobilized at about 24 hours’ notice and have now joined the Sappers & Miners. We do not know where we are going but expect to start for somewhere in a couple of days. I shall not be able to write till I land and perhaps may not be allowed to then so don’t be surprised if you don’t hear from me for six weeks anyway. That will be the earliest you will probably next get from me. I’m feeling rather worried just at present over many things but anyway I have one thing to look forward to that is that with end of this war I shall be able to have you with me; and nothing else matters. I can’t say I’m anything but glad to be going somewhere over this blessed upheaval though I fear you will not be quite so pleased."
In haste. With all love from your loving husband
Carlos

At the time of his death he was involved in the fighting at Umm at Tubul during the retreat from Kut al Amara.

His wife received the following telegram dated the 8th of December 1915: -
"Deeply regret to inform you that Capt. C.M.G. Dunhill RE was killed in action date not stated. Lord Kitchener expresses his sympathy."

He was mentioned in despatches on the 28th of September 1915, on the 5th of April 1916 for his part in the operations at Kut-Al-Amara, and again on the 13th of July 1916 by Major General Townshend in connection with operations under his command.

His widow applied for his medals on the 29th of March 1919 and moved to Australia after the war living at ”Ayr”, Macpherson Street, Waverly in Sydney.
 

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