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2nd Lieutenant Gilbert Digby Mansel GWYNNE-GRIFFITH
1st King George's Own Sappers and Miners, Royal Engineers, Indian Army attached South Persia Rifles Date of birth: 18th June 1891 Date of death: 2nd July 1918 Died of wounds aged 27 Buried at Tehran Military Cemetery Plot I Row E Grave 16
Gilbert Digby Mansel Gwynne-Griffiths was born at Bedford Park in Middlesex on the 18th of June 1891 the only son of John St. Aubrey Mansel Gwynne-Griffith, a solicitor of 63, Lincoln’s Inn Fields, and Clara Beatrice (nee Lush) Gwynne-Griffith later of 142 Marina, St Leonards-on-Sea in Sussex. He was christened at St Michael's and All Angels Church at Hounslow in Middlesex on the 15th of July 1891. He was educated at Rothbury School, St Leonards-on-Sea, at Mr G.D.M. Lynchmere's School, St Anne's Road in Eastbourne, and at Lancing College where he won an Exhibition and was in News House from September 1905 to July 1909. He was a member of the Officer Training Corps from September 1905 to July 1909, where he rose to the rank of Sergeant and was appointed as a Prefect in 1909. He went on to London University in October 1909, where he achieved a BSc in 1912 and was a member of the University Officer Training Corps in the Royal Field Artillery Section from October 1909 to June 1912, rising to the rank of Sergeant. In November 1912 he went to work for the London South West Railway. When he decided to move to India his former employer wrote in support of his application in a letter dated the 10th of January 1913: - "Mr. G Gwynne-Griffiths has been with me from November 1912 to January 7th 1913. He has assisted me in the following surveys on the L.S.W. Railway. Richmond to Twickenham, Richmond to Mortlake, Nine Elms old erecting shop, Bridges, Surbiton to Hampton Court Junction and Sections (138) from Richmond to Twickenham. He has a very good knowledge of field work, can use the theodolite correctly and is a fair leveller, and above all is energetic and a good worker. His draughtsmanship is accurate and neat, and he should make a very good junior assistant in a very short time. His character is excellent." Signed E. Moul, Assistant Engineer L.S.W. Railway. He went to India where he became an Assistant Engineer in the Barai Light Railway in Bombay in April 1913. He enlisted in the Poona Volunteer Rifles on the 18th of July 1913 and served with them as a Private until the 12th of January 1916. When he applied for a commission in the army his employer wrote a letter of support: - "Mr. Gilbert Digby Mansel Gwynne-Griffiths joined the Barai Light Railway in India in April 1913 as Assistant Engineer. His previous technical training enabled him to be useful from the first on open line works. When construction commenced on our Pandharpur Town Extension and he was transferred to it in December 1913, he was put in immediate charge of the erection of the Rhima Bridge 25 spans of 20 feet, piers 50 feet odd above river bed, under the supervision of the Chief Engineer of the railway, and he completed this work most satisfactorily as well as the considerable works on the approaches to and at the junction station of Pandharpur at the bridge head. It was largely due to his energy and zeal that in spite of heavy floods the Extension was opened at the appointed time. All through his three years with us he has borne the most exemplary character, and we lose him with great regret, though applauding the spirit which leads him voluntarily to give up a good and rising position to meet a higher call. I may add that I knew Mr. Gwynne-Griffiths personally before he joined us and because on my knowledge of his capacity and character was glad to secure him for the Railway. With his reliable and steady character, his previous service as a Territorial Officer, his technical training in engineering and the experience now gained in practical work and in the management of labour and material he should, it seems to me, make a most valuable engineering officer. Signed G.A. Anderson, retired Chief Engineer, Indian State Railway, Marai Light Railway Co. Ltd. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers on the 2nd of July 1916. He served in India and was twice mentioned in despatches, once on the 3rd of June 1919 "for valuable services in India". In December 1917 he was attached to the South Persia Rifles for service in Mesopotamia. While he was there the Kashgai tribe rose up against the Persian Government and in May 1918 a large force of Kashgai fighters attacked a detachment of the South Persia Rifles on the Busehr-Shiraz Road. A British force was sent to relieve them and, in spite of being heavily outnumbered the British carried the day. Gilbert Gwynne-Griffiths was mortally wounded while trying to repair the bank of a stream which had been damaged by the enemy at Abadeh. His mother received the following telegram dated the 20th of July 1918: - "Deeply regret Lt. G.D.M. Gwynne-Griffiths RE attached South Persia Rifles died of wounds July second. The army council express sympathy."

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