Capt. Hugh Cowell Kinred M.C.

[sjustice]

From the London Gazette - July 1916:

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 27 JULY, 1916.

His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to confer the Military Cross on the

undermentioned Officers and Warrant Officers, in recognition of their gallantry and devotion

to duty in the field: —

Temp. Lt. Hugh Cowell Kinred, 14th Bn. Glouc. R.

"For conspicuous gallantry. When a bomb

thrown by the enemy fell at his feet in the

trench, he at once threw himself on it, and

was blown into the air and much bruised and

cut by the explosion, his life being saved by

his steel waistcoat. His plucky action saved

many casualties."

From my church magazine - September 1916

"Next must be reported the gladdest and saddest events which have be-fallen Frenchay war history of late [the "saddest" is the report DoW of Lt. Jack Kilby, 7th T.M.B. not detailed in this post - SMJ]. First Captain Hugh Kinred, of 14th Glo'sters ("Bristol Bantams"), who enlisted when curate of this parish, has won the Military Cross. The Daily Mirror of August 22nd gives the following account of his exploit, together with capital photographs of himself and the few poor remnants of his tunic both donned and doffed: "The marvellous escape from death of Capt. H.C. Kinred will probably rank as one of the most remarkable stories of the war. While walking along a trench he saw a bomb come over and drop near seven soldiers who were fast asleep. 'In a moment, I saw the danger they were in, and that no time could be lost in picking it up: so I decided to smother it by lying on it. No sooner had I lain on it than it exploded, blowing me from the corner of the trench at an angle of about 30 degrees on to it's top, and I should doubtless have been killed but for the lucky chance that I was wearing a Whitfield steel waistcoat.' The Captain, who was promoted in the field, has been awarded the Military Cross for this act of self-sacrifice, in which he sustained serious wounds." ¹

Kind Regards,

SMJ

¹ Recorded in Frenchay - A Village at War, Compiled by Ray Bulmer of Frenchay

[ralphjd]

What an amazing story! Thanks for posting it. Ralph.

[sjustice]

Better and better - this is his brother:

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 4 OCTOBER, 1919

Awarded the Military Cross

T./Lt. Spencer Walpole Kinred, 35th Bn. M.G. Corps.

"On 18th October, 1918, he, accompanied

by a N.C.O., crossed the Lys south of

Marcke and made a daring reconnaissance

into Marcke. He entered the enemy

lines, penetrating to a depth of 200 yards,

and gained information about the strength

of the enemy and means of approach to the

village and means of crossing the river. The

information brought back by him was invaluable

to the infantry, who crossed the

river and captured Marcke the same evening.

He has previously done good work."

Interestingly, Spencer started the war enlisting in the CEF, transferring to the 14/Glos to join his brother and thence MGC.

Some other coincidences were occuring in their careers:

SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE, 25 OCTOBER, 1915.

The Gloucestershire Regiment.

The undermentioned temporary Second Lieutenants to be temporary Lieutenants: —

Dated 4th October, 1915.

Hugh C. Kinred.

Spencer W. Kinred.

SMJ

[ralphjd]

What a family ! How do the words in the song go "you cant have one without the other" Brilliant tales. Ralph