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Charles Ralph Congreve (1886-1955)


Man born in Argentina served in the 2nd DLI awarded the DSO


Charles Ralph Congreve, the son of Walter Ralph and Mary Congreve, was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina in May 1886. He had a brother and a sister and, after coming to England shortly after he was born, spent most of his life in the Welsh Borders. He was appointed second lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry on 28 January 1905 and was promoted to lieutenant in 1908. In January 1914 he married Phillida Mary Wanless O’Gowan and they had two children.

On 4 September Charles landed in France and In October he was awarded the DSO for saving the life of a fellow officer. In December he was promoted to captain. In 1915 he was appointed to the General Staff as a captain and in 1917 was promoted to brevet major and then temporary major. In 1921 he had been posted to Ireland and was travelling in convoy with Colonel Hanway Cumming when they were ambushed by more than 100 members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA) near Clonbanin. Colonel Cumming and three others were killed but Charles Congreve, with six other men, tried to outflank the attackers and was awarded the OBE. From 1925 to 1928 he was living in Chelsea, London (possibly while working at the War Office). In 1929 he was stationed in Egypt and, the following year, was promoted to brevet lieutenant-colonel. He remained there until 1933, being promoted to lieutenant-colonel. In 1935 he returned to Wales and, in September 1936, was put on the half-pay list due to his ill health. In 1939 he was living in Farnham, Surrey but by 1955 had moved to Jersey, where he died.

His award of the DSO was gazetted on 1 December 1914 and the citation reads:

“On 28th October saved the life of Captain Wallace by bringing him, when wounded, into cover under heavy fire,”

His award of the OBE was gazetted on 16 April 1921 and the citation reads:

“When Colonel Cumming and his convoy were ambushed in Kerry it was largely due to Major Congreve’s bravery and grasp of the situation that the entire convoy was not annihilated. He proceeded for upwards of 800 yds under heavy fire, up and down the column, organising attacks on the rebels with entire disregard for his own safety”.

Birth date: 14-May-1886

Death date: 22-Mar-1955

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: Eaton Mascott Hall, Berrington, Shropshire (1891 Census)
Seyrwyd Hall, Llanrhaiadr, Denbighshire, Wales (1901 Census)
Army Barracks, Colchester, Essex (1911 Census)
180 Brompton Road, Kensington, London (London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1931)
14 Sydney Street, Chelsea, London (London, England, Electoral Registers, 1925-1928)
‘The White House’, Llandyrnog, Denbigh, Wales (UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1935)
Hill House, Castle Hill, Farnham, Surrey (1939 register &UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1940)
6 De Vaux Place, Salisbury, Wiltshire (UK, Incoming Passenger Lists, 1947)
‘Three Gables’, Greve d’Azette, St. Clement, Jersey (England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, 1973-1995)

Family: Father: Walter Ralph Congreve
Mother: Mary Gordon Congreve (nee )
Siblings: William Maitland & Frances Mary Congreve
Wife: Phillida Mary Congreve (nee Wanless-O’Gowan)
Children: Walter Richard & Penelope Rich Congreve

Military service:

2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Lieutenant-Colonel

Medal(s): Officer of the Order of the British Empire
Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Despatches
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards


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