Person

Hanway Robert Cumming, the son of Hugh McPherson and Emma Mary Spencer Cumming, was born in Kensington, London in 1867. He had three brothers and a sister and spent his early years in Surrey. In May 1887 he joined the Militia and on 8 June 1889 was commissioned as a second lieutenant into the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. In July 1891 he was promoted to lieutenant and in November 1897 to captain. A year later he was a brevet-major and served during the Boer War. He was involved in several actions including the Relief of Ladysmith. He was mentioned in despatches twice during 1901 and was based at the Staff College at Frimley in Surrey.

There is some confusion over his marriage to Beatrice Taylor as there are entries in the Civil Registration Index for both September 1903 and June 1905. He was promoted to major in November 1909 and was later transferred to the General Staff. In 1914 he was Deputy Assistant Adjutant General based in Ceylon and India. He left India in 1915 and became General Staff Officer 1 of the 31st Division, fighting in Egypt from December until February 1916, after which he was transferred to the 48th Division. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel in 1916 and commanded the 2nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. In November 1916 he was given command of the 7th Division, 91st Brigade and was involved in several actions which resulted in his being mentioned in despatches and being awarded the Distinguished Service Order (DSO). However, he had disagreements with his Divisional Commanders during this period and was eventually sent home and put in command of the machine-Gun Training School in Grantham. In March 1918, just before the Spring Offensive, he returned to France as brigade commander of the 110th Brigade, 21st Division and commanded the brigade for the rest of the war, being involved in heavy fighting both in defence and attack. During the year he was again mentioned in despatches and appointed an Officer of the Legion d’Honneur.

During the Irish War of Independence he was a temporary brigadier general commanding troops in County Kerry and on 3 March 1921 was driving in convoy near Clonbanin when it was ambushed by about 100 members of the Irish Republican Army (IRA). As he jumped out of his car he was shot in the head and died instantly. He was buried in London’s Golder’s Green cemetery a week later with full military honours.

Hanway was the author of “A Brigadier in France, 1917-1918”, which was published after his death. This book can be accessed using the Internet Archive:

https://archive.org/details/brigadierinfranc00cumm

Birth date: 29-Oct-1867

Death date: 5-Mar-1921

Armed force/civilian: Army

Residence: 37 Thurlea Square, Kensington, London (1871 Cenus)
Allyre Lodge, Carlton Road, Putney, Surrey (1881 Census)
Staff College, Frimley, Surrey (1901 Census)
106 Lancaster Gate, Hyde Park, London

Family: Father: Hugh McPherson Cumming
Mother: Emma Spencer Mary Cumming (nee Cooke)
Siblings: Thomas Potter Cooke, Louisa Emma Roberts, John Charles james & Hugh William Henry Cumming
Wife: Beatrice Cumming (nee Taylor)

Military service:

1st & 2nd Battalions Durham Light Infantry & General Staff
Colonel

Medal(s): Distinguished Service Order
Mentioned in Dispatches
South Africa Medal with four clasps
1914-1915 Star
British War Medal
Victory Medal
Legion of Honour

Gender: Male

Contributed by John Edwards