Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Charles Stuart Erskine, MC MiD
5th Gurkha Rifles
By Robert Simpson
Kenneth Charles Stuart Erskine was born on 22nd October 1888 in Maligaum, Bombay India and was baptised on 22nd November 1888. His parents were Claude Francis Erskine and Mary Katherine Thatcher, who had been married in Poona, Bombay India on 28th December 1885. They had another son, Claude Ernest Torin Erskine, born on 1st May 1887 in Poona. Claude had been born in Bombay on 15th October 1855 and baptised on 22nd November 1855 in Christ Church Byculla. His parents were Claudius James and Emily Georgina Erskine. By the 1861 census, Claude was back in England and was attending school and a boarder. In the 1871 census he was still at school and was a boarder. In June 1880 Claude was back in India and joined the service of the Survey of India. In December 1881 he was made assistant superintendent, and in January 1896 was deputy superintendent. Another site records him as “a Deputy Superintendent of the Revenue and Survey Department.” By the 1911 census they had moved back to England and were living at 95 Greys Rd Eastbourne. Claude had retired. Mary was born in Ahmedabad India on 7th December 1861. In the 1923 phone book, they were living at 14 Hartfield square Eastbourne. Claude died on 30th October 1925 in the nursing home at 26 Hyde gardens Eastbourne and probate was granted to his widow on 24th November of over £4400. He was buried in Eastbourne, Ocklynge Cemetery, Sussex with the plinth front saying “In loving memory of CLAUDE FRANCIS the beloved husband of Mary K. E. Erskine ” Minnie ” passed over 30th October 1925 aged 70 years Mizpah.” The left side of the plinths says “Also ROSEMARY ALISON beloved baby grandchild died at Peshwar, India 29th May.” On 21st July 1928 Mary left Liverpool on the Nestor, bound for Cape Town. She passed away on 13th May 1947 in Surrey and probate was granted to “Claude Ernest Torin Erskine retired colonel H.M. army and William Charles Parkins solicitor” with effects of over £1100. On 17th May 1947 the Eastbourne Herald newspaper in Eastbourne, Sussex, had an article, part of which reads “… went to reside with a son, Colonel Claude Erskine, at Fangate Manor Farm, East Horsley. There is one other son, Colonel Kenneth S. Erskine. Both sons have seen service in India. _ ‘” — The body of Mrs Erskine will be laid in her husband’s grave at Ocklynge …”
Ocklynge Cemetery
Claude Ernest Torin Erskine was in Hart’s Annual Army List of 1908 under “Attached List (With a view to appointment to the Indian Army)” as a Second Lieutenant, with a date of 29th August 1906 as the date of his first commission. In the medal roll for the Indian General Service Medal 1908 with clasp North-West Frontier 1908 for the Queen’s Own Corps of Guides was Lieutenant C E T Erskine. In Hart’s Army List on 1910 he was listed in the Indian Army list in the Unattached List with 4-years-service. It shows he was a 2nd Lieutenant from 29th August 1906 and Lieutenant from 29th November 1908. By the 1911 census, he was in England at Binfield Manor, Binfield, Berkshire, listed as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army.
In the Indian Army Quarterly List for 1 January 1912 he is listed in British Officers of the Indian Army under Guides as a Lieutenant. He is listed in various British Army Lists: 1912 Indian Army as a Lieutenant, 1915 the same, 1916 Indian Army as a Captain and 1922 Indian Army as a Major.
The Supplement to the London Gazette of 7th November 1918 on page 13152 had under awarded the Military Cross: “Capt. Claude Ernest Torin Erskine, Corps of Guides. For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty during an attack. He repeatedly went forward from battalion headquarters under intense artillery fire and took temporary command of two companies in the front line who were without an officer, and re-organized the line. The success of the operation was mainly due to his fine example of courage under most trying circumstances.”
His Medal Index Card shows he was with 28th Indian Infantry Brigade, 7th Indian Division, 5/12 F. F. Regiment Indian Army as a Major. He was entitled to the Indian General Service Medal with Kurdistan clasp. He applied for it on 28th December 1925. Originally the address given for the medal to be sent to was Tochi Scouts, Miranshah NWFP India, but it was crossed out and 14 Hartfield square Eastbourne added. The medal roll adds that he was “Captain Substantive Brigade Major” with the Brigade and in the remarks column he wrote “I was Brigade Major to the 28th Indian Infy. Bde. which was attached to the 5th Ind. Cavalry Division from 12.5.19 to 20.1.20. The Brigade had attachment at URFA –TEL ABIAD & beyond which are in Kurdistan. The medal has already been awarded to my Brigade Commander, Brigadier General C. H. DAVIES, C.B. C.M.G. D.S.O. whom I accompanied on many inspections.” Brigadier-General Davies also added “Major Erskine accompanied me as Staff Officer to a conference” somewhere “with the Turkish Commander in May 1919, & in June 1919 to an inspection of” a “detachment”. He rose to the rank of rank of Colonel in the QVO Corps of Guides. The British Library has a biography on him which includes “Biographical notes: Col, Indian Army, DSO, MC; IOR Biographical File”, and also “Biographical notes: Indian Army; b 1 May & bap 9 Jun 1887 St Mary’s, Poona, son of Claude Francis, Revenue Survey, & Mary Catherine L/MIL/9/305 f.91”.
Claude and the family arrived at Liverpool from Bombay on SS Elysia on 11th November 1937 and were intending to stay in England.
In the 1939 register he was at “Fungate” Manor Farm Guildford, Surrey and “Employed under the India Office Whittley”. Also, it was noted he was a retired Army Officer India and Regular Reserve of Officers. He was with his wife, Patience Paulina Erskine, born on 24th July 1901 who was doing unpaid domestic duties and their two children.
Claude was awarded the Companion, Order of the Indian Empire (1928 New Year Honour), Distinguished Service Order and Military Cross.
In the 1946 Electoral Register they were living at Fangate Manor Farm with his mother. They migrated to South Africa at some stage later, possibly after his mother’s death. Claude passed away on 11th February 1965 at Linlathen Harding in Natal Provence South Africa. Effects of £789 in England went to a solicitor.
British Officers of the 5th Gurkha Regiment at Abbottabad in June 1914, Lieutenant K C S Erskine is in the back row, 4th from the left.
In the 1901 census, Kenneth was a boarder in Hazelhurst Street Frant Sussex. He was educated at Charterhouse and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst.
Kenneth was first commissioned on 9th September 1908 into the Indian Army. Another site noted he entered Sandhurst in 1907 on an Indian Cadet Scholarship. In the Indian Army Quarterly List for 1st January 1912 he is listed as a Lieutenant under British Officers of the Indian Army with 5 G R. Confidential reports on him from 1909 to 1912 say he was very well thought of and well regarded in the 1st Battalion 5th Gurkha Regiment. In 1914 British Army Lists he is recorded as a Lieutenant in the Indian Army. He was Adjutant for the Battalion by late 1914. A book, Army of Empire by George Morton-Jack [Publisher: Basic Books (December 4, 2018)], has on page 233 a short paragraph “In force G ranks were the 5th Gurkhas whose pre-war training had involved lectures with photographs of the Russo-Japanese war. On their first sight of Turkish shelling’s bloody harvest on Gallipoli some Gurkhas spoke of flashbacks to the lectures telling their British officer Kenneth Erskine it is just like the photos and appearing quite unmoved.” The Battalion landed later on Gallipoli on V Beach on 4th June 1915, but within a few hours of landing they had lost 129 men and 7 British officers. In June/July 1915 on Gallipoli the Battalion was attacking trench J13 and lost all of their officers except Kenneth. Lieutenant Erskine being the senior officer left, commanded the battalion until he was wounded. He was awarded a Military Cross for his actions. They moved to Imbros to await reinforcements. Returning to Gallipoli they were exposed to unbearable heat, the smell of the dead in no-man’s land and the flies. They had some success in attack but had to retreat due to lack of support. Disease took its toll and when winter arrived it was worse than the heat, with many suffering from frostbite. During the evacuation, C Company 1/5th Gurkhas were the last off Gallipoli.
The 1915 and 1916 army lists have the same details for him.
In a book, the action reads: “On July 1st the enemy renewed his attempt with consequences which appeared likely at one time to prove serious. There was a moment when our men found themselves forced right out of J18, with the possibility of being driven farther. The attack, however, had been checked just sufficiently to allow of the collection of a fresh store of bombs. A volunteer party was rapidly organized, consisting of bombers of both the 5th and 6th Gurkhas. These drove back the Turks and held them at a point about half-way along J18. This allowed of a second detachment being pushed into the trench, which, equipped with the necessary tools, proceeded to erect a barricade at the junction of J18 and J11A, to cut away the traverses beyond, and to lay a barbed wire entanglement for some distance along the trench in the direction of the enemy. At the end of twenty minutes the covering party returned, having run short of bombs. The enemy was not far behind, but, the work completed, it was a matter of a few seconds only to clear the trench, and the first Turk to appear fell with a bullet through the head fired from one of the loopholes in the parapet. The entire episode reflected great credit on all concerned, and special mention must be made of the good work done by Lieutenant Erskine, who was not only largely responsible for the success of this particular achievement, but had previously distinguished himself on two occasions by leading attacks…”
He was Mentioned in Despatches three times during the war. (London Gazettes 5th November 1915, 28th January 1916 [Lieutenant K C S Erskine 5th Gurkha Rifles attached 2/10th Battalion Gurkha Rifles], and 21st June 1916).
The War Diary for 1/5 Gurkha Rifles, 29th Indian Infantry Brigade at the Dardanelles from May 1915 to January 1916, from Egypt 10th Indian Division 28th Infantry Brigade to India is available to view. A letter in the front of it written in 1929 by Lieutenant-Colonel Lane who was compiler of the history of the 5th Gurkhas notes “Name submitted to the Section by Major K.S.C. Erskine, M.C.”. It discusses that “from the point of view of the 1/5th Gurkhas, it is disappointing to find that they were not once mentioned in connection with fighting in J.13”. It goes on to say “The 1/5th lost 4 out of 6 British Officers and nearly 100 men in the J.1. fighting, Lieutenant Erskine, the senior of the two remaining British Officers had only 6 years service at the time.” Another letter in 1931 stated “any comments of mins should be checked against the information furnished to you by Lt.-Colonel Erskine, M.C. who was actually present up to the time he was wounded on the 8th August.” The story of the attack then goes on to mention “North of the Dere, Captain Erskine, with A Company, made several attempts to gain the crest of the ridge intervening between the Asma Dere and the Aghyl Dere (North Fork) but succeeded in only maintaining a somewhat precarious hold of a subsidiary spur rising towards Flat Top from the south-west.” Further on “Flat Top was exposed to fire from both Abd el Rahman Bair and from the direction of Hill Q, and it was here that Captain Erskine was wounded.” The War Diary appears to have been written by Kenneth for the first 2 months (initialled K.E. and signed at the end of the month as Adjutant).
A hospital admission and discharge book for the 19th General Hospital shows number 263 was Lieutenant K C S Erskine 5th Gurkhas, who was aged 26 and had 7-years-service, with 9 months completed with the Field Force, and for wounds he had shrapnel wounds to both thighs. The ledger stated date of transfer to sick convoy was 8th September 1915 and from sick convoy was 13th August 1915. He had 27 days of treatment in that hospital in Ward D. His religion was Church of England. Kenneth was then sent on PS Devanah to England. He was then admitted to Queen Alexandra’s Military Hospital at Millbank SW and was given the case number 608. The details filled out showed Lieutenant K C S Erskine 5th Gurkhas was aged 27, had 7 years-service, 4 months service in the Command and was suffering from GSW thighs. He was admitted to the hospital on 19th September 1915 and discharged on 4th October 1915. His pay was stopped for the 16 days of his treatment. He was then sent to Faulkner’s Hospital. The Scotsman newspaper in Edinburgh on 14th January 1916 had an article titled Operations of the British Army which had Lieutenant Kenneth Charles Stuart Erskine, 5th Gurkha Rifles Indian Army in it. Full access to the article would explain why he is in the list, it maybe his wounding.
His Military Cross was recorded in the London Gazette 29438 of 14th January 1916 as a Lieutenant in the 1/5th Gurkha Rifles Indian Army, and he was decorated with it on 25th June 1920.
On 31st January 1916 Kenneth and another Lieutenant boarded the Castalia in 1st Class at Liverpool and departed for Bombay. They were listed as “Account India Office.”
His French Legion of Honour, Chevalier award was posted in the London Gazette of 28th September 1917 [Captain Kenneth Charles Stuart Erskine MC Indian Army], under the heading “Croix de Chevalier”. In the London Gazette of 1st October 1918 are two entries for him under 5th Gurkha Rifles. “In the Notification in the London Gazette dated 6th Sept. 1918 against the names of … Capt. K. C. S. Erskine, M.C., … for “4th Jan. 1918” read 2nd Jan. 1918.”” “Capt. (actg. Major) K. C. S. Erskine, M.C., relinquishes his actg. Rank on ceasing to be second in command of a battn. 27th Jan. 1918.”
In the 1917, 1918 and 1922 British Army Lists he was a Captain in the Indian Army. A Medal Index Card is online for him, but has to be paid to look at. The reference at National Archives UK is WO 372/25/4669 and shows that Captain K C S Erskine of 1/5th Gurkha Rifles was entitled to the British War and Victory medals which were issued by the Government of India. The British Library has transcribed India Office Records and include a record for Kenneth which starts on his birth date but does not show an end date. Some of the notes say “Indian Army; b 22 Oct & bap 22 Nov 1888 Malegaon, son of Claude Francis, Asst Suptd, Revenue Survey, & Mary Katherine L/MIL/9/306 f. 82”.
On 8th October 1920 he departed London on Mantua in 2nd Class, bound for India. In the 1921 Register for Employees of the India Office he was listed in the Honours List as “Erskine, Capt. K.C.S., M.C., 1 Jan., 1916.” The same entry is in the 1925 list.
After WW1 Kenneth served during the operations in Afghanistan, on the North West Frontier of India, and further service in Waziristan. He was Mentioned in Despatches (4th time, London Gazette 3rd August 1920- Afghan War) and ‘for distinguished service during the operation in Waziristan between January 1922 and April 1923’ (5th time, London Gazette 27th February 1924). He was promoted to Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 4th February 1930, in the Indian Army with the 5th Gurkha Rifles (London Gazette 4th February 1930 page 727). Lieutenant-Colonel Kenneth Charles Stuart Erskine MC was on the 1935 Jubilee medal roll, listing he was with the 1st Battalion 5th Royal Gurkha Rifles. Kenneth obtained the local rank of Brigadier on 1st June 1936 whilst serving as Officer Commanding, Peshawar Brigade. A Memorandum in the London Gazette of 16th October 1936 reads “Lt.-Col. (local Brig.) K. C. S. Erskine, M.C., 1/5th R.G.R., relinquishes the local rank of Brigadier, 28th Aug. 1936.” The London Gazette of 23rd July 1937 has an entry under Memoranda “The undermentioned officers are granted the local rank of Brigadier” and included “Lt.-Col. K. C. S. Erskine, M.C., 1/5th R.G.R., while offg. Comdr. Peshawar Bde., 1st June 1937.” Under the same heading in the London Gazette of 3rd December 1937 was “The undermentioned officers relinquish the local rank of Brigadier” and included Kenneth and was dated 7th October 1937. The London Gazette of 22nd December 1939 under India Office Indian Army recorded that the King had approved for the undermentioned officers to retire and it included “Lt.-Col. K. C. S. Erskine, M.C., 10th Nov. 1939.”
He arrived at Southampton from Natal in 1st Class on Edinburgh Castle for a visit. His profession was listed as Indian Army and he intended to reside at 2a Kings Avenue Eastbourne while in England. While there he married Edith Helen Ida Ashfield in the last quarter of 1927 at Marlborough, Wiltshire, United Kingdom. Edith had been born on 14th September 1905 at Frant Sussex. Her father Charles was a schoolmaster. He and her mother Ida had been married in 1896. An article in the Sevenoaks Chronicle and Kentish Advertiser – Sevenoaks, Kent on 6th January 1928 must mention the wedding and discussed Mr C K Ashfield being a headmaster at a school and Kenneth going to Charterhouse, and subsequently Sandhurst, before being raised into the Indian Army. The 1932 British Army List had Kenneth as a Major in the Indian Army and in the 1939 list he was a Lieutenant-Colonel. He retired on 10th November 1939, with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel.
They had three children, Kenneth David Erskine born in 1928 or 1929 in Abbottabad Bengal (if correct person); Rachael Christian Erskine born on 18th July 1930 in Srinagar, Kashmir, India and Robin Stuart Erskine born on 13th December 1932. The birth record for Rachel showed Kenneth was a “Lieut:Col: 5th Royal Gurkhas, F.F., British” and their address was 50 Staff Road Ambala.
On 12th February 1932, Kenneth, Edith, Kenneth David and Rachael boarded the Strataird at London, bound for India. He was listed as being in the Indian Army. On 17th May 1934, Robin, Rachael and Kenneth (recorded as David) arrived in Plymouth on SS City of Calcutta from Bombay with Miss Maples (aged 28), who was a nurse to Mrs Erskine. Their address in England was listed as C/o Col. Erskine Thomas Cook & Sons Berksley St London. They intended to return to India. On 6th March 1936 at London, after travelling 1st Class on Kaisar-I-Hind from Bombay, Edith (aged 30), Kenneth (aged 7), Rachael (aged 5) and Robin (aged 3) disembarked. Edith was listed as doing Home Duties and their address was listed as “Hamlet, Sicklesmere Road, Bury-St-Edmunds, Suffolk”, and they intended to permanently reside in England.
After that, records for the children are unable to be found, so it is not known what happened to them.
Picture of British Officers in 1936 including Kenneth Erskine, when he was commanding the 1/5th on the NW Frontier (taken from Volume 2 Hist.) sitting in the centre 4th from the right. Note that the officers are wearing black armbands, as tradition for the death of King George V.
It is not known what service he had for WW2, but he must have served in Italy at some time. Their history stated the 1st Battalion served in Iran, Iraq, Egypt and Italy.
Kenneth passed away on 21st March 1962 in Scotland.
He was buried in Castle-Douglas Cemetery on 24th March 1962. The lair had been purchased on 22nd March 1962, with £7.17.6 paid. It was for 2 lairs in Section P, numbered 11A and 11B. Kenneth was buried in 11B at 6 feet.
Probate for Kenneth Charles Stuart Erskine of Marwhirn Kirkpatrick Durham Castle Douglas who died on 21st March 1962 at Dumfries, with Confirmation of Robin Stuart Erskine, was sealed in London on 28th September.
Edith was buried in lair 11A on 24th March at 6 feet. Robin Erskine was buried in the same lair on 8th November 2000 at 4 feet 6 inches. Why they did not put his middle name on the grave or documents is not known.
His medals are Military Cross, G.V.R., unnamed as issued; 1914-15 Star (Lt. K. C. S. Erskine, 1/5/Gurkha Rfls. F.F.); British War and Victory Medals, with M.I.D. oak leaves (Capt. K. C. S. Erskine.); India General Service 1908-35, 2 clasps, Afghanistan N.W.F. 1919; Waziristan 1921-24 (Capt. K. C. S. Erskine. 1-5 G.R.); India General Service 1936-39, 1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39 (Lt. Col. K. C. S. Erskine. 1-5 R.G.R.); 1939-45 Star; Italy Star; War Medal 1939-45; India Service Medal; Jubilee 1935; Coronation 1937; France, Third Republic, Legion of Honour, Chevalier’s breast badge, silver, gold appliqué, and enamel.
Above. Someone bought his sword and has posted pictures online. – “This is a 1827 Rifles Pattern Officers’ sword with 1892 blade was made for Kenneth Erskine of the 5th Gurkha Rifles and was proven on 5th September 1908 by Wilkinson and Co, Pall Mall, London. It is a special pattern sword made with a patent solid hilt which was a much more stronger hilt than the ordinary made sword made by Wilkinson’s and other makers of this time. Another special feature to note is the wreath on the oval surround which was a distinction of the Rifle Brigade who were an allied Regiment of the 5th Gurkhas Rifles.”
Kenneth Erskine was one of only six recipients of a Military Cross to the 29th Brigade in the Indian Army for the Gallipoli campaign.
The museum has the medal group due to the financial support from the Copland Foundation.
ANZAC Biographies
On our website you will find the biographical details of ANZAC (as well as British) servicemen & women whose medals or other memorabilia form part of the collection on display at the Maryborough Military & Colonial Museum, Maryborough, Queensland, Australia.