George Noel WAUGH

Captain George Noel Waugh MRCVS was born in Edinburgh, Scotland, on 23 December 1871. He graduated from Glasgow University in 1891 and served in South Africa before moving to New Zealand.

Before his time in France, his service record shows that he had served in Egypt and Gallipoli.

On the evening of his death, Waugh had been challenged as he rode up to a checkpoint seeking directions to his billet in the village of L’Hallobeau. Soldiers on sentry duty near L’Epinette in northwest France demanded that the horseman produce some identification.

Waugh, who had dined with fellow officers earlier in the evening and left the hotel “in a very jovial state”, ignored the request, turned his mount and rode off at a gallop. A little later, he returned, asked once again for directions and for the second time that night, went off at a gallop.

An account of the incident in Waugh’s military file states that at this point, the soldiers from the 2nd Anzac Cycle Battalion talked among themselves about the figure on horseback. They formed the view that he was a German spy.

Around 11.20 pm, for the third time that evening, Waugh appeared at the checkpoint and was met with a challenge from Private Arthur Connolly, a young Australian soldier. Connolly, armed with a loaded rifle, asked Waugh to provide proof of identity.

According to his personal file, Waugh could be “sharp and sarcastic.” He replied, “I am a New Zealand captain,” and demanded to see someone in command.

Connolly held the bridle of Waugh’s horse while another soldier went in search of an officer.

According to Waugh’s file, the testy rider struck Connolly and took off at a gallop. The NZ Veterinary Corps officer was urged three times to stop but refused.

The soldier fired at the receding figure, wounding Waugh in his lung. Soldiers collected the injured Waugh and took him for treatment. He died the following morning.

A Court of Inquiry ordered by the NZ Divisional Commander Sir Andrew Russell found that when Connolly fired the fatal shot, he believed Waugh was a spy. The death was recorded as accidental.

Captain Waugh’s obituary appeared in The Veterinary Record on 9 June 1917. It was reported that he died of wounds.