LENOX-CONYNGHAM, Hubert Maxwell
Personal Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Nationality | British |
| Date of Birth | 10 September 1879 |
| Place of Birth | Springhill, Derry, Ireland |
| Veterinary College and Date of Graduation | London - March 1896 |
Military Service
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Last Rank | Lieutenant- Colonel |
| Regiment/Service | Army Veterinary Corps |
| Secondary Regiment | Assistant Director Veterinary services Fifth it Army |
| Secondary Unit | |
| First Theatre of War | France August 1914 |
Casualty Details
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Death | 15 March 1918 |
| Age at Death | 47 |
| Place of Death | Chester, England |
| Cause of Death | Cerebral Haemorrhage |
Cemetery
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Cemetery | Kilgobbin Burial Ground |
| Location | Ballinknockane, Ireland |
| Grave Reference | |
| Commonwealth War Grave | Yes - Private Headstone |
| Emblem or Badge on Headstone |
Honours and Memorials
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Name on RCVS Honour Board | Yes |
| Name In Officers who died in Great War | Yes |
| Medals and Awards |
|
Biography
Lieutenant Colonel Hubert Maxwell Lenox-Conyngham DSO FRCVS was the seventh and youngest son of Colonel Sir William Fitzwilliam Lenox-Conyngham KCB of Springhill, County Derry.
He initially studied at Trinity College, Dublin, where he graduated with a BA degree. He then grew oranges in Florida before returning to the United Kingdom to study veterinary medicine at the Royal Veterinary College in London. He came from London to the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College in September 1893 and studied there for two sessions until May 1895. He then returned to the Royal Veterinary College, where he qualified for MRCVS in March 1896.
In 1896, he joined the Army Veterinary Department and was immediately posted to India. Between 1902 and 1904, he served in the Somaliland Campaign, being appointed Veterinary Inspector, Lines of Communications from July 1903. For his services on the Somaliland Campaign, he was mentioned in dispatches by General John Gough VC:
“Lieutenant H. M. Lenox-Conyngham, Army Veterinary Department, is deserving of special mention for his conscientious work and the indefatigable manner in which he performed his very onerous duties, caused by the large number of sick camels.” For his services in Somaliland, he was entitled to the Africa General Service medal with the Somaliland Campaign 1902-1904 clasp. Between 1904 and 1905, he was sent to the Argentine on remount duty.
He was awarded an FRCVS in May 1909, and in 1909, he was again posted to India, where he acted as a remount officer in Calcutta. In January 1912, he was promoted to Major.
On the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914, he was serving at the Curragh Camp in Ireland, attached to the 2nd Calvary Brigade under General Sir Hubert Gough KCB.
In September 1914, he was appointed Assistant Director of Veterinary Services to the Sixth Division and went to France with that formation. For his services in the early campaigns in France, General Sir John French twice mentioned him in dispatches. After serving with the Sixth Division until August 1915, he was temporarily given command of No. 10 Veterinary Hospital.
In July 1916, he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed Deputy Director of Veterinary Services to the 5th Army again under General Sir Hubert Gough KCB. In this capacity, he served throughout the fighting on the Somme and the Ancre. For his services in these campaigns, he was mentioned in dispatches by Field Marshal Sir Douglas Haig and, on 1st January 1917, was awarded the Distinguished Service Order and was also promoted to the rank of temporary Colonel.
However, his health broke down under the strain of war service and he was invalided home to the United Kingdom in May 1917. In June 1917, his rank was confirmed as Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel as a further reward for distinguished service in the field.
After a period of rest, he was given command of a veterinary hospital at Tunbridge Wells and later was appointed assistant director of veterinary services at Western Command. Shortly after taking up this appointment, he fell ill and died quite suddenly of cerebral haemorrhage at Chester on 15th March 1918 at the age of 48. His body was brought home to Ireland, and he is buried in Kilgobbin Burial Ground, County Dublin.
Lieutenant Colonel Lenox-Conyngham’s obituaries appeared in both the Veterinary Journal and the Veterinary Record.
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