Hubert Maxwell LENOX-CONYNGHAM

Lieutenant-Colonel Hubert Maxwell Lenox-Conyngham DSO FRCVS was born on 18 October 1869, the seventh and youngest son of Colonel Sir William Fitzwilliam Lenox-Conyngham KCB of Springhill, County Derry. He graduated BA from Trinity College, Dublin, spent a period growing oranges in Florida, and then turned to veterinary medicine. After study in London and at the Royal (Dick) Veterinary College he qualified MRCVS in March 1896.

He immediately joined the Army Veterinary Department and was posted to India. During the Somaliland Campaign of 1902-04 he served as Veterinary Inspector on the Lines of Communication and was singled out for the way he managed the heavy burden of sick camels. His pre-war service also included remount work in Argentina and India. He became FRCVS in 1909 and was promoted Major in 1912.

At the outbreak of the First World War he was serving at the Curragh. In September 1914 he became Assistant Director of Veterinary Services of the 6th Division and went to France. He was repeatedly Mentioned in Despatches. After service with the division he temporarily commanded No. 10 Veterinary Hospital and in 1916 became a senior veterinary staff officer with Fifth Army during the Somme and Ancre operations.

He was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the 1917 New Year Honours. His health subsequently broke down and he returned to Britain. Later appointments included command of a veterinary hospital at Tunbridge Wells and service with Western Command.

Lenox-Conyngham died at Chester on 15 March 1917, aged 47, and was buried at Kilgobbin Burial Ground in Ireland.