Name
Colin Keith Lee Pyman (DSO and Bar)
20 Sep 1884
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/08/1918
33
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Major
Canadian Infantry
5th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
Not Yet Researched
Distinguished Service Order and Bar, Mentioned in Despatches
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
VILLERS-BRETONNEUX MILITARY CEMETERY
IIIA. BB. 1.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour (Book), Hitchin, Hatch End Book Of Remembrance, Hatch End Greater London, St Anselms Church - WW1 Memorial, Hatch End Greater London, Pinner Memorial, Pinner Greater London
Pre War
Colin was born on 20 September 1884 in Kensington, London, his parents were Frank and Florence Pyman (née Lee) and they had married in Salford, Lancashire in 1881, where Florence was born.
Florence has been found in the various censuses detailed below, and although always shown as married, but with Frank and often the children absent. This seems confusing, but the explanation may simple. They were a ‘well to do’ family with many servants living in their homes, Frank’s occupation when found is ‘Gentleman’ and many electoral records he seems to be in London – one address being 91 Warwick Road, Earl's Court Counting House - A counting house, or counting room, was traditionally an office in which the financial books of a business were kept. It was also the place that the business received appointments and correspondence. It may well be that Frank had rooms and spent a lot of his time there. The absence of the children is also probably as simple as they were away being educated.
In 1891 the family were living at 91 Warwick Road, Kensington, London. Present was Florence (33), and children: Colin Keith Lee Pyman (6), Ronald Lee (4), Florence Lee (2). Also present was a cook - Anna M Webber (43), parlour maid - Ernestine Cowie (23), nurse - Elina Wray (22) and a nursery maid - Mary J Marsley (16).
The Kensington and Chelsea, Church of England Parish Chest Records for 22 March 1892 record the baptism of another son, to Frank and Florence, named Cyril Lee Pyman. Frank’s occupation was recorded as ‘Gentleman’. They were living at 175 Cromwell Road, Kensington.
In 1901 the Florence was listed as married and head of household, her address was The Oaks, London Road, Hitchin, the only one of the children listed as present was Florence L. Four servant were still working for her. Sons, Geoffrey (17), Colin (16) and Ronald Leslie (14) were at Dover College, Dover, but their home was now Hitchin.
Colin emigrated to Canada in 1904 and in the census of 1911 was a farmer, with his place of habitation given as the ‘Mission’, British Columbia - Okanagan Mission, also known colloquially as the Mission is a neighbourhood of the City of Kelowna in the Okanagan region of the Southern Interior of British Columbia, Canada, where he was recorded as 26, head of household, the other members of the household were lodgers Ernest William Saunders (23) and Walter Greensted (22).
It seems that Colin did travel back and forth to the UK because there is a record that he left Canada from Montreal, Quebec on the SS Victorian on arriving in Liverpool 30 September 1907. The ports of the voyage were listed as Brass; Burutu; Aksokerri; Forcados; Lagos; Accra; Tarkwa; Sekondi; Cape Coast; Axim; Sierra Leone; Grand Canary and Las Palmas
Before returning to Canada he was recorded living at The Oaks, Hitchin – presumably still the family home. He left for Canada again, from Liverpool, on 20 February 1908 on board the SS Celtic, and landed in New York, USA on 28 February, with his destination Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada
Then there is another record for a Colin aboard the SS Royal Edward, leaving Bristol on 1 March 1914 and landing at St Johns, Newfoundland, Canada, on 19 March 1914, with his final destination Kelowna, as above.
By 1911 the family home was at 47 Lancaster Road, Hampstead N W and present were head of house Florence (now 53) and children; Geoffrey Lee, Florence. Also present were visitors: Frank Lee Pyman (a previous unmentioned son) and 28) and Reginald Leslie Hind (27) and again 4 servants. The census recorded that Florence (mother) had been married for 29 years with 6 children, all living except 1.
Colin attested in Canada on 2 October 1914, with his enlistment date recorded as the 25th, and his rank Lieutenant. His papers describe him as 30 years old, 5’ 11 ½ “ tall, with a fair complexion, blue eyes with red hair and was working as a rancher. He also had some military experience as he had been in the 30th British Columbian Horse. His rank was recorded as “Super Lieut.” At this time his mother, who was listed as his next of kin, was living at 47 Lancaster Road, Hampstead, London. Later, in April 1918, she was recorded at 50 Avenue Road, Regents Park, London, NW8
He and his Unit sailed from Canada on 3 October 1914.
Wartime Service
After enlistment he went to Valcartier Camp where he was commissioned into the Canadian Cavalry. After arriving in England he was taken on strength 23 May 1915 and then joined the 5th Bn. on 11 June, and we was granted 8 days leave on the same day.
As Captain Pyman, aged 31, he is recorded in the Admission and Discharge book for the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital at Millbank, London SW between 26 November 1915 and 15 January 1916 with gunshot wound to his legs. He had been transferred from the base, to No. 7 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne (17 Nov.), then on to Hospital Ship Newhaven (27 Nov.), received at Mrs Arnold’s Hospital, 47 Rowlands Gardens, London, SW on the same day, signed as medically incapacitated for 6 weeks (14 Jan. 1916) and then discharged the following day, recorded as unfit for general service but on Home service (3 weeks, at 25 Feb), then fit for General Service (25 Feb.). He reported to the 32nd Bn. 29 February 1916.
The above wound was described at the Medical Board as: “this officer was wounded by a rifle bullet which grazed rt. Leg and tore away a piece of flesh from upper part of left calf. The wound of the rt. leg healed quickly but that in calf had to be excised on account of sepsis and remains slow in healing.” It was reported in the Canadian newspaper ‘The Ottawa Citizen ‘ on 7 June 1916.
He was in Belgium in the Ypres Salient in June 1916 and on 4 June 1916 was back in the No. 7 Stationary Hospital in Boulogne, with a gunshot wound to his right hand and via another hospital ship, back in Endsleigh Palace Hospital on the 6th for treatment and discharged on 16 July, as unfit for General Service for 2 months, then fit for light duties for 1 month and then fit for General Service from 14 October 1916. However, during this time he was back in the same hospital with Haemorrhoids between 16 August 1916 and 1 September 1916.
The Medical Board described this wound: “the board find that this officer received a shrapnel wd . of the rt. Hand. Wound situated on dorsum of rt. hand 2 ½” x 1 ½”. There was a compound fracture of 4” metacarpal; extensor tendons of middle and ring fingers divided; miss’l lodged. Sent to No. 7 Stationary, Boulogne where a fragment of shrapnel was removed. Transferred to Endsleigh Palace Hosp. on 6. 6. 16. On 17. 6. 16. divided tendons were sutured. Operation fairly successful. May have to operate on tendons of ring finger again. wds. are not yet healed. Will require massage.”
During the above period promoted to Temporary Captain on 24 June 1916 and then appointed Temporary Major on 1 March 1917 and then Brigade Major 5 May, this was relinquished on 17 July, when he went back to France.
He had arrived back in France on 19 July 1917 and was back with the 5th Bn. on the 20th. During much of August he was with the Brigade School of Instruction but was back with them on the 23rd.
He received leave to England on 26 October 1917 returning on 6 November. Then on 5 January 1918 went again to England to attend an OC (officer Commanding) Course in Aldershot. Ordered to France 21 March and back in France 1 April, joining his Unit the following day.
In July for his actions he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order for a successful raid which he organised near Arras on July 26th, and his later citation describes his actions: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This officer was in charge of a raiding party of considerable importance, and the success of the operation was largely due to the thorough manner in which he had thought out and supervised every detail beforehand. He directed the operations with a courage and complete disregard of danger that inspired the greatest confidence in the officers and men under his command." The incident occurred near Arras on the 26th July 1918
He was still in the 5th Western Cavalry Battalion in August 1918 he would have been part of the 1st Canadian Division of the Canadian Corps being part of the 4th Army under General Rawlinson. The Division attacked from immediately south of Villers Bretonneux towards the south-east. For much of the attack the Divisions were plagued by the 4th Army Commander, General Rawlinson, and his Chief of Staff, Archibald Montgomery, giving little positive direction, but nevertheless the Canadians advanced several miles. It was in this attack that Colin’s actions led him to be awarded a Bar to his DSO, and he received his fatal wounds.
The citation for his Bar reads: “For great skill and gallantry while acting as second in command of the battalion between the 7th and 9th August, 1918, during the advance to Aubercourt. When the line became much weakened through casualties he collected men together, and, after a vigorous fight, placed them in the gaps. He was instrumental in capturing a fieldgun and a number of prisoners, and on another occasion in throwing out a protecting flank, thus enabling the advance to continue. He was wounded on the 9th within 50 yards of the final objective.”
Canadian records describe the circumstances of his wounding: “He took part in the attack on Warvillers on August 9th 1918, and just before reaching the final objective, he was struck in the groin by an enemy machine gun bullet. His wound received attention, and he was taken to addressing station and later evacuated to No. 48 casualty clearing station, where he died the following day.”
For the above he was awarded the DSO posthumously on 15 October 1918 and awarded a posthumous Bar to this DSO on 25 October 1918. He was also recorded as Mentioned in Despatches 31 December 1918.
Additional Information
Probate was obtained by his father and Frederick William Lawson on 19 Feb 1919, with the value of his effects being £1112 10s 7d.
After his death, in September 1920, Colin’s medals, decorations and memorial cross were sent to his mother at 50 Avenue Road, Regents Park, London, NW8, and his plaque and scroll to his father, listed as his father at the same address.
He was originally buried in Dury Hospital Military Cemetery, but after the war he was exhumed and re-buried at Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Somme, France, probably at part of the general consolidation of graves. A photo of the grave was sent to his mother on 29 April 1921.
Two brothers also served, Ronald Lee Pyman, as Lieutenant and was killed on 3 May 1917 (probably) and Geoffrey Lee Pyman also served and was in Italy from 27 August 1915 rose to Lieutenant Colonel DSO., MC and survived.
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
