View entry
Name: McMINN, Charles Arthur Gordon
Photo Source: John Harvey school photo 1911
Birth Date: 15 Jan 1899 Willesden Green, London
Death Date: 6 Nov 1935 Nairobi
First Date: 1918
Last Date: 1935
Profession: Planter
Area: Koru
Married: 1931 Hilda Colonna Radziwill Edith Jeanne Marie Meredith de Miremont, b. 1895, d. 14 Jan 1960 (prev. m. to Thomas Gerald Auckland Moncreiffe 1888-1922 and Capt. Geoffrey Lionel Smith). She was the dau of Count Francis de Miremont
Children: Sir Iain Moncrieffe of that Ilk (stepson)
Book Reference: Red 25, Red 31, Hut, Red 22, Barnes, Burke, Gazette, KAD
War Service: 28th London Regt
School: Battersea Grammar School; St Oswald's Coll., Ellesmere, Shropshire (Ellesmere College)
General Information:
Nairobi Forest Road Cemetery - Gordon Charles Arthur McMinn, British, age 36, died 6/11/35
Gazette 20.7.1921 - Register of Voters - Lake Area - C.E.G. McMinn - Planter, Tetonan Estate - Koru
Red 31 has C.A.G. McMinn, Lake Solai
Red 25 has A.G. McMinn, Koru, Hut the same
Red 25 has A.G. McMinn, Koru, Hut the same
Gazette 11 Mar 1941 Hilda's bankruptcy
The Ellesmerian Club (via John Harvey) Charles Arthur Gordon McMinn, the only son of Arthur and his wife Susannah, was born in Willesden Green, London on 15th January 1899. A younger sister, Isabella, was born in 1901 and his father was a civil engineer who predominantly worked for the gas companies at the time. For the three years prior to his arrival at Ellesmere College on 20th January 1911, Charles was educated at Battersea Grammar School. Charles fully contributed to college life out on the playing fields. He played hockey, tennis and cricket for various dormitory teams but was also selected to represent the college in rugby and football. Charles left the college at the end of the winter term in December 1914 and would have been too young to enlist. However, his military service records have survived and tell a slightly different story. Charles signed his Attestation Papers at the Duke’s Road Headquarters of the London Regiment on 7th April 1915 and declared that he was eighteen years and ten months old. He was posted as Private McMinn, Service No. 760529 (later changed to 3610) to the 3/28th Battalion, the Artists’ Rifles Officer Training Corps and underwent his basic training from 8th April through to 11th August. The next day he embarked for service in France and remained there until the end of May 1917, although it is not known exactly where he saw action. On 21st May 1917, he was severely wounded and suffered a fracture of his right arm. He was hospitalised, treated and returned to England on 26th May, no longer fit for active service. He was awarded the Silver War Badge and honourably discharged on medical grounds on 9th January 1918. Unfortunately, there would appear to have been complications with his arm as in December 1917 it was amputated. His military service had lasted just under three years and Charles was also awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
It seems that, having survived front line service, Charles decided there was a better life to be had in Africa and so he embarked the ss Hirano Maru at Birkenhead on 6th March 1918 bound for Durban, South Africa. The passenger manifest records his correct age, 19, and that he was an ex-soldier.
The Ellesmerian Club (via John Harvey) Charles Arthur Gordon McMinn, the only son of Arthur and his wife Susannah, was born in Willesden Green, London on 15th January 1899. A younger sister, Isabella, was born in 1901 and his father was a civil engineer who predominantly worked for the gas companies at the time. For the three years prior to his arrival at Ellesmere College on 20th January 1911, Charles was educated at Battersea Grammar School. Charles fully contributed to college life out on the playing fields. He played hockey, tennis and cricket for various dormitory teams but was also selected to represent the college in rugby and football. Charles left the college at the end of the winter term in December 1914 and would have been too young to enlist. However, his military service records have survived and tell a slightly different story. Charles signed his Attestation Papers at the Duke’s Road Headquarters of the London Regiment on 7th April 1915 and declared that he was eighteen years and ten months old. He was posted as Private McMinn, Service No. 760529 (later changed to 3610) to the 3/28th Battalion, the Artists’ Rifles Officer Training Corps and underwent his basic training from 8th April through to 11th August. The next day he embarked for service in France and remained there until the end of May 1917, although it is not known exactly where he saw action. On 21st May 1917, he was severely wounded and suffered a fracture of his right arm. He was hospitalised, treated and returned to England on 26th May, no longer fit for active service. He was awarded the Silver War Badge and honourably discharged on medical grounds on 9th January 1918. Unfortunately, there would appear to have been complications with his arm as in December 1917 it was amputated. His military service had lasted just under three years and Charles was also awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the Victory Medal and the British War Medal.
It seems that, having survived front line service, Charles decided there was a better life to be had in Africa and so he embarked the ss Hirano Maru at Birkenhead on 6th March 1918 bound for Durban, South Africa. The passenger manifest records his correct age, 19, and that he was an ex-soldier.