FDA-P.432-2012
Parts
Object number
FDA-P.432-2012
Object type
Identification
Title
Captain Godfrey Meynell VC and MC
Title Type
assigned by cataloguer
Description
Head and shoulders portrait of a man in uniform
Comments
This portrait shows Captain Godfrey Meynell VC MC, who served in Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides, the 12th Frontier Force Regiment, before being killed in action, aged 31.
Godfrey Meynell was born in 1904 at Meynell Lanley, Derbyshire. He entered Eton as a King’s Scholar in 1918 but left three years later for Sandhurst. He later joined the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in Pune, India. In 1926 he received a commission in the Corps of Guides and was promoted to Captain.
On 29 September 1935, Meynell was surveying enemy's position with a party of 30 men, when they were ambushed. He encouraged his men to fight on, despite a desperate situation. Meynell was killed and the rest of his party were either killed or wounded. Meynell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his “extreme devotion to duty”. He left behind a widow, Sophia, and a son aged about one, also called Godfrey.
KS 1918-1921
Queen Victoria's own Corps of Guides Frontier Force. Killed in action at Hill 4080 Mohmand Country, North west frontier of India 29/9/35
No labels
Godfrey Meynell was born in 1904 at Meynell Lanley, Derbyshire. He entered Eton as a King’s Scholar in 1918 but left three years later for Sandhurst. He later joined the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in Pune, India. In 1926 he received a commission in the Corps of Guides and was promoted to Captain.
On 29 September 1935, Meynell was surveying enemy's position with a party of 30 men, when they were ambushed. He encouraged his men to fight on, despite a desperate situation. Meynell was killed and the rest of his party were either killed or wounded. Meynell was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his “extreme devotion to duty”. He left behind a widow, Sophia, and a son aged about one, also called Godfrey.
KS 1918-1921
Queen Victoria's own Corps of Guides Frontier Force. Killed in action at Hill 4080 Mohmand Country, North west frontier of India 29/9/35
No labels
Description
Content (person)
Meynell, Godfrey, 1904 - 1935 (Sitter)
Dimensions
height (sight size): 500mm
width (sight size): 400mm
width (sight size): 400mm
Inscription
Brass plaque attached to lower part of frame, with incised lettering: 'CAPTAIN GODFREY MEYNELL V.C.,M.C / QUEEN VICTORIA'S OWN CORPS OF GUIDES FRONTIER FORCE / KILLED IN ACTION AT HILL 4080 / MOHMAND COUNTRY, NORTH WEST FRONTIER OF INDIA. 29.9.35 / PRESENTED TO ETON COLLEGE BY HIS BROTHER OFFICERS OF THE GUIDES. / KING'S SCHOLAR 1918 TO 1921'
Materials & techniques note
Oil on canvas
Physical description
Plain wood frame with ID label
Production
Person
Townsend, Ernest, 1880 - 1944 (Artist)
Date
c.1939
History and association
Associated object
Object history note
Provenance: Presented to Eton College by the sitter's brother Officers of the Guides
