The Colvill Family

David Chaigneau Colvill

Birth: 4 July 1898, in Dublin North district, county Dublin, Ireland

Father: Robert Stewart Frederick Colvill

Mother: Sophia (Maconchy) Colvill

Education: Winchester, and RMC Sandhurst

Married: Kathleen (Boissier) Hill on 22 July 1954. Kathleen was the daughter of George Hill, of Chantry House, Church Road, Moseley, Warwickshire, and the widow of Arthur Paul Boissier, the headmaster of Harrow School.

Occupation: Army Officer.
On 2 December 1918, Lieutenant Colvill of the 2nd Battallion of the Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry was awarded the Military Cross "for conspicuous gallantry and fine leadership. He led his company splendidly in an attack, and although two platoons lost direction in the mist he organised the remainder under heavy shell fire and led them forward, killing or capturing many of the enemy with a number of machine guns, and contributing largely to the success of the operation." (London Gazette 29 November 1918 p14233) He was promoted to captain on 16 May 1925 (London Gazette 25 August 1925 p5631). Major Colvill was awarded the Distinguished Service Order on 22 October 1940, in recognition of gallant conduct in action with the enemy (London Gazette 18 October 1940 p606). David retired on 1 May 1946, and was granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant-Colonel (London Gazette 10 May 1946 p2271).

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George Chaigneau Colvill

Birth: 31 January 1894, in Dublin North district, county Dublin, Ireland

Father: Robert Stewart Frederick Colvill

Mother: Sophia (Maconchy) Colvill

Education: Winchester College and New College, Oxford

Croisilles British Cemetery
Croisilles British Cemetery where George Colvill is buried
from Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Death: 30 November 1917, in France, aged 23. On 15 August 1914, George, then an ex-cadet of the Officer Training Corps was made Second Lieutenant (on probation) in the South Irish Horse (London Gazette 29 September 1914 p7691). George reached the rank of captain in the 7th (South Irish Horse) Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment.

From the British Army War Diaries (7 Battalion Royal Irish Regiment 1 September 1917 - 31 May 1918)
30.11.17
Left Belfast Camp and took over Centre Subsection from 2nd R.Dublin Fusiliers. One officer (Captain GC Colvill) and 5 OR killed. 2 OR missing and 1 OR slightly wounded during the relief.

Buried: Croisilles British Cemetery, Nord-Pas-de-Calais region, France: Plot: II. A. 11

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James Chaigneau Colvill

Birth: 20 October 1892, in Dublin North district, county Dublin, Ireland

Father: Robert Stewart Frederick Colvill

Mother: Sophia (Maconchy) Colvill

Married: Margaret Beryl Dundas on 12 April 1920, in Paddington district, London, England. Margaret was born on 27 April 1893, in Marylebone district, London, the daughter of Hon. William Fitzwilliam James Dundas, and Mary Maud Prinsep.

Occupation: Naval Officer. James was promoted from Acting Sub-Lieutenant to Sub-Lieutenant on 9 June 1913 (London Gazette 10 June 1913 p4103), and from Lieutenant to Lieutenant-Commander on 15 August 1922 (London Gazette 22 August 1922 p6158). He reached the rank of Captain, and retired in 1936. After 1938, James was Commissioner of Irish Lights, the Irish lighthouse authority.

Notes: James lived at Cloghereen, Baily, county Dublin, Ireland

Death: 29 November 1976

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Robert Frederick Stewart Colvill

Coolock House
Coolock House
photo from Mercy College
A March Snowfall
"A March Snowfall" by Helen Colvill.
Watercolour painted from a window of Coolock House, in March 1925, by Robert's sister, Helen
painting from Highlanes Gallery
of Coolock House, county Dublin

also spelled Robert Frederick Steuart Colvill

Birth: 4 August 1860

Father: James Chaigneau Colvill

Mother: Helen (Maconchy) Colvill

Education: Repton, then Clare College, Cambridge, where he was awarded a B.A.

Married: Sophia Maconchy on 24 October 1891, in Newton Abbot district, Devon, England. Sophia was Robert's first cousin.

Children:
Occupation: Director of the Bank of Ireland; Justice of the Peace

Death: 15 March 1936, in Dublin North district, county Dublin, Ireland, aged 75

Notes: Robert was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Antiquaries of Ireland in 1891

Maconchy Crest
Crest of Robert Frederick Stewart Colvill
drawing from myfamilysilver.com
Crest:
Robert used the same crest and motto as his father:
Crest: A hind's head couped arg., and charged with a cross patée sa.
Motto: In hoc signo vinces meaning "with this sign you shall conquer"

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Robert Lowry Chaigneau Colvill

Birth: 11 July 1896, in Dublin North district, county Dublin, Ireland

Father: Robert Stewart Frederick Colvill

Mother: Sophia (Maconchy) Colvill

Education: Marlborough, and RMA Woolwich

Married: Sybil Violet Edlestone Harry on 31 March 1928. Sybil was born in 1903, in Cardiff district, Glamorganshire, the daughter of William Harry, and died on 26 December 1972.

Occupation: Army Officer. Robert was promoted from Gentleman Cadet at the Royal Military Academy to Second Lieutenant in the Corps of Royal Engineers on 10 February 1915 (London Gazette 9 February 1915 p1329) and appointed to be acting Captain whilst employed as an instructor in the Army School on 19 December 1916 (London Gazette 20 March 1917 p78). He was promoted to Lieutenant while retaining his acting rank on 11 March 1917 (London Gazette 15 June 1917 p6031), and relinquished his acting rank on 9 September 1917 (London Gazette 23 November 1917 p12301). Captain Colvill was promoted to Major on 21 October 1930 (London Gazette 21 October 1930 p6401). He was appointed as Staff Officer Royal Engineers (2nd Grade) in India on 1st May 1935 (London Gazette 9 August 1935 p5110) and he vacated the appointment on 23 December 1938 (London Gazette 23 December 1938 p8184). Robert was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel on 23 January 1939 (London Gazette 27 January 1939 p606) and on 20 January 1942 that "Lt.-Col. (temp. Col.) R. L. C. Colvill (10228), on completion of tenure of serv. as Regtl. Lt.-Col., remains on full pay (supernumerary). 23 Jan. 1942." Robert reached the rank of colonel and retired in 1948.

Notes: Robert lived in Lymington, Hampshire.

Death: 7 January 1973

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