TUNBRIDGE Walter Howard
architect and soldier  1862-1931

Born in Dover UK on 2 November 1856 to John Nicholas Tunbridge and Ann Denne, he was educated at Eyethorne and then spent three years in France. After migrating to Townsville in 1884 he set up an architectural practice which developed into a civil engineering, architectural and surveying business.

In 1889 he joined the militia Queensland Mounted Infantry as a Lieutenant and was called out for protective duties during the Shearers Strike in 1891, spending four months with his company patrolling the Flinders River. The following year he was promoted to Captain as a company commander until transferring to Artillery in 1898, commanding Townsville Garrison Battery in the rank of Major. Tunbridge had become known as a popular citizen in private life, but a strict but fair disciplinarian in camp, and for his thoroughness in planning and oversight of activities; he was shortly given the position of Staff Officer for Central Military District on the Permanent staff, and moved to Rockhampton.

When the Queensland Government decided to send a third contingent to the war in South Africa in 1900 he was tasked with raising and training two companies of QMI at the new camp at Pinkenba. He embarked with them and on arrival was given command of 2 Regt Australian Bushmen, incorporating his own companies and those from Tasmania and South Australia. He was involved in several actions, including the relief of Mafeking, the defence at Elands River and pursuit of de Wet, being mentioned in dispatches for the latter, and the CB for his efforts during the campaign.

On return in June 1901 he returned to his artillery unit and was promoted to Lt Col in 1904; he also established a branch of his business in Melbourne. On the outbreak of WW1 he joined the AIF as a Lt Col and raised the motorised 8 Coy AASC which was the 1 Div corps troops motorised ammunition park. This unit arrived in the second convoy in Egypt, and the motor transport element was continued on to UK, from where it was sent to France and eventually rejoined 1 Aust Div when it arrived in France in 1916. In January 1917 Tunbridge was appointed Senior MT Officer of 1 Anzac Corps, in September was promoted to Colonel as Director of the AIF MT Service in UK and the Western Front, and in March 1918 CO of 1 Aust Corps MT, commanding the six MT companies supporting 1 Aust Corps. He was awarded CMG, CBE and six mids for this service.

On return to Australia in 1919, he moved to Melbourne to continue his architectural practice there, and was appointed CO AASC 3 MD, transferring in 1920 to the Reserve of Officers then the Retired List with the honorary rank of Brigadier-General.

He married Leila Emily Brown in 1904 and had a son and two daughters who survived him on his death on 11 October 1943.