People Australia

Nigel Travers Kingsmill, n.d. photographer unknown

from Bank of NSW Roll of Honour

NIGEL TRAVERS KINGSMILL was born at Gunnedah, New South Wales, on 24th July, 1890, the son of Mr. J. J. Kingsmill, C.P.S., at Albury. He was educated at the Albury Grammar School, and joined the Bank’s staff in the branch at that town in August, 1907. In September, 1910, he was transferred to Benalla, Victoria, as ledger-keeper; thence to Tallangatta, Victoria, in January, 1911, and returned to Albury in the following October. He was transferred to Adelaide in April, 1914, where he remained until he enlisted in August, 1915.

Nigel Kingsmill embarked from Australia with the 5th Field Artillery Brigade on 18th November, 1915, and served in France until the end of the war. He was promoted in the field to second-lieutenant in July, 1916, and to lieutenant on 1st December, 1916. For meritorious services he was mentioned in despatches in September, 1917, and was awarded the Military Cross in October, 1918.

The official statement of the occasion for the decoration, signed by Major-General Rosenthal, is as follows:—

“For most conspicuous devotion to duty and gallantry. This officer has carried out the duties of adjutant to the 5th A.F.A. Brigade since October, 1917, and his work has been splendid. Particularly on 4th October, 1918, near Joncourt, he established a forward report centre and control station for the brigade and remained continually on duty for 24 hours — although without any cover and under extremely heavy shell fire. His devotion to duty and gallantry enabled orders to be issued for the artillery support for the attacking infantry. Again on night 8th/9th October, 1918, at Ponchaux, when the Brigade Headquarters was subjected to an extremely heavy and continuous bombing attack, this officer displayed a wonderful disregard for danger and remained at his post issuing his orders although without any protection from the bombs. Throughout these operations his devotion to duty and gallantry has been of the highest order, and by his efforts the greatest possible assistance was given to the attacking infantry."