David Neil Griffiths Buchanan - Died 21 January 1916
Friday 21 January 1916
Rank: Second LieutenantNumber: UnknownRegiment: Indian Army Reserve of Officers attached 37th DograsBorn: UnknownDied: 21st January 1916Age: 24Cause of Death: Killed in ActionPlace of Commemoration: Amara War Cemetery, IraqCommemorated at Hereford Cathedral School, Hereford Cathedral and the Amara War Cemetery. Son of the late John Griffiths Buchanan, of Clun, Salop and Jessie Laura Griffiths Buchanan. ‘Valete’ in the March, 1909 edition of The Herefordian: D.N. Buchanan, 1st XI. Football, 1908; Colour-Sergeant in Cadet Corps.Other editions of The Herefordian mention his sporting skills: ‘Football Character’D. N. Buchanan (Left Half). – Not very successful as a half-back. Must use more judgement in kicking and tackling. Heads well. The Herefordian March, 1909Records of Hereford Cathedral School, by Major J.C. Earles-White (1931) records Buchanan’s time at the school: Buchanan (1903-08) David Neil Griffiths. 1st XI. Football Colours, 1908. Colour Sergeant in O.T.C.Awarded Royal Humane Society Certificate for saving a woman from drowning in the Wye.Tea Planter in Assam, India.Member of the Assam Valley Light Horse, commission in Indian Army Reserve of Officers.Attached to 37th Dogras for service in Mesopotamia and was killed in action there in January, 1916.The December, 1916 edition of The Herefordian included his obituary:Sec. Lieut. David Niel Griffiths Buchanan, Indian Army Reserve of Officers, attached 37th Dogras, killed in Mesopotamia on January 21—2, was the younger son of Mr. and Mrs. John Griffiths Buchanan, of Clyde House, Hereford, and grandson of the late Captain Niel Griffiths Buchanan, 93rd Highlanders, of Knockshinnock, Ayrshire. He was educated at Hereford Cathedral School, and while there was awarded the Royal Humane Society’s Certificate for rescuing a woman from drowning in the River Wye. He was an assistant on the Makum Tea Plantation in Assam and a member of the Assam Valley Light Horse. He was given a commission in I. A. Reserve of Officers nearly a year ago, and after a few weeks with the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment at Sialkote, was attached to the 37th Dogras. He was in his 25th year. [Extract from the London “Times.”] While at school he won his 1st Xl. Football Colours in 1908, and was also a Colour-Sergeant in the O.T.C.His obituary also appears in The Roll of Honour. A Biographical Record of All Members of His Majesty’s Naval and Military Forces Who Have Fallen in the War V3 (1916):Buchanan, David Neil Griffiths,2nd Lieut, 37th Dogras, Indian Army Reserve, yr. s. of John Griffiths Buchanan, of Clyde House, Hereford, by his wife, Jessie Laura, dau. Of the Rev. J.R. Brown, Rector of Hopesay, co. Salop; b. Clun, co. Salop, 25 Feb. 1892; educ. Hereford Cathedral School ; was an Electrical Engineer on the Makum Tea Plantation, Margherita, Assam ; joined the Duke of wellington’s Regt. In Jan. 1915, and was transferred to the Dogras ; served with the Indian Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia from Nov. 1915, and was killed in action near Sheikh Saad 21 Jan. 1916. Buried there. An officer wrote: “He was proving a very useful officer with a big heart, and had got to know the men, which is such a vast assistance to an officer in an Indian corps.” Unm.