43.3.2.5.c Col. Arthur Durnford

General Durnford's youngest son, Arthur George Durnford, was born on 9th August 1838.  He entered the Royal Engineers on 21st June, 1856.

Her served at Chatham till the latter part of 1857, and then in Ireland until May 1859, when he embarked for Gibraltar, where he served until 1864.  From 1860 to 1864, he was Adjutant at Gibraltar.  On his return to England he was appointed to the command of the 40th (Depot) Company, R.E. at Chatham, then transferred to the command of the 10th Company at Shorncliffe in 1865, and then to that of the 33rd Company at Malta, in September, 1866, having been promoted Captain on 8th June of that year. While at Malta he served under his father, who was Commanding Engineer there. 

In May 1870, Captain Durnford returned from Malta and was posted to Aldershot.

In September he transferred to command the B (Equipment) Troop, and in December, 1872, he took over the command of the C (Field Telegraph) Troop.  He was promoted Major in the following August.  In December, 1877, he was posted to Dover, and in the following July he was appointed Instructor in Field Fortification at the School of Military Engineering, Chatham.  He was promoted Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel on 1st July 1881, and Lieutenant-Colonel on 7th April 1882.

In July 1882, Lieutenant-Colonel Durnford was appointed Commanding Royal Engineer at Shorncliffe, and on 24th September, 1883, Assistant Director of Works (Fortification) at the War Office.

In November, 1884, he was ordered to accompany the Bechuanaland expedition under Sir Charles Warren.  For his services in this expedition he was honourably mentioned and recommended for the C.M.G.  At the conclusion of this expedition he was promoted Colonel on 1st July 1885.  

On 1st July 1889, he was appointed Colonel on the Staff and Commanding Royal Engineer of the North-Western District (England) on its formation, and subsequently transferred in the same capacity to the Southern District, where he served until 31st August, 1894, and then on the completion of his period of Staff service, he retired.  He died in 1912.

 

Western Daily Mercury 1912

Death of Colonel Durnford, R.E.

The death occurred at Budleigh Salterton on Wednesday, after an operation, of Col Arthur George Durnford, late of the staff of the Royal Engineers.  The deceased was operated on last week for an internal complaint, and was progressing favourably up to Wednesday, when his condition became serious, death taking place at ten o’clock.  For some years Colonel Durnford was a Local Government Board Inspector.

The late colonel entered the service on June 21, 1856, and was promoted to Colonel on January 8^th 1887; retiring on September 1^st 1894.  In the Bechuanaland Expeditions (1884/5) Colonel Durnford was in command of the Royal Engineers, and was honourably mentioned.  The deceased colonel had resided at Budleigh for two years.

Army and Navy Gazette 06 July 1912

Col. Arthur George Durnford, retired pay, late of Royal Engineers, died on the 25ult. At Cruwyshaye, Budleigh Salterton, aged 73.

He was the youngest son of the late Gen. E.W. Durnford, Colonel-Commandant, Royal Engineers, and he obtained his commission as Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers June 21, 1856.  He became Captain Jan 8, 1866, and Major Aug. 26, 1873.  On July 13, 1878 he was appointed instructor in field fortifications at the School of Military Engineering, and on July 1, 1881, he was give the brevet of Lieutenant-Colonel, while on April 7, 1882 he was promoted to the substantive rank.  Leaving the School of Military Engineering July 13, 1883, he was appointed Assistant-Director of Works (for Fortifications) at the War Office on Sept 24, following, and this post he held until November 1884.  

He subsequently served in Bechuanaland as Commanding Royal Engineer and in that capacity took part in the expedition of 1884/85 when he was honourably mentioned.  He received the brevet of Colonel July 1, 1885, and on May 19, 1886, he resumed duty at the War Office as Assistant-Director of Works, and on Jan. 8, 1887, he became Deputy Inspector-General of Fortifications, holding that post until June 30, 1889, and having while holding it been promoted to the substantive rank of Colonel Jan 8, 1887.  

On July 1, Colonel Durnford went to Chester as Commanding Royal Engineer, North-Western District, leaving there for the Southern District April, 1, 1891, where he remained until Sept 1, 1894 when he retired.