William Lummis facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
William Murrell Lummis
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Canon W. M. Lummis
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| Born | 4 June 1886 |
| Died | 2 November 1985 (aged 99 years) |
| Nationality |  United Kingdom |
| Other names | Canon William Murrell Lummis |
| Occupation | Soldier, Church of England clergyman |
| Known for | Military history |
Canon William Murrell Lummis was a brave soldier, a church leader, and a famous historian. He lived from 1886 to 1985. He is best known for his amazing research into military history.
Lummis spent many years studying the Victoria Cross, which is the highest award for bravery in the British military. He also deeply researched the famous Charge of the Light Brigade and the battle of Rorke's Drift. His work helped us understand these important events better.
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A Soldier's Journey
William Lummis was born in a small town called Coddenham in Suffolk, England. He was the oldest of seven children. When he was 14, he started working as a clerk.
At 18, in 1904, he joined the 11th Hussars, a cavalry regiment. By 1911, he was a Lance Sergeant, which is a junior leader. He even helped edit his regiment's newspaper! During this time, he met some of the last surviving soldiers from the Charge of the Light Brigade. This meeting sparked his lifelong interest in military history.
World War I Hero
When First World War started in 1914, Lummis was a Regimental Quartermaster Sergeant. This meant he was in charge of supplies for his regiment. He was the youngest person in the whole British Army to hold this important job.
He fought on the Western Front throughout the war. He was part of the Retreat from Mons and fought in Flanders. In 1916, he became an officer. He then joined the Suffolk Regiment.
For his bravery, he received the Military Cross in August 1918. This award is given for acts of courage during battle. He even led his battalion in their last battle of the war in October 1918.
Life After the War
After the war, Lummis stayed in the Army. He served in India, Britain, and Ireland. He taught at the Army School of Education in India.
He returned to England in 1925. He was promoted to captain in 1928. He retired from active service in 1930. After leaving the Army, he continued his research into the other regiments that took part in the Charge of the Light Brigade.
Serving the Community
William Lummis also became a church leader. In 1930, he became a deacon in the Church of England. He worked in several churches in Suffolk. In 1955, he became a Canon of the Diocese of St Edmundsbury and Ipswich. This is an honorary title given to senior priests.
Even after retiring, he continued to help out in local churches. He also led Boy Scout troops for many years, starting in 1909. He worked with scouts in different places, including India and England.
Later, he rejoined the Army Cadet Force as a Chaplain. He helped guide young cadets until he retired again in 1954.
A Passion for History
Lummis loved history, especially military history. He also wrote books about English towns. He was active in local history groups. He always shared his work and encouraged others to continue his research.
When he was 98 years old, he appeared on a BBC television show called Timewatch. He shared his memories of meeting the old soldiers from the Charge of the Light Brigade. He was also the first honorary president of the Crimean War Research Society. He was a chaplain for the the Victoria Cross and George Cross Association, which is for people who have won the Victoria Cross or George Cross.
Victoria Cross Research
Lummis became interested in the Victoria Cross when he was a schoolboy. He collected lots of information about the soldiers who received this award. He found out where they served and where they were buried.
He put his findings into a small book. Later, he shared all his research with another historian, David Harvey. This helped Harvey write a very important book called Monuments to Courage.
Light Brigade Research
Lummis' first regiment, the 11th Hussars, was part of the famous Charge of the Light Brigade during the Crimean War. While editing his regiment's journal, Lummis met and interviewed many survivors of the Charge.
He heard that over 2,000 men claimed to have been part of the Charge in 1875. He decided to create a correct list of everyone who actually charged. He added life stories to each name. Over his life, this became a huge collection of information. This archive was a major source for other books, like In Search of the Light Brigade. Lummis also co-wrote a book called Honour the Light Brigade when he was 83 years old.
Rorke's Drift Research
Lummis also became interested in the Zulu War. In 1978, he wrote a detailed book called Padre George Smith of Rorke's Drift. This book looked closely at the role of Padre George Smith in the famous battle of Rorke's Drift in 1879.
Lummis' book showed that Padre Smith's bravery had been overlooked. Most people focused on other famous heroes like John Chard and Gonville Bromhead, who won Victoria Crosses. Padre Smith is shown in the middle of a famous painting from 1880, giving out ammunition to the defenders.
His Lasting Impact
William Lummis' amazing collection of photos and research papers are now kept in important museums. These include the Imperial War Museum and the National Army Museum.
In 2006, the Royal Mail made special stamps to celebrate the Victoria Cross. These stamps used photos and items from Lummis' collection at the National Army Museum. His recorded memories from 1904 to 1919 are also kept in the Imperial War Museum.
His notes on the history of Norfolk towns are in the Norfolk Record Office. After Lummis passed away in 1985, the Crimean War Research Society started giving out the Canon Lummis Trophy every year. This award is for new research into the Crimean War.
William Lummis married Agnes Templeton in 1919. They had a son, Eric Templeton Lummis, who also became a military historian.
Books by William Lummis
- Honour the Light Brigade (with Kenneth G. Wynn), 1973
- Padre George Smith of Rorke's Drift , 1978
- The Churches of Bungay (with Ethel Mann), 1950
- Kesgrave. A short guide to church and parish, 1937
