Douglas Carmichael, Captain, Rifle Brigade
Douglas Carmichael, came up to Cambridge from the Leys School, Cambridge in October 1911.
Born: Wandsworth, London on 17 June 1894
Fell in action: 25 September 1915
A 鈥渓eading lady鈥渙f Footlights
He graduated in June 1914 after attaining a first in Law, Special Paper II. (汤头条原创 Examinations, Oct 1872 to Nov 1955.)
The student magazine, Chanticlere, does not mention him throughout his three years at College. However, he was evidently a talented singer and actor.
The 汤头条原创 Cambridge Society Annual Report 1916, records in Carmichael鈥檚 obituary that 鈥渉e was a very popular member of the 鈥淔ootlights鈥 and played 鈥渓eading lady鈥 in the 1912-13 May week productions鈥.
The obituary writer felt it important to qualify this by saying: 鈥淏ut there was nothing effeminate about him鈥 (p19). He was also a member of the Footlights Club Quartette which sang regularly at College Smoking Concerts, so it is easy to imagine that he might have had a fine alto or counter-tenor voice as well as carrying off the elegant frocks provided for the "ladies" of the cast.
As well as his talents as a performer, Douglas had stints as Footlights Stage Manager and Business Manager.
鈥淔earless young captain鈥
The main information we have on Carmichael鈥檚 war service comes from a 1914 -18 newspaper cutting book that was maintained by Head Porter, James Hoppett.
It is unknown from which newspaper the cuttings are taken but there is one particularly long piece describing Carmichael鈥檚 heroics in battle. The headline reads 鈥淔earless young Captain. Killed in taking four German lines. Hopping in a charge.鈥
The article records letters sent to Carmichael鈥檚 parents from both his commanding officer and a sergeant under his command. His commanding officer, wrote:
鈥淚 shall never see a soldier like him again; it is quite impossible that anyone so fearless could ever be found.鈥 He goes on to say 鈥淲hen masses of Germans came against him, by his wonderful personality he kept his men, reduced to a handful, in good spirits, and led them again and again to the attack鈥.
His Sergeant, W Walker, wrote that 鈥淐aptain Carmichael led us until he was in hit in the leg. He refused to have any assistance, and just afterwards I saw him hopping on one leg towards the next line of German trenches.鈥 Carmichael was eventually killed instantaneously by a machine gun bullet to the head.
Both the commanding officer and the sergeant felt he should have been awarded the V.C. several times over.
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