StateLibQld 2 93988 Major Walter Howard Tunbridge, March 1900

Major Walter Howard Tunbridge, March 1900.
Walter Tunbridge was born on 2 November 1856 at Dover, Kent, England. He arrived in Australia in 1884 and later established an architectural practice at Townsville, Queensland. By 1902 the firm Tunbridge & Tunbridge, civil engineers, architects and surveyors, was prominent in North Queensland. He married Leila Emily Brown at All Saints Anglican Church, Brisbane on 7 April 1904 and they had a son and two daughters. He died at his Hawthorn home on 11 October 1943 and was buried in Box Hill cemetery, in Victoria.

In 1900 Major Tunbridge was appointed Commanding Officer, 2nd Regiment, Australian Bushmen, attached to General Carrington's Rhodesian Field Force, based near Salisbury, South Africa. The regiment comprised Queensland, Tasmanian and South Australian contingents.The Regiment took part in action at Koster River, Rhenoster Kop and Elands River. Major Tunbridge was mentioned in despatches for conspicuous service in South Africa and particularly in an engagement at Swartz Kopje on 12 February 1901. He was awarded the Companion of the Order of St. Michael and St. George (C.M.G.).