Brinckman OBE, Rowland

Rowland Brinckman

Rowland Brinckman was born on 19 November 1861 and commissioned as an Ensign in the 89th Princess Victoria's Regiment on 22 January 1881, the same year that the 89th would become the 2nd Battalion The Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) as a result of the Childers Reforms of the British Army. Brinckman was promoted to Lieutenant in the same year.

Following the death of General Gordon at Khartoum, Brinckman served with the Regiment in the Egyptian campaign of 1884 and saw action at the Relief of Tokar, El Teb and Tamai. For his actions in this campaign Brinckman was awarded the Egypt Medal with clasp and the Khedive’s Star.

On 27 May 1886, Brinckman was appointed Adjutant of the 2nd Battalion. He compiled and published his Historical Record of The Eighty-Ninth Princess Victoria's Regiment in 1888 and presented a copy to Queen Victoria on 6 January 1889*.

Serving with the 2nd Battalion in South Africa he took part in operations on the Zululand frontier of Natal, in the Transvaal, in Cape Colony and at Pretoria. He also saw action at Peter’s Hill, Reitvlei and Ruidam.

Brinckman was twice Mentioned in Despatches for his actions in South Africa. He was also awarded the Queen’s South Africa Medal with four clasps and the King’s South Africa Medal with two clasps.

He was promoted to Brevet Major in 1900 and to Major on 17 July 1901. In November 1900, he was appointed Station Staff Officer in Armagh.

Although he retired on 24 January 1906, he returned to serve as a Major during the First World War, 1914–19. For his services, he was appointed an Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (OBE) in 1919.

Major Rowland Brinckman died on 4 January 1948 aged 86.

*
Held by the Royal Collection Trust and described as:

BRINCKMAN, ROWLAND
Historical Record of The Eighty-Ninth Princess Victoria's Regiment / compiled by Rowland Brinckman. 1888
19.5 x 3.0 cm (book measurement (inventory)) | RCIN 1087992