The Roll of Honour, Volume 1 : A biographical record of all members of His…
53. Private Appleyard escaped without a scratch, though a bullet passed
10123 words | Chapter 4
through the leg of his trousers. Later he was with three or four men
in a small post without ammunition; the enemy were throwing bombs on
them. It was while throwing back these bombs that he was shot through
the heart, 16 Aug. 1915, on the ridge Kislagh Dagh. He was buried in
Gallipoli at the foot of Dublin Hill (Hill 53); _unm._ Letters
from his comrades are unanimous in extolling his bravery, devotion to
duty, self-sacrifice, and good comradeship. His brother, George, is now
(1916) serving with the Leinsters at the Front.
[Illustration: =Walter D’Ancie Appleyard.=]
=ARBUTHNOT, KENNETH WINDHAM=, Major, 2nd Battn. Seaforth
Highlanders, 6th _s._ of William Reierson Arbuthnot, late of
Plawhatch, East Grinstead, co. Sussex, by his wife, Mary Helen, dau. of
Philip Anstruther, late Colonial Secretary of Ceylon (by his wife, née
Stewart-Mackenzie, of Kintail, granddau. of Francis Lord Seaforth, and
a descendant of the Sir Walter Scott who originally raised the Seaforth
Highlanders); _b._ 23 July, 1873; educ. privately, at Bath College
and Sandhurst; obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Seaforth
Highlanders, 19 July, 1893, and was promoted Lieut. 3 July, 1895; Capt.
29 April, 1900; Brevet Major 22 Aug. 1902; and Major 10 June, 1909.
He took part in the operations in Chitral in 1895, serving with the
Relief Force and receiving the medal with clasp; and with the Sudan
Expedition, 1893. He was present at the Battle of Khartoum, and for his
services received the King’s medal with clasp and the Egyptian medal.
In the South African war, 1901–2, he was employed with the Mounted
Infantry, taking part in the operations in Cape Colony (Feb. 1901),
the Orange Free State (Feb.-March, 1901), and the Transvaal (March,
1901–31 May, 1902). He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette,
29 July, 1902], given the brevet of Major and the Queen’s medal with
five clasps. After his return to England he acted as Adjutant of the
4th Volunteer Battn. of his regt., 10 Aug. 1907, to 31 March, 1908,
and of the Territorials, 1 April, 1908, to 9 June, 1909, and was
Brigade-Major, Gordon Infantry Brigade (Scottish Command), 12 Oct.
1911, to 9 Aug. 1914. On the declaration of war he rejoined his regt.,
went to the Front in Nov., and was killed in action at the second
Battle of Ypres, 25 April, 1915. He was buried on the left side of the
St. Jean-St. Julien Road, about 1,000 yards south of St. Julien. Major
Arbuthnot _m._ on 26 April, 1911, Janet Elspeth, dau. of Major
Sinclair Wemyss, Gordon Highlanders, and had two children: John Wemyss,
_b._ 11 Feb. 1912, and Robert Michael Wemyss, _b._ 9 March,
1914.
[Illustration: =Kenneth W. Arbuthnot.=]
=ARCHER, FRED=, Private, No. 5229, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards,
_s._ of Charles Archer, of 163, St. Anne’s Well Road, Nottingham;
_b._ Nottingham; enlisted 24 Oct. 1903; served with the
Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 12 Aug. 1914, and was
killed in action at Rental, 28 Oct. 1914.
=ARCHER, GEORGE=, Private, No. G 8965, 4th Battn. The Middlesex
Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders;
killed in action, 10 Oct. 1915.
=ARCHER, JOHN WILLIAM BUTTS=, Lieut., The Buffs (East Kent
Regt.), only _s._ of the Rev. George Archer, Rector of Stilton,
Peterborough, by his wife, Beatrice, dau. of Capt. William Pitt Butts,
The Buffs; _b._ Longfield, Halifax, co. York, 14 March, 1890;
educ. Stubbington, in France, and at the Royal Military Academy,
Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5 Oct. 1910, and Lieut. 9 March, 1912;
served at Singapore 1910–12, and in India, 1912–14. Recalled to England
at the outbreak of war, he arrived home late in Dec. and spent a few
days at his home at Stilton before proceeding to France on 16 Jan. The
regt. was at once moved up to the firing line, he was wounded in the
fighting at Ypres 15 Feb. 1915, and died the following day; _unm._
The story of his death is told in a letter of his Commanding Officer.
It appears that on the night of 15 Feb. (almost exactly a month after
he went to France), Lieut. Archer was sent out with his men to the
relief of a regiment which was holding a trench which had been attacked
by the Germans in the dark. He succeeded in fighting his way to the
trench at the expense of half his men and of his own gallant life. The
effort to hold the trench was successful. It was Lieut. Archer’s task
thus to take the lead in the counter-attack which the Brigade made
to retake the trenches which had been lost, but the other regiments
were so badly knocked about by a bitter shell fire that they could
not get up to support him and his gallant little handful of men, and
so the work was splendidly done by this small company themselves.
When he fell, mortally wounded, they carried him at enormous risk
to themselves, into a dug-out in the trench, and here he died about
twenty-four hours afterwards, for it was impossible to get him out of
the trench and into hospital in face of the terrible fire which was
maintained.
[Illustration: =John William Butts Archer.=]
=ARCHIBALD, WILLIAM=, Major, 2nd Lowland Field Co., R.E. (T.F.),
29th Division, _s._ of the late William Richmond Archibald, of
Mossend, Schoolmaster; educ. at Glasgow High School; was with Messrs.
William Jacks & Co., of Glasgow, iron and ore merchants; joined the
old 2nd Lanarkshire R.E.V. after the Boer war, and in 1908, when the
Volunteers were reorganised, became attached to the Works Company of
the Lanarkshire Fortress Engineers at Bellshill, being given the rank
of Lieut. Subsequently after the disbandment of this unit, he was
posted as supernumerary to the 2nd Lowland Field Co., became Captain,
12 Sept. 1914, and Major Commanding 26 Jan. 1915; served with the
Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles; was wounded
on the evening of the 18 June, 1915, while on his way to visit the
section officers, and died the same day. A brother officer wrote:
“The death of Major Archibald is a great loss to the country; he was
an exceptional soldier and officer.” Major Archibald _m._ at
Dundyvan, Coatbridge, co. Lanark, 9 Aug. 1911, Helen Gibson, dau. of
the late James Mitchell, of Coatbridge, iron master and had issue two
daus.: Margaret Allan, _b._ 5 June, 1912, and Elizabeth Campbell
McLellan, _b._ 25 Sept. 1914.
[Illustration: =William Archibald.=]
=ARGENT, WILLIAM ROBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 10426), 229038, H.M.S.
Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ARLAIN, EDWIN=, Stoker, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off
Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ARMES, JOHN HENRY=, A.B., R.F.R., B. 1756, 211569, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov 1914.
=ARMITAGE, THOMAS WILLIAM=, Ch. E.R.A., 1st Class, 157690, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ARMSTRONG, ELLERAY FRANCIS=, L.-Corpl., No. 63046, 3rd Battn.,
Canadian Expeditionary Force, only _s._ of Elleray Armstrong, of
Eastmoor Drive, Carlton, Nottingham, by his wife, Jane Davidson, dau.
of the late Walter Watson Walker, of Manchester; _b._ Stretford,
near Manchester, 9 Feb. 1893; educ. Elmswood College and Sale Grammar
School; went to Canada in 1912, and settled down to business in
Montreal, returning for a short visit in June, 1914, for a deferred
celebration of his twenty-first birthday; volunteered after the
outbreak of war, and enlisted, 9 Nov. 1914; came over with the Second
Contingent, landing in England, 7 March, 1915; went to France, 1 May,
and was killed in action at Givenchy, 16 June, 1915, during an attack
on the German lines. He was buried near Givenchy, 500 yards east of
Duck’s Bill; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote that he “was a
grand soldier and man.”
=ARMSTRONG, GEORGE LEIGHTON=, Private, No. 18186, 1st Battn. Royal
Welsh Fusiliers, _s._ of the late Edward Armstrong, 16th (Queen’s)
Lancers, by his wife, Isabella (Methuen Street, Wavertree), dau. of
John Smart, and grandson of the late Col. Edward Armstrong, of Bedford;
_b._ at Edge Hill, Liverpool, 3 March, 1884; educ. at Sefton Park
School; joined the Army after the outbreak of war, 22 Nov. 1914, and
died of wounds at Neuve Chapelle, 15 March, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =George L. Armstrong.=]
=ARMSTRONG, JAMES=, Stoker P.O., 294264 H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost
when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5
Sept. 1914.
=ARMSTRONG, JOHN=, A.B., J. 3996, R.N., killed in action at
Tsing-tau, 22 Aug. 1914, on board H.M. Destroyer Kennet while engaged
in chasing the German Destroyer S 90.
=ARMSTRONG, ROBERT=, Private, No. 2706, 2nd Battn. Coldstream
Guards, _s._ of Robert Armstrong; _b._ Marylebone, London;
enlisted 1 June, 1899; served in South Africa, 23 May, 1900, to 6
Oct. 1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps: “Belfast,” “Cape Colony,”
“Orange Free State”; and King’s medal with two clasps: “South Africa,
1901,” “South Africa, 1902”); and with the Expeditionary Force in
France and Flanders, 12 Aug. 1914, to 13 Feb. 1915, when he was killed
in action at Cuinchy. Buried in the rear of the trenches there. He
_m._ at Marylebone Parish Church, 1 Jan. 1905, Elizabeth (56,
Ashmill Street, Lisson Grove, N.W.), dau. of (--) Leonard, and had four
children: Charles, _b._ 1 Jan. 1908; Thomas, _b._ 1 May,
1914; Elizabeth, _b._ 4 Oct. 1905; and Annie, _b._ 1 Nov.
1909.
=ARNELL, JAMES ALEXANDER=, Private, No. A. 34446, 10th, formerly
50th, Battn., Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2nd _s._ of John
Arnell, of Calgary (who joined the 56th Battn., 1 May, 1915, as a
Military Policeman, and died on active service at Calgary, 27 Dec.
following), by his wife, Jessie G. (805, Fifth Avenue, West Calgary,
Alberta), dau. of (--) Taylor; _b._ Calgary, 25 Oct. 1894;
educ. Calgary, Woodstock College, Ontario, and Mount Royal College
(diploma), Calgary; joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force, 23 Jan.
1915, and was killed in action in France, 30 Sept. 1915, by a rifle
grenade; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote speaking highly of
his conduct. He was a keen sportsman, and had won two medals for Rugby
football.
[Illustration: =James Alexander Arnell.=]
=ARNOLD, CHARLES EDGAR=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9600),
S.S. 106981, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=ARNOLD, FERDINAND FRANCK WILLIAM=, Capt. 1st Batt. Suffolk (The
12th) Regt., elder _s._ of Franck Thomas Arnold, of the University
College of South Wales, M.A. Trin. Coll. Cambridge, by his wife Edith
Maud, dau. of Samuel William Kelly, and grandson of the Rev. Charles
Thomas Arnold, of Rugby; _b._ Penarth, near Cardiff, 19 March,
1888; educ. Rugby, and after going through Sandhurst, was gazetted
to the 1st Battn. of the Suffolk Regt., 29 Aug. 1906, being promoted
Lieut., 6 Mar. 1909, and serving with the Battn. in Malta and Egypt.
When war broke out, he was in Khartoum, and acted as Italian Censor,
for which he received a letter of thanks from the Sirdar. In Dec.
1914, he was given his company, and on going to the Front in Jan.
was appointed Machine-gun Officer to the 84th Infantry Brigade, but
afterwards returned to regimental work, taking command of a double
company owing to shortage of officers. He was killed in action, near
Zonnebeke not far from Ypres, being shot in the trenches, which were
enfiladed by the enemy, 23 April, 1915; unm.; buried in the garden of
a farmhouse, near Zonnebeke. Capt. Arnold belonged to an old Suffolk
family, from a branch of which Dr. Arnold of Rugby was also descended.
Many of his forebears served with distinction in the Royal Navy. Capt.
Thomas Arnold distinguished himself in 1718 by boarding and taking the
colours of the Spanish flagship Royal St. Philip, which are still in
the possession of his family. The son of the latter, Thomas Arnold,
sailed round the world as midshipman on the Centurion, under Lord
Anson, and in 1782, and Aldous Charles Arnold (great-great-grandfather
of Capt. F. F. W. Arnold) was present as midshipman in the Royal
William at the Siege of Gibraltar. Capt. Arnold was a keen sportsman,
and letters from brother officers bear witness to the value that was
set upon him in the regt., both as a soldier and as a friend. One
wrote: “He was always merry and cheerful, even under the most adverse
circumstances, and set an example to officers and men alike.” The late
Major Maycock, D.S.O. (late of the 1st Suffolks), wrote as follows:
“As you know, your son was my subaltern for two years, and I had the
highest opinion of his ability as a soldier. He was a thoroughly keen
and efficient officer, and would have gone far had he been spared. I
am expecting to go to the Front immediately, and if I rejoin the 1st
Battn. I shall miss your son very much. I felt I must write to you both
to say how grieved I was to hear of your loss, and to let you know the
high opinion I had of your son, personally and professionally.”
[Illustration: =Ferdinand F. W. Arnold.=]
=ARNOLD, HARRY RICHARD=, Private, No. 13058, 2nd Battn. Coldstream
Guards; eldest _s._ of Harvey Arnold, of 251, High Street, Henley
in Arden, co. Warwick, boot and shoe maker, by his wife Ellen, dau.
of John Mills, of Yew Tree View, Henley in Arden; _b._ Henley
in Arden, 3 Feb. 1895; educ. Council School there; enlisted 5 Oct.
1914; went to the Front, 7 April, 1915, and was killed in action at
Cambrin, by a rifle grenade which fell in the trench, badly wounding
him in the back, and breaking his left leg, 6 July, 1915; _unm._
He was buried at Cambrin. Capt. Lloyd, writing to Mrs. Arnold, said
that though her son had not been out long, he had proved himself an
excellent soldier, and that by his death the Company had lost one of
its best and pleasantest members.
[Illustration: =Harry Richard Arnold.=]
=ARNOLD, HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 9798), 297700,
H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ARNOLD, ROBERT=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 16953, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ARTHUR, CHARLES=, Rifleman, No. 1770, 9th Battn. (Queen Victoria
Rifles) The London Regt. (Machine Gun Section), only _s._ of the
late Richard Arthur, for several years manager at Messrs. Busvines,
4, Brook Street, London, W. [2nd son of James Arthur, of Great
Treveryan Farm, Tynardreath, Cornwall], by his wife Emily (Pentillie,
Lostwithiel, co Cornwall), dau. of the late Alderman Charles Taylor
Cheesman, of Hove, Sussex; _b._ Regent’s Park, London, N.W., 2
July, 1890; educ. Brighton Grammar School and London Orphan School,
Watford, at which latter he passed all the local Cambridge Exams,
(three with honours), also earning the scholarship given by Mr. J.
Debenham for two years’ tuition in Switzerland; he was in the employ of
Messrs. Debenham & Co., of Wimpole Street; joined Queen Victoria’s in
1908, and on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, volunteered for foreign
service. He was killed in action near Ypres, 5 Jan. 1915, being buried
at Neuve Eglise; _unm._ When at Watford he was Captain of the
1st Eleven cricket team. He also won the championship for swimming,
and while in Switzerland gained a diploma for football. At Messrs.
Debenham’s Sports Ground he won the silver cup in a tennis tournament.
[Illustration: =Charles Arthur.=]
=ARTHUR, HERBERT GEORGE=, Private, No. 1357, D Coy., 1st (Royal
Fusiliers) Battn. The London Regt., 3rd _s._ of Harry Reginald
Arthur, of 5, Kingswood Avenue, Kilburn, by his wife, Lydia Arthur,
dau. of Benjamin Wyatt; _b._ Kilburn, N.W., 7 Nov. 1895; educ.
Kingsgate Road L.C.C. School there, where he was top boy of the school
in chemistry, and afterwards obtained a berth in the Haberdashers’
School, Cricklewood, as science master’s assistant. He remained here
for three years, and then went to Messrs. Burroughs & Wellcome,
chemical manufacturers, Dartford, where he was employed until the
outbreak of war. He had joined the 1st Battn. London Regt. in 1911,
and, volunteering for active service, left with his regt. for Malta,
4 Sept. 1914, and returned after having passed as a first-class shot.
After a few days’ leave, he went to France, and was killed in action,
17 May, 1915; _unm._ His officer, Lieut. H. A. Eiloart, wrote:
“He died a soldier’s death in the face of the enemy, being shot in the
head and dying instantaneously while firing from our trench. He was in
my Half-company and in my platoon from the time we left for Malta up
to the time of his death, and I feel his death most keenly, both as
a soldier and a man.” His two elder brothers are now (1916) serving
in the Army: Gunner H. Arthur, R.M.A., on board H.M.S. Colossus, and
Corpl. J. R. Arthur, with the 1st Australian Expeditionary Force.
[Illustration: =Herbert George Arthur.=]
=ARTHUR, RICHARD VICTOR=, L.-Corpl., No. 8118, 3rd Battn.
Coldstream Guards, 4th _s._ of John Meredith Arthur, of 46,
Aston Lane, Handsworth, Grocer, by his wife, Emma Jane; _b._
Shirley, co. Warwick, 9 Feb. 1892; educ. Small Heath Secondary
School, Birmingham; enlisted on or about 5 Oct. 1908, and was killed
in action at Landrecies, 8.30 p.m., 25 Aug. 1914, during the retreat
from Mons. He _m._ at St. Michael’s Church, Camberley, 27 July,
1912, Margaret Emily (12, The Mews, Watchetts Road, Camberley), dau.
of Thomas Herridge, of Camberley, and had two sons: Richard John,
_b._ 23 Nov. 1913, and Victor George, _b._ 28 Jan. 1915.
[Illustration: =Richard Victor Arthur.=]
=HARRIS-ARUNDELL, JOHN D’AUVERGNE=, Sergt., No. 25911, 14th Battn.
(1st Royal Montreal Regt.), Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2nd _s._
of the late Robert Harris-Arundell, of Halifax, Nova Scotia, by his
wife, Elizabeth Blanche, dau. of the late John D’Auvergne Dumaresq,
C.M.G., Acting Administrator of the Government of Lagos, W. Africa, and
grandson of the late William Reinfred Harris-Arundell, of Lifton, co.
Devon, England; _b._ Fairmont, Martin co., Minnesota, U.S.A., 14
May, 1889; went to Halifax, Nova Scotia, with his family at the age of
five; educ. Collegiate School, Windsor, N.S., and joined the staff of
the Royal Bank of Canada in 1905, and when war broke out in Aug. 1914,
was in Montreal. He was at the time a Corpl. in the Victoria Rifles of
Montreal, and volunteered at once for active service, and on 24 Aug.
his regt., then called 1st Royal Montreal Regt., went into training
at Valcartier Camp. On the night of 23 Sept. they left for Quebec,
where they embarked for England, arriving in Plymouth on 14 Oct., and
after training at Salisbury, left for France on 5 Feb. At the Battle
of Langemarcke on 24 April, 1915, he was shot through the heart while
helping Lieut. Whitehead, who was wounded in the foot, to cross 200
yards under withering fire; _unm._ The ground was captured by the
enemy, and Sergt. Arundell’s body was never recovered.
[Illustration: =John D’A. Harris-Arundell.=]
=ASBURY, ARTHUR GERARD=, Sapper, No. 45044, 3rd Field Coy.,
Canadian Divisional Engineers, _s._ of Joseph Asbury, bank
accountant; _b._ Burton-on-Trent, 13 Oct. 1889; educ. Burton
Grammar School and Hymers’ College, Hull; enlisted on the outbreak of
war, Aug. 1914, and _d._ of wounds in No. 14 General Hospital, at
Wimereux, 21 May, 1915; _unm._; buried there, No. 496.
=ASCOTT, VINCENT JOHN DAWSON=, Volunteer, Nyasaland Volunteer
Reserve, _s._ of Capt. William Ascott, A.V.C., of West Bridge,
Bideford, by his wife Frances Annie, dau. of the late William John
Keyte; _b._ 26 Aug. 1892; educ. at Allhallow’s School, Honiton.
Volunteered for active service, 3 Aug. 1914. He was killed in action
at Karonga, Nyasaland, 9 Sept. 1914; _unm._ The official account
states: “Field Force advanced from Karonga on afternoon of 8th. Enemy
in strength of about 400 appears to have evaded our Force, and at
sunrise on the 9th attacked Karonga, which was defended by Bishop in
charge of a few K.A.R.’s and Resident, with police, in all about 55
natives and 8 civilians. This small garrison very gallantly resisted
the attack for three hours until relieved by Column 3 under Capt.
Griffiths. They drove off and pursued the enemy, who left 2 officers
and 40 native soldiers dead on the field. Casualties in Karonga: Webb,
slightly wounded; 1 askari killed and 4 wounded. Entire British Force
came into action later. Enemy fought with great determination, and
had to be dislodged by repeated bayonet charges, but ultimately fled
towards Songwe. Total German losses: 8 officers killed and 2 wounded
and captured with Medical Officer; two field guns and three Maxims
captured. British losses: killed, Caldecott and Ascott; since died of
wounds, Manning and Merriman; seriously wounded, Muirhead, Garnett,
Mason, Sinclair; slightly wounded, Barton, Ness; missing, Williams and
Harvey. All reports speak highly of gallantry of all engaged.” His
Commanding Officer, in a letter of sympathy to his parents, wrote:
“Your son died a gallant death firing one of the Maxim guns in the
battle of Karonga, on 9 Sept.... I feel his loss doubly, as he was one
of my Planter neighbours, and a very close friend.” Another comrade,
writing to his aunt, wrote: “The whole of Nyasaland will be grieving
that one so popular as a true English sportsman will never play again
in those games in which he so much excelled. Zomba has lost a fine
athlete and gained a noble hero.” He was mentioned in despatches
[London Gazette, 3 Aug. 1916] for gallant and distinguished service in
the field “while working maxim guns under heavy fire with coolness and
effect.”
[Illustration: =Vincent J. D. Ascott.=]
=ASCROFT, ROBERT GEOFFREY LEES=, 2nd Lieut., 1/10th Battn. The
Manchester Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of the late James Henry
Ascroft, of Oldham, Solicitor (_d._ 1900), by his wife, Mabel
Gertrude, dau. of John Lees, of Primrose House, Oldham, Cotton
Spinners, and nephew of the late Robert Ascroft, M.P.; _b._
Oldham, 25 April, 1896; educ. Charterhouse, and on the outbreak of
war volunteered and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 25 Aug. 1914; went to the
Dardanelles, May, 1915, and was killed in action there, 4 June, 1915.
His commanding officer wrote: “Geoffrey was absolutely fearless and had
endeared himself to all ranks by brave deeds which he had performed
previously. His comrades all speak of his pluck and say, ‘he did not
know what fear was.’” His brother-in-law, 2nd Lieut. J. B. Emmott, of
the same regt., was killed in action the same day.
[Illustration: =Robert Geoffrey L. Ascroft.=]
=ASH, BASIL DRUMMOND=, Lieut., R.N., and Flight Lieut., R.N.A.S.,
_s._ of the Rev. Cyril Alfred Drummond Ash, B.A., Keble College,
Oxford. Incumbent of Saxton, Tadcaster, co. York, by his wife,
Hester Elizabeth, dau. of the late F. J. Alexander, B.C.S., India;
_b._ Southport, Queensland, Australia, 16 May, 1890; educ.
Preparatory School, Arlington House, Brighton, and Mr. Foster’s School,
Stubbington, Fareham, Hants; joined the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth,
as a Cadet, 18 Sept. 1905, and became sub.-Lieut. 12 Sept. 1910,
and Lieut. 1 Oct. 1912; served as Midshipman in H.M.S. Dreadnought
(Flagship of Admiral Sir Francis Bridgeman, Home Fleet), Prince of
Wales (Flagship of Admiral Prince Louis of Battenberg, Atlantic Fleet);
and Africa (Capt. Leveson, Home Fleet); as sub-Lieut. and Lieut. in
H.M.S. Philomel and Espiègle, in the Persian Gulf, Oct. 1911, to Nov.
1913; and in the R.N.A.S., 27 Jan. 1914, to 29 Sept. 1914, on which
latter day he was lost in Seaplane 77 off the coast of Scotland, while
engaged in scouting for German submarines. All his commanding officers
testified to his ability as a Naval Officer. He was _unm._
[Illustration: =Basil Drummond Ash.=]
=ASH, WILFRID JOHN=, Lieut., 3rd Batt. Middlesex (Duke of
Cambridge’s Own) Regt., _s._ of Herbert Edward Ash, of Keilawarra,
Warlingham, Surrey, Solicitor; _b._ Croydon, 29 July, 1890; educ.
Littlejohn’s, Greenwich; Haileybury and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut.,
2nd Battn. Middlesex Regt., 5 Oct. 1910; exchanged to 3rd Battn., then
at Lebong, India, July, 1911; promoted Lieut., 23 July, 1913. Lieut.
Ash was in England on leave when war broke out. He was recalled to
rejoin his regt. at Cawnpore, and sailed for India in September. Two
or three days before Christmas Day, 1914, he was back again in England
with the 3rd Middlesex, who had come over as a complete unit. He went
with the regt. to France in January, 1915, and was killed in action
on the afternoon of Sunday, 14 Feb. 1915, between Ypres and St. Eloi,
while leading his men in a successful counter attack against the
enemy’s trenches. Col. E. W. R. Stephenson, Commanding the 3rd Battn.
Middlesex, wrote that he “died gallantly leading his men in an attempt
to capture a trench that had fallen. Previous to this, he saved the
life of my nephew, Moller, who had been severely wounded, and after
placing him in a place of safety, he again entered the fight.... He
nobly did his duty, and we deplore his loss.” Private Worsfold also
wrote: “On the afternoon of Sunday, 14 Feb., we were ordered to attack
a position occupied by the enemy, north-west of Ypres and west of the
canal ... on the morning of the same day we had been badly cut up,
and the Surreys, who afterwards came up in support, opened to let us
through. Lieut. W. J. Ash, who had been previously wounded in the arm,
was still leading up to the last moment.”
[Illustration: =Wilfrid John Ash.=]
=ASHBY, GEORGE=, Stoker, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off
Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ASHTON, EDWARD STANLEY JOHN CHARLES=, Corpl., No. 1248, Army
Service Corps, elder _s._ of Charles Ashton, of 21, Endymion
Road, Finsbury Park, by his wife, Alice Elyzabeth Sophia, dau. of
George Nelson Howlett; _b._ Finsbury Park, 19 June, 1894; educ.
Ealing Grammar School, and St. Frances Xavier’s College, Bruges;
joined the Army at the outbreak of the war, 11 Aug. 1914, and died at
St. Bartholomew’s Hospital, London, 16 June, 1915, from heart failure
caused by rheumatic fever contracted while at the Front; _unm._
=ASHTON, EDWIN=, Rifleman, No. 1667, 1/12th Battn. (The Rangers)
The London Regt., former Engineers’ apprentice, _s._ of Edwin
Ashton, fancy leather worker; _b._ Peckham, 7 April, 1895; was a
Scout and Patrol Leader from 13 years of age to 18, when he joined the
Rangers; killed in action at Zonnebeke, 20 April, 1915. Cart. Jones
wrote: “He was hit by a bullet on the evening of the 20th, and died
soon afterwards. We buried him that night in a small wood behind our
trench. He was a man for whom I had a great liking; a good soldier, and
he died doing his duty.”
[Illustration: =Edwin Ashton.=]
=ASHURST, JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4246), S.S.
102939, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast
of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ASHWORTH, EDMUND=, Leading Stoker, 311053 (Dev.), H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=ASKEW, HENRY ADAM=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Border Regt., elder
_s._ of the late Canon Edmund Adam Askew, Rector of Greystoke,
Cumberland, by his wife, Mary Penelope (Bushby House, Greystoke,
Cumberland), dau. of the late Rev. Henry James Feilden, Rector of Kirk
Langley, and grandson of the late Henry William Askew, of Conishead
Priory, co. Lancaster, and Glenridding, co. Cumberland, J.P., by his
wife, Lucy, dau. of the Right Rev. and Hon. Hugh Percy, D.D., Lord
Bishop of Carlisle; _b._ Greystoke Rectory, 8 Sept. 1881; educ.
Aysgarth, Harrow, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted
2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Border Regt. 8 May, 1901; joined his battn. in
South Africa in the Sept. following, and took part in the operations in
the Transvaal, Nov. 1901–2 (Queen’s medal and three clasps); promoted
Lieut. 5 Sept. 1903. On his return to England he went through two
courses with Mounted Infantry and the Gymnastic course (certificate
1908); Assistant Superintendent of Gymnasium at Devonport for the
Southern Command, 3 Aug. 1909–13, when he rejoined his regt. On the
outbreak of war he received his company, 23 Aug. 1914, was appointed
Transport Officer, and went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force.
On the death of the Adjutant, Capt. Andrews (26 Oct.), he took over
his duties, and as Adjutant was with his Colonel when wounded, and
assisted in carrying him back, becoming then second in command; and
from 25 Nov. to 3 Dec. was in command, his Colonel sending in his name
as “doing exceptionally well.” He was killed on 19 Dec. 1914, in a
night attack on the German trenches at Sailly. He was at first reported
as wounded and missing, but was later found to have been killed. He
was twice mentioned in Despatches by F.M. Sir John French. A private
wrote home to a friend: “There was one officer called Capt. Askew. I
was right against him when he got shot. I shall never forget him; the
last words he uttered were, ‘Stick it lads, stick it Borders,’ and
then he got killed. It happened on the top of their trenches.” Another
writes that he was in the trench. The Germans buried him behind their
first line of trenches, and erected a cross on which they inscribed in
German. “To a brave British officer, Border Regt.” This information was
obtained during the truce on Christmas Day, when Lieut. Nunnerly, 3rd
Bedfords, was sent by the Commanding Officer of the Border Regt. in
answer to a German officer, who passed over the badge from the cap of
Capt. Askew. He _m._ at St. Cuthbert’s Church, Carlisle, 25 April,
1908, Winifred Lucy, dau. of Col. Thomas Angelo Irwin, of Lynehow,
Carlisle, Solport, co. Cumberland, D.L., and had issue 2 sons and a
dau.; Henry Cuthbert Adam, _b._ 21 Sept. 1909; David, _b._ 16
June, 1913; and Winyfred Anne, _b._ 19 Jan. 1911.
[Illustration: =Henry Adam Askew.=]
=ASKEW, JOHN HENRY=, Sergt., R.M.L.I., Ports. 11610, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914; _m._
=ASLIN, GEORGE=, Private, No. 1941, C. Co., 1/8th Battn. Middlesex
Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of George Aslin, of Melrose Villas, 7, Avenue
Road, Hampton, Bootmaker, by his wife, Fanny, dau. of Edward Busby,
R.M.; _b._ Gosport, co. Hants, 31 Dec. 1891; educ. Hampton Council
School; was a Fitter’s Labourer; joined the Middlesex Territorials,
Feb. 1913; went to France, 8 March, 1915, and was killed in action at
Frezenberg, 11 May following; _unm._
=ASSITER, ALFRED=, Chief Yeoman of Signals, 168358, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ATCHESON, JOHN=, Private, No. 9474, 2nd Battn. Durham L.I., 2nd
_s._ of the late Hugh Atcheson, of Jarrow, Machine Planer, by
his wife, Mary (Carley Place, Southwick, Sunderland), dau. of Michael
Benson; _b._ Monkwearmouth, Sunderland, co. York, 24 May, 1894;
educ. St. Banett’s, Sunderland; enlisted Oct. 1910; and after serving
his time with the Colours joined the Special Reserve, and was employed
at Thomson’s Yard, Sunderland. He was called up on mobilisation, 5 Aug.
1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 1 June, 1915; _unm._ His
elder brother, Private Samuel Atcheson, is now (1916) serving with the
Expeditionary Force in France.
[Illustration: =John Atcheson.=]
=ATKIN, JOHN CLAUDE=, R.M.L.I., Ch. 7931, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ATKINS, EDMUND JOSEPH=, Leading Seaman, 222044, H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ATKINS, FRANK STANLEY=, Private, No. 12608, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, 2nd _s._ of William Edward Atkins, of Gravesend, co. Kent,
Nurseryman and Florist, by his wife, Elizabeth Hollwey, dau. of William
Hollwey, of Chilcompton, Bath; _b._ Gravesend, 30 July, 1892;
educ. Christ Church School there, and then entered the service of the
P. & O. Steamship Co. He joined the Garrison Artillery at the age of
eighteen, and on the declaration of war enlisted in the Coldstreams,
15 Sept. 1914, and was killed at Cuinchy on 25 Jan. 1915, in his first
action. He was buried where he fell, 500 yards from Cuinchy Church, and
a cross marks the spot. He was spoken of as a keen soldier, who never
failed to do his duty.
[Illustration: =Frank Stanley Atkins.=]
=ATKINS, JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3519), 162449, H.M.S. Hogue;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ATKINS, JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4569), S.S. 1544, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov.
1914.
=ATKINSON, ALFRED GEORGE=, A.B., 193724, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in
action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=ATKINSON, ANDREW GEORGE=, Private, No. 798, 25th Infantry Battn.,
Australian Imperial Force, _s._ of George Andrew Atkinson,
Solicitor, and Coroner for North Fermanagh; _b._ Ballyshannon,
co. Donegal, 12 March, 1891; educ. Conway College and Jones School,
Lispoole Abbey, Enniskillen; went to Australia; enlisted in the
Australian Force in Dec. 1914, following the outbreak of war; was
wounded in action in the fighting at Anzac, near Hill 971 (Sari Bair),
and died in No. 19 General Hospital at Alexandria, 27 Nov. 1915;
_unm._ Buried in Chatby Cemetery, near Alexandria (Grave No. 1883).
[Illustration: =Andrew George Atkinson.=]
=ATKINSON, WILLIAM JOSEPH=, R.N.R., No. 3672C, _s._ of Joseph
Atkinson, Merchant Seaman, by his wife, Jessie, dau. of Isaac Thomas,
of London; _b._ Hull, 8 Aug. 1873; educ. St. Paul’s Street School,
Hull; was formerly employed in the weekly boats, and was delegate for
the Sailors’ and Firemen’s Union; was called up on mobilisation, 2
Aug. 1914, and lost his life on the Cruiser Hogue, torpedoed in the
North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. He _m._ at St. Paul’s Church, Hull,
15 Jan. 1900, Lucy Anne (7, Kingston Street, Hull), dau. of John
Scarborough, of Spilsby, Lincolnshire, shoemaker, and had issue a son
and six daus.: John, _b._ 11 March, 1910; Jessie, _b._ 8 Oct.
1900; Lucy, _b._ 17 Nov. 1901; Annie, _b._ 11 Aug. 1902;
Muriel, _b._ 17 Aug. 1905: Mildred, _b._ 10 April 1908; and
Charlotte, _b._ 19 Sept. 1911. Had Atkinson lived throughout the
year 1915 he would have received a medal for fifteen years’ service in
the R.N.R.
[Illustration: =William Joseph Atkinson.=]
=ATKINSON, WILLIAM NOEL=, Capt. and Adjutant 2nd Battn. 10th
Gurkha Rifles, eldest _s._ of the late Rev. Augustus William
Atkinson, Principal of the Lawrence Memorial School, Ootacamund, by
his wife, Mary Louisa (Mountain View, Ootacamund, Nilgiris, S. India),
dau. of Brinard Antony Daly, Tonyville, Yercand, Shevaroy Hills, Madras
Presidency, S. India; _b._ Calcutta, 21 Nov. 1883; educ. Bedford
Grammar School and Sandhurst, from which latter he passed out fifth
with honours in Feb. 1902. He was gazetted to the unattached list
for the Indian Army, 21 Jan. 1903, being temporarily attached to the
Durham L.I., and was posted to the 72nd Punjabis in Aug. 1904, and to
the 1st Battn. of the 10th Gurkhas the following year. He was promoted
Lieut. 21 April, 1905, and Capt. 21 Jan. 1912, and appointed Adjutant
1 Oct. following. He did valuable work in helping to raise the 2nd
Battn. of his regt. in 1908, to which battn. he was appointed Q.M., his
Col. placing on record his appreciation of all the “solid excellent
work done in recruiting for the battalion.” The 10th Gurkhas were
sent to Egypt in Oct. 1914, and Capt. Atkinson received his baptism
of fire at Toussoum on 4 Feb. 1915, when he took part in the repulse
of the attempted Turkish invasion. In May the regt. was sent to the
Dardanelles; he was present during the severe fight on the 28th of that
month and was killed in the trenches on the following day by a sniper
while encouraging his men to repel a fierce counter-attack of the Turks
on their freshly seized trenches. His death was instantaneous, and he
was buried on the hillside where he fell, the grave being marked by
a heap of stones and a wooden cross bearing his name, etc. “His loss
is irreparable to the regt.,” wrote his Col., and he was mentioned in
Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatch of 22 Sept. 1915. “A good sportsman and
a good rider, well read and untiring in energy. A thorough all round
soldier, whose judgment is always sound and to the point. Is on the
Staff College list, and should make in the future a most reliable
Staff Officer. His profession is his first thought, and his power of
imparting knowledge is quite above the normal. A most able officer,
of whom I cannot too highly speak, and a general favourite,” was the
verdict of one of his chiefs. He was _unm._
[Illustration: =William Noel Atkinson.=]
=ATTERBURY, WILLIAM JAMES=, Private, No. 9583, 1st Battn. East
Surrey Regt., eldest _s._ of William Atterbury, of 3, Spencer
Road, Mitcham; _b._ Carshalton, co. Surrey, 7 Oct. 1888; enlisted
5 June, 1908; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from 7 Oct.
1914, and was killed in action there, 24 Nov. following.
=ATTLEE, JAMES MERVYN=, Private, No. 3152, 1st/23rd Battn. The
London Regt., only surviving _s._ of James Attlee, of Hillcrest,
Chart Lane, Reigate, formerly partner in the firm of C. & J. Attlee,
Tooting Brewery, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of William Thomas Butler;
_b._ Wandsworth, 6 June, 1883; educ. New College, Eastbourne,
and Crystal Palace School of Engineering, where he won the medal of
the School of Art, Science, and Literature. Held a good position in
the Reinforced Concrete Engineering Co., but on the outbreak of war
threw this up and enlisted, 19 Sept. 1914. He was killed in action at
Givenchy, 26 May, 1915, in the attack on the German trenches led by
Major Streatfeild, and was buried at Festubert; _unm._
[Illustration: =James Mervyn Attlee.=]
=ATTREALL, ALBERT=, Corpl., No 8032, 2nd Battn. The Sussex Regt.;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in
action at Richebourg l’Avoué, 9 May, 1915.
=ATTREE, BENJAMIN=, Private, No. 8745, 2nd Battn. The Sussex
Regt., s. of Cornelius Attree, of 88, Beaconsfield Avenue, Toronto,
Canada; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and
died of wounds, 27 Jan. 1915.
=ATTREL, ERNEST CHARLES=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 27515 (Ports.),
H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Frank Attrel, of 2, Bampfield Terrace,
Southern Cross, Portslade, Brighton; lost in action in the North Sea,
15 Oct. 1914.
=ATTWATER, RICHARD=, Leading Stoker, (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8422),
294694, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=ATTWOOD, ALGERNON FOULKES=, Capt., 4th Battn. Royal Fusiliers,
only _s._ of Llewellyn Carless Foulkes Attwood, of Pandy, co.
Monmouth, and of Llay Gresford, co. Denbigh, J.P., and his wife, Rachel
Edith, dau. of Arthur Alexander Corsellis, of Wandsworth, co. Surrey;
_b._ Wandsworth, 17 May, 1880; educ. Haileybury and Christ Church
College, Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut. (as a University candidate) in
4th Battn. Royal Fusiliers, 4 May, 1901; promoted Lieut. 15 Oct. 1904,
and Capt. 1 March, 1912. In the spring of 1914, after undergoing a
course of instruction in aviation at Upavon, he was recommended for
an appointment in the Royal Flying Corps, but rejoined his regt. on
its mobilisation in Aug. of that year. This was one of the first units
of the British Expeditionary Force to arrive on the Belgian frontier
in that month. He took part in the Battle of Mons, the retreat to the
Marne, and the subsequent advance to the Aisne. On 14 Sept. 1914,
however, he was reported severely wounded and missing, and it was
afterwards ascertained that at Vailly, near Soissons, at the Battle of
the Aisne, “while skilfully and gallantly withdrawing his men from an
advanced position which could not be held he was hit twice in rapid
succession and fatally wounded.” He _d._ _unm._, and was the
only male of the last generation of the family of Attwood, formerly of
Hawne House, Corngreaves Hall, and The Leasowes, Worcestershire.
[Illustration: =Algernon Foulkes Attwood.=]
=ATTWOOD, ARTHUR=, Private, No. G 7559, 3rd Battn. Middlesex
Regt., _s._ of James Attwood, of Dale View, Hackney, near Matlock;
served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was
killed in action, 30 Sept. 1915.
=ATTWOOD, ARTHUR CHARLES=, Gunner, R.F.R., 26, Immed. Class,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=ATTWOOD, CHARLES=, Private, No. 26, 8th Battn. (90th Winnipeg
Rifles) Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest _s._ of Henry Mark
Attwood, Superintendent of Police, Somerton Division, Somerset, by
his wife, Emma Matilda, dau. of the late James Coles Taylor, of
Weston-super-Mare; _b._ Bishopsworth, near Bristol, 5 Oct. 1893;
educ. at various schools in Nailsea, Chard, Taunton, and Somerton, and
was afterwards apprenticed to Mr. J. G. Williams, Somerton, to learn
the trade of printing. At the termination of his indenture he left
for Canada, where at the outbreak of war he held a good position as a
printer in Winnipeg, Canada. He immediately volunteered, and joined
the 90th Winnipeg Rifles on 6 Aug. 1914, coming over with the first
Canadian Contingent. After training at Salisbury during the winter he
went to the Front, 10 Feb. 1915 (sailed from Avonmouth), was slightly
wounded by a splinter at Neuve Chapelle, but, in his own words when
writing home, “It was not enough to stop me,” and took part in the
memorable charge at Ypres on 23 April, 1915, when the Canadians, in
spite of heavy odds, recaptured the guns which the retirement of the
French before the asphyxiating gas (then used for the first time) had
left in the hands of the Germans. He was killed in action at Langemarck
the following day, and as the trenches held by his company had to be
evacuated shortly afterwards his body was not recovered. Attwood was a
fine athlete and a member of the Somerton Rifle Club, and later of the
Winnipeg Rifle Club. He was _unm._
[Illustration: =Charles Attwood.=]
=AUBIN, ALFRED CHARLES=, Capt., East Lancashire Regt. (attd. West
African Field Force), _s._ of Alfred Jackson Aubin, of Belle Vue,
Lower King’s Cliff, Jersey, by his wife, Christiana Spark; _b._
16 Oct. 1878; educ. Bedford Grammar School and Oxford Univ.; gazetted
2nd Lieut. from the Militia to the East Lancashire Regt. 21 April,
1900, and promoted Lieut. 11 Sept. 1901, and Capt. 12 Feb. 1913; served
in South Africa with the Mounted Infantry as a Railway Staff Officer,
1899–1902, taking part in the operations in the Transvaal and Orange
Free State (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two
clasps); employed with the West African Frontier Force (local Capt. 11
Jan. 1911) from July, 1904, to Feb. 1909, and again from Jan. 1911;
killed in action at Garua, in the Cameroons, 30 Aug. 1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =Alfred Charles Aubin.=]
=AUSTEN, WILLIAM FRANK=, Ord. Seaman, J. 13723, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=AUSTIN, CYRIL FREDERIC=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Queen’s Royal
West Surrey Regt., yst. _s._ of the late Louis Frederic Austin,
of 48, Woodstock Road, Bedford Park, W., the well-known journalist,
by his wife, Wilhelmina, dau. of Richard Robinson, C.E.; _b._
Bedford Park, W., 6 Oct. 1884; educ. in Belgium and Germany; was on
Reuter’s editorial staff, and had been a member of the Artists’ Rifles
since 1907. Went to the Front with them in Oct. 1914, and was given
his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Queen’s 15 Nov. following; served
continuously in the trenches during the winter of 1914–15, came home
for the week-end in Feb. for his marriage, returning to the Front
the following day, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10
March, 1915; buried at Laventie. While serving at the Front he sent
home several graphic sketches of soldier life, which were printed as
“From a subaltern in the trenches.” He was mentioned for important
and dangerous reconnaissance work in ascertaining the whereabouts of
enemy saps by F.M. Sir John French in his Despatch of 31 May, 1915.
The Medical Officer of the battn., writing with reference to his
death, said: “For some time he and his men occupied a small position
of the utmost importance to our line, a position constantly sniped
and bombarded by the enemy. I well remember going down to see a
wounded man in this isolated post after the German trench mortars
had blown the defences about their ears. Austin--wet, muddy, but
cheerful--crawled out of the ruins and displayed the utmost concern
about his wounded man. Brave, cool, and fearless himself, he would go
out of his way to show me a safe way out of the trenches and where I
could avoid ploughing through too much mud and water. I was talking
to him a few minutes before he was hit, and it was a terrible blow
to me that when I was called to him his condition was such that no
treatment was available.” While a member of the Artists’ Rifles Sec.
Lieut. Austin won cups with the Tent Pitching Team, and for five
years was in the Bayonet Team, taking part in the Naval and Military
Tournament at Olympia in 1913 and 1914, and winning many spoons and
cups. The chairman of Reuter’s at the annual general meeting on 3 June,
1915, described him as “one of our most promising young editors.” He
_m._ at St. Ippolyt’s, Herts, 27 Feb. 1915, Margaret Elizabeth
(Gosmore, Hitchin), elder dau. of Samuel Bridgman Russell, of Gosmore,
Hitchin, Herts.
[Illustration: =Cyril Frederic Austin.=]
=AUSTIN, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Private, No. 9726, 2nd Battn. Royal
Scots, _s._ of Edward Austin; _b._ Birmingham, 13 Dec. 1884;
educ. St. Mary’s Schools there; served seven years in India; went to
France with the first Expeditionary Force, and was killed in action
during the retreat from Mons, 26 Aug. 1914; _unm._
=AUSTIN, GEORGE=, Stoker, R.N.R., 514 V., H.M.S. Cressy; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=AVELING, LANCELOT NEVILLE=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Connaught Rangers,
only _s._ of Neville Clifford Aveling, temporary Capt. R.F.A.,
by his wife, Evelyn Mary, of St. Germans Hall, Norfolk, dau. of Capt.
Hurton Barker, of Needham House, near Wisbech, and grandson of Stephen
Thomas Aveling, of Restoration House, Rochester; _b._ Rochester,
20 March, 1892; educ. Gresham’s Holt School; was for four years in the
O.T.C., and shot at Bisley for school; joined the Surrey (Queen Mary’s
Own) Yeomanry 1911, and the Special Reserve of Officers (3rd Connaught
Rangers) 13 June, 1913, and passed third in qualifying examination for
Regular Army on mobilisation, being gazetted 1 Sept. He left with the
Expeditionary Force for the Front at the end of August; was wounded
(two bullet wounds) at the Battle of the Aisne, 14 Sept.; again at
Ypres, 7 Nov. (mentioned in Despatches, Feb. 1915); and a third time at
the same place, 26 April, and _d._ in hospital at Hazebrouck three
days later, being buried in the cemetery there; _unm._ His colonel
wrote: “He was such a splendid officer and so charming a fellow. He is,
indeed, an almost irreparable loss to my battalion.... He came to us
with a very high reputation from the 2nd Battalion, and more than made
it good. Gen. Egerton had especially asked for your boy’s services for
the day as orderly officer.”
[Illustration: =Lancelot Neville Aveling.=]
=AVERILL, ALBERT=, Private, No. 9974, 1st Battn. North
Staffordshire Regt., _s._ of Alfred John Averill, Officer’s
Waiter, 11th South Staffs. Regt., by his wife, Hannah, dau. of Hiram
Pritchard; _b._ Hanley and Stoke (N. Stafford), 6 Aug. 1891; educ.
Cauldon Road Elementary School there, enlisted in Sept. 1913; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in action at
Armentières, 2 Nov. 1914; _unm._
=AVIS, HARRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4659), S.S. 103859,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=AVIS, RALPH CUTTS=, Yeoman of Signals (R.F.R., Ch. B. 6683),
191425, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=AVIS, WILLIAM=, Sergt., R.M.L.I., Ch. 10913, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=AWDRY, CAROL EDWARD VERE=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal Munster
Fusiliers, _s._ of the Rev. Vere Awdry, Vicar of Ampfield, Romsey,
by his wife, Mary Louisa, dau. of Edward Desborough Man; _b._
Broad-Hinton Vicarage, co. Wilts, 11 June, 1894; educ. Marlborough
House School, Hove (April, 1903–Dec. 1907), Marlborough College
(Foundation Scholar, Jan. 1908–June, 1912), and Royal Military College,
Sandhurst (G Coy., June, 1912–June, 1913); gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the
Munster Fusiliers, Sept. 1913; joined the 2nd Battn. at Aldershot, 15
Oct. 1913; went to the Front with them 13 Aug. 1914, and was killed in
action near Etreux, 27 Aug. 1914, during the retreat from Mons. Writing
to his father, the senior surviving officer, Capt. H. S. Jervis, who
was himself taken prisoner, said: “Your boy lost his life that day
while leading his men against overwhelming odds. The Army was at the
time withdrawing, and the battn. was occupying an important position
covering the movement. In order to better safeguard the retreat of the
remainder our withdrawal was delayed by some hours. We were attacked
on three sides, and when we moved off finally it was found that the
greatly superior forces of the Germans had enabled them to cut us off
from our main body. Faced by odds of 6 or 8 to 1 we put up the best
fight we could until compelled by fire from all sides to surrender. C
Coy--to which your son belonged, of course--was chosen to watch our
right rear (on the north-east) as the battn. withdrew to the south,
and Capt. Rawlinson selected your son to take his platoon (No. 9) out
to an exposed position the far end of a village named Fesmy, through
which our line of retreat lay. He performed the duty in a most able
manner, and although harassed with a nasty fire, he held on until the
battn. withdrew, and then rejoined with his little force intact. It
was a commendable performance, worthy of one of far greater age and
experience than your son. His company then continued the withdrawal
until we came to the next village (Oisy), when it was detailed to act
as rearguard. Again they were sharply engaged by largely increased
forces this time, but they gallantly held their own, your son again
holding a detached position at an important cross roads, and again
the battn. was able to withdraw in safety. Your boy’s party was the
last to come in, and though he lost a few men he saved many more. It
was now six o’clock (p.m.), and it was now discovered that we were
cut off from the main body. The battn. shook out to the attack in an
endeavour to break through, every officer doing good work, your son
no less than the others. With sword drawn he led his men in support
of the attack which was in progress in front (to the south), and as
he advanced he fell shot through the lungs. His death was painless
and practically instantaneous. He was buried with his eight brother
officers who fell the same day, 28 Aug. 1914. I write as a prisoner
in German hands. The grave is near the railway station of Etreux, 400
yards to north of the level-crossing, right-hand side of the road.”
It seems clear that from the first the situation was so critical that
to enable the Army to escape the sacrifice of a regt. might possibly
prove to be inevitable. Major Charrier, in command of the Munsters,
fully recognised this, and, according to a survivor, in the absence of
definite orders to retire, felt it his duty to hold on to the last at
all costs. Though they had had two little “scraps” with the Germans
lasting a few minutes on 24 and 26 Aug., the Munsters’ first serious
fighting was on the 27th. The morning was very misty, and while waiting
for the Germans a German aeroplane came over them, quite close, about
10 a.m. It flew back at once, and shortly afterwards a heavy fire was
opened on them, rendering their position untenable. They therefore
retired through Fesmy, where Awdry with his platoon held a detached
position and succeeded in holding the Germans back till the regt. was
safe, and then rejoined. He received a slight flesh wound here. Next
they came to Oisy. Here they had to cross a canal, a little distance
in rear of which was an important cross roads. Attacked in flank, in
danger of being cut off in front, a cavalry attack now threatened them
in rear, and Awdry was sent to the cross roads with his platoon. He
left about 12 men under a sergt. at the canal bridge while he with the
rest went forward and succeeded in holding the Germans at bay for some
three-quarters of an hour. The sergt. and nearly all the detachment at
the bridge were killed, and a corpl. went forward to get instructions,
and as he got up he saw Awdry put his hand up to his chest and fall.
Private C.... says he was hit high up on the left side. The corpl.
thought he was killed, and as nearly all that party were _hors de
combat_ he returned to the bridge, where, finding no one left, he
thought all was over and escaped as best he could with a few stragglers
who joined him and worked round to St. Quentin, where they eventually
joined the remnant of the regt. (about 260) who had escaped destruction
or capture. Awdry was not, however, killed then, and held on; but his
numbers were so reduced that he signalled for reinforcement, and though
none could be sent then, he refused to leave the post till assured that
the battn. was safe. Eventually a few men from another platoon came to
his help, and finally they retired and rejoined, his party being the
last to come in. Then about 6 p.m. the battn. found themselves attacked
on three sides, and it was now in the last desperate attempt to break
through that Awdry got his fatal wound, in the forehead. Private C. ...
was again close to him, and though himself slightly wounded managed to
get him back near the road, and was putting his own field dressing on
the wound when his left shoulder was shattered and he fell over and
Awdry fell on the top of him, and so about an hour later died in his
arms. They lay there all night till a burial party composed of captured
men of the Munsters under German guards brought them in. The nine
officers of the Munsters who fell that day were buried in one grave,
and the N.C.Os. and men in another, side by side, near the railway
station of Etreux, on the right hand side of the road, 400 yards north
of the level-crossing. A German Pastor read a funeral service over
them and the Germans put up crosses to mark the spot. Two memorial
windows have been put up in St. Mark’s Church, Ampfield, in memory of
2nd Lieut. Awdry and officers, N.C.O.s and men of the Munsters who fell
that day.
[Illustration: =Carol Edward Vere Awdry.=]
=AXON, WALTER HENRY=, Ship’s Corpl., 1st Class, R.F.R., A. 1230,
late Ports., A. 2045, 128826, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North
Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=AXUP, VICTOR EMMANUEL=, Leading Signaller, 215587, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=AYLING, WILLIAM=, L.-Corpl., No. 9330, 1st Battn. Hampshire
Regt., _s._ of Horace Ayling, of Stubbington Lane, Stubbington,
Fareham, Hants, Cowman, by his wife, Anne, dau. of Edward Etherington;
_b._ Hindhead, co. Surrey, 18 Dec. 1895; educ. Fareham and Crofton
Elementary School; enlisted April, 1912; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914;
was seriously wounded near Ypres, 7 Nov. 1914, by a wounded Prussian,
and was invalided home; but returned to the Front in May, appointed
L.-Corpl. June, and was killed in action at Ypres, 9 July, 1915;
_unm._ His commanding officer wrote that “he was killed instantly
by a shell which burst in a trench”; adding, “He was an excellent
fellow.... He was buried behind the trench. I am afraid it was only a
rough grave, as we left that night.”
=BABER, THOMAS EDWARD=, Petty Officer (N.S.), 154395, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BACHELOR, FRANK=, Gunner, R.M.A., 12282, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BACK, JOHN RICHARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2843), 199592, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BACON, BASIL KENRICK WING=, Major, D Coy., 1st Battn.
Worcestershire Regt., 4th _s._ of Kenrick Verulam Bacon, of The
Lodge, Hale, Farnham, J.P., late Capt. Worcestershire Regt. (with
which he served in the Indian Mutiny, 1857–8), by his wife, Jessie,
dau. of the late T. Wing, Gray’s Inn; _b._ Eastbourne, 28 May,
1872; educ. United Services College, Westward Ho! was gazetted as 2nd
Lieut. to the 2nd Battn. of the Worcesters, from the Militia, 4 Oct.
1893, and promoted Lieut. 14 Dec. 1896, and Capt. 14 Feb. 1900, and
Major 1 April, 1909. When the Boer war broke out he was with his regt.
in Bermuda. They came home to Aldershot in order to mobilise, and
then went to South Africa. He served with the 2nd Battn. in the South
African war of 1899–1902, took part in the operations in Cape Colony,
south of the Orange River, 1899–1900, including action at Colesberg
(1 Jan.-12 Feb.); in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, and Orange Free
State, May-Feb. 1901, and in the Orange Free State, Feb.-May, 1902;
was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901], and
obtained the Queen’s medal with three clasps, and the King’s medal with
two clasps. After the war he continued to serve with the 2nd Battn.
in South Africa, subsequently moving with it to Ceylon and thence
to India. He obtained his Majority in the 3rd Battn. at Dover, but
afterwards was posted to the 1st, which was at Cairo when the European
War broke out. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 13 Dec. 1914;
_unm._ A memorial brass was erected in Hale Parish Church by the
N.C.Os. and men of his company “in token of their esteem and affection.”
[Illustration: =Basil Kenrick Wing Bacon.=]
=BADDELEY, EDWARD LAWRENCE=, Major, 8th Battn. Lancashire
Fusiliers (T.F.), eldest _s._ of the late John Bratton Baddeley,
of Whalley, co. Lancaster, M.D., by his wife, Marion (afterwards wife
of Charles Edward Emmet, of Southport), dau. of (--) Brewer; _b._
Whalley, 12 July, 1870; educ. at Macclesfield, and was admitted a
solicitor in June, 1893, but did not practise, being secretary to
Messrs. W. T. Glover & Co., of Trafford Park, Manchester, Cable
Makers. Major Baddeley joined the Halifax (1st Volunteer Battn. Duke
of Wellington’s) Volunteers as a Private in 1888, and obtained his
commission, 21 March, 1900, in the 3rd Volunteer Battn. The King’s
Liverpool Regt., and afterwards transferred into the Lancashire
Fusiliers; Southport Volunteers, 13 June, 1903; and on 24 Jan. 1914,
obtained his majority in the 8th Territorial Battn. of the Lancashire
Fusiliers. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for Imperial service,
went out to Egypt with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was
killed in action at Gallipoli, 6 June, 1915, being then second in
command. He helped to form one of the first cycle corps in England. He
held the Volunteer Long Service medal. Major Baddeley was a leading
member of the Southport Yachting Club. He _m._ at Halifax, 4 July,
1911, May, only dau. of John Oakley, of Halifax, M.D., J.P.; _s.p._
[Illustration: =Edward L. Baddeley.=]
=BADDELEY, LIONEL RICHARD LOGAN=, Corpl., No. 11/566, Queen
Alexandra’s 2nd Squadron, Wellington Mounted Rifles, New Zealand
Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Richard Baddeley, of Kakatahi,
Wanganui, New Zealand, Runholder, by his wife, J..., dau. of Thomas
Logan Williamson, grandson of Capt. Frederick Clinton Herman Stuart
Baddeley, 40th Regt., and great-grandson of General Frederick Henry
Baddeley, R.E.; _b._ Wanganui, New Zealand, 4 Dec. 1887; educ.
Wanganui College. On the outbreak of war he joined the New Zealand
Expeditionary Force, Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at the
Dardanelles on 20 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Lionel R. L. Baddeley.=]
=BADDER, SIDNEY JOSEPH=, A.B., J. 6017, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BADENOCH, JAMES=, Leading Stoker, R.F.R., Ch. B. 9396, 296586,
H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BAGLEY, ARTHUR DAVIES=, Private, No. 107, 5th Battn. Australian
Imperial Force, _s._ of Frederick Bagley, Master Draughtsman, by
his wife, Ann, dau. of the late Stephen Davies; _b._ Broseley,
co. Salop, 22 Nov. 1889; educ. there, and emigrated to Australia in
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