Alington G W S Cpl MM + Bar 766852 17th London Regiment
ALINGTON, GERVASE WINFORD STOVEN, M.M. and Bar, Corpl., No. 766852, 1/17th Battn. (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), only child of Gervase O’Bryen Alington, of Killard, West Malvern, by his wife, Mary Charlotte Swan, dau, of the Rev. T. H. Lister: b. Slough, co. Buckingham, 6 March, 1892; educ. Hillside, West Malvern; Summer Fields. Oxford: Radley, and Magdalen College, Oxford: applied for a commission, but failed to pass the medical examination; joined the Artists’ Rifles 6 Sept. 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 31 March, 1918, being transferred to the 17th London Regt. served as runner to his Battn. Headquarters from 24 Aug. to 22 Sept., and was killed in action at Tournai 9. Nov. following. Buried in the Cemetery du Sud, Tournai. His Commanding Officer wrote: “Day by day, as we grew acquainted, the perception of his sterling qualities, mental and intellectual, engendered in the minds of his comrades, officers and men, an appreciation and admiration, which in my long experience of warfare I have very seldom seen equalled, and never surpassed. His tranquillity in all circumstances proved that he saw the affairs of life and death in their proper perspective, and, through all, his devotion to his religion never failed,” and a comrade: “Corpl. Alington was truly and honestly one of the most respected men in the whole company, not only by the men, but by the officers. Being with him day and night, week after week, I have often tried to copy his unfailing patience and good-humour. I have never heard him say an unkind thing, or do mean action. I don’t think he could… He never failed to attend any services we were able to have, and was undoubtedly the padre’s most helpful member. He was the coolest man by far I ever saw up the line.” He was awarded the M.M. and Bar, for gallant and distinguished service in the field; unm.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5