Author Archive: WW1 Photos

Birnie G Lt Royal Field Artillery

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BIRNIE, GERALD, Lieut., 46th Battery, Royal Field Artillery, yst. s. of Henry Birnie, of Brackendene, Weybridge, by his wife, Edith Maude (-); b. Lucknow, India, 3 Dec. 1898; educ. Cheltenham College, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. 23 Feb. 1917; promoted Lieut. the following Oct.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 21 Dec., and died at Rouen 4 Nov. 1918, of wounds received in action near Cambrai 29 Oct. previously. Buried at Rouen; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bird H P Gnr 171701 Royal Field Artillery

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Bird H P Gnr 171701 Royal Field Artillery

BIRD, HORATIO PARKYNS, Gunner, No. 171701, 84th Army Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, yst. s. of John Gomm Bird, of Wavertree, Liverpool, by his wife, Sarah Frances, dau. of John Whitley, of Frodsham, co. Chester; b. Liverpool, 3 Aug. 1897; educ. at the Liverpool Institute, where he was a member of the O.T.C.; was an Apprentice with the Mersey Docks and Harbour Board (Principal Examiner’s Department); enlisted 23 Sept. 1916; trained at Bettisfield, co. Salop, and afterwards served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 26 Feb., 1917; took part in the engagements at Arras, Messines, Ypres and nd St. Julien, where he was killed in action 1 Oct. following. Buried in Admiral Road Cemetery, Ypres. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He was one of the best in the battery, and his absence is regretted by all in the battery, and a comrade: “Your son was a brave and fearless soldier.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Vertue A F Cpl 797 1st Honourable Artillery Company

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Vertue A F Cpl 1st Honourable Artillery Company

CORPORAL A. F. VERTUE

IST BATTALION HONOURABLE ARTILLERY COMPANY

ALAN FRANCIS VERTUE was the younger son of Alfred and Mina Grace Vertue, of Richmond, Surrey.

He entered the School in 1908. On leaving in 1913 he joined a firm of Stockbrokers and became a member of the H.A.C. He was sent to the Front with the 1st Battalion in September, 1914, and quickly gained his two stripes. He was wounded in the head at St. Eloi, on April 21st, never recovered consciousness, and died twenty-four hours later in hospital at La Clytte, and was buried there in a little cemetery set apart for British soldiers. Age 21.

The Officer Commanding wrote:-

“It will perhaps be some consolation to you to know that from the moment he first came under fire until the end, he never showed any sign of fear. He was always cheerful in the trenches and ready to do anything he might be asked. He was loved and respected by all who knew him, and his example to the men of his section was magnificent.”

The Platoon Commander wrote:-

“As an illustration of the devotion of his comrades practically everyone in the platoon volunteered to help to carry him down to the dressing station in daylight, in spite of the danger of the undertaking.”

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Venables G R 2nd Lt King’s Shropshire Light Infantry

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Venables G R 2nd Lt Kings Shropshire Light Infantry

SECOND LIEUTENANT G. R. VENABLES

3RD BATTALION THE KING’S (SHROPSHIRE LIGHT INFANTRY)

GILBERT ROWLAND VENABLES was the eldest son of Rowland George Venables (O.R., 1859-65), Barrister-at-Law, J.P. of the County of Salop, of Oakhurst, Oswestry.

He entered the School in 1895, and passed on to University College, Oxford, in 1899, where he obtained a Second Class in the School of Modern History. He was called to the Bar (Inner Temple) in 1905, and practised for some years on the Oxford Circuit. He was a member of the Oswestry Rural District Council, and J.P. for the County of Denbigh.

On the outbreak of War he volunteered for active service, and was appointed on probation to the 3rd Battalion of the Shropshire Light Infantry in September, 1914. He was shot in the trenches in North France on March 7th, 1915. Age 34-

The Commanding Officer wrote:-

“He was just leaving the trenches at the time. He had made himself very popular here, always cheery and in good spirits, and had proved himself a really good Officer during his short time with us. One could trust him anywhere, in spite of his very short training.”

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Turner T E Lt 13th London Regiment

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Turner T E Lt 13th London Regiment

LIEUTENANT T. E. TURNER

13TH (COUNTY OF LONDON) PRINCESS LOUISE’S KENSINGTON BATTALION, THE LONDON REGIMENT, T.F.

THOMAS EDWIN TURNER was the second son of Charles Walter and Ellen Clara Turner, of Selwyn Lodge, Solihull, and Surbiton.

He entered the School in 1903, and left in 1905. He then studied for the profession of Architect, winning both a Birmingham and a Royal Academy Studentship.

He obtained a Commission in October, 1914, was promoted Lieutenant in the following February, when he went out with a draft to join his Battalion.

He went through the Second Battle of Neuve Chapelle, but was killed while leading his men in the attack of the Ridge of Aubers, on May 9th, 1915. Age 25.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Thompson A J O Lt Col 4th Australian Infantry

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Thompson A J O Lt Col 4th Australian Infantry

LIEUTENANT-COLONEL A. J. O. THOMPSON, V.D.

4TH BATTALION AUSTRALIAN INFANTRY

ASTLEY JOHN ONSLOW THOMPSON Was the eldest son of Astley John Thompson, Glyn Abbey, Kidwelly, Carmarthenshire.

He entered the School in 1879, and left in 1882.

He then went to Australia, where he became Managing Director of the Camden Park Estate and Director of the Commercial Bank of Sydney and other companies.

At the outbreak of War he was on the Unattached List of Officers, and was one of the first men in Australia to volunteer. He had previously risen to the rank of Major in the New South Wales Mounted Rifles.

He was mentioned in Despatches by the General Commanding the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force.

He was killed while leading his Battalion in an attack upon the Turkish trenches, at the Dardanelles, on April 26th, 1915. Age 50.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Thomas R I Lt 1st Connaught Rangers

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Thomas R I Lt 1st Connaught Rangers

LIEUTENANT R. 1. THOMAS

IST BATTALION THE CONNAUGHT RANGERS

RHYS IVOR THOMAS was the only son of Lieutenant-Colonel George Tucker Thomas, I.M.S., and of Sarah Mary his wife.

He entered the School in 1904, left in 1907, passed into the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in 1908, obtained his first Commission in 1909, and was promoted Lieutenant in October, 1913. He joined the 1st Battalion Connaught Rangers at Ferozepore, Punjab, where he served three years and passed the Signalling School and the Lower Standard Examination in Hindustani. He came home on sick leave, and on recovery was attached to the 2nd Battalion Connaught Rangers in August, 1914.

He was killed on September 14th, 1914, in his 24th year, in the Battle of the Aisne, at Cour de Soupir, near Soissons, under the following circumstances:-

“On September 14th the Connaught Rangers held the farm of Cour de Soupir against a very large force of Germans. Rifle and shrapnel fire became severe at noon, and on the order to reinforce, Lieut. Thomas, who was leading his Platoon on a flank, got up on the fire-swept ground and coolly waved to his Platoon to follow him. He was hardly up before he was mortally wounded by rifle-bullets.”

He was mentioned in Despatches of October 8th, 1914, and was awarded the Military Cross, for “general gallantry in the Campaign,” on January 1st, 1915, when this Decoration was first instituted.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Stewart-Richardson E A Captain Sir 3rd Black Watch

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Stewart-Richardson E A Captain Sir 3rd Black Watch

CAPTAIN SIR E. A. STEWART-RICHARDSON, BART.

3RD BATTALION THE BLACK WATCH (ROYAL HIGHLANDERS)

SIR EDWARD AUSTIN STEWART-RICHARDSON, 15th Bart., of Pencaitland, was the eldest son of Sir James Stewart-Richardson, 14th Bart., of Pencaitland, Pitfour Castle, Perth. He entered the School in 1888. In 1891 he joined the 3rd Battalion

Black Watch, and from 1899 to 1902 was A.D.C. to Lord Lamington, Governor of Queensland.

In the South African campaign he served as Captain with the Queens-land Mounted Infantry, taking part in the operations in the Orange River Free State, including the action at Vet River, and in the Orange River Colony, including the actions at Rhenoster River, Wittebergen, and Wit-poort, for which he received the Queen’s Medal, with five Clasps.

He went with his Regiment to Flanders in 1914, and died in London on November 28th in that year, of wounds received at Ypres in the previous October. Age 43.

He married, in 1904, Lady Constance Mackenzie, younger daughter of Francis, 2nd Earl of Cromartie, and left two sons.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

Steel E B Major Royal Army Medical Corps

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Steel E B Major Royal Army Medical Corps

MAJOR E, B. STEEL

ROYAL ARMY MEDICAL CORPS

EDWIN BEDFORD STREL, B.A., M., B.CH. Dublin, was the youngest son of Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Steel, Army Veterinary Corps, attached to the 12th and 16th Lancers, P.V.O., Bombay. He entered the School in 1886, won the “Crick” in 1888, and left in 1889.

He graduated at Dublin University in 1893, and joined the R.A.M.C. in 1895, being promoted Captain in 1898, and Major in 1906.

He served in India from 1907 to 1912, when he was made an Associate of the Order of St. John of Jerusalem, in recognition of his services in connection with plague duty. He qualified as a Specialist in mental diseases, and was in command of the Higher Barracks Hospital, Exeter, at the time of the outbreak of War.

He went to the Front in August, in command of Field Ambulance No. 20, and at the beginning of October was appointed Assistant Director of Medical Services attached to the 1st Cavalry Division. He was wounded in three places by shell at La Clytte, in the morning of November 23rd, 1914, and died the same afternoon in Hospital at Bailleul. Age 43.

Major Steel held the South African Medal and the Durbar Medal, and was mentioned in Despatches of January 14th, 1915.

He left many friends to testify to his simple, earnest, unselfish character.

Fellow Officers wrote:-

“He was much esteemed by all ranks. He was so brave and fearless.”

“Everyone loved him, and, in our little Mess, somebody said, “This has made the biggest gap we have had.”

“He never even grumbled about being wounded. His chief concern seemed to be about the French Officer, Captain le Jeune, who was hit at the same time.”

He married in 1999, Ethel Mary, eldest daughter of Arthur Robinson, of Prince’s Park, Liverpool, and left two sons and one daughter.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1

 

Steel E B Major Royal Army Medical Corps

Source : The Sphere 26th Dec 1914

 

Staniland G 2nd Lt 4th Lincolnshire Regiment

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Staniland G 2nd Lt 4th Lincolnshire Regiment

SECOND LIEUTENANT G. STANILAND

4TH BATTALION THE LINCOLNSHIRE REGIMENT, T.F.

GEOFFREY STANILAND was the younger son of Robert William Staniland, (O.R., 1855) Solicitor, of Boston, and of Kate his wife.

He entered the School in 1895, left in 1897, was articled to his father and eventually went into partnership with Messrs. Allisons, of Louth.

He obtained his first Commission in the 4th Battalion London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) in August, 1914, and was subsequently gazetted to the 4th Battalion Lincolnshire Regiment.

He was killed on April 13th, 1915, at Pond Farm, Lindenhoek, Belgium, by shrapnel, while trying to get his men out of a farmhouse. He was the last to leave the building, and was killed just as he was going out.

Age 34.

A Private in the Regiment wrote:-

“Had he thought of his own safety instead of that of his men, he would not have been hit. If he had not waited to make certain that the men were all out of the building, he would have been safe. He died doing his duty.”

He married Millicent, third daughter of Frederick John Leather, of Middleton Hall, Belford, Northumberland, and left two sons.

Source : Memorials Of Rugbeians Who Fell In The Great War Vol 1