Author Archive: WW1 Photos

Smeatham J M Lt Royal Engineers

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Smeatham J M Lt Royal Engineers

 

LIEUTENANT J. M. SMEATHΜΑΝ

ROYAL ENGINEERS

JULIAN MISSENDEN SMEATHMAN was the second son of Lovel and Frances Smeathman, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

He entered the School in 1902, and passed on to the R.M.A., Woolwich, in 1905. After a course of training at Chatham and Newcastle-on-Tyne, he received an appointment at the War Office, and was, in 1910, sent out to South Africa, where he was stationed at Pretoria.

On the outbreak of War he returned, with the 7th Division, to England, went to the Front in October, and was killed in action in the first Battle of Ypres, on October 24th, 1914, on the same day that his younger brother, Lieutenant C. Smeathman (O.R.), died of wounds. Age 26.

His Colonel wrote:-

“His death has been a great blow to us. His Captain had previously told me that he was the best Subaltern he had ever had, and that he could not wish for a better. I, too, had remembered him as a youngster at Chatham, and had marked him then as an Officer of much promise.”

A brother Officer said:-

“Professionally I had a good deal to do with him, and a better Officer in that Regiment of distinguished Officers it would have been impossible to find.”

He married in 1914, during his few weeks in England, Gladys Monica, the youngest daughter of the Rev. Gordon Browne, D.D., Vicar of Lymp-stone, Devon.

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

Smeatham C Lt 1st Leicestershire Regiment

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Smeatham C Lt 1st Leicestershire Regiment

LIEUTENANT C. SMEAΤΗΜΑΝ

IST BATTALION THE LEICESTERSHIRE REGIMENT

CECIL SMEATHMAN was the third and youngest son of Lovel and Frances Smeathman, of Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

He entered the School in 1903, and won his Football Cap in 1907. He passed on to University College, Oxford, in 1908, and took his degree and entered the Army, as a University Candidate, in 1913.

He went to the Front in September, 1914, was wounded by shell in the trenches at Rue du Bois on October 23rd, and died in the Base Hospital at Bailleul on October 24th, 1914, on the same day that his elder brother, Lieut. J. M. Smeathman (O.R.), was killed. Age 25.

His Adjutant wrote:-

“He was an Officer whose loss is very much felt, not only professionally, for he was of exceptional capability, but also as a very great personal friend of us all.”

A brother Officer said:-

“He was one of the most popular Officers here, and is universally regretted by all of us who survived those four terrible days. His Platoon was terribly upset about him. I know they would have followed him anywhere.”

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

Simpson A H Lt 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment

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Simpson A H Lt 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment

LIEUTENANT A. H. SIMPSON

1ST BATTALION THE ROYAL WARWICKSHIRE REGIMENT

ANTHONY HENRY SIMPSON was the younger son of James Herbert Simpson, M.D., of Rugby, and Charlotte his wife.

He entered the School in 1901, left in 1906 as School Exhibitioner, and Scholar of Corpus Christi College, Oxford, and after taking a Natural Science Degree, went to Tonbridge School as a Master in 1911, where he joined the Officers’ Training Corps, and was promoted Captain in November, 1914.

On the outbreak of War he was attached to the Depot of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment and was eventually gazetted to the Special Reserve, in December, 1914.

He crossed to France on January 15th, 1915, in charge of a draft for the 1st Battalion, remained for a week at the base at Rouen, and on arriving at the Front was taken ill with acute bronchitis, of which he died at the base Hospital in Boulogne, on February 1st, 1915. Age 27. The following is taken from the College Magazine:-

“By nature extremely modest, and of unswerving loyalty to his friends, with a keen sense of duty and zeal in its fulfilment, he set us an example which it will be difficult to follow.”

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

Simpson A H Lt 1st Royal Warwickshire Regiment

SIMPSON, ANTHONY HENRY, Lieut., 1st Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., yr. s. of James Herbert Simpson, of Rugby, M.L., by his wife, Charlotte Maria, dau. of Henry Wilson; b. Rugby, 28 Dec. 1887; educ. Hillbrow School, Rugby (1896-1901); Rugby School (1901-6), and Corpus Christi College, Oxford (1906-11, Scholar), and was afterwards an assistant master at Tonbridge School, where he was an officer in the O.T.C.; gazetted Lieut. to the Special Reserve of the Royal Warwick-shire Regt., 24 Dec. 1914; went to France, 19 Jan. 1915, and died at the Base Hospital, Boulogne, 1 Feb. following, from bronchitis contracted while on active service; unm. Buried in the Cemetery there.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Bird C E 2nd Lt 9th Royal Fusiliers

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BIRD, CLEMENT EUSTACE, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Service) Battn. The Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regt.), yst. s. of the late Henry Bird, by his wife, Maud Katharine (Morrab Terrace, Penzance), dau. of the late Capt. T. R. Stawell, 38th Regt.; and brother to Private H. G. Bird and L.-Corpl. R. de B. Bird (see Vol. IV., pp. 13-14); b. Millbrook, co. Cornwall, 24 Nov. 1897; educ. Cathedral School, Exeter; joined the 2/4th Devonshire Regt. 1 Dec. 1914; left for India on the 21st of that month; quickly attained the rank of Sergt., and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Fusiliers 16 Nov. 1915, when he returned to England; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from July, 1916; was wounded on the Somme in Oct., but after two months rejoined his regiment; took part in the Battle of Arras, and was killed in action at Monchy-le-Preux 28 June, 1917. Buried in the Military Cemetery there; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bird B Pte 15502 Machine Gun Corps

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BIRD, BERTIE, Private, No. 15502, 6th Battn. Machine Gun Corps, 3rd s. of James Bird, of Little Cornard, Sudbury, Farm Labourer, by his wife, Emily, dau. of John Rivers; b. Boxted, 28 June, 1899; educ. Great Cornard County Council School; joined the London Regt. 29 Nov. 1917; was transferred to the Machine Gun Corps in April: served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 2 July, 1918, and died at No. 16 General Hospital, Tréport, 22 Oct. following, of wounds and gas poisoning. Buried in Mont Huon Cemetery; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bird A E Pte 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment

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Bird A E Pte 2nd Royal Sussex Regiment

BIRD, ALAN ERNEST, Private, 2nd Battn. (35th Foot) The Royal Sussex Regt.), yr. s. of Robert Bird, of Nutty’s Farm, Childerditch, near Brentwood, Farmer, by his his wife, Fanny, dau. of Henry Crossman of Ivy Thorn House, Street, co. Somerset; b. Walton, near Bridgwater, co. Somerset, 1 Aug. 1898; educ. Ray Lodge County Council School, Woodford; joined the 4th Royal Sussex Regt. 4 July, 1918; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 20 Oct. following, being transferred to the 2nd Battn., and died at a Casualty Clearing Station 4 Nov. of the same year, of wounds received in action on the Sambre Canal on that day. Buried in La Valée Militaire Communal Cemetery Extension; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Binnie J Pte 11352 1st Scots Guards

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BINNIE, JAMES, Private, No. 11352, 1st Battn. Scots Guards, s. of William Binnie, of Crofts, Carmyllie, Arbroath, Farm Manager, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of Alexander Thomson, of Lunan; b. Carmyllie, co. Forfar, 18 Dec. 1893; educ. Public School there; was a Farm Servant; volunteered for active service soon after the outbreak of war, and enlisted in the Scots Guards 22 Sept. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 27 April, 1915, being employed in the Trench Mortar Battery, and was killed in action near the Canal du Nord 27 Sept. 1918, by the explosion of an enemy ammunition dump. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He is sorely missed by the battalion, as he was well liked by officers and men, being always cheerful and hard working.’ Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Binnie A D 2nd Lt Royal Air Force

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BINNIE, ARTHUR DRYBROUGH, 2nd Lieut., Royal Air Force, yst. s. of Thomas Binnie, of Seton Mains, Longniddry, East Lothian, Farmer, by his wife, Mary Anne, dau. of the late Thomas Drybrough, of Edinburgh b. Edinburgh, 1 Oct. 1899; educ. St. Mary’s School, Melrose, and Sedbergh School; joined the Royal Air Force 1 Jan. 1918; obtaining his Wings, he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1 Oct. following, and was accidentally killed while flying at Chassis Hill Aerodrome, co. Hants, on the 15th of the same month. Buried in Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh. His Flight Instructor wrote: He was a fine lad, and a very promising pilot indeed. He loved his work, and he augmented his natural abilities by an energy and a desire to learn that made him stand out above his fellow pupils. His keenness and ability proved a wonderful moral stimulant to the others who worked with him.” Another Instructor also wrote: “. I can safely say he was the best pilot I ever turned out. I may venture to add that had he been allowed to live, and gone out to France, he would most assuredly have won laurels for himself, as he had such great judgment in the air, and was, moreover, a true British sportsman.”

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bimrose C 2nd Lt MC 6th Notts And Derby Regiment

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BIMROSE, CHARLES, M.C., 2nd Lieut., 2/6th (Territorial) Battn. The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt.), s. of Daniel Bimrose, of Acock’s Green, co. Worcester, Postmaster, by his wife. Clara, dau. of Samuel Thornton; b. Leeds, co. York, 11 March, 1893; educ. Harehills County Council School, and Cockburn Secondary School there; was a Civil Service Clerk enlisted in the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry in May, 1915; served with his battalion in Salonika from Jan. 1916, and subsequently in Egypt; contracted enteric at Alexandria, and was sent to hospital; returned home to train for a commission in May. 1917, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. The Sherwood Foresters 6 Dec. following served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 12 April, 1918, and was killed in action near Ramicourt, north-west of St. Quentin, 3 Oct. of the same year. Buried where he fell. He was (posthumously) awarded the Military Cross [London Gazette, 16 Oct. 1919], for gallantry and devotion to duty in the field. Hem. at the Wesleyan Church, Handsworth, 15 May, 1917, Olive Edna, dau. of Alfred Price; s.p.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Billington J W AB J/78942 Nelson Btn Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

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Billington J W AB J/78942 Nelson Btn Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve

BILLINGTON, JOHN WILLIAM, Able Seaman, 6/169th Battn. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, only s. of the late John Billington, of Birkenhead, Milk Dealer, by his wife, Mary (213, St. Anne Street, Birkenhead); b. Birkenhead, co. Chester; educ. St. Peter’s School there was subsequently apprenticed at Messrs. Cammell Laird’s; joined the Naval Volunteers in Aug. 1914: served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from April, 1915; took part in the landing there on the 25th; later was drafted to Egypt, where he remained about 15 months, proceeding to France in June, 1916, and was killed in action 13 Nov. following. Buried in Ancre British Cemetery. His Captain wrote: “He died honourably in the advance of 13 Nov., winning the village of Beaumont Hamel,” and his Sergt.: “You have at least the comfort that he died as a hero for his country; a noble death.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5