Author Archive: WW1 Photos

Pitt J M Lt 1st Dorset Regiment

Posted on by

Pitt J M Lt 1st Dorset Regiment

LIEUTENANT & ADJUTANT J. M. PITT 1ST BATTALION THE DORSETSHIRE REGIMENT

JAMES MAXWELL PITT was the youngest son of Colonel William Pitt, Royal Engineers, of Fairseat House, near Wrotham, Kent, and of Mary James his wife.

He entered the School in 1902, and left in 1906, entering the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in 1907. He was gazetted to his Battalion in 1908, and became Scout Officer and Assistant Adjutant.

He crossed to the seat of War about August 13th, and was present at Mons, in all the actions of the retreat, and at the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne. He was used, constantly, in scouting and reconnoitring. He was gazetted Adjutant on October Ist.

He was killed in action near Béthune and La Bassée, when his Battalion lost 400 men, killed and wounded. As Adjutant he was with his Colonel encouraging the men who were in difficulties in the trenches. The Germans came up on three sides, and the Dorsets were left unsupported. In the last trench only the Colonel and Lieutenant Pitt and six men were left. The two officers fired on the advancing Germans with rifles taken from dead men. They all agreed not to surrender, and finally the Colonel was wounded and Lieutenant Pitt was killed, on October 13th, 1914. Age 26.

His Colonel said:-

He was the finest officer in the Battalion: in the terrible last hour he was magnificent. In his service he did more than well. He did as well as any man could do.”

A brother Officer wrote:-

“You can at least feel that he achieved absolutely every success possible in so short a life.”

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

Pitt J M Lt 1st Dorset Regiment

Source : The Sphere 31st Oct 1914

Bennet H S Staff Nurse

Posted on by

Bennet H S Staff Nurse

BENNET, HELENA STEWART, Staff Nurse, Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Medical Nursing Service, yst, dau. of the late Andrew Bennet, of Arbroath, Solicitor, by his wife, Grace McCracken (13, Gillespie Crescent, Edinburgh); b. Arbroath, co. Forfar, 1890; educ. High School there; was trained as a Nurse at The Royal Infirmary, Edinburgh, and had just finished her four years’ course joined the Queen Alexandra’s Imperial Medical Nursing Service 30 Sept. 1918, and died at the Prisoner of War Camp Hospital, Oswestry, 19 Oct. following, of influenza and pneumonia, contracted while on service. Buried in Western Cemetery, Arbroath; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bennet C H Lt Royal Field Artillery

Posted on by

Bennet C H Lt Royal Field Artillery

BENNET, CHARLES HOSKEN, Lieut., Royal Field Artillery, yr. a. of Col.. Ferdinando Wallis Bennet, of Fairlea, Northam, North Devon, R.E. (retired), by his wife. Evelyn Mary, dau. of the late Major-General H. S. Palmer, B.E.; 6. Belfast, 6 July, 1898; edne. Mariborough College, and the Royal Military Academy. Woolwich was gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. In Oct, 1915, being promoted Lieut. 1 July, 1917; served with the Expeditionary Force In France and Flanders from the following Aug., and died at his home in North Devon 25 Feb, 1919, from pneumonia contracted. while on active service in France. Buried at Northam, North Devon. His Major wrote: “I feel I have lost a valued friend, from whom I always received the most loyal support and assistance. I always found him keen and enthusiastic in his work, cool, and gallant in action, and he was regarded throughout the Divisional Artillery as a most capable, level-headed and thorough young officer. You may have heard of his very fine performance in the retreat from Kemmel last spring, for which he was recommended for a decoration. The circumstances were as follows: On the morning of 25 April, when the enemy made a determined attack on Kemmel, Lieut. C. H. Bennet was in command of a forward section at Slege Farm, and received orders to keep up a steady rate of fire on Verbrandenmolen. He kept his section in action, although subjected to a heavy concentration of gas and high explosive. moved about his section encouraging his men and supervising the removal of the wounded to a place of safety. Although telephonic and visual communication had failed, he was able to get much valuable information back to his battery. When his ammunition was expended, and the enemy had reached a line 400 yards from the position, 2nd Licnt. Escott brought up two teams through a heavy barrage, and these two officers then withdrew their guns, bringing them safely back to the main battery position, together with the wounded. His magnificent bravery and devotion to duty were an inspiring example to his men, and his unselfish courage at a critical time enabled him to complete the task allotted to his section before he was compelled to withdraw.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Benjamin J D Lt Royal Naval Reserve

Posted on by

Benjamin J D Lt Royal Naval Reserve

BENJAMIN, JOHN DUXFIELD, Lieut Royal Naval Reserve, of Samuel John Benjamin, of Fairholme, Cobden Street, Darlington, by his wife. Anne Isabella, dau, of John Duxfield Bell. of Newcastle-on-Tyne: b. Darlington, co. Durham, 25 Jan, 1880; edue. Bondgate Higher Grade School there, and on leaving school, served for about a year as a Telegraphist at the Darlington Post Office, where he gained useful experi ence in the Morse Code of Signalling: subsequently served his apprenticeship with Messrs, Walter Runciman & Co., Ship Owners, Newcastle-on-Tyne, on the S.S. Tollochmoor, taking certificates as 2nd Mate, 1st Mate, and Master, and served as First Officer on the S.S. Queensland, belonging to Messrs. Hudsous, of Sunderland joined the Royal Naval Reserve as Sub-Lieut. in Oct, 1916, and was promoted Lient, with Seniority dating Jan. 1917, being given command of one of H.M.T. on Patrol Convoy duty, and was drowned when his ship was sunk by a mine in the North Sea 12 Sept. 1917. Commander Parnell wrote expressing his sympathy. and added: “It may be sotme consolation to you to know that he was in active discharge of his duty when the moment came for him to end his toils.” and a brother officer: “Your husband I knew well, and reckoned him amongst my best friends at this base. He was to me one of the best. and he will be sadly missed, not only by myself, but by all his brother officers here, and by whom he was universally esteemed. Lieut. Benjamin undoubtedly carried out the finest traditions, and was lost with his ship at his post and doing his duty.” Hem. at St. John’s Church, Darlington, 2 Ang. 1910, Margaret Allee (64, Eastbourne Road. Darlington), dan, of Samuel Leyton, of Sunderland, and had two children: John Duxfield, b. 14 Feb. 1916, and Margaret Alice Isabel, b. 28 June, 1912.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Benitz F A Lt Royal Flying Corps

Posted on by

Benitz F A Lt Royal Air Force

Source : Activities Of The British Community In Argentina During The Great War

Benitz F A Lt Royal Flying Corps

BENITZ, FRANK ALLYN, Lieut., Royal Air Force, 2nd s. of the late William O. Benitz, by his wife, Clara (“La California,” Argentine Republic); b. Gualeguaychu, Entre Rios, Argentine, 25 May, 1893; educ. Malvern, and Illinois University, U.S.A.; came to England at the beginning of 1917, and after a period of training at various aerodromes, was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Air Force, and promoted Lieut. the following year; served on Home Defence, and was killed while on duty on the East Coast 5 Aug. 1918. Buried at Gainsborough; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bell T 2nd Lt 5th Royal Scots Fusiliers

Posted on by

BELL, THOMAS, 2nd Lieut., 5th (Territorial) Battn. The Royal Scots Fusiliers, eldest s. of Charles P. Bell, of Main Street, Muirkirk, N.B., School Teacher, by his wife, Margaret, dau, of Thomas Steele; b. Muirkirk aforesaid, 8 Jan. 1894; educ. Muirkirk, and Technical School, Ayr; was a Pattern Maker; joined the Royal Scots Fusiliers in April, 1911; was mobilized on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; served with the Egyptian Expeditionary Force in Egypt and Palestine from 1915; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 7 Dec. 1917; proceeded to France in March, 1917, and was killed in action at Vimy Ridge, near Arras, 26 May following. Buried in Aux Reitz Military Cemetery, Neuville St. Vaast, north of Arras. His Commanding Officer wrote: “No one ever earned a commission more than he did. His men trusted him thoroughly. He was a man of very fine character, and his loss is a very real one to the battalion. He died as he had lived, doing his duty nobly and well.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bell R W H Pte 19746 3rd Norfolk Regiment

Posted on by

Bell R W H Pte 19746 3rd Norfolk Regiment

BELL, ROBERT WILLIAM HARRY, Private, No. 19746, 3rd (Reserve) Battn. The Norfolk Regt., only s. of the late Robert William Bell, by his wife, Susie (63, Market Place, Great Yarmouth), dau. of the late Councillor Henry Laurance, of Great Yarmouth, co. Norfolk; b. 18 Dec. 1880; educ. Winchester House School, Great Yarmouth; joined the Suffolk Yeomanry at the age of 18; volunteered in the Norfolk Regt. 15 July, 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 28 Feb. 1916; was wounded the following April, and was killed in action on the Somme 12 Oct. 1916; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bell P W Pte 10th King’s Liverpool Regiment

Posted on by

Bell P W Pte 10th King’s Liverpool Regiment

BELL, PERCY WATTS, Private, No. 357640, 2/10th (Territorial) Battn. (Scottish) The Liverpool Regt., 6th s. of George Bell, of 151, Laird Street, Birkenhead, Joiner; b. Birkenhead, 5 Aug. 1892; educ. at Laird Street School there was a Clerk in the employ of Messrs. Matthew & Roberts, Liverpool; enlisted 30 March, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Feb. 1917, and was killed in action 21 Aug. following, by a shell in his dug-out. Buried in Erquingham Churchyard, near Armentières. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He was killed whilst entering his dug-out with another, who has since died of wounds, by a shell that dropped right in the doorway, and was killed outright; that is some brief and slight consolation to you that he felt nothing. As a soldier he was splendid, and very popular with all his comrades, and we shall feel his loss keenly. As his platoon commander I might tell you he was always ready and willing to do his duty, whatever task was set him.” He m. at Maidstone, Easter Saturday, 1916, Lilian Knight, dau. of (-) Johnson; s.p.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bell A V Pte 82316 Machine Gun Corps

Posted on by

BELL, ALBERT VICTOR, Private, No. 82316, Machine Gun Corps, s. of the late William Bell, Ship Smith for the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board, by his wife, Mary (33, Mostyn Street, Poulton, Wallasey); b. Liverpool, 20 Oct. 1897; educ. St. Michael’s in the Hamlet there was employed as an Assistant with the Ureca Cereal Company; enlisted in Sept. 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Feb. 1917, and died at No. 11 Casualty Clearing Station 15 Oct. 1918. Buried in Duhollow A.W.S. Cemetery, Ypres. Sergt. P. Stewart wrote: “Your brother had been under me since last March, and I have had every opportunity of testing him, and I must say I could trust him better than I could trust myself. I had him recommended for promotion. We all miss him very much.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bell A M 2nd Lt Royal Flying Corps

Posted on by

Bell A M 2nd Lt Royal Air Force

Source : Royal High School Of Edinburgh Roll Of Honour 1914-1918

BELL, ARCHIBALD McCUTCHEON, 2nd Lieut., Royal Air Force, s. of William Bell, of Balnacoil, Corstorphine, Hatter and Hosier, of 35, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of the late Peter Watson, of Paisley; b. Glasgow, co. Lanark, 15 July, 1899; educ. Royal High School, Edinburgh; joined the Royal Flying Corps as Cadet in Nov. 1917; graduated Pilot 2nd Lieut. Royal Air Force in Dec. 1918, and died at Balnacoil, Corstorphine, 29 March, 1919, of pneumonia following influenza. Buried in Corstorphine Churchyard; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5