Wakelin J B L/Cpl 1734 7th London Regiment

WAKELIN, JOHN BINHAM, L.-Corpl., No. 1734, 1/7th Battn. (City of London) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of John Wakelin, an employee at Queen’s College, Oxford, by his wife, Elizabeth Georgina, dau. of Alfred Barnes Cook; b. Oxford, 17 Dec. 1881; educ. Wesleyan School there; was employed at the Whitechapel Infirmary; joined the 2nd Volunteer Battn. Oxfordshire L.I. 22 Jan. 1900, serving with them till Dec. 1904, and the Queen’s Own Oxfordshire Hussars, 5 Jan. 1905, serving till 4 Jan. 1908. On the outbreak of war he resigned his post at Whitechapel and joined the 7th London Regt.; went to France, 18 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 7 May, following; unm. Buried at Bethune.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Wadsworth T E Pte 9537 5th London Regiment (London Rifle Brigade)

WADSWORTH, THOMAS EDWIN, Private, No. 9537, 1/5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd 8. of John Edwin Wadsworth, of 13, Beech Hall Road, of Highams Park, Essex, an employee of the British Bank of South America, Moorgate Street, by his wife, Helen, dau. of Thomas Brown, Baughurst, Hants, Farmer; b. Southfields, S. W., 1 March, 1896; educ. Central Foundation School, Cowper Street, E.C., and on leaving there entered the service of Samuel Montagu & Co., of Old Broad Street, and was a junior in the bullion department when war broke out. He had joined the London Rifle Brigade, 18 March, 1913, and at once volunteered for active service, and went to the Front with his regt. 4 Nov. 1914.

On 27 April he left the shelter of his trench in order to succour a wounded stretcher-bearer, and assist him to the rear. Soon after his return to the firing line he was wounded by the splinter of a shell. As there was a scarcity of stretchers he insisted on walking in order that other wounded men might be carried. The walking caused him to lose a considerable quantity of blood, and he reached the base in a very weak condition. He died in Netley Hospital, 8 May, 1915, and was buried in Ilford Cemetery; unm.

A Memorial Tablet was placed in St. Stephen’s Church, Coleman Street, where he was formerly a chorister, with the following inscription: “This tablet is erected in affectionate memory of T. Edwin Wadsworth, by the staff of Samuel Montagu & Co., of 60, Old Broad Street, to whom he had become endeared by his winsome ways and eager and faithful discharge of daily duties. One of the youngest in the ranks of the London Rifle Brigade, he responded instantly to the call of his King and Country, endured with fortitude the rigours of the winter campaign in Flanders, and whilst repelling an attack of the enemy on 27 April, 1915, received wounds which proved mortal. Fragile in frame, his body proved unequal to retain his brave young spirit, which returned to Him who gave it. He finished his earthly course 8 May, 1915, within a brief span of 19 years and 2 months, and now awaits another Trumpet Call. Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.’ Jno. xv. 13.”

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

WADE, THOMAS, Private, No. 2565, 1/7th Battn. London Regt. (T.F.), 8. of John William Wade, of 150, Lansdowne Road, Dalston, by his wife, Emily, dau. of (-) Parker; b. Hackney, 2 June, 1890; educ. Wilton Road School, Dalston; volunteered for Imperial service, and joined the 7th London in Sept. 1914, and went to France, 17 March, and died in hospital at Bethune, 5 April, 1915, of wounds received in action, 3 April. Buried in the Town Cemetery, Bethune; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Wacher G G Sergt 517 16th London Regiment

WACHER, GEOFFREY GIBBINGS, Sergt., No. 517, 1/16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles), The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. s. of the late Alfred Wacher, of the Anchor Brewery, Bermondsey, S.E., and Herne Bay, by his wife, Lucy Durant, dau. of Henry Gibbings, of North Tawnton, Devon; b. Bermondsey, 25 April, 1891; educ. St. Anne’s School, Redhill, Surrey; was for some years in the employ of Chas. Morgan & Co., Paper Manufacturers, London; joined the Queen’s Westminsters, 22 Jan. 1909; volunteered for Imperial Service, Aug. 1914, and left for France, as Corpl. 1 Nov. 1914; promoted Sergt. June, 1915, and placed in charge of the machine-gun section, to which he had been transferred in Jan.; and was killed in action 9 Aug. following; unm. The Queen’s Westminsters were in support during the attack on Hooge on 9 Aug., and, after this had proved successful, occupied the first line trenches. During the severe bombardment by the enemy’s artillery which followed, our men took refuge in dug-out There were a large number of casualties, and Sergt. Wacher gave up his place of safety to some wounded men, and a few minutes later was killed by a shell. He had done valuable work with his battn. before war broke out, during its period of training, and more especially at the Front.

One of his officers wrote: “He was one of the most popular fellows in the battn. among all ranks, and his loss is considered a regimental catastrophe”; and another wrote: “Ever since he went to the guns he had done excellent work as well as winning the affections of all the section.” He had been recommended for a commission by his Commanding Officer, and expected to return to England any day to take up his new duties, but owing to the heavy fighting could not be spared. An elder brother, Lieut. Walter Ronald Wacher, is (1916) on active service with the 2nd Royal Berkshires.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1