Baxendine J Y 2nd Lt 1st Border Regiment

BAXENDINE, JOHN YOUNG, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. (34th Foot) The Border Regt., eldest s. of Andrew Baxendine, of 10. McLaren Road, Newington, Edinburgh, Bookseller and Publisher, 15 Chambers Street, Edinburgh, by his wife, Alice Mary, dau. of Walker Riley, of Linthorpe; and brother to Machine Gunner A. R. Baxendine (q.v.); b. Edinburgh, 17 Nov. 1893; educ. George Watson’s Boys’ College there; subsequently entered his father’s business; was a member of the Edinburgh University O.T.C.; obtained a commission in the Border Regt. 9 April, 1915; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from Sept. 1915; took part in the fighting at Suvla Bay, where he contracted dysentery; on recovery was stationed at Suez, whence he was sent to France, and was killed in action during the advance on the Somme at Beaumont Hamel 1 July, 1916, while leading his men. Buried on Hawthorne Ridge, Beaumont Hamel, 100 yards from where he fell. Major John Meiklejohn, commanding 1st Border Regt., wrote: “He died leading his men in the most gallant manner in the face of a terrible fire. His loss is deeply felt by his many friends in all ranks. He was in every way an excellent officer, and had the confidence of his superiors and the men of his platoon. Only a few days previous to the attack twenty of his men voluntereed to raid the German lines if he would lead them. Needless to say, he asked for permission from the then Commanding Officer (Lieut. Col. Ellis), who, however, was unable to give it to him. Led by such officers, it is almost unnecessary to say that the men behaved like heroes, and went on without faltering till all was over.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Adamson F D Lt 2nd Border Regiment

Lieutenant FRANCIS DOUGLAS ADAMSON,

2nd Border Regiment, was the second son of the Rov. C. E. Adamson. O.D., Rector of Houghton-le-Spring, and was born in 1891. He entered the School House in September, 1906; he played in the XV. in 1908 and 1909, and in the XI. in 1910. He left the School in July, 1910, for St. John’s College, Cambridge, where he played in his College XV., and took his degree in 1913. He was admitted a student of the Inner Temple, but on the outbreak of war enlisted in the 21st (Public Schools’ Battalion) Royal Fusiliers. Being offered a permanent commission in the Regular Army, he went to the R.M.C., Sandhurst, and was gazetted to the 2nd Battalion of the Border Regiment on the 17th March, 1915. He proceeded to France in June, and became Regimental Grenade Officer. He passed through the Battle of Loos without hurt, but six weeks later, when his Battalion was being relieved and had left the trenches, he had to return to give the relieving Bombing Officer the necessary information regarding the whereabouts of the bomb store. On his way back to his Battalion he was hit by either a sniper or a stray bullet. Death was instantaneous, and he was buried on the 17th November, the day after his death, in the Guards Cemetery at Windy Corner, Givenchy.

Source : The War Record Of Old Dunelmians 1914-1919

ADAMSON, FRANCIS DOUGLAS, B.A., Lieut.. 2nd Battn. (55th Foot) The Border Regt., 2nd s. of the Rev. Cuthbert Edward Adamson, M.A., Rector of Houghton-le-Spring, co. Durham, and Rural Dean, by his wife, Clara Isabel, dau. of P. Haggie; b. South Wesloe Vicarage, South Shields, co. Durham, 8 Oct. 1891; educ. South Shields High School, Durham School, St. John’s College, Cambridge (graduated B.A. 1913), and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; entered the Middle Temple with a view to being called to the Bar, but on the outbreak of war in 1914, enlisted in the Public Schools Battn. of the Royal Fusiliers, from which he was selected for a course at Sandhurst, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Border Regt., 17 March, 1915, and promoted Lieut. 15 Aug. following; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in action near Givenchy, 16 Nov. 1915. Buried in the Guards’ Cemetery there. A brother officer wrote to his father: “I have always admired your son, as we all did. In losing him the regiment has lost one of its bravest and most promising of young officers;” unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 2

Armstrong G Pte 1st Border Regiment

ARMSTRONG, GEORGE, Private, No. 24649, 1st Battn. (34th Foot), The Border Regt., s. of Robert Armstrong, of Carlatton Demesne Farm, Cumwhitton, Cumberland, Farmer, by his wife, Ann (—); b. Moss Foot, Cumwhitton aforesaid, 28 March, 1892; educ. Cumrew Village School; joined the 1st Border Regt. 8 April, 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders 14 July following, and died at No. 10 Casualty Clearing Station, France, 1 Sept. of the same year, from wounds received in action at Ypres; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Major W L Allen 2nd Border Regiment

MAJOR W. L. ALLEN, D.S.O.
2ND BATTALION THE BORDER REGIMENT

WILLIAM LYNN ALLEN was the third son of Bulkeley Allen (O.R., 1853), J.P., of West Lynn, Altrincham, Cheshire.
He entered the School in 1885, and left in 1888. He was gazetted to the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, The King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, in 1891, and to the Border Regiment in 1893. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1896, and Captain in 1902.
He served in the 1st Battalion, with much distinction, in the South African War, and was present at the Battles of Colenso, Spion Kop, Pieter’s Hill, and other Natal actions, as well as in the Transvaal and the Orange River Colony. For his services he received the D.S.O., was twice mentioned in Despatches, and received the Queen’s Medal with five Clasps and the King’s with two. During the later stages of this War he was Adjutant, and continued to hold this position afterwards. He obtained his Majority in the 2nd Battalion in 1913.

Early in October, 1914, he went to the front with the 7th Division, which defended the town of Ypres from October 18th to November 6th. From October 18th he occupied a salient point on the extreme left of his Regiment between the villages of America and Krusseik. On the evening of the 25th about a hundred of the enemy made their way over trenches occupied by a neighbouring Regiment and appeared in the vicinity of a farm-house in the rear. They were at first mistaken for Belgians who were expected in support, but, the mistake being realised, firing took place and a considerable number were shot down. The rest then signified their wish to surrender and asked for an English Officer. Major Allen advanced from his trench with two men and was at once treacherously shot by the enemy, on the night of October 25th, 1914. Age 43. He married, in 1898, Adeline Miriam, daughter of Isaac Garbutt Dickinson, of Maybury, Woking, and left three children.

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