Hermon W Tpr 1st Canadian Mounted Rifles

Source : The Vivid 1st May 1915

From Farnborough

Geddes J Captain 16th Canadian Infantry

CAPTAIN J. GEDDES

79TH CAMERON HIGHLANDERS, 16TH BATTALION CANADIAN CONTINGENT

JOHN GEDDES was the elder son of Alexander and Frances R. Geddes, of Blairmore, Aberdeenshire, and nephew of Sir William Geddes, Principal of Aberdeen University.

He entered the School in 1893. He was in the XV in 1895-96. On leaving School he went to America, followed a mercantile career, and was in business, first in Chicago, and later in Winnipeg, where he served for seven years in the 79th Cameron Highlanders, a Regiment allied with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

A friend in Canada said that, on the outbreak of War, “he was one of the very first Officers of the 79th to volunteer. If they have any use for me, I am ready, he said; and for the rest of his life he was a soldier.” He came over to England with the First Canadian Contingent.

He fell, under machine-gun fire, at Langemarke, in Flanders, on April 23rd, 1915, leading his men in the famous Canadian charge, made necessary by the retirement of the French, when the Germans first used asphyxiating gas. Age 37.

A School-fellow wrote:-

“He was an absolutely fearless man. At School he never knew what fear was, and his one idea was to do things in a way to bring credit to his House. I have talked to several men who were at School with him, and we always remarked on his pluck, because it had stuck in our memories.”

A friend in Canada said:-

“John Geddes was one of the excellent of this earth a good citizen, a brave soldier, and a loyal friend.”

An Officer of his Company wrote:-

“Even after he was hit, and while dying, he kept crawling onwards, calling, ‘Go on, boys, you’ll win, you’ll win!’ He was a true born Highland gentleman; every single man in the Regiment felt that, and his death is indeed a heavy blow.”

He married, in 1907, Helen, daughter of Marshall Tillie, D.L., of Duncreggan, Londonderry, and left two sons and one daughter.

His only brother, Second Lieutenant A. F. Geddes (O.R.), was killed in action on June 16th, 1915.

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

Adam R Coy Sergt Major 8th Canadian Expeditionary Force

ADAM, ROBERT, Coy.-Sergt.-Major, No. 150017, 8th Battn. Canadian Infantry, Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldests. of Robert Adam, of Sunnyside (now of Ternemny), Knock-by-Keith, by his wife, Annie Gauld; b. Sunnyside, Knock-by-Keith, co. Banff, 10 April, 1891; educ. Ternemny Public School; was in the Lanarkshire Constabulary, but subsequently went to Canada in May, 1912, and settled at Winnipeg, in the employment of the Corporation Company there; volunteered for active service, and enlisted in the Canadian Infantry 1 Aug. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; saw much service there, being twice slightly wounded, and was killed in action on the Amiens front while bravely urging on his men, 9 Aug. 1918. Buried in the cemetery there. His Major wrote: “I must tell you what a dependable soldier Sergt. Adam proved himself to be; time after time he has proved himself an absolutely gallant and faithful soldier. His loss is a very great one to the whole battalion, and I can only express my sincere regret that such a splendid chap should have lost his life,” and the Chaplain: “… I knew your son very well. He was known as a capable N.C.O., and did splendid work on several occasions. He was a straight, manly fellow, and was much liked andrespected by D Coy., of which he was Sergt.-Major.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Apperley F J Pte 19680 Canadian Expeditionary Force

Pte Francis James Apperley 19680 106th (Winnipeg Light Infantry) Canadian Expeditionary Force

Of Leicester.

Source : The Vivid 10th April 1915

Born 27th Sep 1885 in Tetbury Gloucestershire.

Married Maud Coleman at Skeffington, Leicestershire 1910

Emigrated to Canada 14th May 1912.

Enlisted at Valacartier 25th Sep 1914 in the 106th Btn (Winnipeg Light Infantry).

Sailed to England on the 4th Oct 1914 with the 10th Btn (Canadians). Formed part of the Canadian Training Depot at Tidworth Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Andrews L H Drummer 22153 11th Canadian Expeditionary Force

Andrews Leonard Hamilton Drummer 22153 11th Canadian Expeditionary Force. Of Brighton.

Source : The Vivid 20th Feb 1915 

Born 13th Sep 1893 Brighton. Emigrated to Canada 28th March 1913.

Enlisted at Valcartier, Canada as a drummer 23rd Sep 1914. Embarked for Great Britain on 30th Sep 1914. Formed part of the Canadian Training Depot at Tidworth Camp on Salisbury Plain.

Discharged due to sickness 12th Aug 1915.  Awarded Silver War Badge.

Married Cicely Easterbrook 2nd Sep 1918 Ealing Middlesex.

Died 18th Feb 1947 in Farnborough, Hampshire. Age 53.

Thompson J A M Lt 10th Canadian Expeditionary Force

THOMPSON, JOHN ALEXANDER MACKAY, Lieut., 10th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, eldest s. of William Thomas Thompson, M.A., Sc. (McGill), M.Can. Soc. C.E., D.T.S., District Engineer, Grenfell, Saskatchewan, Canada, by his wife, Mary, eldest dau. of the late Rev. Alexander Mackay, M.A., and grandson of the late Lieut.-Col. John Hall Thompson, M.P.; b. Qu’Appelle, Saskatchewan, 6 Aug. 1890; educ. Qu’Appelle Schools and by tutors, afterwards by his father in Surveying and Engineering, and was acting as assistant to him when war broke out. In Dec. 1914, he was given a temporary Lieutenancy in the 16th Light Horse and, after qualifying at the Military Institute, Winnipeg, was gazetted Lieut. to the 32nd Battn. He left for England in Feb. 1915, and in April went with his company to reinforce the 10th Battn. in France, took part in the Second Battle of Ypres and was killed in the Battle of Festubert, leading his platoon in a night attack on the German position K. 5 (or Bexhill), 21 May following. He was unm., and was buried in a shell hole near K. 5. His men said that “he died like a hero, leading his men, on a rush attack right into a murderous fire,” and his commanding officer describing the attack on K. 5 wrote: “Lieut. Thompson in his quiet unassuming way led his platoon out to return no more-no better little soldier graced the 10th.” A brother officer wrote: “He was a soldier with few superiors, and a courage that knew no limits.”

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Steuart A J Sergt 43209 Royal Canadian Engineers

STEUART, ALAN JOHN, Sergt., No. 43209, Royal Canadian Engineers, 3rd Field Coy., Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th s. of the late Capt. Robert Steuart, of Westwood, Linlithgowshire, H.E.I.C.S., J.P., D.L. (died March, 1913), by his wife, Alice Mary (Westwood, West Calder), dau. of Patrick W. V. Dudgeon, and grandson of Robert Steuart, of Carfin and Westwood; b. Westwood House, co. Linlithgow, 6 May, 1888; educ. Blairlodge School, Stirling, and Bromsgrove, co. Worcester; was an Electrical Engineer; went to British Columbia in 1912, and settled at Vancouver, but on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914 at once enlisted in the Canadian Engineers, was promoted L.-Corpl. in Nov. 1914, and Sergt. in Jan. 1915; came over with the first contingent in Oct.; went to France in Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Vlamertinghe, 24 April following, during the gas attack by the Germans at the second Battle of Ypres, when the Canadian Engineers (who were in the 3rd Infantry Brigade, establishing contact with the Allies, at the terminus to the north-west of Ypres) were ordered forward to dig protection trenches in front of the oncoming enemy; unm. Buried in Vlamertinghe Cemetery. His commanding officer wrote: “He was a very keen, good soldier, of untiring effort and unfailing cheerfulness. the officers.” As popular with the men as with the officers.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Sinclair W J Pte 10942 4th Canadian Expeditionary Force

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1