Braithwaite R W Captain 10th Durham Light Infantry

CAPTAIN RICHARD WILFRED BRAITHWAITE, Durham Light Infantry, was the son of the late Reverend J. M. Braithwaite, Vicar and Rural Dean of Croydon.

He was educated at Marlborough College and began his career as a planter in Ceylon. He fought and was wounded in the South African War as a trooper in the Ceylon Mounted Infantry. In 1910 he became a member of the Stock Exchange and a partner in the firm of Foster and Braithwaite.

On the outbreak of War he received a commission as Captain in the 10th Durham Light Infantry. He was wounded on 27 July 1915, but refused to leave the trenches, and was killed four days later.

Captain Braithwaite married, in 1907, a daughter of Mr. Brodhurst Hill.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Brown J C D 2nd Lt 5th Durham Light Infantry

SECOND LIEUTENANT J. C. D. BROWN

5th BATTALION THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY, T.F.

JAMES CARTMELL DENNISON BROWN was the younger son of Sir Frank Brown, D.L., of Norton Priory, Stockton-on-Tees. He entered the School in 1907, and left in 1912 to enter Pembroke College, Cambridge.

On the outbreak of War he received his Commission and went to France on April 18th for Divisional Training, but owing to the German attack with asphyxiating gas his Division was at once pushed to the Front and engaged from the 23rd to the 29th in the second Battle of Ypres. On Sunday, April 25th, he was wounded twice. He was first treated at Poperinghe Hospital, but as it was shelled by the enemy he was removed to Hazebrouck, where he died on April 27th, 1915. Age 21.

His Colonel wrote:- “He was one of the best Officers we had, and did his duty to the last. On the day he was hit he had done valuable reconnaissance work in the morning, and, when hit, had taken part in a very good little attack. Although wounded in two places, he showed his pluck by returning unhelped to our lines. It is only by such examples as his that we may hope to conquer the enemy and keep up the tradition of the country.”

Another Officer wrote:- “We all liked him very much; he was such a cheerful fellow, and so conscientious that I knew that anything entrusted to him, however slight and wearisome, would be properly carried out.”

The Medical Officer said:- “He was a tremendous favourite with us all, and I can say I never had to attend to a pluckier lad.”

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

Major E A C Blake 2nd Durham Light Infantry

MAJOR E. A. C. BLAKE

2ND BATTALION THE DURHAM LIGHT INFANTRY

EDWARD ALGERNON CLEADER BLAKE was the younger son of Edward Frederick Blake, of Shanklin, Isle of Wight.

He entered the School in 1886 and left in 1887. He received his Commission in the 1st Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in 1893, was promoted Lieutenant in 1896, and Captain in 1900. He served through the South African War, from 1899 to 1902, as Adjutant of the 1st Battalion, and was present at the Relief of Ladysmith as well as in the actions of Colenso and Spion Kop. He was severely wounded at Vaal Krantz, was mentioned in Despatches and received the rank of Brevet- Major. He held the Queen’s Medal with two Clasps and the King’s Medal with two.

He went to France with the First Expeditionary Force, and took part in the Retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Marne and of the Aisne. Later, in the defence of the village of Ennetières, near Lille, the Colonel of the Sherwood Foresters asked for the help of two Platoons of the Durhams, as his Regiment was being heavily shelled. Major Blake gallantly took them and arrived in time to drive back a strong attack. The trenches being full, he took up his position in, and defended, a sugar factory, on which a shell burst, killing him and many men. He fell on October 20th, 1914. Age 43.

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