Talbot E C Captain Indian Army

TALBOT, EDWARD CHARLES, Capt. and tempy. Major, 47th Sikhs, Indian Army, 2nd s. of the late Major Francis Arthur Bouverie Talbot, of 89, Philbeach Gardens, S. W., late Oxfordshire L.I., by his wife, Alice Mary Beatrice, dau. of Gen. Edward Melville Lawford; b. Biggleswade, co. Bedford, 9 April, 1881; educ. Haileybury College; joined the Herts Militia, 2 April, 1900; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Bed- fordshire Regt., 26 June, 1901, and promoted Lieut., 23 March, 1904; transferred to the Indian Army, 23 April, 1904, and became Capt., 2 April, 1909; served in the South African War, 1900-02; took part in the operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, July to 29 Nov. 1900; operations in the Orange River Colony; operations in Cape Colony, 30 Nov. to Dec. 1900, July to Aug. 1901, and Oct. to Nov. 1901; and those in the Orange River Colony, Aug. to Oct. 1901, and Nov. 1901, to 31 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps); and with his regt. with the Indian Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, Sept. 1914. He was slightly wounded. at Neuve Chapelle in March, but was able to remain on duty, and was made a tempy. Major in command of the regt., which he held till he was wounded at Ypres on 26 April, 1915, and died at Hazebrouck on the 29th, where he was buried. Capt. Talbot was mentioned in Field-Marshal Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915. While at Haileybury he played in the Football XV. He m. at Weybridge, 30 Sept. 1908, Dorothy Maynard (Eridge, Teignmouth, South Devon), dau. of Sir William Gibbons, K.C.B., and had two children: Patricia Mary, b. 23 Dec. 1909; Iris Nonie, b. 26 Dec. 1913.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Squires F C Captain Indian Army

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Adair W F Captain Indian Army

CAPTAIN WILLIAM FINLAY ADAIR, 129th DUKE OF CONNAUGHT’S OWN BALUCHIS.

was born at Mauchline, Ayrshire. Scotland, on the 21st September, 1877, the youngest son of the late Major Wallace Adair, Northumberland Fusiliers (the “Fighting Fifth “). He was educated at the French College at St. Serven, Brittany, and afterwards in Jersey. He obtained his commission as unattached Second Lieutenant in January, 1897, joining the Indian Staff Corps in March, 1898, in which he became Lieutenant in July, 1899, and Captain in January, 1906. He saw most of his service with the 130th King George’s Own Baluchis, of which for some years he was Adjutant, being transferred to the 129th, on promotion, as Double Company Commander, and he was also qualified as a First Class Interpreter in French. He served in China in 1900 and received the medal; in the operations in Somaliland, 1902, receiving the medal and clasp, and in operations in the interior, Aden. 1903-04.

He was a member of the Junior Army and Navy Club, and of the Bath and County Club, Bath. Captain Adair was killed on the 30th October, 1914, at Hollebeke, Belgium, having been, at his own request, left mortally wounded in a trench when his men had to retire. The following account of the circumstances was received by his relatives:” On October 30th, 1914. at Hollebeke, Belgium, Captain Adair had orders from his General to retire, as the Germans were close up; while giving instructions to his men he was shot high up under the arm. The native Corporal wished to carry him away, but he refused, fearing to delay them, and so insisted on being left in the trench alone. The Germans came up almost immediately, and nothing further has been heard. The Corporal, who said Captain Adair was mortally wounded and could not have lived long, led the men back to a safe position already prepared, without any loss, and so the sacrifice was not in vain.”

Captain Adair was mentioned in Sir John French’s Despatch of 14th January, 1915.

Source : The Bond Of Sacrifice Vol 1

Anderson J V C Captain Indian Army

CAPT. JOHN VICTOR CORTLANDT ANDERSON,

QUEEN VICTORIA’S OWN CORPS OF GUIDES (F.F.), INDIAN ARMY.

KILLED IN ACTION AT EL JELIL, NEAR JAFFA, JUNE 8TH, 1918. AGED 30.

At the School 1901-4 (School House).

Capt. J. V. C. Anderson was the younger son of the late John Philip Cortlandt Anderson, M.I.C.E., and of Mrs. Anderson, of 30, Midvale Road, St. Helier’s, Jersey. His elder brother, Temporary Major H. E. C. Anderson, Leicestershire Regiment, is an old Fettesian, and had been wounded.

Entering the School from Hillside, Godalming, in September, 1901, Victor Anderson left from the Army Class at Christmas, 1904, when he was only a few months over seventeen. He had become a 2nd Corporal in the Cadet Corps, as it was then, and had obtained his 1st XV. colours in his last Term, as a useful 12 st. forward. At the R.M.C.. Sandhurst, also, he was in the XV., and was promoted Sergeant. He was gazetted to the Dorset. Regiment May 4th, 1907, but after about a year transferred, in 1908, to the Indian Army, being posted to the 1st Battn. of Queen Victoria’s Own Corps of Guides (F.F.) (Lumsden’s), and by his fine soldierly qualities proved himself worthy of the best traditions of that famous Corps. He was promoted Lieutenant August 4th, 1909, Temporary Captain September 1st, 1915, and Captain May 4th, 1916, this being subsequently antedated to the date on which he became Temporary Captain. He did very well indeed in the frontier fighting in India in the early days of the War and took part in the operations against the Bunerwals in 1915, and against the Mohmands in 1916. From March to December, 1917, he served in Mesopo- tamia with his Regiment and took part in the Tigris Operations, including the fighting at Tikrit in November.

Early in January, 1918, the Guides were transferred to Palestine, and when on June 8th they were selected and specially brought up to attack, in co-operation with the Black Watch, a very strong Turkish position on a height called the “Two Sisters,” near the coast, about seven miles north of Jaffa, the honour of leading them was conferred on Captain Anderson. In spite of a very heavy enemy barrage and terrible losses, he fearlessly led his men absolutely “plumb straight” to their objective. The Regiment captured the position, but while they were consolidating a shrapnel burst right in front of him and he fell mortally wounded with bullets through the head and heart. He was buried, with two other Guides officers, in the neighbouring cemetery of El Jelil, but after the War was re-interred in the Military Cemetery at Ramleh.

Letters from the second in command, who had been in the Regiment for nearly fourteen years, contained the following:-

“Every one liked him, and ever since I’ve known him I never heard a word against him from any one either in or out of the Regiment. He was the life and soul of our Mess – always cheery and merry and bright, and you know what a lot that means on service. As a regimental soldier he was absolutely unsurpassable.

“I’ve always had a great admiration for him. He was a real soldier if ever there was one, and without exception the best Company Commander I’ve ever met anywhere. He had a wonderful hold over his men and they would have followed him anywhere. He was such a fine fellow and so straight-one of the whitest’ men I’ve ever met. I never knew a fellow who commanded more respect than J. V. did. I know of no one who had consistently done more for the Regiment. He has left his mark all right and his good work will have its effect for many a long day to come.”

The C.O. also described him as the best Company Commander in the Regiment,” and added, “You can’t think what a loss it has been to us. He was such a favourite, one of the best officers I have ever met, and a grand soldier “; and in his recommendation of Captain Anderson for a Mention in Despatches, the only honour except the V.C. for which an officer who has been killed may be recommended, he wrote:-

“I specially chose this officer to lead the advance, as I knew the success of the operations must depend to a great extent on the direction maintained and the dash with which the advance was carried out through the enemy’s barrage. Nothing could have gone better; and it was only when the final objective was reached that he fell mortally wounded. His utter disregard for his own personal safety and his devotion to duty were the chief cause of the success of the whole operations.”

Source : Tonbridge School And The Great War Of 1914-1919

Manner-Smith F Major Indian Army

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

De Pass F A Lt VC Indian Army

LIEUTENANT F. A. DE PASS VC

34th PRINCE ALBERT VICTOR’S OWN POONA HORSE

FRANK ALEXANDER DE PASS was the second son of Eliot Arthur and Beatrice de Pass, of Queen’s Gate Terrace, London.

He entered the School in 1901 and passed third into the R.M.A., Woolwich, in 1904. He obtained his Commission in the Royal Field Artillery in January, 1906, and was promoted Lieutenant in 1909. In this year, his Battery being stationed in India, he applied for and obtained a Commission in the 34th Poona Horse. In November, 1913, he was appointed Orderly Officer to the Chief of the Staff in India, with the local rank of Captain, but rejoined his Regiment on the outbreak of War and accompanied it to France in September, 1914.

He was killed near Festubert, in French Flanders, on November 25th, 1914, under circumstances which are described in the following report written two days later by the captain in command. For his conduct on this occasion he was subsequently mentioned in Despatches in January, and again in May, 1915, and was awarded the Victoria Cross in February, 1915. Age 27.

Report of the Captain in Command of Detachment of 34th Poona Horse:- “On arrival in the trenches at 4 am. on the 23rd, it was discovered that the enemy had driven a sap up to the parapet of that part of the trenches allotted to the Poona Horse. The enemy had blown in the main parapet and a breach of eight feet in length existed, leaving the trench exposed to rifle fire from the sap.”

“A troop was told off to hold the breach pending daylight, when a careful inspection could be made, with orders to erect a traverse at once, to cover themselves from rifle fire.”

“Lieut. de Pass asked permission to have the defence of this breach placed under his orders. The request was granted. As soon as it was daylight the O.C. Detachment Poona Horse inspected the breach, and, in order to ascertain what was in the sap called for a volunteer to enter and proceed along it toward enemy’s lines.”

“Sowar Abdullah Khan volunteered and entered the sap. He returned and reported that the enemy had erected a sandbag traverse about ten yards from the trenches at a point where the sap makes its first bend, and that a man with a rifle was at a loop-hole. At 8 a.m. the enemy commenced throwing bombs into our trenches from their side of this loop-holed traverse. This continued all day and caused several casualties.”

“Early on the morning of the 24th, Lieut. de Pass, accompanied by Sowars Fateh Khan and Firman Shah, entered the enemy’s sap, and, proceeding along it, Lieut. de Pass placed a charge of gun cotton in the enemy’s loop-hole, and fired the charge, completely demolishing the traverse and rounding off the bend sufficiently to expose the sap for some thirty yards to our rifle fire. While this was being done the enemy threw a bomb at Lieut. de Pass’s party, which fortunately missed and exploded behind them. “This action of Lieut. de Pass stopped all bomb throwing by the enemy during the 24th, and its effect can be better gauged by the fact that there was only one casualty that day, compared with six the day before, and nine the day after, when, under cover of darkness on the night of 24-25, the enemy replaced their loop-holed sandbag traverse.”

“The same day Lieut. de Pass, accompanied by a trooper of the 7th Dragoon Guards, went out in broad daylight and brought in a sepoy of the 58th Rifles, who was lying wounded in the rear of our trenches, at about 200 feet distance. Lieut. de Pass did not ask permission to do this but acted on his own initiative. Lieut. de Pass again volunteered to enter the enemy’s sap and blow up the traverse, but permission was refused.”

“About 3 p.m. on the 25th the bomb-throwing by the enemy became worse, and Lieut. de Pass went to the head of the sap to supervise repairs to our defences, which had been seriously impaired. He endeavoured to shoot the enemy’s sniper through a loop-hole, and in so doing was himself shot through the head. I consider that Lieut. de Pass’s conduct throughout was most intrepid, and that his actions were a magnificent example to the men of the Detachment.”

The Official record of the services for which he received the Victoria Cross was as follows:-Lieut. Frank Alexander de Pass (Killed), 34th Poona Horse.

“For conspicuous bravery near Festubert on the 24th November, in entering a German sap and destroying a traverse in the face of the enemy’s bombs, and for subsequently rescuing, under heavy fire, a wounded man who was lying exposed in the open. Lieutenant de Pass lost his life on this day in a second attempt to capture the aforementioned sap, which had been re-occupied by the enemy.”

* Private C. Cook, who, for this, was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.

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

Cruickshank A H P Captain Indian Army

CAPTAIN A. H. P. CRUICKSHANK

32nd SIKH PIONEERS INDIAN ARMY

ARTHUR HENRY PRINSEP CRUICKSHANK was the second son of Alexander Walmesley Cruickshank, C.S.I., I.C.S., and Fanny Nina, daughter of Clarmont J. Daniell (O.R., 1850), I.C.S.

He entered the School in 1898, passed into the R.M.A., Woolwich, in 1901, and, receiving a Commission in the Royal Garrison Artillery, was posted to the Cape in 1903. He exchanged in 1904 into the Indian Army and was gazetted in October, 1905, to the 32nd Sikh Pioneers. In 1907 he made a journey from Bandar Abbas to Shiraz, an account of which appeared in the “Geographical Journal” of February, 1908. He was promoted Captain in 1912.

On November 23rd, 1914, he was wounded at Givenchy, whilst attached to the 34th Sikhs. On April 27th, 1915, he was again wounded near Ypres, and died the next day. Age 31.

He married, in July, 1914, Helena Marsden, eldest daughter of William C. Herring, of Wraysbury House, Bucks.

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

Lt T Bailward Indian Army

LIEUTENANT T. BAILWARD

26TH KING GEORGE’S OWN LIGHT CAVALRY, INDIAN ARMY

THEODORE BAILWARD was the third son of T. H. M. Bailward, J.P., of Horsington Manor, Templecombe. He entered the School in 1901, passed on to the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in 1905, and received his Commission in 1906, in the Somerset Light Infantry, then quartered at Poona. In the following year he was trans-ferred to the 26th Native Cavalry, stationed at Bangalore, and in 1913 was appointed A.D.C. to the Governor of Madras. In the expedition to the Persian Gulf he was attached to the 7th Hariana Lancers, and was killed in a reconnaissance on April 29th, 1915, and buried at Imamzadeh. Age 27.

Extract from a letter of the Commandant, 26th Light Cavalry :- “He was a dear good fellow, and very popular in the Regiment.” From a Native Officer of the 26th Light Cavalry “I have no words of energy to express my grief toward Bailward Sahib. I am exceedingly sorry to hear the death of our kind-hearted Officer. The whole Regiment, especially the ‘D’ Squadron, lamented much on the loss of their beloved master. May God bless him.”

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