Brown K A Captain 1st Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

CAPTAIN KEITH ANDREWS BROWN (1909-12). 1st Battalion The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.
Born 3rd May, 1896. A younger brother of C. A. Brown above. When war broke out he was farming in the North of England, but came south at once and joined the Ist Battalion Queen’s Westminster Rifles (16th Battalion London Regiment), with whom he went to France on 1st November, 1914. serving at Armentières and elsewhere, until February, 1915, when he returned home to enter Royal Military College, Sandhurst, where he soon gained his N.C.O. stripes. In October, 1915, he was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant and posted to The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. In November he again went to France, joining the and Battalion of his regiment, and remained with it until dangerously wounded during the severe fighting in High Wood, the second week of the Somme battles, 15th July, 1916. He rejoined the 3rd Battalion at Sittingbourne in January, 1917, for light duty, and the following June again returned to France, being attached to the 1st Battalion, and in October was promoted to the rank of Acting Captain, having already been promoted Lieutenant in July. During 1918 he commanded his battalion on several occasions, both in the line and out. In July, 1918, he was sent to Paris in command of a picked detachment from the 1st Queen’s, making one of the companies in a composite battalion representing the British Army at the Celebrations in Paris on France’s Day. On 21st September, 1918, he was mortally wounded while leading his company in action near Epehy, dying the following day from his wounds. He was one of the best all-round athletes in his regiment and was an officer of great promise. He was wrapped up in his regiment and its doings and he played for his side all the time.

Source : Dulwich College War Record 1914-1918

Brown K A Captain 1st Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

Source : The Sphere 26th October 1918

BROWN, KEITH ANDREWS, Capt., 1st Battn. (2nd Foot) The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regt.), yr. s. of George Andrews Brown, of Croydon; and brother to Capt. C. H. Brown (q.v.); b. Dulwich, London. S.E., 3 May, 1896; edue. Dulwich College, where he was a member of the Cadet Corps; was engaged in Farming volunteered for active service on the outbreak of war, and joined the Queen’s Westminster Rifles 6 Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 1 Nov. following, where he saw much fighting; returned home, and entered Sandhurst in May : gazetted 2nd Lieut. 20 Oct. 1915 promoted Lieut. 1 July, 1917, and Capt. 10 Oct. following; joined the 2nd Battn. in France, where he subsequently took part in the battles of the Sonime; was dangerously wounded at High Wood 15 July, 1916, and invalided home; on recovery, rejoined the 3rd Battn. 25 Jan. 1917, and returned to France, where he was transferred to the 1st Battn. and in June, 1917, was again on the Western front. He died near Epéhy 22 Sept. 1918, of wounds received in action the previous day. Buried in Five Point British Cemetery. His Brigadier-General wrote: “He was an officer of great promise, always keen and cheerful and a fine leader of men,” and his Commanding Officer: “I had known him for over two years, and was extremely attached to him; indeed, he was a general favourite wherever he went, always bright and cheery, and greatly loved by his men. I do not think he knew what fear meant, and went forward that morning with splendid enthusiasm and coolness. I feel his loss very deeply, as he is one who can never be replaced.” A brother officer also wrote: “Keith was one of the best fellows I have ever met, and an officer of a type rarely found. The regiment will feel his loss keenly.” He was a good rider, a first-class shot, and a keen sportsman.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

BRIDGES, RICHARD JAMES, No. 39633, 10th (Service) Battn. The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regt.), s. of Thomas Bridges; b. Notting Hill, London, W.; educ. there; enlisted in March, 1918; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in action in Aug. following; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Borst C L 2nd Lt 6th Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

BORST, CHARLES LOUIS, 2nd Lieut., 6th (Service) Battn. The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regt.), eldest s. of Charles L. Borst, of 38, Leweston Place, Stamford Hill, N., by his wife, Ada Helen (-); b. Tottenham, Co Middlesex, 1896; educ. Hackney Downs School; joine joined the Honourable Artillery Company 17 March, 1916: was subsequently given a commission, and gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th Royal West Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Jan. 1917, and was killed in action before Cambrai 24 Nov. following. Buried in Cambrai Road Ceme-tery.

His Commanding Officer wrote: He did glorious work in the attack on the 20th… During the nine months he has been with us his cheery disposition and charming manner had endeared him to all of us.. Personally, I cannot express my sorrow at losing him, for our work, both training and fighting, had brought us very closely together, and we were great friends.” A brother officer also wrote: “… You will have no difficulty in realizing what a splendid type of boy he was. His men would have gone anywhere for him, and his work with the battalion has already been carried out with marked efficiency and ability. His death is a grievous loss to us.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Beach L H F Captain DSO 4th Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

BEACH, LIONEL HADWEN FLETCHER, D.S.O., Capt., 4th (Territorial) Battn. The Queen’s (Royal West Surrey Regt.), s. of Dr. Fletcher Beach, of 5, De Crespigny Park, Denmark Hill, London, S.E., Physician, by his wife, Emily Dora, dau. of Henry Hadwen, Managing Director, Lancaster Bank; b. Darenth Asylum, Dartford, co. Kent, 30 July, 1892; educ. Haileybury College, and Worcester College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in 1916 (conferred in absence); obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. 4th Royal West Surrey Regt. in Oct. 1914; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from July, 1915, having been previously appointed Lieut. and Signalling Officer landed at Suvla Bay, where he remained about three months, being then attacked with dysentery and invalided home, having been promoted. Temporary Capt. for his services at Suvla Bay. After being at home for six months, he sailed for Egypt, to join his battalion, which had meanwhile been transferred there from Gallipoli; was promoted Acting Major while there, and on two or three occasions, in the absence of his Lieut.-Colonel and Senior Major, commanded the battalion; was severely wounded during the First Battle of Gaza, and sent to hospital in Alexandria, but returned to duty in July, 1917, when he was promoted Capt.; was again severely wounded in a battle after the taking of Jerusalem, and first sent to a hospital at Alexandria and then home, where he arrived in March, 1918, being for a time in a hospital for officers in Berkeley Square, and afterwards in a hospital at Paignton, South Devon. On 9 Nov. 1918, he was discharged from the hospital and given three weeks leave, when he proceeded to Ashford Park Hotel, Coulsdon, co. Surrey, and died there on the 28th of that month, from influenza complicated by pneumonia. Buried in Bandon Hill Cemetery, Coulsdon. Capt. Lionel Beach was mentioned in Despatches by General Murray, for gallant and distinguished service in the field, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order : “For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led his company forward to cover the withdrawal of the advanced troops, remaining under heavy fire and shell fire for two hours, until the operations had been successfully carried out. He was seriously wounded during the action.” The above decoration was bestowed by H.M. the King at Buckingham Palace in June, 1918.

Lieut.-Col. H. St. C. Wilkins, Commanding the Battalion, wrote: “I feel the loss of your son deeply. He was a very good officer, extraordinarily cool under fire and unruffled at all times. I placed implicit confidence in him. The men of his company were devoted to him, and he was a great favourite with everyone who had dealings with him, and deservedly so,” and Sergt. Denyer, D.C.M., who brought Capt. Lionel Beach into the lines when he was wounded in Palestine: “If I managed to be of service to him when he was wounded, I can assure you there were scores of men besides myself that would have only been pleased to render him a like service. He was loved and respected by all, and was not only a fine soldier in action, but a gallant gentleman.” He m. at St. Paul’s, Herne Hill, S.E., Oct. 1915, Eileen Waller, eldest dau. of Capt. Bates, of Coulsdon, and had a son, Jack William Francis, b. Nov. 1916.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bradley E S Sergt G/472 Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment. Photo copied and cropped from The Past on Glass at Sutton Archives. Photographer David Knights-Whittome. Shared under the Creative Commons Non Commercial

Bradley Edwin Seabright Sergt G/472 6th Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

Born 10th Dec 1891 in Epsom, Surrey. Parents William Joseph & Rosina Bradley.

To France With 6th Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment 1st Jun 1915

Discharged 14th Dec 1918

Married Katherine Davidson July 1933

Died Sep 1947 Exeter Devon. Age 55.

Trimmer G F Coy Sergt Major 3359 2/4th Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

TRIMMER, GILBERT FREDERICK, Coy. Sergt.-Major, No. 3359, 2/4th Battn. The Queen’s, Royal West Surrey Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of John Trimmer, of Guildford, by his wife, Alice Katurah, dau. of J. Dawes Esher; b. Guildford, co. Surrey, 18 April, 1876; was by trade a Tailor; served in South Africa, 1900, with the City Imperial Volunteers and was invalided, home; after the outbreak of the European War enlisted 2 Nov. 1914; went to the Dardanelles with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was killed in action at Chocolate Hill, Gallipoli, 9 Aug. 1915. He m. at St. Mary’s, Guildford, 10 Feb. 1902, Grace Eleanor (38, King John Terrace, Heaton, Newcastle-on-Tyne), dau. of the late George Hewett, of Guildford; s.p.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Abel A Pte 1st Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment

Pte Albert Abel L/7707 1st Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment.

Of the Old Kent Road. Prisoner Of War.

Source : The Vivid 20th Mar 1915

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Allen G P 2nd Lt 4th Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

GEOFFREY PEAKE ALLEN, 4TH BATTN. THE QUEEN’S (ROYAL WEST SURREY REGT.) (T.F.).

Died 21st December 1915 from wounds received in a bombing accident on 18th December Age 19.

At the School 1909-15 (Hill Side).

Geoffrey Peake Allen was the only son of Mr. and Mrs. Francis Allen, of 21, Duppas Hill Terrace, Croydon. He entered the School in September, 1909, and left from the Modern Sixth as a School Præpostor at Easter, 1915. He had been in the O.T.C. for over four years, becoming a full Corporal in Sep- tember, 1914. On leaving School he applied for a commission, and was gazetted on June 3rd to the 3/4th Battn. of the Queen’s. The accident by which he lost his life occurred through a faulty bomb whilst he was undergoing a course of instruction in bomb-throwing at Godstone on Saturday, December 18th, and he died three days later in Caterham Cottage Hospital. He was buried on Christmas Eve at Bandon Hill Cemetery, Croydon, with full military honours, the band and a firing party of the Regiment attending, and six of his brother officers acting as bearers. His Colonel, writing on the day of the accident to express his own grief and sympathy and that of the Battalion, said of him :-

“He always did his work thoroughly well, and was a great favourite in the mess. I am also sure his company will be very grieved at the sad news; the men are always ready to appreciate any one who is so keen and hard working as he was.”

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

Allen G P 2nd Lt 4th Queens Royal West Surrey Regiment

Source : Croydon Roll Of Honour 1914-1918