Styles F E Lt Royal Munster Fusiliers
LIEUTENANT F. E. STYLES Royal Munster Fusiliers Moretons 98-99
Aged 30 Aug. 27th, 1914
ELDEST son of Frederick Styles, late Chairman of “Horrockses,” Cotton Spinners, of Preston, Lancashire, and Helena A. W. Styles, of Blackmoor, Edenbridge, Kent.
R.M.C., Sandhurst.
Lieutenant Styles was gazetted to the Munster Fusiliers in 1903. He was promoted to Lieutenant in 1906, and retired in April, 1914, but rejoined his Regiment just before the outbreak of the War. He went to France on August 13th, 1914, and was killed at Etreux fourteen days afterwards, while gallantly leading his men under a heavy fire.
Captain Wise, his Adjutant, now a prisoner of war at Torgau, wrote:- “You will already have heard that poor Fred was shot on Thursday, 27th of August. At the time he was gallantly leading his men under a heavy fire, and had he survived would certainly have been mentioned in Despatches. I was not actually present when he was hit, but I have been told by those who were on the spot that his death was painless and instantaneous. When I saw him a few minutes later he was lying peacefully, as though asleep. As this letter will be censored by the German authorities I am unable to give you any details as to the action, or the situation of the battlefield. All the officers who fell were buried in one grave, and a service was conducted by a German clergyman. Fred’s loss is infinitely regretted by all of us who survive, and I wish to convey to you, on behalf of the Regiment, the utmost sympathy of all ranks with Miss Styles and yourself.”
Source : Harrow Memorials Of The Great War 1914-1918 Vol 1
Styles F E Lt Royal Munster Fusiliers
Source : Our Heroes Mons To The Somme August 1914-July 1916
STYLES, FREDERICK ERNEST, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, eldest s. of the late Frederick Styles, of Preston, Lancashire, and 49, Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, W., by his wife, Helena Alice Wellington (124, Knightsbridge, S.W.; Blackmoor, Four Elms, Kent), widow of Capt. L. B. A. Poynter, 7th Hussars, and dau. of John Brophey; b. 27 Jan. 1884; educ. Harrow and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Munster Fusiliers 13 May, 1903, and promoted Lieut. 9 Jan. 1906. He retired in April, 1914, but rejoined his regt. just before the outbreak of war. He was killed in action at Etreux, 27 Aug. 1914; unm.
Capt. Wise, the Adjutant of the regt., writing to Mrs. Styles, said: “You will already have heard that poor Fred was shot on Thursday, 27th inst. At the time he was gallantly leading his men under a heavy fire, and had he survived would certainly have been mentioned in Despatches. I was not actually present when he was hit, but I have been told by those who were on the spot that his death was painless and instantaneous. When I saw him a few minutes later he was lying peacefully as though asleep. As this letter will be censored by the German authorities, I am unable to give you any details as to the action, or the situation of the battlefield. All the officers who fell were buried in one grave, and a service was conducted by a German clergyman.” An interesting account of the doings of the Munsters and of their great stand this day will be found under the notice of Lieut. C. E. V. Awdry. The eight officers who fell this day were buried by the Germans in one grave, and the N.C.Os. and men in another, side by side, near the railway station of Etreux, on the right-hand side of the road. 400 yards north of the level crossing. They also erected crosses to mark the spot.
Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1
