Blick G R Sergt 200413 7th Middlesex Regiment

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BLICK, GILBERT REXTONE, Sergt., No. 200413, 1/7th (Territorial) Battn. The Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regt.), s. of Alfred James Blick, of 33, Cottenham Road, Holloway, London, N., by his wife, Annie Louisa, dau. of Thomas Gilbert; b. Holloway, N., 12 Oct. 1892; educ. Grafton Road and Yerbury Road Council Schools there; was a Booking Clerk on the London Electric Railway; joined the Territorial Force in 1909; completed his four years’ service in Nov. 1913; again volunteered for service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; trained at Sittingbourne; went to Gibraltar, but returned to England in Jan. 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was wounded during the operations on the Somme in Sept. 1916, and invalided to hospital; rejoined his regiment on recovery, and was killed in action at Arras 3 May, 1917. A comrade wrote: “Our battalion was in action on 3 May, and amongst the missing the same night was your son. On the morning of the 4th I met several of his platoon, and one man told me he saw him wounded and afterwards hit again and killed instantly. He died in the charge with all my company officers. We all miss him very much, as he was our best sergeant and one of the old original boys.” Unm,

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Blease F S L/Cpl 251066 6th Manchester Regiment

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BLEASE, FRANK SHIRLEY, L.-Corpl., No. 251066, 1/6th (Territorial) Battn. The Manchester Regt., s. of the late Walter Duncan Blease, by his wife, Hannah (10, Richmond Grove, Levenshulme); b. Cheetham Hill, Manchester, co. Lancaster, 24 Sept. 1894; educ. Stockport Commercial School; was in the employ of the Manchester Chamber of Commerce; joined the Manchester Regt. in May, 1915; served in Egypt from Jan. 1916, and subsequently with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from March, 1917, and died at Grévillers 29 Sept. 1918, of wounds received in action on the 27th. Buried at Grévillers. His Commanding Officer wrote: “I have known him since before he came from England, and of all the men I have had under me since then none have been finer than L.-Corpl. Blease. He was one of the finest N.C.O.’s in the company, and one we could ill spare. His section was the best in the company, and all thought the world of him. I never ask to have a finer soldier or a braver man under my charge, and I wish I had more like him. If ever I wanted a job done, I could always give it to him, and rest content that it would be done, and done well.” Unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bland P C Pte 27th 442940 Canadian Expeditionary Force

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BLAND, PERCIVAL CHARLES, Private, No. 442940, 27th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, elder s. of the late Charles Bland, by his wife, Margaret Harman (79, Ryland Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham), dau. of the late Edward Skinner, of Edgbaston, Birmingham; and brother to Gunner A. E. Bland (q.v.); b. Birmingham, co. Warwick, 30 Jan. 1889; educ. St. George’s School, Edgbaston; went to Canada in 1913, and settled at Nelson, British Columbia, as an Accountant on the Staff of the Hudson Bay Company; volunteered for foreign service and joined the Canadian Infantry 2 June, 1915; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from April, 1916; was reported missing after the fighting on the Somme 15 Sept. following, and is now assumed to have been killed in action on that date. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He was loved by all the officers of his platoon, and all men thought so much of him throughout his regiment.”

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bland A E Gnr 837020 Royal Field Artillery

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BLAND, ALFRED ERIC, Gunner, No. 837020, Headquarters Staff S.M., 241st Brigade, 48th Division, Royal Field Artillery, 3rd s. of the late Charles Thomás Bland, by his wife, Margaret Harman (79, Ryland Road, Edgbaston), dau, of the late Edward Skinner, of Edgbaston, Birmingham; and brother to Private P. C. Bland (q.v.); b. Edgbaston, Birmingham, co. Warwick, 23 July, 1894; educ. St. George’s School; was in the employ of the Deritend Stamping Company, Birmingham; volunteered three times for active service, but was rejected as medically unfit (twice); was eventually accepted, and enlisted in the R.F.A. 2 Oct. 1916; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 30 March, 1917; subsequently proceeded to Italy, where he was employed as Clerk on the Headquarters Staff S.M., 241st Brigade, 48th Division R.F.A., and died at Montecchie, Precalcino, Italy, 15 Nov. 1918, of influenza, contracted while on service. Buried in Montecchie, Precalcino, Italy. His Commanding Officer wrote: “The work was very responsible, and it was owing to his working so hard and keeping up when he should have given in, that caused him to take the disease. He was loved by all officers and men.”

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 5

Bates S G Captain 7th Hussars

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Bates S G Captain 7th Hussars

CAPTAIN STANES GEOFFREY BATES

7TH HUSSARS

CAPTAIN STANES GEOFFREY BATES (E, 1898-1901)-son of G. T. Bates Esq., of Mells Park, Somerset was born on June 2nd, 1884, and before coming to Winchester was with Mr. Carter at Farnborough. He was gazetted from Sandhurst in 1908 to the 7th Hussars, and served with them in South Africa and Bangalore. In August 1918 he returned to England and was appointed Adjutant to the North Somerset Yeomanry.

He accompanied them to France in November 1914, and was wounded shortly afterwards at Vlamertinghe. He fell at Bellewarde Farm on May 13th, 1915, during the First Battle of Ypres.

Source : Wykehamists Who Died In The War 1914-1918 Vol 2

Bates S G Captain 7th Hussars

BATES, STANES GEOFFREY, Capt., 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, and Adjutant, North Somersetshire Yeomanry, only s. of Gilbert Thompson Bates, tenant of Mells Park, Frome, Somerset, J.P. [2nd s. of Sir Edward Bates, 1st Bt., M.P.]. by his wife, Charlotte Thaxter, dau, of George Warren, of Woolton; b. London, 2 June, 1884; edue. Farnborough, Winchester, and Sandhurst. He joined the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, 22 April, 1903, and was promoted Lieut. 27 April, 1907, and Capt. 11 May, 1912. He spent two and a half years in South Africa, and returned with his regt. in Dec. 1906, when they were quartered at Norwich and afterwards at Aldershot. In Oct, 1911 the regt. went to Bangalore, where he remained until July, 1913, when he returned to England on leave, shortly afterwards (1 Nov.) receiving the Adjutancy of the North Somersetshire Yeomanry. He went to the front with this regt, and was wounded at Vlamertinghe during the 1st battle of Ypres, 16 Nov. 1914, but was able to return to the front from the Base Hospital in a few days. At the 2nd battle of Ypres he was killed instantaneously in the trenches at Hooge by a shell explosion, 13 May, 1915; unm.

He was buried there the same day, amid a few trees behind the line held by the North Somersets. For their conduct on this occasion the North Somersets were specially mentioned in Despatches. He was much beloved by his men in both regts., and his loss deeply regretted by his Colonel and brother officers in the 7th Hussars. A good all-round sportsman and well-known with the Blackmore Vale Hounds.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Barkworth K A W Captain MC East Yorkshire Regiment

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Barkworth K A W Captain MC East Yorkshire Regiment

CAPTAIN KENNETH ARTHUR WILSON BARKWORTH, M.C.

EAST YORKSHIRE REGIMENT

CAPTAIN KENNETH ARTHUR WILSON BARKWORTH, M.C. (E, 1899-1902) was born on February 18th, 1885-son of A. B. Wilson Barkworth Esq., LL.D. (E, 1868-1872) of Kirk Ella, Hull and before coming to Winchester was at St. Andrew’s School, Eastbourne. He went on to Cambridge and took his degree there.

At the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in the 4th Battalion East Yorkshire Regiment. He was killed between Ypres and Poperinghe on October 26th, 1917.

Source : Wykehamists Who Died In The War 1914-1918 Vol 2

Balfour I B Lt 14th Royal Scots Attd 1st King’s Own Scottish Borderers

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Balfour I B Lt 14th Royal Scots

LIEUTENANT ISAAC BAYLEY BALFOUR

ROYAL SCOTS

LIEUTENANT ISAAC BAYLEY BALFOUR (F, 1903-1908) was born on October 19th, 1889-son of Professor I. B. Balfour, M.D., D.SC., LL.D., F.L.S., Professor of Botany in the University of Edinburgh-and came to Winchester from Bilton Grange. He was three years in Sixth Book, for his last two years Head of the House and from 1907 to 1908 Senior Commoner Prefect: he also played in Lords in the latter year. In the following October he went up to Magdalen College, Oxford, and graduated with a Second Class in the Final Classical School. He had taken up Art as his profession and had he lived would have specialised in portrait painting.

On the outbreak of war he was gazetted to the 14th Battalion Royal Scots, and was afterwards attached to the Ist Battalion King’s Own Scottish Borderers. He was killed at the Dardanelles on June 28th, 1915, while leading his men to the attack.

Source : Wykehamists Who Died In The War 1914-1918 Vol 2

Avery W E T Major Army Service Corps

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Avery W E T Major Army Service Corps  

MAJOR SIR WILLIAM ERIC THOMAS AVERY, M.C.

ARMY SERVICE CORPS

MAJOR SIR WILLIAM ERIC THOMAS AVERY, Bart., M.C. (c, 1903-1908) was born on March 16th, 1890-son of Sir William Avery, Bart., of Oskley Court, Windsor and came to Winchester from Rev. J. H. Wilkinson’s school, Woodcote House, near Reading: he was a Commoner Prefect his last year. He went up to University College, Oxford, in 1908 and going down four years later, travelled in Canada and British East Africa, where he shot many head of big game. On his return to England he took up engineering and worked at Rugby, for part of the time as a mechanic.

At the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in the A.S.C. and for many months had charge of the Guards’ Divisional Supply Column in France, receiving the M.C. and being mentioned in Despatches. He was taken ill with influenza in October 1918: bronchial pneumonia developed and he died in hospital at Rouen on November 20th following.

Source : Wykehamists Who Died In The War 1914-1918 Vol 2

Acworth D H Major MC Indian Army

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Acworth D H Major MC Indian Army

MAJOR DOUGLAS HARRY ACWORTH, M.C.

COKE’S RIFLES

MAJOR DOUGLAS HARRY ACWORTH, M.C. (D, 1899-1908) was born on October 27th, 1885. He was the son of H. A. Acworth Esq. C.I.E. of Great Malvern, and elder brother of Second Lieutenant J. A. Acworth (o, 1911-1916), Worcester Regiment, who died of wounds on October 18th, 1917. He entered Culver House from Mr. Douglas school at Malvem Link and his last year was a House Prefeet and ninth man on Wimbledon Roll. He passed into Sandhurst in 1904, where he again distinguished himself as a rifle-shot, and in the following year went out to India to join the Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regiment, In 1900 he was transferred to Coke’s Rifles, Frontier Force, and served with them through the Mohmand campaign of 1908, latterly as Adjutant.

In August 1914 he was home on leave and was detained in England to take part in the training of the New Army. A few months later he joined the Indian Corps in France and in November 1914 received the M.C. for a successful bombing exploit: his name appeared in Despatches about the same time. In 1915 he was promoted to the staff, and was severely wounded in April of that year while leading a column into action near Neuve Chapelle. On his recovery he joined the staff at Canterbury and subsequently went to Egypt. When the Armistice was concluded he was serving with great credit on the Headquarters Staff of General Sir Edmund (now Lord) Allenby in Palestine.

He died of influenza at Port Said on January 21st, 1919, a few days after returning from leave.

Major Acworth married in 1015 Miss Edith Knowles and left one son. He was a fine horseman and shot, and in 1914 won a silver cup as “the best man-at-arms in the Bannu Brigade.” The Order of the Nile was awarded him after his death.

Source : Wykehamists Who Died In The War 1914-1918 Vol 2

Wilson T W Lt 6th Kings Liverpool Regiment

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Wilson T W Lt 6th Kings Liverpool Regiment

LIEUTENANT T. W. WILSON

6TH BATTALION THE KING’S (LIVERPOOL REGIMENT), T.F.

THOMAS WILSON WILSON was the third son of George Adshead Wilson (O.R., 1877), Merchant, of Aigburth, Liverpool, and Colonel of the Liverpool Rifles, T.F., and of Sarah Milne his wife.

He entered the School in 1905, and left in 1908.

After leaving Rugby he studied in Germany for nearly two years, and then returned to Liverpool to enter his father’s business. He took a keen interest in social work, and commanded a Company of the Church Lads’ Brigade. He was also an Officer in the Territorial Force for some years prior to the War.

In the spring of 1915 he went to the Front, in France, with his Regiment, and was killed on May 5th, at Zillebeke, near Hill 60, Ypres, under the following circumstances: After being twenty-four days in the trenches, the 6th Liverpools were relieved, and ordered to retire to a rest Camp. The enemy, by means of gas, gained possession of our trenches, and were on the point of piercing the line. The Liverpools were then ordered to return and recapture the trenches at all costs. Lieut. Wilson’s Company had to advance under a heavy machine gun and artillery fire, and in leading a rush he was shot dead. The Company went on and retook the trenches, and Lieut. Wilson’s Platoon was one of two which by their appearance caused the enemy to doubt what strength lay behind, and assisted materially in checking their forward movement. Age 23.

His Commanding Officer wrote:-

“He was one of my best Officers, and his place will be hard to fill.”

A Sergeant wrote that he was beloved by the men of his Company, and by his conduct and behaviour inspired them in all the dangerous work they had to do, and he was always with them, leading them every time.

Those who were best fitted to judge of his work with the Church Lads’ Brigade speak of his unbounded zeal and enthusiasm, of the value of the seed he had sown, and of the impossibility of supplying his place in a Company which he had raised to be the best in the Diocese.

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