Goold-Adams J Captain 1st Leinster Regiment

Posted on by

Goold-Adams J Captain 1st Leinster Regiment

CAPTAIN J. GOOLD ADAMS

IST BATTALION THE PRINCE OF WALES’S LEINSTER REGIMENT (ROYAL CANADIANS)

JOHN GOOLD ADAMS was the only son of the Venerable John Michael Goold Adams, M.A., Archdeacon of Derry, and of Emma his wife.

He came to the School in 1898 and left in 1900. He entered the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in 1901, was gazetted to the Leinster Regiment in 1903, and was promoted Captain in 1912. He served in the West African Frontier Force, North Nigeria Regiment Mounted Infantry, from 1908 to 1913, and, with it, took part in a punitive expedition.

He went to France with his Regiment in December, 1914, and was wounded in the following February. He rejoined and took part in the Battle of Hill 60, near Ypres, and, while leaning over the trenches in order to fire at the enemy, was killed by a shell, on May 4th, 1915. Age 31.

He married in August, 1913, Ierne Grace, eldest daughter of Assheton Biddulph, M.F.H., of Moneyguymeen, King’s Co.

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

 

Goold-Adams J Captain 1st Leinster Regiment

ADAMS, JOHN GOOLD, Capt., 1st Battn. Prince of Wales’ Leinster Regt. (Royal Canadians), s. of the Ven. John Michael Goold Adams, Rector of Clonleigh, co. Donegal, and Archdeacon of Derry, by his wife, Emma, dau. of Robert McClintock, of Dunmore, co. Donegal, D.L.; b. Rossdowney Vicarage, Londonderry, 10 Oct. 1883; educ. Bilton Grange Preparatory School, Rugby, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Leinster Regt. 22 April, 1903, becoming Lieut. 15 Dec. 1904, and Capt. 21 Sept. 1912; served at Pretoria, 1903-4, with the Mounted Infantry at Harrysmith, 1904-5, and in the Mauritius, 1905-6, and was employed with the West African Frontier Force in Northern Nigeria, 1908 to Nov. 1913.

After the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he accompanied his regiment to France (Dec. 23), was wounded in Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Hill 60, near Ypres, 4 May following. He m. at Moneyguine, Birr, King’s County, 5 Aug. 1913, Ierne Grace, dau. of Assheton Biddulph, M.F.H., of Moneyguyneen aforesaid; s.p.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Gilliat-Smith A Lt Royal Engineers

Posted on by

Gilliat-Smith A Lt Royal Engineers

LIEUTENANT A. GILLIAT-SMITH

26TH FIELD COMPANY ROYAL ENGINEERS

ARTHUR GILLIAT-SMITH was the only surviving son of Harold and Sybil Gilliat-Smith.

He entered the School in 1902, and left in 1906. He passed into the R.M.A., Woolwich, and was gazetted to the 26th Field Company R.E., which formed part of the 1st Division of the Expeditionary Force in France.

He was killed near Ypres, on November 1st, 1914. The 26th Company was in reserve, and received orders to reinforce. On arriving at the spot indicated it was found that the attack had been beaten back and the trenches were full. The 26th Company was exposed to a cross fire, and Lieutenant Gilliat-Smith, in endeavouring to get his men under cover, was shot just as it was reached. Age 26.

His Commanding Officer writes:-

“A most keen and efficient Officer, who died gallantly leading his section.”

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

 

Gilkison J D R Lt 1st Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders

Posted on by

Gilkison J D R Lt 1st Argyll And Sutherland Highlanders

LIEUTENANT J. D. R. GILKISON

1ST BATTALION PRINCESS LOUISII’s (ARGYLL AND SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS)

JAMES DAVID RALSTON GILKISON was the younger son of Dugald Stewart Gilkison, East India Merchant, of Wimbledon and Dalquharran, Ayrshire, and of Margaret his wife.

He entered the School in 1898, went to Trinity College, Oxford, 1903, was called to the Bar, Inner Temple, the same year, and obtained his Commission in the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders in December, 1907.

He entered the and Battalion and served with it in South Africa and, on its return home, exchanged into the 1st Battalion at Malta, in order to go with it to India, where he served over a year.

He was home on leave when the War broke out, joined the 2nd Battalion at Fort George in time to go to France on August 12th, 1914, and took part in the fighting there till August 26th, when he was killed at the Battle of Le Cateau. He was shot down while leading his men towards one of the enemy’s machine guns. Age 30.

A soldier in his Company wrote of him:-

“He was a fine Officer, and was a man loved by all the men in his Company. I served under him in Africa and in India. I was under him at Harrismith, in the Mounted Infantry, and afterwards with him in India, where he was in charge of the machine-gun section. We knew him as a first-class soldier, and we all looked up to him and respected him in the Regiment. A finer Officer we could not be under.”

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

Gilkison D S Captain 2nd Cameronians

Posted on by

Gilkison D S Captain 2nd Cameronians

CAPTAIN D. S. GILKISON

2ND BATTALION THE CAMERONIANS (SCOTTISH RIFLES)

DUGALD STEWART GILKISON was the elder son of Dugald Stewart Gilkison, East India Merchant, of Wimbledon and Dalquharran, Ayrshire, and of Margaret his wife.

He entered the School in 1894, passed direct into the R.M.C., Sandhurst, in February, 1898, and passed out with honours in the following December.

He was gazetted to the Scottish Rifles in February, 1899, served under Sir Redvers Buller in the Ladysmith Relief Force, was present at the Battles of Colenso, Vaal Kranz, the Tugela Heights and Pieter’s Hill, was Intelligence Officer at Greylingstad, October, 1900, to August, 1901, and afterwards served in the Mounted Infantry till the end of the South African War, when he received the Queen’s Medal with five Clasps, and the King’s with two.

He rejoined his Regiment in Glasgow in 1904, was promoted Captain the same year, became Commandant of the School of Instruction in Glasgow, was Adjutant of his Regiment 1905 to 1908, Staff College 1908 to 1910, Staff Officer Northern Command 1911, Brigade Major 5th Infantry Brigade 1912, till the time of his death, September 20th, 1914. He was killed by a bullet while superintending operations of the 5th Brigade, near the village of Verneuil, on the Aisne. Age 34.

He was mentioned in Despatches of October 8th, 1914.

The General Commanding First Division wrote as follows :-

“His work during the Campaign has been simply splendid, and I honestly think he was one of the very best soldiers in the Army. He was always ready to cope with the most difficult extremity, and by his extraordinary gallantry he continually set the very best possible example to every one. I tried on all occasions to keep him away from the worst of the shoot-ing, because he was constantly desirous of being in every post of danger, and I am afraid that, when I left, he took risks which were not absolutely necessary.”

Colonel Davies, the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, wrote:-

“During the very trying time of the retirement, when we were all dropping with fatigue and want of sleep, he was always absolutely clear-headed and confident. The anxiety for one in his position was no doubt great, but he always set an excellent example of cheerfulness and confidence. When things went better, and we were advancing, he was equally good.”

Colonel Westmacott, the Worcestershire Regiment, who commanded the Brigade after General Haking was wounded, wrote:-

“He was the most fearless man I ever met, and a great loss to us and to the Service.”

He married in February, 1905, Janet Kate, daughter of the Rev. A. Н. Harcourt-Vernon, of Keble, Clocolan, Orange River Colony, South Africa, and left four children.

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

Geddes J Captain 16th Canadian Infantry

Posted on by

Geddes J Captain 16th Canadian Infantry

CAPTAIN J. GEDDES

79TH CAMERON HIGHLANDERS, 16TH BATTALION CANADIAN CONTINGENT

JOHN GEDDES was the elder son of Alexander and Frances R. Geddes, of Blairmore, Aberdeenshire, and nephew of Sir William Geddes, Principal of Aberdeen University.

He entered the School in 1893. He was in the XV in 1895-96. On leaving School he went to America, followed a mercantile career, and was in business, first in Chicago, and later in Winnipeg, where he served for seven years in the 79th Cameron Highlanders, a Regiment allied with the Queen’s Own Cameron Highlanders.

A friend in Canada said that, on the outbreak of War, “he was one of the very first Officers of the 79th to volunteer. If they have any use for me, I am ready, he said; and for the rest of his life he was a soldier.” He came over to England with the First Canadian Contingent.

He fell, under machine-gun fire, at Langemarke, in Flanders, on April 23rd, 1915, leading his men in the famous Canadian charge, made necessary by the retirement of the French, when the Germans first used asphyxiating gas. Age 37.

A School-fellow wrote:-

“He was an absolutely fearless man. At School he never knew what fear was, and his one idea was to do things in a way to bring credit to his House. I have talked to several men who were at School with him, and we always remarked on his pluck, because it had stuck in our memories.”

A friend in Canada said:-

“John Geddes was one of the excellent of this earth a good citizen, a brave soldier, and a loyal friend.”

An Officer of his Company wrote:-

“Even after he was hit, and while dying, he kept crawling onwards, calling, ‘Go on, boys, you’ll win, you’ll win!’ He was a true born Highland gentleman; every single man in the Regiment felt that, and his death is indeed a heavy blow.”

He married, in 1907, Helen, daughter of Marshall Tillie, D.L., of Duncreggan, Londonderry, and left two sons and one daughter.

His only brother, Second Lieutenant A. F. Geddes (O.R.), was killed in action on June 16th, 1915.

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