Vachell R T Captain 1st Northumberland Fusiliers Attd Royal Flying Corps

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Vachell R T Captain Northumberland Fusiliers Attd Royal Flying Corps

CAPTAIN R. T. VACHELL Northumberland Fusiliers

Aged 25 September 1st, 1915

ONLY Son of Horace Annesley Vachell (O.H.), Novelist and Dramatist, of Beechwood House, Bartley, Southampton, and of Mrs. Vachell, née Phillips, of San Luis Obispo, California.

Football XI, 1907. Rugby XV, 1906-7.

He had considerable literary gifts, especially for the Short Story and the Drama, and contributed several articles to the St. George’s Gazette. At one time he intended to go on the stage, but, on leaving Harrow, finally made up his mind to adopt the Army as a profession and went to Sandhurst.

Captain Vachell was gazetted to the Northumberland Fusiliers in 1910, and joined the Ist Battalion, at Gharial in the Murree Hills, the same year. Except for a short period in 1912, when he acted as A.D.C. to Lord Sydenham, the then Governor of Bombay, he served continuously with the 1st Battalion till the outbreak of the War. He left for France with his Regiment in August, 1914. He was all through the Retreat from Mons, but was wounded on October 20th, 1914, and invalided home. For his services at that time he was mentioned in Despatches. He was then seconded for service with the Flying Corps as Observation Officer, and took many remarkable photographs of the enemy’s lines. Later he qualified as a Pilot and again went to France in July, 1915. On the 31st of August, as he was returning from a reconnaissance, he broke his propeller on landing; by some mischance the machine caught fire, and he and his Observer fell to earth from a height of about ten feet. They both extricated themselves without difficulty, but Vachell was badly burnt, and died next day from shock.

From the St. George’s Gazette:-

“All who knew Dick Vachell will realize the loss the Regiment has suffered by his death. A sportsman through and through, keen as mustard, and the cheeriest of comrades, he made friends wherever he went. His peculiar power of making friends was never more apparent than among the French and Belgian Officers, with whom he mixed freely, when he was with the Flying Corps in Belgium.”

Source : Harrow Memorials Of The Great War 1914-1918 Vol 2

Vachell R T Captain 1st Northumberland Fusiliers Attd Royal Flying Corps

VACHELL, RICHARD TANFIELD, Capt., 1st Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers and Royal Flying Corps, only s. of Horace Annesley Vachell, of Beechwood, Bartley, Southampton, Author and Dramatist, by his wife, Lydia, dau, of Chauncy Hatch Phillips, of San Luis Obispo, California; b. San Luis aforesaid, 29 June, 1890; educ. Harrow and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the 1st Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers, 13 June, 1910; promoted Lieut. 27 Nov. 1913, and Capt. in July, 1915; joined the 1st Battn. at Gharial in the Murree Hills in 1910, and served with it continuously, except for a short period in 1912, when he acted as A.D.C. to Lord Sydenham, the then Governor of Bombay, until the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, when he proceeded with it to France. He took part in the retreat from Mons, but was wounded in Oct. and invalided home. Shortly after returning to the Front he joined the Flying Corps as an observer, again returning to England in April to train for his pilot’s certificate, which he obtained in June, 1915. He returned to France at the end of July, and died at Choques, 1 Aug. 1915, of wounds received on 31 July, being buried in the military cemetery there; unm.

Capt. Vachell was a good all-round sportsman. While at Harrow he was a member of the football eleven and fifteen; was an ardent Skihari, and represented the regt. at polo in the Jubbulpore Tournament in 1912. He contributed several articles to the St. George’s Gazette under the nom de plume of “The Sprouter,” notably “With the American Section at the Delhi Durbar,” which exhibited his strong sense of humour. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. [London Gazette, 17 Feb.] 1915.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol

Ussher B Captain 1st Leinster Regiment

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Ussher B Captain 1st Leinster Regiment

USSHER, BEVERLY, Capt., 1st Battn. Prince of Wales’s Leinster Regt. (Royal Canadians), 2nd s. of the Rev. Richard Ussher, Vicar of Westbury, Brackley; b. Catton Hall, Burton-on-Trent, 4 Aug. 1879; educ. St. Edward’s School, Oxford (1891-98), and Wadham College, Oxford (1898-1900); gazetted 2nd Lieut., Leinster Regt, 23 May, 1900, and promoted Lieut. 9 Aug. 1902, and Capt. 1 April, 1910; was Adjutant, 3 May, 1906, to 2 May, 1909, and officer, Coy. Gentlemen Cadets, and Instructor at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, 21 Sept. 1912, to May, 1915; joined the 2nd Battn. at Barbados in Aug. 1900; served in Jamaica and St. Lucia; in the South African War, 1902; took part in the operations in the Orange River Colony, Feb. to March, and in the Transvaal, March to 31 May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with four clasps), and subsequently in India for two years and then at Devonport and in Ireland.

After the outbreak of the European War he was appointed Staff Officer on the Staff of General Doran; left for the Dardanelles in May as Staff Capt. to the 88th Brigade in the famous 29th Division; was acting Brigade-Major, and was killed there 19 June, 1915. An officer wrote: “On the night of 18-19 June, a battn. of the 42nd Division was attacked and lost two or three trenches. The Turks got in behind our line, and were firing into the backs of the Royal Scots, who were holding the right of the 88th Brigade position. The counter-attack of the 42nd Division hung fire; so about 2 a.m. we decided to make one ourselves. Capt. Ussher was sent to the support trench of the Worcestershire Regt. who were in rear of the Royal Scots. The situation was serious and involved. Communication by telephone with the Royal Scots was interrupted owing to the wire being cut. It was necessary to have clear reports sent back. The Worcestershire Regt. had lost all their regular senior officers, and were, on this night, commanded by a Ceylon Planter. Capt. Ussher was told to see that co-ordinated action was arranged between the Royal Scots and Worcestershire Regt. and to send reports on the situation; but on no account to lead any attempt which was not his work under the circumstances. He took his orderly with him who subsequently told me what occurred. The action to be taken was agreed upon. The Royal Scots charged from their trenches simultaneously with a coy. of the Worcestershire Regt., retook from the Turks the trenches they had seized, followed on and took and held a Turkish trench. There was a close fight with the bayonet which lasted 15 minutes. A German officer was killed. When the Worcestershire Regt. were in the act of jumping out of the trench preparatory to charging, Capt. Ussher was in the trench with Capt. Allen, D.A.A.Q.M.G. 142nd Division (Hampshire Regt.). I understand that he moved, still in the trench, to give room, and as he stood up he was struck in the head by a bullet, and died in a few minutes without becoming conscious. He was brought back to a spot near our Brigade Headquarters, and buried by the Chaplain. The grave is on the open upland from which can be seen the Dardanelles and Asia. A large cross had been made and marked and placed at the head. Wild flowers grow there,” and the Chaplain : The bearing is 310 from South Corner of White House to South Corner of the Cemetery. At St. Edward’s he was in the XI from 1895 to 1898, when he was capt., and in the XV from 1894 to 1897, when he was capt. He was one of the most brilliant of our cricketers. He headed the batting averages in 1897, and won the average ball twice in both cases with fine scores. Twice he scored for the school a century, and his record of cricket at St. Edward’s ends with the perfectly played 120 which he made against it in the Jubilee Match. He was a member of the S.E.S. Society. He also represented Wadham both at cricket and football. He m. at Jullundur, India, 26 March, 1906, Ethel, dau. of the Rev. Henry Martin, Vicar of Stockton-on-Tees, and Canon of Durham, and had three children: John Beverly, b. 6 Nov. 1913; Stephen Beverly, b. 17 Sept. 1915; and Kathleen Mary, b. 28 Feb. 1910. His brother, Capt. S. Ussher, was killed in France (see following notice).

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

 

Ussher S Captain Indian Army

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Ussher S Captain Indian Army

Source : The Sphere 9th Jan 1915

Ussher S Captain Indian Army

USSHER, STEPHEN, Capt., 129th Duke of Connaught’s Own Baluchis, 3rd s. of the Rev. Richard Ussher, Vicar of Westbury, Brackley; b. 52, Eaton Place, S.W., 4 Oct. 1882; educ. St. Edward’s School, Oxford, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst (20 Sept. 1901 to 30 July, 1903); gazetted 2nd Lieut., unattd., Indian Army, 27 Aug. 1902; served with the 1st Battn. King’s Shropshire L.I. (with which he went to India), 27 Aug. 1902 to 25 Feb. 1903; The Buffs, 26 Feb. 1902 to 13 Oct. 1903, and the 2nd East Lancashires, 14 Oct. 1903 to 4 July, 1904; was posted to the 129th Baluchis, 5 July, 1904, and promoted Lieut. 5 Dec. following, and Capt. 27 Aug. 1911; was Double Coy. Officer, 7 July, 1904; Off. Adjutant, 11 Nov. 1908, to 27 June, 1909, and Adjutant, 28 June, 1909, to 15 Aug. 1913; 3; was present at the Delhi Coronation Durbar (medal, 24 June, Ju 1911); went to France with the Indian Expeditionary Force, Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Givenchy, 16 Dec. 1914; unm.

The 129th Baluchis were ordered to make an attack on the German trenches at Givenchy near La Bassée on the early morning of the 16th. Capt, Ussher was in charge of the Machine-Gun Section of the Regt. The attack at first succeeded, but later the Germans brought up two machine-guns quite close, and by this means prevented any reinforcements coming forward to assist the first attacking party which had gained the Germans’ first line of trenches. Capt. Ussher, seeing what damage the German machine-guns were doing, tried to direct the fire from his guns on to theirs, and while looking over the parapet so that he could direct the fire effectively was hit by a bullet in the centre of his forehead. He died at once without recovering consciousness, and was buried the next day at Beuvry, near Bethune. His last words before he was killed were “Keep down, keep down,” to a brother officer who was with him. The 129th Baluchis were the first Indian Regt. to go into action, and one of the men received one of the two first V.C.’s ever granted to the native troops.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Urquhart E F M Captain Black Watch

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Urquhart E F M Captain Black Watch

Source : The Sphere 19th Dec 1914

URQUHART, EDWARD FREDERICK MALTBY, Capt., 1st Battn. The Black Watch (Royal Highlanders), only s. of the Rev Edward William Urquhart,of 82, Elm Park Gardens, London, S.W., M.A., formerly Vicar of King’s Sutton,co Northampton, by his wife, Caroline Mary, dau. of William Harris, of Plumley, Bovey Tracey, Devonshire; b. Edinburgh, 26 Jan. 1877; educ. West Bournemouth and Cheltenham College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Highlanders, 20 Feb.1897, and promoted Lieut. 24 May, 1899, and Capt. 17 April, 1902; served in the South African War, 1901-2; took part in the operations in the Transvaal, Dec. 1901, and in those in the Orange River Colony, Dec 1901, to 31 May, 1902(Queen’s medal with four clasps), was assistant superintendent of gymnasia in the Irish command, 9 Nov. 1906 to 19 Feb. 1907, and superintendent of the same,20 Feb. 1907 to 9 Nov. 1910, and later Inspector of Physical Training, Northern Army, India, from March, 1913, to date of his death; went to France, 22 Sept.1914 and was killed in action at Pilken, 23 Oct. following, during the fighting in the Ypres salient; unm. Buried in Boesinghe Churchyard.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Uren G T L/Cpl 8/1149 14th Otago Regiment New Zealand Expeditionary Force

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UREN, GEORGE THOMAS, L.-Corpl., No. 8/1149, 14th Otago Regt., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, s. of William Uren, of Clyde, Otago Central, New Zealand, formerly of St. Ives ; b. Clyde, Otago, New Zealand, 2 April, 1887; educ. there; was by trade a Printer; volunteered on the outbreak of war; joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force 28 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action in Gallipoli, 2 May, 1915; unm. He was a well known athlete in Central Otago and was a member of the C.U. Fire Brigade.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Upton R Sergt 2356 Royal Flying Corps

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Upton R Sergt 2356 Royal Flying Corps

UPTON, RICHARD, Sergt., No. 2356, The Royal Flying Corps, 3rd surviving s. of the late Capt. Richard Upton, 4th Battn. Sherwood Foresters (Derbyshire Regt.), and of the Political and Secret Department of H.M. India Office, by his wife, Harriet Frances (92, Tooting Bec Road, S.W.), dau. of the late Richard Clayton Strelley, of Oakerthorpe, c. Derby; b. Finchley, 11 Sept. 1881 ; educ. privately, and deciding upon a sea career, passed through the stages of his apprenticeship in a sailing boat, and eventually became a captain and master mariner in the Straits S.S. Service, L.F., being regarded as the commodore of the fleet of 17 boats. While home on leave in July, 1914, he obtained his first-class flying ticket in the Grahame-White School of Flying, and on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, joined the Legion of Frontiersmen; went to France, where he did good work as a free lance with the Red Cross Society. He then joined the R.F.C., was promoted Sergt., and died in Tidworth Military Hospital, 3 May, 1915, of pneumonia, contracted while on active service; unm.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Upton E E M J Captain 2nd Kings Royal Rifle Corps

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Upton E E M J Captain 2nd Kings Royal Rifle Corps

Source : The Illustrated London News 29th May 1915

Upton E E M J Captain 2nd Kings Royal Rifle Corps

UPTON, HON. ERIC EDWARD MONTAGU JOHN, Capt. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, elder s. and heir of Henry Edward Montagu Dorington Clotworthy, 4th Viscount Temple own, of Castle Upton, Templepatrick, co. Antrim, by his wife, Lady Evelyn, nee Finch Hatton, dau. of George William, 10th Earl of Winchilsea and Nottingham; b.Steventon, co. Hants, 8 March, 1885; educ. at Eton (Mr. H. E. Luxmoore’s) and Sandhurst. He passed out of Sandhurst with honours, was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 16 Aug. 1905, and joined the 2nd Battn. King’s Royal Rifles in India, being promoted Lieut. 3 Oct. 1908, and returning with them in 1910. He was assistant Adjutant, 1910-13, and was appointed Adjutant, 1 Jan. 1914.

On the outbreak of war the 2nd Battn. mobilised on the Chobham Ridges and went out under Lieut.-Col. Pearce Serocold in the 2nd Infantry Brigade under Major-Gen. Bulfin. Capt. Upton served through the retreat from Mons, the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne. He was wounded at the first Battle of Ypres, was twice mentioned in Despatches, 31 May and 30 Nov. 1915 [London Gazette, 22 June, 1915, and 1 Jan. 1916], and promoted Tempy. Capt. 15 Nov. 1914. He was killed near Rue de Bois during the action of 9 May, 1915. His Colonel wrote of him: “Besides being an exceptionally gallant officer, the work he has done for the battn. will live and be felt by it for years. I need hardly say there was no more popular officer in the regt., and I personally have lost a very dear and loyal friend, and those who knew him well realised that his character and abilities had marked him out for a great career in the Service.”

A good cricketer and football player, and an experienced big game shooter in India, and deeply devoted to his regt., he had a remarkable power of gaining the affection of all with whom he came in contact, rich and poor alike, and his loyalty to his friends was one of his most marked characteristics. He was unm., and was buried in the Soldiers’ Cemetery, near the Rue de Bois, Richebourg St. Vast. His yr. brother, the Hon. Henry Upton, is now (1916) on active service as a 2nd Lieut. in the Royal East Kent Yeomanry.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Underhill R B Pte 1685 13th London Regiment

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Underhill R B Pte 1685 13th London Regiment

UNDERHILL, RAYMOND BENWELL, Private, No. 1685, 13th Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensingtons) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of William Richardson Underhill, Watchmaker and Jeweller, by his wife, Annie (123, Holland Park Avenue, W.), dau. of James Benwell, of Knightsbridge; b. Kensington, W., 9 Oct. 1881; educ. St. Mary Abbotts Higher Grade School there ; joined the 4th Middlesex Volunteers afterwards, in 1907, the 13th London Territorials, and served eight years; went to Canada in March, 1907; returned to England in 1909, and went into business as a watchmaker and jeweller at 39, Earl’s Court Road, Kensington; rejoined his old regt. immediately war was declared; volunteered for foreign service; went to France in Oct., and died at No. 6 Clearing Station, Merville, 11 Feb. 1915, from appendicitis contracted while on active service; unm. Buried in Merville Cemetery, France (Grave No. E 10).

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

 

Underhill F T Pte 1109 5th London Regiment

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Underhill F T Pte 1109 5th London Regiment

UNDERHILL, FREDERICK TOM, Private, No. 1109, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of the late Frederick Tom Underhill, of Aptor Marldon, co. Devon, by his wife, Emily (6, Killieser Avenue, Streatham Hill, S.W.), dau. of James Stidston; b. Aptor Marldon, 22 July, 1886; educ. Bancrofts School, Essex, and was afterwards employed in the City. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the West Kent Yeomanry, and was later transferred to the London Rifle Brigade, with which he went to the Front, 6 Nov. 1914. He saw five months of service with his regt. in France and Flanders, and was killed in action in the Ploegsteert trenches, 29 March, 1915, having been nominated for promotion just previous to his death. He was buried in the Rifle Brigade cemetery, in the Ploegsteert Wood; unm. Letters from his officers and comrades all testify to his wonderful cheerfulness under the greatest of discomforts, his helpfulness, and his readiness for any and every fatigue duty. His brother, Lieut. G. Underhill, 9th Devons, is now (1916) on active service.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1

Tyndall J C Lt 4th Royal Dublin Fusiliers

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Tyndall J C Lt Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Source : The War Illustrated Album De Luxe Vol 3

TYNDALL, JOSEPH CHARLES, Lieut., 4th Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 2nd s. of the late Joseph P. Tyndall, of 2, Eaton Square, Monkstown, Solicitor; b. Dublin, 18 May, 1892; educ. Castleknock College, co. Dublin; joined the Special Reserve, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, 17 Oct. 1910; and was gazetted Lieut. 20 April, 1912; afterwards went to Australia; but on the outbreak of war returned home and rejoined his old Battn.; went to France and was attd. to the 2nd Royal Irish Rifles in Jan. 1915, and was killed in action at Kemmel, 2 March, 1915, after a fortnight in the trenches ; unm. His elder brother, Surgeon William Tyndall, R.A.M.C., is now (1916) on active service in France.

Source : De Ruvigny’s Roll Of Honour Vol 1