De Rutzen A F J Lt Baron Pembroke Yeomanry Attd Imperial Camel Corps

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De Rutzen A F J Lt Baron Pembroke Yeomanry Attd Imperial Camel Corps

L IEUTENANT ALAN FREDERICK JAMES, BARON DE RUTZEN, son of the late Sir Albert de Rutzen, the famous Metropolitan Magistrate at Bow Street, was born in 1876. He was educated at Eton and in 1904 became a member of the Stock Exchange.

He succeeded his uncle as Baron de Rutzen in 1915. At the outbreak of the war he joined the Pembroke Yeomanry, being gazetted in August 1914, and went with them to Egypt in March 1916. Whilst there, he volunteered for and became attached to the Imperial Camel Corps, with which he was serving at the time of his death. He fell leading a company of the Camel Corps against the Turks near Katia.

The following extract, testifying to his great ability as an officer and leader of men, is from a letter of an officer of the Camel Corps to the Colonel of the Pembroke Yeomanry: “You will probably have heard, before this reaches you, that Baron de Rutzen was killed yesterday. He was in command of this company and the amount of confidence he put into his men helped considerably towards holding a very tight corner.”

“A brave man and a real topper in the field and out of it. His men simply adored him, as did all his brother officers.”

Baron de Rutzen had travelled extensively. He was greatly interested in horses, hunting and agriculture, and was a keen fisherman.

He married, in 1908, Eleanor Etna Audley, the only child of Captain Pelham Thursby Pelham of Abermarlais Park, Carmarthenshire, and Ridgeway, Pembrokeshire.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Donald A P Lt Royal Engineers

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Donald A P Lt Royal Engineers

L IEUTENANT ANDREW PATRICK DONALD, Royal Engineers, was a son of the late Dr. James Turner Donald, and a native of Paisley. He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1910 and a partner in the firm of Durham Stokes and Co.

Though over forty years of age when war broke out, and though he had already served his country in the South African War, he would not rest content until he had once again been accepted for service. He was in South Africa twenty years ago with the C.I.V. Mounted Infantry and held the Queen’s Medal with four clasps.

From 1914 onwards he made repeated attempts to rejoin, but was again and again rejected, on medical grounds, until finally in 1917 he was accepted for the Royal Defence Corps. Later he was transferred to the Royal Engineers and it was as a “sapper” lieutenant that he at length reached the Front. While on active service in France he contracted pleurisy and was invalided home. He died at Wandsworth Military Hospital on 1 February 1918, at the age of forty-four.

Lieut. Donald left a widow and four children.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Dawson W L 2nd Lt 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

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Dawson W L 2nd Lt 6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

SECOND LIEUTENANT WILFRED LEEDHAM DAWSON, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was born in 1882. He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1913.

A partner in the firm of Bragg, Stockdale, Hall and Co., he joined the Artists’ Rifles and received his commission in the 7th Worcester Regiment in 1916.

Immediately on being gazetted, he went to France and was then attached to the 2/6th Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, being transferred to that regiment in the following year.

He met his death in the operations following the repulse before Cambrai in November 1917, being killed in action while holding the line near La Vacquerie on 3 December.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Davies R F Captain 9th London Regiment

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Davies R F Captain 9th London Regiment

MAJOR ROBERT FFINDON DAVIES London Regiment was the son of Frederick Herbert Davies, a member of the Stock Exchange. He was born in 1877 and educated at Marlborough College. On leaving school he joined that famous shooting corps, the 1st Middlesex V.R.C. and fought in the South African War, where his company was attached to a battalion of the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. He was awarded the South African medal with four clasps.

He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1898. Though he had already given great proof of his skill as a rifle shot, his victory in the King’s Prize at Bisley in 1906 was a surprise to everyone except his friends. From that time onward he was recognized as one of the finest and most enthusiastic marksmen in the country. He did much to keep alive interest in rifle shooting before the opening of Lord Roberts’ campaign, and he helped greatly to make the Bisley meeting an enjoyable social event.

He reached the final stages of the King’s Prize on four occasions, shot for England in 1910 and 1911 at Bisley and represented his country at the Olympic games at Stockholm in 1912.

Major Davies had retired with an Honorary Captaincy in the regular army in 1908, but he rejoined at the outbreak of war, served for two years in England and went to the Front in 1916. He was killed at the head of his men on 9 September of that year.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Cuthbertson E H Lt 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

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Cuthbertson E H Lt 9th Royal Warwickshire Regiment

L IEUTENANT EDWARD HEDLEY CUTHBERTSON, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was born in 1888, the son of Edward Hedley Cuthbertson, formerly a member of the Stock Exchange.

Educated at Malvern College and Clare College, Cambridge, he was given his Blue for Association football, and he also played cricket for his University several times.

He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1911.

Enlisting in the Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers in August 1914, he was eventually given his commission in the Warwickshire Regiment.

He went to France in March 1915 and was wounded at Ypres a few weeks later. Returning to France, he was invalided home again in July 1916.

After a period of convalescence in England he was sent to Mesopotamia and died in hospital at Amara on 24 July 1917.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Cornfoot D H H Captain 9th London Regiment

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Cornfoot D H H Captain 9th London Regiment

CAPTAIN DAVID HENRY HARMAN CORNFOOT, 9th Battalion London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles), was the eldest son of the late David Cornfoot of Tonbridge, and was born in 1870. Educated at Tonbridge, he left school at the age 17 and became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1895.

Always keen on soldiering, he joined the Artists Rifles as a private and rose to the rank of Sergeant. Later he took a commission in the Bloomsbury Rifles which, under the Territorial Scheme, became merged in the Queen Victoria’s Rifles. He attained the rank of Captain in this battalion, and subsequently resigned his commission; but on the outbreak of war rejoined his old regiment, being gazetted Lieutenant in September and promoted Captain in November 1914, in the second line battalion.

For many months he was engaged in training drafts at home for the 1st Battalion, but, despite his age, he urgently requested to go to the Front. In July 1915 he went to France and joined the 4th Entrenching Battalion of which, in February 1916, he took command.

Under the severe conditions of the winter of 1915-16 his health broke down, and eventually he contracted pleurisy and was invalided home in April. He died at Netley Red Cross Hospital on 2 May 1916.

A brother officer wrote of him thus: “In France one finds out a man’s worth very quickly, and I can’t say how much I admired him and the splendid way he stuck to his work. He was a sportsman in every way, and I feel I have lost a lifelong pal, though I only served with him for three months.”

He married in 1900 Olive, the second daughter of the late Arthur Houston, K.C.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

CAPT. DAVID HENRY HARMAN CORNFOOT,

9TH (COUNTY OF LONDON) BATTN. LONDON REGT. (QUEEN VICTORIA’S RIFLES) (T.F.).

DIED AT NETLEY RED CROSS HOSPITAL, MAY 2ND, 1916, OF ILLNESS CONTRACTED ON ACTIVE SERVICE IN FRANCE. AGED 46.

At the School 1883-86 (Day Boy).

Capt. D. H. H. Cornfoot was the eldest son of the late David Cornfoot, of 20, Lancaster Gate, W., formerly of the Manor House, Tonbridge. He married in 1900 Olive, the second daughter of the late Arthur Houston, K.C., of 22, Lancaster Gate, W. Leaving School young, at the age of 17, he commenced work in the City with a firm of stockbrokers, and later became a member of the Stock Exchange. Always keen on soldiering, he joined the 20th Middlesex (Artists) Rifles, now the 28th (County of London) Battn. London Regt. (Artists Rifles) (T.F.), as a private, and served for many years in this Corps, rising to the rank of Sergeant. Later on he took a commission in the 19th Middlesex (Bloomsbury) Rifles, which in 1908, under the Territorial scheme, were merged with the 1st Middlesex (St. George’s) Rifles and be- came the 9th (County of London) Battn., the London Regt. (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) (T.F.), and rose to the rank of Captain. He subsequently resigned his commission, but on the outbreak of war he rejoined, was gazetted September 6th, 1914, Temporary Lieutenant in the 2/9th London Regt., and was promoted Temporary Captain November 21st, 1914. For many months he did splendid work in training drafts for the 1st Battn., but urgently petitioned to be allowed to go to the Front, in spite of his age. In July, 1915, he went to France and joined the 4th Entrenching Battn., of which as Senior Captain he took command in February, 1916. Hard work, and the severe conditions under which it was performed during the winter of 1915-16, told upon his health, and eventually resulted in acute pleurisy, which necessitated his being invalided home on April 10th, and he died at Netley Red Cross Hospital, Southampton, on May 2nd, 1916.

He was a capable officer and popular alike with his brother officers and with the men. A brother officer, writing to Capt. Cornfoot’s widow, says :-

“In France one finds out a man’s worth very quickly, and I can’t say how much I admired your husband and the splendid way he stuck to his work. He was a sportsman in every way, and I feel I have lost a life- long pal, though I only served with him for three months.”

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

 

 

Clayton W J Sergt 2267 9th London Regiment

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Clayton W J Sergt 2267 9th London Regiment

SERGEANT WALTER JOHN CLAYTON, 9th Battalion London Regiment, the youngest son of Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. Clayton of Hillside, Ditton Hill, Surrey, was born in 1885. He was a fine athlete, and at Cheltenham College, where he was educated, he represented the school at both Cricket and Football. In 1902 he entered his uncle’s firm, Clayton and Aston, and later on became a member of the Stock Exchange and of the firm of Clayton and Sons.

At the outbreak of war he joined the Inns of Court O.T.C., but, in his anxiety to get to the Front, he enlisted in the 9th Battalion London Regiment (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) and went to France in November. Soon after he was promoted to Sergeant and on several occasions was offered a commission, but said that he would prefer to stay with his men.

He served in the trenches all through that terrible first winter, and was killed at the battle of Hill 60 on 19 April, 1915.

One of his fellow sergeants wrote: “I had been with him since the start and there was no more popular man in the Regiment. He will never be forgotten by any of us.”

Sergeant Clayton had a fine voice and did splendid work in organizing concerts and sports for his men.

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

 

Clarke S A Sergt G/2659 6th East Kent Regiment

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Clarke S A Sergt G/2659 6th East Kent Regiment

SERGEANT STEWART ALGERNON CLARKE, The Buffs, was the sixth son of the late Rev. James S. Clarke, vicar of Goudhurst, Kent, and was born in 1881.

Educated at Cranbrook Grammar School and Tonbridge, he entered the office of Ricardo and Robertson in 1895 and became a member of the Stock Exchange nine years later.

Until he injured his knee he was manager of “B” team of Blackheath Football Club. He was an enthusiastic collector of antiques, a connoisseur in old table glass, and a member of the British Numismatic and of the Kent Numismatic Societies.

During August 1914 he served in Kent as a motor-cyclist patrol and despatch rider. In September he enlisted in the 6th Battalion The Buffs, and was trained with them at Purfleet, Sandling, and Aldershot before they were sent to France in June 1915.

Before that Stewart Clarke had qualified at Hythe in Machine Gun work, and had been appointed Machine Gun Sergeant-Instructor to the battalion.

He was killed in action on the night of October 1915 near 13 Hulluch, in the course of the operations following the battle of Loos. His Machine Gun Officer wrote thus of him: “We were attacking a portion of the German trenches, and he was in charge of one of the guns which had to advance to the captured trench. He died whilst leading his team in the most gallant fashion.”

“Of all that he meant to me I can give no idea. I always looked upon him as a brother officer to whom I could go for advice, and whose advice was always worth taking. The men of the Machine Gun section absolutely worshipped him and, whatever hardships they had to go through, there was never any complaint because they knew they could trust their sergeant to get the best possible for them.”

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Clarke S A Sergt G/2659 6th East Kent Regiment

SERGT. STEWART ALGERNON CLARKE, 6TH BATTN. THE BUFFS (EAST KENT REGT.). KILLED IN ACTION AT THE HOHENZOLLERN REDOUBT, NEAR HULLUCH, OCTOBER 13TH, 1915. AGED 34.

At the School 1893-95 (Day Boy). Stewart Algernon Clarke was the sixth son of the late Rev. James Sanderson Clarke, Vicar of Goudhurst, Kent, and Mrs. Clarke, of 198, Denmark Hill, S.E., and a brother of the Rev. Kenneth Clarke (P.S. 1889-93; Sixth Form 1892-93; XI. 1891-2-3; XV. 1892; Sizar of St. John’s College, Cambridge, 1893; B.A. 1896), for long Vicar of St. Mark’s, Lewisham, S.E. He had been on the Stock Exchange ever since. he left School, and became a Member of the House in 1904. He was a Member of the Kent Numismatic Society, and his great hobby lately had been “tokens.” He was, says a correspondent, a “real good fellow and a delightful companion with a host of friends.”

On the outbreak of war he acted as a Cycle Patrol on the Kentish coast and then enlisted with the other men in the 6th Battn. of the Buffs and in time became Machine Gun Sergeant. He was offered one or two Commissions, but would not take them as he was unwilling to leave the men he enlisted with and wanted to serve in the Buffs, as East Kent was his home.

His officer writes: “He was killed on the night of the 13-14th (October). We were attacking a portion of the German trenches and he was in charge of the gun which had to advance to the captured trench. He died whilst leading his team in the most gallant fashion. In the whole Battalion there was hardly a man more looked up to than Sergt. Clarke, and this regard he had won for himself entirely by his own personal merit. Of all that he meant to me I can give you no idea. I always looked on him as a brother officer to whom I could go for advice and whose advice was always worth taking. The men of the machine gun section absolutely worshipped him, and whatever hardship they have had to go through there was never any complaint, because they knew they could trust their Sergeant to get the best possible for them.”

One of his brothers, the third son, Basil Edward Clarke, who was serving as a Private in the 7th Battn. of the 1st Canadian Contingent, was reported missing when the Canadians lost so heavily near Ypres on April 24th, 1915, and his death was ultimately presumed. Two other brothers served and were both wounded.

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

Chinnery H B Lt 13th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

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Chinnery H B Lt 13th Kings Royal Rifle Corps

LIEUTENANT HARRY BRODRICK CHINNERY, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, second son of the late W. M. Chinnery of Hatchford Park, Cobham, Surrey, was born in 1876 and educated at Eton.

His name was long famous in the cricketing world. He played for Eton against Harrow in 1894 and 1895, and was afterwards a regular member first of the Surrey and then of the Middlesex Eleven. He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1898, and a partner in his late father’s firm, Chinnery Bros.

As soon as war broke out he offered his services to the War Office and was given a commission in the 13th (Service) Battalion of the 60th (King’s Royal Rifles).

He was killed in France on 28 May 1916, in circumstances that are thus described by his Company Commander: “He was in the middle of his men, encouraging them in a moment of danger. He was killed by the last shell fired at a night working party which was advancing our line nearer to the enemy. It was a trying night, and he did splendidly all the earlier part of it in keeping them at their work and keeping up their spirits.”

His Colonel wrote: “He will be greatly missed by his brother- officers and the men of his Company, while by his death the Battalion has lost a valuable officer whom it would be difficult to replace.”

Lieut. Chinnery’s popularity with his men may be judged by the following extracts from a letter written by a rifleman “on behalf of the fellows in his Platoon and myself”:

“Mr. Chinnery was loved and respected by all of us that he came in contact with. While in charge of the Machine Gun Section in England, and last Autumn out here, he was looked upon as something more than a good officer and a perfect gentleman; and although he had only been with No. 6 Platoon six weeks, yet no Officer was more respected and had their complete confidence.”

“Many are the stories told by his men of his splendid courage and coolness on Sunday night (the night of his death); always first in his area to go to a wounded man, to assist and cheer with a kindly word.”

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918

Chappell E R Lt Royal Garrison Artillery

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Chappell E R Lt Royal Garrison Artillery

SECOND LIEUT. ERNEST ROWLAND CHAPPELL, Royal Garrison Artillery, became a member of The Stock Exchange in 1909 and was with the firm of Richardson and Co.

He met his death just before the Armistice while on duty with his battery outside Loos, being mortally wounded by a shell. His Commanding Officer wrote to his widow: ” Your splendid husband stuck to his guns and did his job when others less stout- hearted might have left them after the first salvo of shells came.”

Source : The Stock Exchange War Memorial 1914-1918