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Roll
of Honour.
By
collating and clarifying the information available from the Officers
Died in the Great War Roll of Honour, building in what is held
on the Commonwealth War Graves databases and incorporating information
from Newspaper clippings and books, I have tried to build a comprehensive
roll of honour. Of the 16 Officers killed whilst physically serving
with the 5th Battalion, 8 fell in Gallipoli in 1915 and 14 lost
their lives in Egypt
and Palestine
during 1917 to 1919. In addition, I have identified an Officer
who died in 1919, having been wounded on Gallipoli as well as
many others who fell whilst serving in other units.
The
Officers are listed below in alphabetical order and split into
the theatres of war they gave their lives in, many of whom can
be seen in the group photographs here.
Killed
serving in the 5th Battalion in Gallipoli
The
first 6 Officers were all killed during the attack on Kidney Hill,
which lies along the Kiretch Tepe Sirt in the Suvla Bay
area of the peninsular on the 15th August 1915, of which a detailed
story can be found here.
Captain
Charles Tanquerary BAKER
Killed
in action 15th August 1915.
Charles
Baker was the son of The Rector of Dunstable and commanded B Company
during the attack on 15th August. The Regimental History says
that “… although wounded, (he) went on at
the head of his company until he fell.” His first wound
was in fact, a shattered arm caused by an artillery shell. The
second wound, from a rifle bullet, was received whilst he was
being led back to the Regimental Aid Post and was fatal. The Battalion
CO, Colonel Brighten, wrote home that he “led his Company
superbly”. He is buried at Azmak
Cemetery,
Suvla. Captain Baker can be seen in the Officers 1915 group photo
(second from the left, third row) and with his Company in 1915
here
as well as in person below.
| Captain
Charles Tanquerary Baker |
|
| Killed
in action 15th August 1915, Gallipoli |
2/Lt
Ralph Dalton
Jarvis BRIGHTEN
Killed
in action 15th August 1915, aged 22.
Ralph
Brighten was the younger brother of the 5th Battalion
CO, and lived in
Biggleswade. He led the Battalions “show platoon”
- No 1 Platoon, A Company - during the attack on 15th August,
and his body was found at “the farthest point reached”
during the attack. He was killed “about the same time”
as his Company commander, Brian Cumberland. Ralph (called “Dick”
by his elder brother in a letter written after the battle) was
the son of William Green Brighten and Fanny Elizabeth Brighten
of 60 Kensington Mansions, Earl's Court, London.
Ralph was born at Southend-on-Sea and is buried at Azmak
Cemetery,
Suvla. Ralph’s photograph can be seen here and he is also
in the 1915 group photograph here
as well as in person below.
| 2/Lt
Ralph Dalton Jarvis Brighten |
|
| Killed
in action 15th August 1915, Gallipoli |
Captain
Brian Clark CUMBERLAND
Killed
in action 15th August 1915, aged 26.
Brian
Cumberland was the CO of A Company (in the leading line of the
assault) and described as a “superb leader” by
his Battalion CO. He “called on his company for the last
charge up the crest (towards Kidney Hill itself), and in
the act of waving them was shot through the head”. Brian
was the son of Hugh Cumberland, J.P.,
C.A. of "The
Lynchet," Luton. Brian can be
seen in the 1915 Officers photograph here
and in person below.
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Captain
Brian Clark Cumberland
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Killed
in action 15th August 1915, Gallipoli
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Lt
Cyril Richard LYDEKKER
Cyril
Lydekker became a subaltern on the 14th March 1914 and was the
brother of Lt Gerald Owen Lydekker, who was to become the Battalions
Quartermaster in 1915. Cyril Lydekker was from Harpenden and was
killed on the 15th August 1915, aged 25, during the second assault
on Kidney Hill itself. He was the son of the late Richard Lydekker,
F.R.S. and Lucy Marianne Lydekker, of Harpenden Lodge, Harpenden,
Herts. Cyril was educated at Haileybury
College, and is buried
at Azmak
Cemetery,
Suvla. His elder brother, Gerard Lydekker died on the 14th June
1917, also in the 5th Battalion (see below). Cyril can be seen
in person below.
| Lt
Cyril Richard Lydekker |
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| Killed
in action 15th August 1915, Gallipoli |
Captain
Walter Kendrick MEAKIN
Killed
in action 15th August 1915.
On
the 16th May 1914, Lt Meakin was promoted to Captain, having served
as a territorial for many years. He was instrumental in helping
to shape the Battalion during their training, sailed with them
for Gallipoli in July 1915 and led C Company during their first
battle on the 15th August 1915. Walter Meakin was killed during
the main charge against the second Turkish positions. The eyewitness
that saw him falling was himself killed, so his body was never
recovered from amongst the broken ground of Gallipoli. He is remembered
on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. Walter can be seen in the group
photograph here
and in person below.
| Captain
Walter Kendrick Meakin |
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| Killed
in action 15th August 1915, Gallipoli |
2/Lt
Frederick
RISING
Killed
in action 15th August 1915. Frederick Rising was reported wounded
and missing after the charge and his body was never found. He
is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli. 2/Lt Rising can
be seen in the 1915 Officers group photograph here.
Lt
Frank Stewart SHOOSMITH
Killed
in action 21st August 1915, aged 21.
Frank
Shoosmith was from Luton and the son of a prominent local corn
trader (Francis and Minnie Shoosmith, of Hart Hill, Luton).
On 21st August 1915, the Bedfords
were providing supporting fire for the attack on Chocolate Hill,
and drawing enemy fire away from the advancing Battalions. He
was taller than average and was instantly killed by a single sniper
shot to the head whilst walking along the trench system on the
way to answer a call from HQ. During the Bedfords
baptism of fire on 15th August 1915, he was said to have led a
“charmed life” as his entire Machine Gun section
was knocked out yet he survived unscathed. News of his death saddened
the Battalion CO, who remarked that he had lost “a tower
of strength”. The following day the Battalion were moved
to the North ANZAC sector of Gallipoli. Frank is remembered on
the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.
The
Diary says: “21
Aug 1915 Battalion still in reserve at ONE TREE with orders to
support line if it advanced in connection with advance of right
on Hill 70 Lieut. Shoosmith
killed by sniper. “ He
can be seen in person below and in the group photograph here
| Captain
Frank Stewart Shoosmith |
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| Killed
in action 21st August 1915, Gallipoli |
Captain
Rudolph (Rudolf) Meade SMYTHE
Died
of wounds 14th September 1915.
Rudolph
was born on the 15th June 1885 in Caxton, Cambridgeshire. His
parents were Henry Meade Smythe, who died before 20th March 1902
and Fanny Catherine Smythe (nee Pritchard). They married on the
1st May 1884 at Portsea in Hampshire.
Rudolph
Smythe became a Second Lieutenant on the 16th March 1911 and by
the outbreak of war lived at Eaton Ford, St.Neots in Huntingdonshire.
He had been the Bank Manager at Barclays in Ramsey, Huntingdonshire
whilst serving as a Territorial Officer. His will was made out
whilst on the SS Braemar Castle on the 6th August 1915, leaving
his entire estate to his mother, Fanny.
2/Lt
Rudolph Smythe sailed with the Battalion on the 26th July 1915
but was “decidedly annoyed” to be dropped off at Alexandria,
Egypt
with the reinforcements on 6th August 1915. As a result he did
not take part in the 15th August attack in Gallipoli but landed
with the reserves at Suvla
Bay 23rd
August and commanded Biggleswade’s D Company after the reorganisation
in September 1914. 2/Lt Smythe spent less than 3 weeks on the
peninsula before being killed by a sniper shot to the head. Although
he was rushed to 16 CCS, he never regained consciousness and died
the following morning. Rudolph is remembered on the Helles Memorial,
Gallipoli and the Ramsey War Memorial in Huntingdonshire. He can
be seen in the 1915 Officers group photograph here,
third from the left of the third row.
The
War Diary records:
“13
Sep 1915 In trenches. Work of improvement continued. Our ships
guns bombarded enemy trenches doing considerable damage at 1130.
CAPT
SMYTHE wounded.
14
Sep 1915 In trenches. Work as usual. CAPT
SMYTHE died of wounds.”
Lieutenant
Hugh Egerton WOODHOUSE
Hugh
was born on the 16th March 1891 at 13 Gledhow
Gardens in Brompton,
London,
the son of Coventry Archer and Frances Emily Woodhouse (nee Hensley).
Before war broke out he was educated at Malvern
College and
became a “Produce Broker”, employed by his father.
When war broke out Hugh attested on the 8th August 1914, joining
the 1st Battalion of the Honourable Artillery Company as Private
1024. He was 23 years old.
He
was sent oversees very early, landing in France
on the 18th September 1914. Having survived the early days of
the war, Hugh was sent to the 7th Field Ambulance at Locre on
Christmas Day 1914 suffering from “debility” and immediately
transferred to the 8th Clearing Hospital
at Bailleul. On New Year’s Day 1915 he was moved to No.9
General Hospital
in Rouen suffering from Enteritis
and returned to England
on the “Asturias”
8th January 1915.
By
the 23rd March 1915 Hugh had recovered, been trained as an Officer
and was gazetted as a Second Lieutenant. The 6 foot 3 inch subaltern
was posted to the 5th Battalion of the Bedfordshire’s.
Hugh
sailed for Gallipoli with the Battalion in July 1915 and survived
the 15th August 1915 attack, only to be wounded in the right arm
by a snipers bullet on the 4th September whilst in the trenches
of the Northern ANZAC sector of the line. After receiving treatment
on Gallipoli, Hugh was shipped to Alexandria
for further treatment but it was realised he would need to return
home for a full recovery. He sailed for England on the Gloucester
Castle 12th October
1915 and developed a fever on the way home. Having arrived at
Southampton on the 24th October,
he spent many weeks confined to bed and was still not fully recovered
by September 1916 when the Medical Board assessed him.
The
unfortunate Hugh Woodhouse continually had trouble with his right
arm and could not use it, even by October 1918. After repeated
out patient visits to the Empire
Hospital in London,
Surgeons decided to re-open his wound to try and work on the Meridian
Nerve above his elbow. He was admitted on the 21st January 1919
and immediately after his operation caught Influenza. Soon afterwards
Hugh’s influenza developed into Pneumonia and on the 1st
March 1919, over 3 months after the war had ended, Hugh died at
the hospital he had caught yet another disease in.
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Killed
in action in Egypt and Palestine
2/Lt
John Leonard DAWSON
Died 6th May 1916.
John
was born 6th October 1895 and lived in Richmond,
Surrey before the war. He
enlisted 5th November 1914 as Private 3496
in the 14th London Battalion - the London Scottish
- and was commissioned into the 10th Battalion of the
Bedfords
May 1915. After his training he joined the 5th Battalion at
Mena Camp, Cairo
on the 29th February 1916. On the 5th May 1916 he was
suddenly admitted to the 2/1 Royal Anglian Field Ambulance
at El Kubri and rushed to the main Suez
hospital the same day. Unfortunately, the following day -
6th May - he died from a "Cerebral Haemorrage Apoplexy". He
was buried at the Suez War
Memorial Cemetery,
where he still lies today, having never fired a shot in anger.
The very youthful 2/Lt Dawson
can be seen below.
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2/Lt
John Leonard Dawson
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Died
6th May 1916 in Egypt
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2/Lt
John Leonard Dawson
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Suez
War Memorial cemetery
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2/Lt
Leonard Leader BRERETON
Died of wounds 29th April 1917, aged
22.
2/Lt
Brereton arrived with the Battalion on the 3rd February 1917
and was wounded very soon after his arrival. Leonard was wounded during
the 2nd Battle at Gaza
on the 19th April and died of his Wounds on the 29th April
1917, aged 22, whilst being treated in Cairo. Leonard
was the son of the late L. Brereton, C.E. and of Ruth Brereton
of Natal, South
Africa and is buried on the Cairo
War Memorial
Cemetery.
He, along with this personal
diary and many photographs from
his own album can be seen here.
(My thanks to Ralph McLean who provided the below gravestone
photograph)
| 2/Lt
L.L. BRERETON |
|
| Cairo
War Memorial Cemetery |
Lt
& Quartermaster Gerard Owen LYDEKKER
Died
14th June 1917, aged 29.
Gerard
was the son of the late Richard Lydekker, F.R.S. and Lucy
Marianne Lydekker (nee Davys). He was born at Harpenden, Herts,
educated at Haileybury
College, and is buried
in the Alexandria (Hadra) War
Memorial Cemetery.
Lt Gerard Lydekker became the Battalions Quartermaster before
they sailed for Gallipoli and served with them until his death
in 1917. His younger brother, Cyril Lydekker, was killed on
Gallipoli (see above) 15th August 1915. Lt Gerard Lydekker
died on the 14th June 1917, aged 29 from Myasthenia Gravis
at No. 17 Central Hospital in Alexandria
and is buried in the Hadra
Military Cemetery.
(My thanks to Ralph McLean who provided the below gravestone
photograph)
| Lt
& Q.M. G.O. LYDEKKER |
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| Hadra
Cemetery, Alexandria |
2/Lt
Kenneth Murray
WATT
Died
of wounds 1st October 1917, aged 20.
Kenneth
Watt was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion but attached
to the 1st/5th Battalion in the field, arriving with them
on the 21st August 1917.
On
the evening of 1st October, he took a patrol out into no-man’s
land between Hereford Ridge and Umbrella Hill but the patrol
did not return. Further patrols sent out to learn of their
fate found no sign of them. A letter from 2/Lt E.E. Dennis
(taken prisoner on the 1st October 1917 himself on the same
patrol) dropped into the British lines by a German airplane
told of him dying from his wounds on or about the 1st October
1917, aged 20, whilst a Turkish Prisoner. He has no known
grave and is remembered on the Gaza War
Cemetery
memorial.
Kenneth
was the son of Charlotte Watt, of "Capri"
on Park View
Road, Berkhamsted, Herts., and
the late R. D. Watt.
Lt
Evelyn Charles Bradley WODEHOUSE
Killed
in action 4th October 1917, aged 32.
Lt
Wodehouse of the 1st Battalion arrived in the 5th battalion
on the 7th October 1915, whilst stationed in Gallipoli. Having
survived Gallipoli, the boredom of Egypt
and the first two battles at Gaza,
he was killed in action on the 4th October 1917, aged 32 during
intensive shelling of their trenches outside Gaza.
Lt
Wodehouse was the son of Charles Edward and Eva Wodehouse,
from Woolmers in Hertford and is buried in grave XXX.A.3 at
the Gaza War cemetery.
2/Lt
Ernest Arthur PHILLIPS
Killed
in action 2nd November 1917.
2/Lt
Phillips arrived in the Battalion on the 13th March 1917 from
the 4th Battalion, the Royal Berkshire regiment. Having survived
the first two Gaza battles
and several skirmishes whilst in patrol in front of Gaza,
he led a platoon with “more dash than thought for his
orders” whilst attacking Turtle Hill at the 3rd Battle
of Gaza. His platoon took the position but were fooled by
a white flag being raised further to the rear. On venturing
towards it to take prisoners a Turkish machine gun opened
fire, wiping the whole platoon out.
Ernest
Phillips was killed in action on the 2nd November 1917 by
the hidden machine gun at the 3rd Battle
at Gaza.
Buried in the Sheik
Hasan Garden
Military Cemetery
the following day. Later, he was moved to grave XXII.A.4 at
the Gaza
War Cemetery.
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Captain Thomas Alderman FRANLKIN, MC.
Died
ofWounds 27th November 1917.
Thomas
Franklin was commissioned into the 1/5th Battalion on the
3rd June 1914 and served with them until 1916. Thomas was
posted to, and served on the “General Staff”
from early 1916 until a few months before he was killed
in November 1917.
He
is mentioned several times in the London Gazette, as follows:
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No.
29046, published 19/01/1915, p1 of 18. “Commands and Staff.
The undermentioned appointments are made. Personal Staff – Aides de Camp; 2/Lt TA Franklin, 5th Battalion, Bedfordshire
Regiment, TF, to v/Cpt CCM Kennedy of 1st Battalion Hertfordshire Regiment, TF. 16/10/1914”.
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No.
29453, published 11/04/1916, p 7 of 84. “The undermentioned
appointments are made; General Staff Officers, 3rd Grade – 2/Lt (Temp. Cpt) TA Franklin, The Bedfordshire Regiment,
Territorial Force, and to relinquish his temporary rank. 19/12/1915”
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No.
29585, published 16/05/1916, p14 of 16. “2/Lt to be Temp.
Lt; Lt (Temp. Cpt) TA Franklin is restored to the establishment. 26/12/1915”
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No.
29636, published 23/06/1916, p 10 of 88. “To be Temp. Cpt.
whilst employed as GSO, 3rd Grade; Lt. TA Franklin, Bedf. R. 15/05/1916”
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No.
29659, published 7/07/1916. p 9 of 10 “Lt (Temp. Cpt) TA
Franklin is seconded for duty as GSO. 19/12/1915”
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No.
29971, published 2/03/1917. p 7 of 10 “Lt (Temp. Cpt.) TA
Franklin to be Captain and remain seconded. 28/06/1916”
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No.
30132, published 15/06/1917, p 2 of 14. “Attached to HQ units.
Brigade Majors – Cpt TA Franklin, Bedf. R. TF. 6/02/1917”
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No.
30238, published 17/08/1915, pp 14&15 of 18. “Cpt. TA
Franklin to have precedence from 1/06/1916 and remain seconded. 19/08/1917”
Between
the capture of Gaza and the
attacks to capture Jerusalem,
continuous skirmishes and counter attacks occurred between
the Bedfords
and Turkish patrols in the area. During one of these actions
on 27th November 1917 Captain Franklin was killed.
The
Battalion War Diary for that day recorded:
“0230
Arab gives himself up to C Coy with information [sic] as to a force of Turks at SHOKHAH. 0815 About 150 Turks in close order
are seen from ZEIFY HILL advancing down Wadi betn ZEIFY HILL & DEIR TOREIF. Fire opened upon them by L.G. Rifles from
ZEIFY HILL at range of between 1300 & 1500 yds. Turks scattered & some loss inflicted on him, he taking up position
under cover & a sniping engagement ensued 1030 Strong patrol pushed forward from right of ZEIFY HILL to cistern kiln at
W.26.a, where an advanced post was established, consisting of 2 L.G. Sections & section of riflemen. 1500 From ZEIFY HILL
an enemy force consisting of a Battn & transport was seen moving [sic] in an E. direction from ET TIREH at about 1515
this force came within range of post at Cistern Hill & fire was opened by both LGs at range of about 1400 yds. Casualties
were seen to be inflicted on enemy especially amongst their transport. As a result of this the direction of enemy advance
was altered & enemy advanced in extended order on Cistern Hill. Post on CISTERN HILL contd to engage enemy (an entire Turkish
Battalion) until latter were 300yds away when they were withdrawn. At dusk enemy occupy CISTERN
HILL.“
Captain Franklin Died of wounds on the 27th November 1917 and is buried in the Jerusalem War Cemetery.
He had only been in the front line a few months when he was wounded during a sniping and rifle fire duel with Turkish forces
on Zeify Hill in Palestine. He was wounded on the 27th and
died later that day at a Regimental Aid Post. He was buried in grave C73 at the Jerusalem
War Cemetery.
Captain
Franklin’s MC information and photograph can be seen
here
| Captain
Thomas Alderman Franlkin, MC |
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| Died
of wounds 27th November 1917 |
2/Lt George Harold
PINCHIN
Died of wounds
27th November 1917, aged 24.
George was born on the 20th September 1893, the son of George Staples and Gertrude Elizabeth Pinchin of “Lynton”
in Sevenoaks. He joined the Inns of Court OTC on the 28th October 1914 as a private and gained his commission on the 25th
July 1915 – the day the 1st/5th battalion left for Gallipoli. It seems that George was posted to the 5th battalion reserves
(the 3rd/5th) and was not sent abroad for a long time. Whilst in England
he completed two courses at Hythe in September 1915 and November 1916, otherwise does not show in any books, records etc for
the period.
2/Lt Pinchin left Southampton on board the H.T. “France”
on the 18th July 1917 and landed in Alexandria 4th August.
10 days later he arrived with the 5th Battalion on the front lines and between the 5th and 21st September trained further
with the 54th Division Training Camp in readiness for the impending assault on the fortified city of Gaza.
Lieutenant George Harold Pinchin charged Turkish positions with his comrades on the 2nd November 1917 as the British
Army assaulted Gaza. The battalion assaulted at the furthest
northern positions on the battlefield, alongside the sea but George received gunshot wounds to the right side of his chest
and back as he led his men forward that morning.
After several weeks of fighting against his injuries, they were too severe and took his life on the
27th November 1917 whilst he was at No. 19 General Hospital
in Alexandria. George was 24 and is buried in grave 3030 of
the Hadra Military Cemetery in Alexandria. He can be seen in Leonard Brereton's photographs here.
| 2/Lt
G.H. PINCHIN |
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| Hadra
Cemetery, Alexandria |
2/Lt John Edward
Mary Claude Pius Augustine WATERTON
Killed in
action 29th November 1917.
Although
John is recorded as being in the 3rd/5th Battalion the Bedfords
who never left England,
he arrived with the front line 1st/5th Battalion on the
1st December 1916 and served in Egypt
and Palestine,
surviving the Gaza Battles during his service. John was
killed during a surprise Turkish attack on his post on Zeify
Hill, Palestine on the 29th
November 1917 and is buried in the Ramleh
War Cemetery.
The post CO, Captain Hobbs counter attacked and regained
the position but John and 2 of his men were killed by the
time the reinforcements reached them. His brother Joseph
Charles Edward Mary John Reginald Waterton, also of the
5th Battalion was killed in a motorcycle accident on 18th
February 1915 whilst still in England.
| 2/Lt
J.E.M.C.P.A. WATERTON |
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| Ramleh
War Cemetery |
Lt Harold William CRONIN
Died
of wounds 2nd December 1917.
Harold
Cronin arrived with the Battalion on the 21st September 1915 whilst they were on Gallipoli as a draft from the 2nd/5th Battalion
in England. He was “seriously
wounded” during a counter attack on 30th November to eject some Turkish soldiers from a post they had attacked on
Nabala Hill, Palestine. Harold was the only casualty from the skirmish and died 2 days later on the 2nd December from his
wounds. He is buried in the Gaza War
Cemetery.
Lt Donald Frank Parker
SPURGEON
Killed in
action 10th September 1918.
Donald Spurgeon
of the 20th Battalion of the London Regiment arrived with the 1st/5th Battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment on the 31st March
1917.
Having survived
the 2nd and 3rd battles at Gaza and the running battles of
1918, he was killed in action on the 10th September 1918, aged 20 in an intensive artillery bombardment whilst holding the
trenches on Buried Ridge. Donald is buried in grave U89 at the Ramleh
War Cemetery.
Captain John Tristram
YARDE, MC and BAR
Died of wounds
21st September 1918.
A
detailed and fascinating biography of Captain Yarde can
be seen here
and he is in the 1915 Officers group photograph here.
Major Frederick Gordon
OWENS
Died 4th
October 1918, aged 32.
Major Frederick
Owens arrived with the 5th Battalion on Christmas Eve 1917, from the 9th Battalion of the Liverpool Regiment. Having served
in the battalion throughout the battles and skirmishes of 1918, he died from Influenzal Bronchial Pneumonia on the 4th October
1918, at 44 Stationary Hospital in Kantara, aged 32.
Frederick was the youngest son of Jessie Owens of 3 Highfield Road,
Walton Park in Liverpool,
and the late John Oswald Owens. He is buried in grave E33 at the Kantara
War Cemetery
2/Lt Thomas William DAVIS
Died at home 14th November 1918, aged 33.
Thomas was a solicitor’s clerk before the war who was born at
Barham in Norfolk. Although he was commissioned into the 5th
Bedford’s, 2/Lt Davis was wounded whilst attached to the 43rd Light Trench Mortar Battery and died at home in Norwich
on the 14th November 1918, aged 33. He is buried in grave 55.324 of the Norwich
cemetery. He was the son of Thomas Edward Davis (formerly of the Norfolk Constabulary)
and Ellen Harriet Davis (nee Pigg), of 34 Cavalry Street,
St. James in Norwich.
5th
Battalion Officers killed whilst attached to other units.
Temp Lt Reginald
Norman BALDING
Reginald Balding
was killed in action on the 30th March 1917, aged 22 whilst attached to the Machine Gun Corps in Mesopotamia.
Reginald was the son of the Reverend J. W. Balding of 41 Chatsworth Road
in Croydon, Surrey and is remembered on the Basra Memorial as well as the King’s School
Memorial in Ely.
Lt Geoffrey Renold
DAY
Lt Day was
killed in action on the 27th August 1918, aged 28, whilst attached to the 1st/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment in
France. Geoffrey has no known grave but
is remembered on the Theipval Memorial in France.
He was the son of the Rev. Archibald Day of The Vicarage, Malvern Link, Malvern and husband to Jane Day. Before the war Geoffrey
was a Fellow of Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
Lt Lewis John Francis
OERTLING
Francis Oertling
was commissioned into the 5th Battalion but served in the 5th Squadron of the Royal Air Force. He died of wounds on the 8th
August 1918, aged 27. Lewis was the son of Henry and Emily Oertling of Barnes in Surrey and is buried in grave VI.B.6 of the
Vignacourt British Cemetery
in France. He can be seen in a group photograph
here.
2/Lt William Kesterton
HARDING
Died on the
26th June 1919, aged 21, probably from illness rather than wounds. William was the son of William J. and Frances E. Harding
of 19 Horston Road in Leicester and was a native of
Erdington in Birmingham before the war. He is buried in the
St. Sever Cemetery Extension at Rouen.
2/Lt Harold Brasington
LEVER
Died on the
23rd October 1918, whilst in German hands and is buried in the Tournai
Communal Cemetery, Allied Extension.
Lt Cyril John NIXON
According
to SDGW, Cyril died on the 8th October 1917. The only possibility I can identify is Lt C.J. Nixon of Royal Flying Corps who
died on the 18th October 1917 and is buried at the Radlett (Christchurch)
Churchyard Extension in Aldenham.
Captain Frederick
John SMITH
Died
of wounds on the 23rd August 1918 and is buried in the Foncquvillers
Military Cemetery.
Although unconfirmed, it appears that Captain Smith was
in the 1st Battalion who attacked in the Achiet-le-Petit
area on the 21st and 23rd August 1918.
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