Highnam
Former Pupils
These plaques list just 16 of the 675 names of former pupils of Cheltenham College who died during the Great War. The names of all 675 are commemorated in the school's chapel.
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At 4pm on the 4th August 1914, the British Government gave orders for the mobilization of the Army.
The Foreign Office issued this statement at 12.15am on the 5th August:
Owing to the summary rejection by the German Government of the request made by His Majesty's Government for assurances that the neutrality of Belguim will be respected, His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin has received his passports and His Majesty's Government have declared to the German Government that a state of war exists between Great Britain and Germany as from 11pm on the 4th August.
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The Battle of Mons: 23rd August 1914
The Retreat from Mons: 24th August to 5th September
Captain Robert Yardley Sidebottom
26.08.14 La Ferte-sous-Jouarre (killed at Ligny)
2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, 12th Brigade, 4th Division
An account of the action on August 26th (Regt QM Sgt Frank King / Paul Nettleton)
Colonel Frank Ridley Farrer Boileau
28.08.14 Wimille (wounded at Ham, on the River Somme, France on 27th Aug)
Royal Engineers (attached as GSO1, Chief Staff Officer, 3rd Division General Staff)
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"Affair of Nery"
Lieut Claude Norman Champion de Crespigny
01.09.14 Hatfield, Hertfordshire (killed, probably at Néry, nr Compiègne, France)
2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays), 1st Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division
The Queen's Bays were fighting with 'L' Battery, RHA (see below) on the morning of September 1st. "They too had been caught by the German artillery and many of their horses had been killed under them but dismounted they played the part of gallant infantrymen"
"The brigade was hotly engaged and on the Bays fell the brunt of the fighting on Sept 1. Norman, with a few men, was holding an important tactical point and he held it until everyman was killed or wounded. No man could have done more, few would have done as much" Maj-Gen E. H. Allenby writing to Norman's mother (The Times 11th Sept 1914)
A blog by Mary Evans Picture Library
(Luci Gosling) explains how Lieut Champion de Crespigny came to be reburied in Hatfield.
01.09.14 Néry, nr Compiègne
'L' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, Cavalry Division
"... Lieut Campbell , who had been helping with the ammunition took (the gunner's) seat and kept the firing up without the loss of a second of time. But he had not fired more than a couple of rounds when a shell burst under the shield. The explosion was awful, and the brave young officer was hurled about six yards away from the seat ... He lived only a few minutes"
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3.09.14 Senlis (died of wounds)
1st (King's) Dragoon Guards (attached to 2nd Dragoon Guards (The Queen's Bays)
The Memorial gives the date of death as 10th September. Norfolk County Council gives the date as 4th September. CWGC states 3rd September.
Joined the army in 1905.
Check WO 339/7112.
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The Advance to the Aisne 6th September to 1st October
The Battle of the Marne: 6th to 10th September
2nd Lieut Edward James Vibart Collingwood-Thompson
10.09.14 Chateau of Perreuse, Signy Pereuse (died of wounds)
2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 19th Brigade
(Age 20 - only child)
Gazetted 12th September 1913 as 2nd Lieut (on probation)in 3rd Bn, RWF
Lieut Geoffrey Steward Augustus White
10.09.14 La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial (killed at Le Cateau(?))
2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regt, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division
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The Beginning of the Period known as The Race to the Sea
The Battle of the Aisne: 12th to 15th September
2nd Lieut Eric Vickers Tindall
12.09.14 Vailly (Died as a result of shrapnel wounds received at Priez on 11th September, during the Battle of the Marne)
4th Battalion, but attached to 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division
Age 21 - born 13th September 1892.
First saw service with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Leicestershire Regt., joining on Sept 1911, and was promoted to Lieutenant the following year.
Joined the KRRC as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1914.
Lieut Archibald John Denroche-Smith
13.09.14 La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial killed near Vendresse
18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division
13.09.14 La Ferte-Sour-Jouarre Memorial
49th Battery, Royal Field Artillery (40th Brigade, 3rd Division)
(Age 20)
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13.09.14 La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt), 13th Brigade, 5th Division
(See the entry for H. J. Vicat on kentfallen website)
Cheltenham College memorial gives his date as 18th Sept. Need to check Service Record at Kew
Joined Royal West Kents in 1905. Made Lieutenant in 1908.
Employed on West Africa Frontier Force 1910 - 1912.
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15.09.14 Vendresse
1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt, 13th Brigade, 5th Division
Only son of Mr and Mrs G. D. Ker of Tavistock
Gazetted to Bedfordshire Regt in 1903. Made Captain in 1912.
16.09.14 Vendresse died of wounds received at the Battle of the Aisne
44th Battery, Royal Field Artillery
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17.09.14 Paissy
1st Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt)
Mess photo taken in August 1914 (Regimental Museum website)
Joined Royal West Surrey Regt in 1885. Made Captain in 1895 and Major in 1903. Promoted to Lieut-Colonel in 1913.
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17.09.14 Vailly died of wounds nr Craonee
1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regt
(Age 20)
2nd Lieut Paul Chancourt Girardot
17.09.14 Soupir-sur-Aisne
2nd Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
(Age 18: Only son: joined army in February 1914)
18.09.14 Vailly-sur-Aisne (died of wounds, incurred at the Battle of the Aisne, at Mont de Soisson Hospital)
1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(Age 22)
Gentleman Cadet, Royal Military College to 2nd Lieutenant in DCLI, effective 4th Sept 1912 (London Gazette)
Major William Stopford Sarsfield
20.09.14 Vailly-sur-Aisne (died of wounds)
2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers
20.09.14 La Ferte-sous-Juarre Memorial
2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers
Joined the army in 1909
20.09.14 Vendresse-Beaulne
2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
(Age 22)
Gazetted to the HLI from the Special Reserve in 1913
2nd Lieut Charles Martin Stanuell
20.09.14 La Fert-sous-Jouarre Memorial
2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
(Age 20)
Gazetted to the DLI at the start of 1914
Lieut John Cadwallader Coker (Mention in Despatches)
26.09.14 Vendresse-Beaulne (died of wounds)
1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
Joined the SWB in 1908
26.9.14 Vendress (killed nearby)
Special Reserve, Royal Engineers
(Age 22)
04.10.14 Vieille-Chapelle, nr Bethune
2nd Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Only son. Joined army in 1901 and served in South Africa.
Promoted to Lieutenant in 1906, and Captain in 1911.
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Battle of La Bassee: 10th October to 2nd November
2nd Lieut Gordon Thomas Harcourt Morse
12.10.14 Vieille-Chapelle (killed nr La Bassee)
4th Battalion, Middlesex Regt
(Age 20 years & 10 months: A notice in The Times gives the date of his death as being between 12th and 14th October)
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Capt Cecil Glendower Percival Gilliat
14.10.14 Hazebrouck (died of wounds at Meteren)
1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regt
SEE ALSO: Captain Reginald H. C. Gilliat
06.04.15 Lavantie
5th Battalion, Leinster Regt, attached 1st (formerly 2nd) Battalion, Connaught Rangers
Twin brothers, and only sons of Mr and Mrs Cecil Gilliat of Cheltenham
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18.10.14 Touret Memorial (killed nr Illies)
1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regt
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First Battle of Ypres:
Langemark: 21st to 24th October
Lieut Cyril Egremont Gaitskill
19.10.14 Armentieres (died of wounds)
2nd Battalion, Leinster Regt
(Age 21)
Lieut Richard Terrick Stainforth
19.10.14 Ypres (died of wounds nr Ypres)
2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regt
(Age 20)
20.10.14 Ploegsteert Memorial (died of wounds nr Lille)
2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Lieut Archdale Maurice Stratford Tandy
20.10.14 Le Touret Memorial (killed nr Le Pilly)
2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regt
21.10.14 Cuinchy (killed nr Lorgies)
1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(Age 18)
WO 372/6/189611
Lieut Charles R. Ripley Mentioned in Despatches
22.10.14 Ploegsteert Memorial killed nr Lille
2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regt
Captain Edward Frederick Maltby Urquhart
23.10.14 Boezinge killed at Pilkem
1st Battalion, Black Watch (Highlanders)
23.10.14 Menin Gate Memorial killed nr Zonnebeke
1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regt
Lieut Gerard Ferrers Nixon Mentioned in Despatches
24.10.14 Lavantie killed at Neuve Chapelle
129th Battery, Royal Field Artillery
24.10.14 Le Touret Memorial killed at La Plinche
3rd Battalion (attached to 2nd Battalion), Royal Scots Guards
Lieut William Gordon Tollemache Hope-Johnstone
25.10.14 Le Touret Memorial killed at Neuve Chapelle
4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
2nd Lieut George Baird Bayley Mentioned in Despatches
26.10.14 Menin Gate Memorial killed at Ypres
2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
(Age 20)
KOSB T2/1
2nd Lieut Jack Maynard Harding
26.10.14 Le Touret Memorial killed at Ypres
1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt)
(Age 20)
WO 339/11118
Capt (& Adjutant) George Bruce Legard (Twice Mentioned in Despatches)
27.10.14 Souchez (killed nr Neuve Chapelle)
1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt)
WO 339/5986
28.10.14 Le Touret Memorial (killed nr Neuve Chapelle)
attd. 21st Coy. 3rd Sappers and Miners, Royal Engineers
Gheluvelt
30.10.14 Menin Gate Memorial (killed nr Ypres)
35th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Lieut Graham Eardley Dunsterville
30.10.14 Le Touret Memorial (killed nr Festubert)
1st Battalion, Devonshire Regt
WO 339/5984
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31.10.14 Langemark (killed nr Messines)
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
A webpage about the Crawshay family in the Great War states that he died on 14th November 1914, and was originally recorded as Missing in Action, and recorded as such on the Menin Gate Memorial.
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01.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial (killed nr Messines)
1/14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish)
(Age 24, son of Mr and Mrs William W. McKay of Overbury, Watford)
The London Scottish at Messines (Blog)
It was a little surprised to find a Private soldier amongst all the Officers named on the College Memorial plaques, but I believe that, in August 1914, there were so many young men trying to enlist as officers that there were just not enough vacancies to meet the demand. I assume that Pte McKay was not a serving soldier on the day war was declared.
86 men of the London Scottish died on 1st November 1914. Browsing through their names on the CWGC Roll of Honour, it seems likely that the regiment had a higher than usual number of 'officer candidates' in the ranks.
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02.11.14 Ploegsteert (killed nr Armentieres - )
1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regt
See Anglo Boer War website for more information
London Gazette 17th January 1902 (p374)
List of Officers brought to attention in connection with operations ...
Lieut G. Clayhills "For good leading in capture of laager on Dec 3rd 1901"
London Gazette 31st October 1902 (p 6902)
The King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments ...
To be made Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant George Clayhills
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02.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial (killed nr Ypres)
2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regt
02.11.14 Lavantie
1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers
Capt George Millais James (Mentioned in Despatches)
03.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regt), attached as Brigade Major, 22nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Division.
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03.11.14 Dranouter, nr Ypres (Died of Wounds incurred nr Messines )
4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish)
Memorial records his death as 3rd November. Another sources gives 4th November.
The CWGC Roll states 13th November. Since there's a short obituary in The Times on 11th November, I shall stick to the 3rd as the date he died.
Commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in January 1900. Promoted to Lieutenant in April 1901. Mentioned in Despatches while serving in the Anglo Boer War. Resigned his commission in 1903 but rejoined from the Reserve of Officers in 1914, going to France on 18th October.
(Possible) Service Record: WO 339/39038 + Medal Card: WO 372/16/140800
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04.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish)
Captain Kenneth Forbes-Robertson
07.11.14 Ploegsteert Memorial (killled at Ploegsteert Wood)
1st Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
07.11.14 Ploegsteert Wood
2nd Battalion, Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers
Major William Griffith Baynes Phibbs
08.11.14 Llangefni. Died in London after serving in the trenches (CWGC has date of death as 5th Nov)
1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
11.11.14 Le Havre (accidentaly killed at Le Havre)
Lancashire Fusiliers, attached No. 7 Gen. Base Depot
Age 57. Promoted to Brevet Colonel in 1906.
WO 372/15/90504
Nonne Boschen: 11th November
11.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
(from 10th November, C. O. of) 5th Field Company, Royal Engineers
His nephew, Lieut Albert Tyler, R. E. died the following day in exactly the same location.
Capt Boyce Anthony Combe (Lieutenant on CWGC Roll of Honour)
11.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
6th Battalion (attached to 4th Battalion), Royal Fusiliers
Promoted to acting captain a few days before his death.
One of 64 men from 4th Battalion who died that day. Most have no known grave.
13.11.14 Lavantie (died at Sailly-sur-Lys)
Royal Engineers
Captain Hugh Vincent Corbett Turnbull
13.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Captain George Raleigh Kerr Evatt
14.11.14 Fleurbaix, nr Armentières (died at Le Boutillerie)
'A' Company, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regt
2nd Lieut Harold Rolleston Stables
15.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
5th Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regt
18.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
46th Battery, 39th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Major Reginald William Sidney Elliott
23.11.14 Bethune
7th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army
23.11.14 Bethune (died at La Bassee)
31st Punjabis, attached to 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force), Indian Army
Captain Herbert Connell Whipple
24.11.14 Bailleul (Died of Wounds incurred at Messines)
1st Battalion, Devonshire Regt
Lieut Ralph Ivan Meynell Davidson
24.11.14 La Gorgue (Died of Wounds incurred at Festubert)
1st Battalion Manchester Regt
WO 339/7376
Lieut (possibly Acting Capt) Edward Durham
26.11.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Fauquissart)
2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Major William Richard Norton Annesley D.S.O.
29.11.14 St. Andrews, Scotland (Died in London)
Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) attached to General Staff
Capt Clive Guise Moores Mentioned in Despatches
30.11.14 Bailleul (Died of Wounds nr Kemmel)
Royal Engineers
08.12.14 London (Died in Bournemouth)
Reserve of Officers, Yorkshire Regt#
18.12.14 Beuvry (Died at Givenchy)
20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Infantry (Brownlow's Punjabis), Indian Army
attached to 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis
Lieut Hubert Raynsford Gordon Kerr
19.12.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Givenchy)
1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Capt Harry Norman Lee Mentioned in Despatches
19.12.14 Neuve Chapelle Memorial (Died at La Bassee)
59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force), Indian Army
19.12.14 Merville (Died of Wounds at Armentieres)
1st Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
(Age 21 - Gazetted 2nd Lieut on 8th December 1914)
Capt Jestyn Llewelyn Mansel (also ppears on the Caerleon memorial)
20.12.14 Le Touret Memorial
7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's)
21.12.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Festubert)
1st Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers
2nd Lieut Edward Charles Walters
22.12.14 Festubert
3rd Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regt
(Age 24)
23.12.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Givenchy)
1st Battalion, Manchester Regt
28.12.14 Wimereux (Died of Wounds)
55th Field Company, Royal Engineers
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There must have been a book produced by the college in the ealy 1920's listing all those who served, and including obituaries of all those who died. I'm sure it would make fascinating reading.
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There's an interesting book by John Lewis-Stempel on the sacrifice of the young officers who left school or university to go to war ...
"As young lieutenants and captains in the front line of the 1914-18 war, they were the first to scramble over the top of their trenches into the rain of bullets from the well-defended German lines, setting an example to their men to follow.
The average life expectancy was just six weeks. In the first year one in seven of them were killed and one in five were wounded - by far the highest casualty rate in the war. About 33,000 officers were left disabled at the war’s end."
Former Pupils
These plaques list just 16 of the 675 names of former pupils of Cheltenham College who died during the Great War. The names of all 675 are commemorated in the school's chapel.
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At 4pm on the 4th August 1914, the British Government gave orders for the mobilization of the Army.
The Foreign Office issued this statement at 12.15am on the 5th August:
Owing to the summary rejection by the German Government of the request made by His Majesty's Government for assurances that the neutrality of Belguim will be respected, His Majesty's Ambassador at Berlin has received his passports and His Majesty's Government have declared to the German Government that a state of war exists between Great Britain and Germany as from 11pm on the 4th August.
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The Battle of Mons: 23rd August 1914
The Retreat from Mons: 24th August to 5th September
Captain Robert Yardley Sidebottom
26.08.14 La Ferte-sous-Jouarre (killed at Ligny)
2nd Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, 12th Brigade, 4th Division
An account of the action on August 26th (Regt QM Sgt Frank King / Paul Nettleton)
Colonel Frank Ridley Farrer Boileau
28.08.14 Wimille (wounded at Ham, on the River Somme, France on 27th Aug)
Royal Engineers (attached as GSO1, Chief Staff Officer, 3rd Division General Staff)
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"Affair of Nery"
Lieut Claude Norman Champion de Crespigny
01.09.14 Hatfield, Hertfordshire (killed, probably at Néry, nr Compiègne, France)
2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays), 1st Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division
The Queen's Bays were fighting with 'L' Battery, RHA (see below) on the morning of September 1st. "They too had been caught by the German artillery and many of their horses had been killed under them but dismounted they played the part of gallant infantrymen"
"The brigade was hotly engaged and on the Bays fell the brunt of the fighting on Sept 1. Norman, with a few men, was holding an important tactical point and he held it until everyman was killed or wounded. No man could have done more, few would have done as much" Maj-Gen E. H. Allenby writing to Norman's mother (The Times 11th Sept 1914)
A blog by Mary Evans Picture Library
(Luci Gosling) explains how Lieut Champion de Crespigny came to be reburied in Hatfield.
01.09.14 Néry, nr Compiègne
'L' Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, Cavalry Division
"... Lieut Campbell , who had been helping with the ammunition took (the gunner's) seat and kept the firing up without the loss of a second of time. But he had not fired more than a couple of rounds when a shell burst under the shield. The explosion was awful, and the brave young officer was hurled about six yards away from the seat ... He lived only a few minutes"
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3.09.14 Senlis (died of wounds)
1st (King's) Dragoon Guards (attached to 2nd Dragoon Guards (The Queen's Bays)
The Memorial gives the date of death as 10th September. Norfolk County Council gives the date as 4th September. CWGC states 3rd September.
Joined the army in 1905.
Check WO 339/7112.
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The Advance to the Aisne 6th September to 1st October
The Battle of the Marne: 6th to 10th September
2nd Lieut Edward James Vibart Collingwood-Thompson
10.09.14 Chateau of Perreuse, Signy Pereuse (died of wounds)
2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 19th Brigade
(Age 20 - only child)
Gazetted 12th September 1913 as 2nd Lieut (on probation)in 3rd Bn, RWF
Lieut Geoffrey Steward Augustus White
10.09.14 La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial (killed at Le Cateau(?))
2nd Battalion, South Lancashire Regt, 7th Brigade, 3rd Division
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The Beginning of the Period known as The Race to the Sea
The Battle of the Aisne: 12th to 15th September
2nd Lieut Eric Vickers Tindall
12.09.14 Vailly (Died as a result of shrapnel wounds received at Priez on 11th September, during the Battle of the Marne)
4th Battalion, but attached to 2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps, 2nd Brigade, 1st Division
Age 21 - born 13th September 1892.
First saw service with the 3rd (Militia) Battalion, Leicestershire Regt., joining on Sept 1911, and was promoted to Lieutenant the following year.
Joined the KRRC as a 2nd Lieutenant in June 1914.
Lieut Archibald John Denroche-Smith
13.09.14 La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial killed near Vendresse
18th (Queen Mary's Own) Hussars, 2nd Cavalry Brigade, Cavalry Division
13.09.14 La Ferte-Sour-Jouarre Memorial
49th Battery, Royal Field Artillery (40th Brigade, 3rd Division)
(Age 20)
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13.09.14 La Ferte-Sous-Jouarre Memorial
1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt), 13th Brigade, 5th Division
(See the entry for H. J. Vicat on kentfallen website)
Cheltenham College memorial gives his date as 18th Sept. Need to check Service Record at Kew
Joined Royal West Kents in 1905. Made Lieutenant in 1908.
Employed on West Africa Frontier Force 1910 - 1912.
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15.09.14 Vendresse
1st Battalion, Bedfordshire Regt, 13th Brigade, 5th Division
Only son of Mr and Mrs G. D. Ker of Tavistock
Gazetted to Bedfordshire Regt in 1903. Made Captain in 1912.
16.09.14 Vendresse died of wounds received at the Battle of the Aisne
44th Battery, Royal Field Artillery
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17.09.14 Paissy
1st Battalion, The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regt)
Mess photo taken in August 1914 (Regimental Museum website)
Joined Royal West Surrey Regt in 1885. Made Captain in 1895 and Major in 1903. Promoted to Lieut-Colonel in 1913.
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17.09.14 Vailly died of wounds nr Craonee
1st Battalion, Northamptonshire Regt
(Age 20)
2nd Lieut Paul Chancourt Girardot
17.09.14 Soupir-sur-Aisne
2nd Battalion, Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry
(Age 18: Only son: joined army in February 1914)
18.09.14 Vailly-sur-Aisne (died of wounds, incurred at the Battle of the Aisne, at Mont de Soisson Hospital)
1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(Age 22)
Gentleman Cadet, Royal Military College to 2nd Lieutenant in DCLI, effective 4th Sept 1912 (London Gazette)
Major William Stopford Sarsfield
20.09.14 Vailly-sur-Aisne (died of wounds)
2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers
20.09.14 La Ferte-sous-Juarre Memorial
2nd Battalion, Connaught Rangers
Joined the army in 1909
20.09.14 Vendresse-Beaulne
2nd Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
(Age 22)
Gazetted to the HLI from the Special Reserve in 1913
2nd Lieut Charles Martin Stanuell
20.09.14 La Fert-sous-Jouarre Memorial
2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
(Age 20)
Gazetted to the DLI at the start of 1914
Lieut John Cadwallader Coker (Mention in Despatches)
26.09.14 Vendresse-Beaulne (died of wounds)
1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers
Joined the SWB in 1908
26.9.14 Vendress (killed nearby)
Special Reserve, Royal Engineers
(Age 22)
04.10.14 Vieille-Chapelle, nr Bethune
2nd Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders
Only son. Joined army in 1901 and served in South Africa.
Promoted to Lieutenant in 1906, and Captain in 1911.
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Battle of La Bassee: 10th October to 2nd November
2nd Lieut Gordon Thomas Harcourt Morse
12.10.14 Vieille-Chapelle (killed nr La Bassee)
4th Battalion, Middlesex Regt
(Age 20 years & 10 months: A notice in The Times gives the date of his death as being between 12th and 14th October)
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Capt Cecil Glendower Percival Gilliat
14.10.14 Hazebrouck (died of wounds at Meteren)
1st Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regt
SEE ALSO: Captain Reginald H. C. Gilliat
06.04.15 Lavantie
5th Battalion, Leinster Regt, attached 1st (formerly 2nd) Battalion, Connaught Rangers
Twin brothers, and only sons of Mr and Mrs Cecil Gilliat of Cheltenham
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18.10.14 Touret Memorial (killed nr Illies)
1st Battalion, Lincolnshire Regt
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First Battle of Ypres:
Langemark: 21st to 24th October
Lieut Cyril Egremont Gaitskill
19.10.14 Armentieres (died of wounds)
2nd Battalion, Leinster Regt
(Age 21)
Lieut Richard Terrick Stainforth
19.10.14 Ypres (died of wounds nr Ypres)
2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regt
(Age 20)
20.10.14 Ploegsteert Memorial (died of wounds nr Lille)
2nd Battalion, Durham Light Infantry
Lieut Archdale Maurice Stratford Tandy
20.10.14 Le Touret Memorial (killed nr Le Pilly)
2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regt
21.10.14 Cuinchy (killed nr Lorgies)
1st Battalion, Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry
(Age 18)
WO 372/6/189611
Lieut Charles R. Ripley Mentioned in Despatches
22.10.14 Ploegsteert Memorial killed nr Lille
2nd Battalion, York and Lancaster Regt
Captain Edward Frederick Maltby Urquhart
23.10.14 Boezinge killed at Pilkem
1st Battalion, Black Watch (Highlanders)
23.10.14 Menin Gate Memorial killed nr Zonnebeke
1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regt
Lieut Gerard Ferrers Nixon Mentioned in Despatches
24.10.14 Lavantie killed at Neuve Chapelle
129th Battery, Royal Field Artillery
24.10.14 Le Touret Memorial killed at La Plinche
3rd Battalion (attached to 2nd Battalion), Royal Scots Guards
Lieut William Gordon Tollemache Hope-Johnstone
25.10.14 Le Touret Memorial killed at Neuve Chapelle
4th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers
2nd Lieut George Baird Bayley Mentioned in Despatches
26.10.14 Menin Gate Memorial killed at Ypres
2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
(Age 20)
KOSB T2/1
2nd Lieut Jack Maynard Harding
26.10.14 Le Touret Memorial killed at Ypres
1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt)
(Age 20)
WO 339/11118
Capt (& Adjutant) George Bruce Legard (Twice Mentioned in Despatches)
27.10.14 Souchez (killed nr Neuve Chapelle)
1st Battalion, Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regt)
WO 339/5986
28.10.14 Le Touret Memorial (killed nr Neuve Chapelle)
attd. 21st Coy. 3rd Sappers and Miners, Royal Engineers
Gheluvelt
30.10.14 Menin Gate Memorial (killed nr Ypres)
35th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Lieut Graham Eardley Dunsterville
30.10.14 Le Touret Memorial (killed nr Festubert)
1st Battalion, Devonshire Regt
WO 339/5984
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31.10.14 Langemark (killed nr Messines)
5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's)
A webpage about the Crawshay family in the Great War states that he died on 14th November 1914, and was originally recorded as Missing in Action, and recorded as such on the Menin Gate Memorial.
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01.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial (killed nr Messines)
1/14th (County of London) Battalion (London Scottish)
(Age 24, son of Mr and Mrs William W. McKay of Overbury, Watford)
The London Scottish at Messines (Blog)
It was a little surprised to find a Private soldier amongst all the Officers named on the College Memorial plaques, but I believe that, in August 1914, there were so many young men trying to enlist as officers that there were just not enough vacancies to meet the demand. I assume that Pte McKay was not a serving soldier on the day war was declared.
86 men of the London Scottish died on 1st November 1914. Browsing through their names on the CWGC Roll of Honour, it seems likely that the regiment had a higher than usual number of 'officer candidates' in the ranks.
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02.11.14 Ploegsteert (killed nr Armentieres - )
1st Battalion, East Lancashire Regt
See Anglo Boer War website for more information
London Gazette 17th January 1902 (p374)
List of Officers brought to attention in connection with operations ...
Lieut G. Clayhills "For good leading in capture of laager on Dec 3rd 1901"
London Gazette 31st October 1902 (p 6902)
The King has been graciously pleased to give orders for the following appointments ...
To be made Companion of the Distinguished Service Order
Lieutenant George Clayhills
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02.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial (killed nr Ypres)
2nd Battalion, Royal Sussex Regt
02.11.14 Lavantie
1st Battalion, Connaught Rangers
Capt George Millais James (Mentioned in Despatches)
03.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
1st Battalion, The Buffs (East Kent Regt), attached as Brigade Major, 22nd Infantry Brigade, 7th Division.
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03.11.14 Dranouter, nr Ypres (Died of Wounds incurred nr Messines )
4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish)
Memorial records his death as 3rd November. Another sources gives 4th November.
The CWGC Roll states 13th November. Since there's a short obituary in The Times on 11th November, I shall stick to the 3rd as the date he died.
Commissioned into the Royal Field Artillery in January 1900. Promoted to Lieutenant in April 1901. Mentioned in Despatches while serving in the Anglo Boer War. Resigned his commission in 1903 but rejoined from the Reserve of Officers in 1914, going to France on 18th October.
(Possible) Service Record: WO 339/39038 + Medal Card: WO 372/16/140800
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04.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
4th Dragoon Guards (Royal Irish)
Captain Kenneth Forbes-Robertson
07.11.14 Ploegsteert Memorial (killled at Ploegsteert Wood)
1st Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders
07.11.14 Ploegsteert Wood
2nd Battalion, Royal Iniskilling Fusiliers
Major William Griffith Baynes Phibbs
08.11.14 Llangefni. Died in London after serving in the trenches (CWGC has date of death as 5th Nov)
1st Battalion, Royal Irish Fusiliers
11.11.14 Le Havre (accidentaly killed at Le Havre)
Lancashire Fusiliers, attached No. 7 Gen. Base Depot
Age 57. Promoted to Brevet Colonel in 1906.
WO 372/15/90504
Nonne Boschen: 11th November
11.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
(from 10th November, C. O. of) 5th Field Company, Royal Engineers
His nephew, Lieut Albert Tyler, R. E. died the following day in exactly the same location.
Capt Boyce Anthony Combe (Lieutenant on CWGC Roll of Honour)
11.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
6th Battalion (attached to 4th Battalion), Royal Fusiliers
Promoted to acting captain a few days before his death.
One of 64 men from 4th Battalion who died that day. Most have no known grave.
13.11.14 Lavantie (died at Sailly-sur-Lys)
Royal Engineers
Captain Hugh Vincent Corbett Turnbull
13.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers
Captain George Raleigh Kerr Evatt
14.11.14 Fleurbaix, nr Armentières (died at Le Boutillerie)
'A' Company, 1st Battalion, Middlesex Regt
2nd Lieut Harold Rolleston Stables
15.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
5th Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Cheshire Regt
18.11.14 Menin Gate Memorial
46th Battery, 39th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery
Major Reginald William Sidney Elliott
23.11.14 Bethune
7th Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army
23.11.14 Bethune (died at La Bassee)
31st Punjabis, attached to 58th Vaughan's Rifles (Frontier Force), Indian Army
Captain Herbert Connell Whipple
24.11.14 Bailleul (Died of Wounds incurred at Messines)
1st Battalion, Devonshire Regt
Lieut Ralph Ivan Meynell Davidson
24.11.14 La Gorgue (Died of Wounds incurred at Festubert)
1st Battalion Manchester Regt
WO 339/7376
Lieut (possibly Acting Capt) Edward Durham
26.11.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Fauquissart)
2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Major William Richard Norton Annesley D.S.O.
29.11.14 St. Andrews, Scotland (Died in London)
Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) attached to General Staff
Capt Clive Guise Moores Mentioned in Despatches
30.11.14 Bailleul (Died of Wounds nr Kemmel)
Royal Engineers
08.12.14 London (Died in Bournemouth)
Reserve of Officers, Yorkshire Regt#
18.12.14 Beuvry (Died at Givenchy)
20th Duke of Cambridge's Own Infantry (Brownlow's Punjabis), Indian Army
attached to 129th Duke of Connaught's Own Baluchis
Lieut Hubert Raynsford Gordon Kerr
19.12.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Givenchy)
1st Battalion, Highland Light Infantry
Capt Harry Norman Lee Mentioned in Despatches
19.12.14 Neuve Chapelle Memorial (Died at La Bassee)
59th Scinde Rifles (Frontier Force), Indian Army
19.12.14 Merville (Died of Wounds at Armentieres)
1st Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
(Age 21 - Gazetted 2nd Lieut on 8th December 1914)
Capt Jestyn Llewelyn Mansel (also ppears on the Caerleon memorial)
20.12.14 Le Touret Memorial
7th Dragoon Guards (Princess Royal's)
21.12.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Festubert)
1st Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Munster Fusiliers
2nd Lieut Edward Charles Walters
22.12.14 Festubert
3rd Battalion, attached to 1st Battalion, Gloucestershire Regt
(Age 24)
23.12.14 Le Touret Memorial (Died at Givenchy)
1st Battalion, Manchester Regt
28.12.14 Wimereux (Died of Wounds)
55th Field Company, Royal Engineers
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There must have been a book produced by the college in the ealy 1920's listing all those who served, and including obituaries of all those who died. I'm sure it would make fascinating reading.
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There's an interesting book by John Lewis-Stempel on the sacrifice of the young officers who left school or university to go to war ...
"As young lieutenants and captains in the front line of the 1914-18 war, they were the first to scramble over the top of their trenches into the rain of bullets from the well-defended German lines, setting an example to their men to follow.
The average life expectancy was just six weeks. In the first year one in seven of them were killed and one in five were wounded - by far the highest casualty rate in the war. About 33,000 officers were left disabled at the war’s end."