African Field Force), _s._ of Alfred Jackson Aubin, of Belle Vue,
Lower King’s Cliff, Jersey, by his wife, Christiana Spark; _b._
16 Oct. 1878; educ. Bedford Grammar School and Oxford Univ.; gazetted
2nd Lieut. from the Militia to the East Lancashire Regt. 21 April,
1900, and promoted Lieut. 11 Sept. 1901, and Capt. 12 Feb. 1913; served
in South Africa with the Mounted Infantry as a Railway Staff Officer,
1899–1902, taking part in the operations in the Transvaal and Orange
Free State (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two
clasps); employed with the West African Frontier Force (local Capt. 11
Jan. 1911) from July, 1904, to Feb. 1909, and again from Jan. 1911;
killed in action at Garua, in the Cameroons, 30 Aug. 1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =Alfred Charles Aubin.=]
=AUSTEN, WILLIAM FRANK=, Ord. Seaman, J. 13723, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=AUSTIN, CYRIL FREDERIC=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Queen’s Royal
West Surrey Regt., yst. _s._ of the late Louis Frederic Austin,
of 48, Woodstock Road, Bedford Park, W., the well-known journalist,
by his wife, Wilhelmina, dau. of Richard Robinson, C.E.; _b._
Bedford Park, W., 6 Oct. 1884; educ. in Belgium and Germany; was on
Reuter’s editorial staff, and had been a member of the Artists’ Rifles
since 1907. Went to the Front with them in Oct. 1914, and was given
his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Queen’s 15 Nov. following; served
continuously in the trenches during the winter of 1914–15, came home
for the week-end in Feb. for his marriage, returning to the Front
the following day, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10
March, 1915; buried at Laventie. While serving at the Front he sent
home several graphic sketches of soldier life, which were printed as
“From a subaltern in the trenches.” He was mentioned for important
and dangerous reconnaissance work in ascertaining the whereabouts of
enemy saps by F.M. Sir John French in his Despatch of 31 May, 1915.
The Medical Officer of the battn., writing with reference to his
death, said: “For some time he and his men occupied a small position
of the utmost importance to our line, a position constantly sniped
and bombarded by the enemy. I well remember going down to see a
wounded man in this isolated post after the German trench mortars
had blown the defences about their ears. Austin--wet, muddy, but
cheerful--crawled out of the ruins and displayed the utmost concern
about his wounded man. Brave, cool, and fearless himself, he would go
out of his way to show me a safe way out of the trenches and where I
could avoid ploughing through too much mud and water. I was talking
to him a few minutes before he was hit, and it was a terrible blow
to me that when I was called to him his condition was such that no
treatment was available.” While a member of the Artists’ Rifles Sec.
Lieut. Austin won cups with the Tent Pitching Team, and for five
years was in the Bayonet Team, taking part in the Naval and Military
Tournament at Olympia in 1913 and 1914, and winning many spoons and
cups. The chairman of Reuter’s at the annual general meeting on 3 June,
1915, described him as “one of our most promising young editors.” He
_m._ at St. Ippolyt’s, Herts, 27 Feb. 1915, Margaret Elizabeth
(Gosmore, Hitchin), elder dau. of Samuel Bridgman Russell, of Gosmore,
Hitchin, Herts.
[Illustration: =Cyril Frederic Austin.=]
=AUSTIN, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Private, No. 9726, 2nd Battn. Royal
Scots, _s._ of Edward Austin; _b._ Birmingham, 13 Dec. 1884;
educ. St. Mary’s Schools there; served seven years in India; went to
France with the first Expeditionary Force, and was killed in action
during the retreat from Mons, 26 Aug. 1914; _unm._
=AUSTIN, GEORGE=, Stoker, R.N.R., 514 V., H.M.S. Cressy; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=AVELING, LANCELOT NEVILLE=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Connaught Rangers,
only _s._ of Neville Clifford Aveling, temporary Capt. R.F.A.,
by his wife, Evelyn Mary, of St. Germans Hall, Norfolk, dau. of Capt.
Hurton Barker, of Needham House, near Wisbech, and grandson of Stephen
Thomas Aveling, of Restoration House, Rochester; _b._ Rochester,
20 March, 1892; educ. Gresham’s Holt School; was for four years in the
O.T.C., and shot at Bisley for school; joined the Surrey (Queen Mary’s
Own) Yeomanry 1911, and the Special Reserve of Officers (3rd Connaught
Rangers) 13 June, 1913, and passed third in qualifying examination for
Regular Army on mobilisation, being gazetted 1 Sept. He left with the
Expeditionary Force for the Front at the end of August; was wounded
(two bullet wounds) at the Battle of the Aisne, 14 Sept.; again at
Ypres, 7 Nov. (mentioned in Despatches, Feb. 1915); and a third time at
the same place, 26 April, and _d._ in hospital at Hazebrouck three
days later, being buried in the cemetery there; _unm._ His colonel
wrote: “He was such a splendid officer and so charming a fellow. He is,
indeed, an almost irreparable loss to my battalion.... He came to us
with a very high reputation from the 2nd Battalion, and more than made
it good. Gen. Egerton had especially asked for your boy’s services for
the day as orderly officer.”
[Illustration: =Lancelot Neville Aveling.=]
=AVERILL, ALBERT=, Private, No. 9974, 1st Battn. North
Staffordshire Regt., _s._ of Alfred John Averill, Officer’s
Waiter, 11th South Staffs. Regt., by his wife, Hannah, dau. of Hiram
Pritchard; _b._ Hanley and Stoke (N. Stafford), 6 Aug. 1891; educ.
Cauldon Road Elementary School there, enlisted in Sept. 1913; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in action at
Armentières, 2 Nov. 1914; _unm._
=AVIS, HARRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4659), S.S. 103859,
H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=AVIS, RALPH CUTTS=, Yeoman of Signals (R.F.R., Ch. B. 6683),
191425, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=AVIS, WILLIAM=, Sergt., R.M.L.I., Ch. 10913, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=AWDRY, CAROL EDWARD VERE=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal Munster
Fusiliers, _s._ of the Rev. Vere Awdry, Vicar of Ampfield, Romsey,
by his wife, Mary Louisa, dau. of Edward Desborough Man; _b._
Broad-Hinton Vicarage, co. Wilts, 11 June, 1894; educ. Marlborough
House School, Hove (April, 1903–Dec. 1907), Marlborough College
(Foundation Scholar, Jan. 1908–June, 1912), and Royal Military College,
Sandhurst (G Coy., June, 1912–June, 1913); gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the
Munster Fusiliers, Sept. 1913; joined the 2nd Battn. at Aldershot, 15
Oct. 1913; went to the Front with them 13 Aug. 1914, and was killed in
action near Etreux, 27 Aug. 1914, during the retreat from Mons. Writing
to his father, the senior surviving officer, Capt. H. S. Jervis, who
was himself taken prisoner, said: “Your boy lost his life that day
while leading his men against overwhelming odds. The Army was at the
time withdrawing, and the battn. was occupying an important position
covering the movement. In order to better safeguard the retreat of the
remainder our withdrawal was delayed by some hours. We were attacked
on three sides, and when we moved off finally it was found that the
greatly superior forces of the Germans had enabled them to cut us off
from our main body. Faced by odds of 6 or 8 to 1 we put up the best
fight we could until compelled by fire from all sides to surrender. C
Coy--to which your son belonged, of course--was chosen to watch our
right rear (on the north-east) as the battn. withdrew to the south,
and Capt. Rawlinson selected your son to take his platoon (No. 9) out
to an exposed position the far end of a village named Fesmy, through
which our line of retreat lay. He performed the duty in a most able
manner, and although harassed with a nasty fire, he held on until the
battn. withdrew, and then rejoined with his little force intact. It
was a commendable performance, worthy of one of far greater age and
experience than your son. His company then continued the withdrawal
until we came to the next village (Oisy), when it was detailed to act
as rearguard. Again they were sharply engaged by largely increased
forces this time, but they gallantly held their own, your son again
holding a detached position at an important cross roads, and again
the battn. was able to withdraw in safety. Your boy’s party was the
last to come in, and though he lost a few men he saved many more. It
was now six o’clock (p.m.), and it was now discovered that we were
cut off from the main body. The battn. shook out to the attack in an
endeavour to break through, every officer doing good work, your son
no less than the others. With sword drawn he led his men in support
of the attack which was in progress in front (to the south), and as
he advanced he fell shot through the lungs. His death was painless
and practically instantaneous. He was buried with his eight brother
officers who fell the same day, 28 Aug. 1914. I write as a prisoner
in German hands. The grave is near the railway station of Etreux, 400
yards to north of the level-crossing, right-hand side of the road.”
It seems clear that from the first the situation was so critical that
to enable the Army to escape the sacrifice of a regt. might possibly
prove to be inevitable. Major Charrier, in command of the Munsters,
fully recognised this, and, according to a survivor, in the absence of
definite orders to retire, felt it his duty to hold on to the last at
all costs. Though they had had two little “scraps” with the Germans
lasting a few minutes on 24 and 26 Aug., the Munsters’ first serious
fighting was on the 27th. The morning was very misty, and while waiting
for the Germans a German aeroplane came over them, quite close, about
10 a.m. It flew back at once, and shortly afterwards a heavy fire was
opened on them, rendering their position untenable. They therefore
retired through Fesmy, where Awdry with his platoon held a detached
position and succeeded in holding the Germans back till the regt. was
safe, and then rejoined. He received a slight flesh wound here. Next
they came to Oisy. Here they had to cross a canal, a little distance
in rear of which was an important cross roads. Attacked in flank, in
danger of being cut off in front, a cavalry attack now threatened them
in rear, and Awdry was sent to the cross roads with his platoon. He
left about 12 men under a sergt. at the canal bridge while he with the
rest went forward and succeeded in holding the Germans at bay for some
three-quarters of an hour. The sergt. and nearly all the detachment at
the bridge were killed, and a corpl. went forward to get instructions,
and as he got up he saw Awdry put his hand up to his chest and fall.
Private C.... says he was hit high up on the left side. The corpl.
thought he was killed, and as nearly all that party were _hors de
combat_ he returned to the bridge, where, finding no one left, he
thought all was over and escaped as best he could with a few stragglers
who joined him and worked round to St. Quentin, where they eventually
joined the remnant of the regt. (about 260) who had escaped destruction
or capture. Awdry was not, however, killed then, and held on; but his
numbers were so reduced that he signalled for reinforcement, and though
none could be sent then, he refused to leave the post till assured that
the battn. was safe. Eventually a few men from another platoon came to
his help, and finally they retired and rejoined, his party being the
last to come in. Then about 6 p.m. the battn. found themselves attacked
on three sides, and it was now in the last desperate attempt to break
through that Awdry got his fatal wound, in the forehead. Private C. ...
was again close to him, and though himself slightly wounded managed to
get him back near the road, and was putting his own field dressing on
the wound when his left shoulder was shattered and he fell over and
Awdry fell on the top of him, and so about an hour later died in his
arms. They lay there all night till a burial party composed of captured
men of the Munsters under German guards brought them in. The nine
officers of the Munsters who fell that day were buried in one grave,
and the N.C.Os. and men in another, side by side, near the railway
station of Etreux, on the right hand side of the road, 400 yards north
of the level-crossing. A German Pastor read a funeral service over
them and the Germans put up crosses to mark the spot. Two memorial
windows have been put up in St. Mark’s Church, Ampfield, in memory of
2nd Lieut. Awdry and officers, N.C.O.s and men of the Munsters who fell
that day.
[Illustration: =Carol Edward Vere Awdry.=]
=AXON, WALTER HENRY=, Ship’s Corpl., 1st Class, R.F.R., A. 1230,
late Ports., A. 2045, 128826, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North
Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=AXUP, VICTOR EMMANUEL=, Leading Signaller, 215587, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=AYLING, WILLIAM=, L.-Corpl., No. 9330, 1st Battn. Hampshire
Regt., _s._ of Horace Ayling, of Stubbington Lane, Stubbington,
Fareham, Hants, Cowman, by his wife, Anne, dau. of Edward Etherington;
_b._ Hindhead, co. Surrey, 18 Dec. 1895; educ. Fareham and Crofton
Elementary School; enlisted April, 1912; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914;
was seriously wounded near Ypres, 7 Nov. 1914, by a wounded Prussian,
and was invalided home; but returned to the Front in May, appointed
L.-Corpl. June, and was killed in action at Ypres, 9 July, 1915;
_unm._ His commanding officer wrote that “he was killed instantly
by a shell which burst in a trench”; adding, “He was an excellent
fellow.... He was buried behind the trench. I am afraid it was only a
rough grave, as we left that night.”
=BABER, THOMAS EDWARD=, Petty Officer (N.S.), 154395, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._
=BACHELOR, FRANK=, Gunner, R.M.A., 12282, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BACK, JOHN RICHARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2843), 199592, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BACON, BASIL KENRICK WING=, Major, D Coy., 1st Battn.
Worcestershire Regt., 4th _s._ of Kenrick Verulam Bacon, of The
Lodge, Hale, Farnham, J.P., late Capt. Worcestershire Regt. (with
which he served in the Indian Mutiny, 1857–8), by his wife, Jessie,
dau. of the late T. Wing, Gray’s Inn; _b._ Eastbourne, 28 May,
1872; educ. United Services College, Westward Ho! was gazetted as 2nd
Lieut. to the 2nd Battn. of the Worcesters, from the Militia, 4 Oct.
1893, and promoted Lieut. 14 Dec. 1896, and Capt. 14 Feb. 1900, and
Major 1 April, 1909. When the Boer war broke out he was with his regt.
in Bermuda. They came home to Aldershot in order to mobilise, and
then went to South Africa. He served with the 2nd Battn. in the South
African war of 1899–1902, took part in the operations in Cape Colony,
south of the Orange River, 1899–1900, including action at Colesberg
(1 Jan.-12 Feb.); in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, and Orange Free
State, May-Feb. 1901, and in the Orange Free State, Feb.-May, 1902;
was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901], and
obtained the Queen’s medal with three clasps, and the King’s medal with
two clasps. After the war he continued to serve with the 2nd Battn.
in South Africa, subsequently moving with it to Ceylon and thence
to India. He obtained his Majority in the 3rd Battn. at Dover, but
afterwards was posted to the 1st, which was at Cairo when the European
War broke out. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 13 Dec. 1914;
_unm._ A memorial brass was erected in Hale Parish Church by the
N.C.Os. and men of his company “in token of their esteem and affection.”
[Illustration: =Basil Kenrick Wing Bacon.=]
=BADDELEY, EDWARD LAWRENCE=, Major, 8th Battn. Lancashire
Fusiliers (T.F.), eldest _s._ of the late John Bratton Baddeley,
of Whalley, co. Lancaster, M.D., by his wife, Marion (afterwards wife
of Charles Edward Emmet, of Southport), dau. of (--) Brewer; _b._
Whalley, 12 July, 1870; educ. at Macclesfield, and was admitted a
solicitor in June, 1893, but did not practise, being secretary to
Messrs. W. T. Glover & Co., of Trafford Park, Manchester, Cable
Makers. Major Baddeley joined the Halifax (1st Volunteer Battn. Duke
of Wellington’s) Volunteers as a Private in 1888, and obtained his
commission, 21 March, 1900, in the 3rd Volunteer Battn. The King’s
Liverpool Regt., and afterwards transferred into the Lancashire
Fusiliers; Southport Volunteers, 13 June, 1903; and on 24 Jan. 1914,
obtained his majority in the 8th Territorial Battn. of the Lancashire
Fusiliers. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for Imperial service,
went out to Egypt with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was
killed in action at Gallipoli, 6 June, 1915, being then second in
command. He helped to form one of the first cycle corps in England. He
held the Volunteer Long Service medal. Major Baddeley was a leading
member of the Southport Yachting Club. He _m._ at Halifax, 4 July,
1911, May, only dau. of John Oakley, of Halifax, M.D., J.P.; _s.p._
[Illustration: =Edward L. Baddeley.=]
=BADDELEY, LIONEL RICHARD LOGAN=, Corpl., No. 11/566, Queen
Alexandra’s 2nd Squadron, Wellington Mounted Rifles, New Zealand
Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Richard Baddeley, of Kakatahi,
Wanganui, New Zealand, Runholder, by his wife, J..., dau. of Thomas
Logan Williamson, grandson of Capt. Frederick Clinton Herman Stuart
Baddeley, 40th Regt., and great-grandson of General Frederick Henry
Baddeley, R.E.; _b._ Wanganui, New Zealand, 4 Dec. 1887; educ.
Wanganui College. On the outbreak of war he joined the New Zealand
Expeditionary Force, Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at the
Dardanelles on 20 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Lionel R. L. Baddeley.=]
=BADDER, SIDNEY JOSEPH=, A.B., J. 6017, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in
action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BADENOCH, JAMES=, Leading Stoker, R.F.R., Ch. B. 9396, 296586,
H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BAGLEY, ARTHUR DAVIES=, Private, No. 107, 5th Battn. Australian
Imperial Force, _s._ of Frederick Bagley, Master Draughtsman, by
his wife, Ann, dau. of the late Stephen Davies; _b._ Broseley,
co. Salop, 22 Nov. 1889; educ. there, and emigrated to Australia in
1911. At the outbreak of war he volunteered, and was killed in action
during the landing operations in Gallipoli, 25 April, 1915; _unm._
A comrade writing said that he was shot through the head by a sniper
whilst going to the assistance of a wounded officer.
[Illustration: =Arthur Davies Bagley.=]
=BAGSHAWE, LEONARD VALE=, Capt., 3rd Battn. King’s Own Scottish
Borderers, yr. _s._ of Rev. William Vale Bagshawe, of Moorlands,
Calver, Sheffield, formerly Assistant Master at Repton School, Master
of the Uppingham Lower School, Vicar of Isel and Rector of Pitchford,
by his wife, Alice Katharine, dau. of Edward Otto Partridge; _b._
Highfield, Uppingham, 30 Nov. 1877; educ. Lower School, Uppingham,
Shrewsbury, and Christ Church, Oxford. After taking his degree he
entered the service of the Bombay Burma Trading Corporation, and later
became one of their forest managers. Being home on leave when the war
broke out he applied at once, with three other members of the company’s
staff, for a commission in the King’s Own Scottish Borderers, and was
gazetted 2nd Lieut. 30 Aug. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 9 Nov. following.
He trained at Portland and Sunderland, left with a draft on 4 Dec., and
was attached to the 1st Battn. Northumberland Fusiliers near Ypres,
where, having acted as Capt. of his company for several months, he was
gazetted to that rank 5 May, 1915. He was killed in action at Hooge, in
Flanders, 16 June, 1915; _unm._ Lieut. Edward Partridge wrote from
Ypres: “His example enabled his men to carry the position and retain it
against counter attacks, and they all speak so highly of his pluck and
resource.” And Private Pike, Northumberland Fusiliers, from the Base
Hospital at Sheffield: “I was with your son when he got killed in the
great charge at Hooge, near Ypres, on 16 June. I was very proud to be
led by such a brave and noble man--for he led the company as if he were
in the streets of England.” Private Pike also said that “Capt. Bagshawe
and his men were in the fighting in March at St. Eloi, St. Julien, and
Hill 60. One night he had 18 men in a trench which was shelled by the
Germans preparatory to an attack; 16 men were killed or wounded. Capt.
Bagshawe mounted the parapet and fired into the attacking enemy. He and
his two men held the trench through the night until daylight caused the
Germans to relinquish the attack.” The adjutant of his Battn. said:
“... He was as popular with his men as with the officers.... He was
from the first in a responsible position, which he filled with great
energy and tact.... We were attacking, and I heard that he got into
the first line of the enemy’s trenches, and I think he was hit in the
actual assault. He will have been buried close to where he fell, which
is just south of the Ypres-Roulers Railway, about three miles east of
Ypres.” Capt. Bagshawe was a keen and successful all-round sportsman.
At college he rowed in the eight and represented Christ Church in the
crew which competed for both Thames and Ladies in 1897 at Henley. They
were beaten in the semi-final of the Ladies Plate by Emmanuel, and in
the final of the Thames Cup by Kingston after a good race.
[Illustration: =Leonard Vale Bagshawe.=]
=BAILEY, ARCHIBALD ERNEST=, L.-Corpl., No. 9592, 2nd Battn.
East Kent Regt., _s._ of Samuel Bailey, of 16, Blackwall Road,
Willesboro Lees, near Ashford; served with the Expeditionary Force in
France; killed in action, 28 Sept. 1915.
=BAILEY, ARTHUR EDWARD=, Private, No. 9703, 1st Battn. Coldstream
Guards, _s._ of William Bailey, of Hyam Cottages, Malmesbury,
Wilts., Farm Labourer, by his wife, Annie, dau. of the late Matthew
Clark, of Malmesbury; _b._ Brokenborough, near Malmesbury, co.
Wilts., 2 Aug. 1890; educ. Malmesbury National School; enlisted 31
July, 1912, and was killed in the fighting round Ypres, Oct. 1914;
_unm._
[Illustration: =Arthur Edward Bailey.=]
=BAILEY, FREDERICK JOSEPH=, Acting Sergt.-Major, No. 4640, 1/5th
Battn. The Royal Scots (T.F.); killed in action at the Dardanelles, 12
May, 1915.
=BAILEY, GEORGE HENRY=, Leading Seaman, 220337, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914. His brother, Wallace J. Bailey, was lost in the
Cressy.
=BAILEY, JOHN JAMES=, Private, No. 2280, 7th Battn. Durham L.I.
(T.F.), only _s._ of the late (--) Bailey; b. Sunderland, co.
Durham, ... Aug. 1887, and was employed at Foster’s Forge, Sunderland;
joined the 7th (Territorial) Battn. of the Durham L.I., and trained at
Gateshead; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action
“somewhere” in France, 15 May, 1915. He _m._ at Sunderland, 24
Aug. 1912, Elizabeth Jane (who died 16 June, 1914), dau. of William
Chambers Farley, of Sunderland, Machine Driller, and had an only child,
Catherine (15, Victoria Street, Southwick, Sunderland), _b._ 9
Jan. 1913.
[Illustration: =John James Bailey.=]