West Kent Regt., yst. _s._ of Alexander Francis Garden Brown,
of Magonet-Stoke Gabriel, co. Devon, by his wife, Charlotte Mary,
dau. of James William Alston, of Stockbriggs, co. Lanark; _b._
Swindrigemuir, co. Ayr, 28 Aug. 1892, and was educ. at Bradfield
College. He received his commission in the 2nd Battn. of the Royal
West Kent Regt., then in India, on 20 Sept. 1911, when just 19.
Having been applied for in 1913, as an officer for the 64th Pioneers
by the Commandant, he successfully passed two examinations in Indian
languages, winning thereby a substantial prize given by the Indian
Government, and intended to pass the final in the autumn of 1914. He
became Lieut. on 1 July, 1914, and was at home on leave when war broke
out. He was then attached on its formation to the 6th Service Battn.
of the Royal West Kents in the new army. In Oct. 1914, in consequence
of the heavy losses sustained by the 1st Battn. in the Battle of
Ypres, he was sent out to join it, but by an error in the Army List
copied in the newspaper accounts he was given as attached to the Royal
Berkshire Regt. On leaving the 6th Battn. his commanding officer wrote:
“I am very sorry to lose your son; he did very good work while with
my battn. and I can ill afford to lose him. However, his work will
bear its fruit in the future.” He spent the winter in the trenches
between Messines and Zillebeke and went through some heavy fighting in
Nov. when the battn. lost so many officers, that he, though a junior,
had to act as company commander during the months of Dec. and Jan.
During this time in the trenches he passed a course of instruction
under the R.E. officer attached to the battn. which qualified him as a
regimental scout and bomb officer, a post he held at the time of his
death. He was killed in action at Hill 60, near Zillebeke, Flanders.
22 Feb. 1915; _unm._ His commanding officer, Col. P. M. Robinson,
wrote: “I regret your son’s death immensely, he was a gallant man and
a good officer, always ready to do rather than to talk. He had won my
admiration on several occasions during the time I have been commanding
this battn., and I had a very high opinion of him. I much regret his
career has been cut short”; and Capt. Molony (who joined the battn.
in Feb. from the reserve of officers): “During the short time I knew
your son I acquired a very real respect and a great liking for him.
This being my first experience of trench work, he really commanded the
company, while I watched his methods and learnt from him. I was very
much struck by his thorough efficiency as well as his imperturbable
courage. Having left the Army nearly eight years ago and never before
having been in action, I badly wanted someone to put me in the way of
it. No one could have done it more thoroughly and at the same time
tactfully than your son. During this time he was offered and accepted
the very honourable, but at the same time dangerous position of battn.
scout officer. I did not like it much because it would mean that I
should very often be deprived of his assistance, but I heard the
commanding officer, when discussing his suitableness, say among other
things ‘He is as brave as a lion.’ He is a great loss to the regt.
and his qualities would have carried him very far in his profession
had he been spared. I hope it will be some consolation to you to know
that he did not suffer. When I heard he was hit I went to him at once.
He was quite unconscious, and remained so until he died, perhaps some
two minutes later.” Speaking of his death, the Adjutant said: “He was
setting a splendid example, and, regardless of danger, was walking
about laughing at the bombs, and greatly encouraging his men by his
behaviour.”
[Illustration: =John Edward G. Brown.=]
=BROWN, JOHN SAMUEL=, Chief Armourer, 341170, H.M.S. Cressy; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN, JOHN SAMUEL=, A.B., 201534 (Chat.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost
in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BROWN, NORMAN=, Private, No. 12/1569, 15th North Auckland
Infantry, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, _s._ of Arthur Brown,
formerly of co. Down, Ireland, by his wife, Mary (44, Springfield Road,
Christchurch, New Zealand), dau. of Abernethy Patterson; _b._
Christchurch, New Zealand, March, 1881; educ. St. Alban’s School,
Christchurch; volunteered Dec. 1914, and died of wounds at Gaba Tepe,
11 May, 1915; _unm._
[Illustration: =Norman Brown.=]
=BROWN, NORMAN McLEOD=, Sergt., No. 1057, 1/14th Battn. (London
Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of Robert Brown, of
Kirkcaldy, co. Fife, Draper, by his wife, Mary Davidson, dau. of David
Findlay; _b._ Kirkcaldy, 16 Nov. 1888; educ. High School there;
entered the Civil Service and received an appointment in the India
Office, where he was engaged till he volunteered for foreign service on
the outbreak of war. He had been a member of the London Scottish for
some seven years, went to France with them as a corpl., was promoted
Sergt. at the Front, and at the time of his death had been recommended
for a commission. He was shot in the trenches at Givenchy by a sniper,
24 Dec. 1914, and was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._
[Illustration: =Norman McLeod Brown.=]
=BROWN, OSCAR=, Lieut., 7th Lancers, Indian Army, attd. 4th
Dragoon Guards, 8th _s._ of the late William Hooper Masters Brown,
of Highfield House, Sherborne, co. Dorset, by his wife, Mary, dau. of
William James, of Pembroke, _b._ Sherborne, 20 May, 1888; educ.
Sherborne School, and Sandhurst; gazetted to the 48th Northamptonshire
Regt. 19 Sept. 1908, and promoted Lieut. 7 May, 1910. In Sept. 1912
he exchanged into the Indian Army, and joined the 7th (Hariana)
Lancers. While riding for the Delhi Cup in 1913 his horse fell and
injured him to such an extent that he was invalided home, and on the
outbreak of the war, being still in England, he was attached to the
4th Dragoon Guards, going to France with them in Sept. 1914. He was
killed in action by a shell at Ypres, 24 April, 1915, and was buried at
Elverdinghe; _unm._
=BROWN, PHILIP GEORGE MORTIMER=, Private, No. 9704, 5th Battn.
(London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of the
late Frederick Robert Brown, Solicitor, by his wife, Emily Louisa
(Thirlmere, Dukesthorpe Road, Sydenham, S.E.), dau. of George Phillips,
of Beckenham, _b._ Sundridge Park, co. Kent, 15 Oct. 1896; educ.
The Hall, Sydenham Preparatory School, and Dulwich College. He joined
the London Rifle Brigade early in 1914, and on the outbreak of war was
with his regt. at Eastbourne for the midsummer manœuvres. Volunteering
for foreign service, he left with his regt. for France early in Nov.
1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 3 May, 1915; _unm._ His
commanding officer wrote: “He died doing his duty to the last, and was
buried the same night. After he was slightly wounded himself, he spent
all his time attending to other wounded friends, and it was whilst
performing this duty that he was killed.”
[Illustration: =Philip G. M. Brown.=]
=BROWN, WALTER GILBERT=, Seaman, R.N.R., 13630, H.M.S. Aboukir;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWN= (_alias_ =BROWNING=), =WILLIAM=, Stoker,
1st Class (N.C.S.), 298889, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off
Coronel, on coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=WREFORD-BROWN, CLAUDE, D.S.O.=, Capt., 2nd Battn. 5th
Northumberland Fusiliers (T.F.), 5th _s._ of the late William
Wreford-Brown, by his wife, Clara Jane (5, Litfield Place, Clifton,
Bristol), dau. of Henry Clark, M.D.; _b._ Clifton, 17 Feb.
1876: educ. Waynflete, Durdham Downs; Wells House, Malvern Wells;
and Charterhouse. After serving in the Royal Warwickshire Militia,
he obtained his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 1st Battn. of the
“Fighting Fifth,” 15 May, 1897, being promoted Lieut. 24 Nov. 1899,
and Capt. 15 April, 1901. In 1898 he took part in the Soudan Campaign
under Lord Kitchener, being present at the Battle of Omdurman and the
capture of Khartoum (Queen’s medal and Egyptian medal with clasp).
He was employed in the occupation of Crete in 1898, and then, under
Lord Methuen, served throughout the South African War, 1899–1902.
He took part in the advance on Kimberley, including the actions at
Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein. Afterwards he took
part in the operations in the Orange Free State (March-May, 1900) and
in the Transvaal (July-Nov. 1900), including actions at Venterskroom
and Rhenoster River. Twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette,
9 July and 10 Sept. 1901], he received the D.S.O. for his services
at Lichtenburg and the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s
medal with two clasps. He was selected to represent his regt. at the
Coronation of King Edward VII. In April, 1908, he was on the North-West
Frontier of India, and while serving in the Mohmand Campaign was
seriously wounded. On 4 Sept. 1912. he was appointed an instructor at
the Royal Military College, Sandhurst, which post he filled until 17
Feb. 1915, when he joined the 2nd Battn. of his regt., then in France.
Capt. Wreford-Brown was killed on the Menin Road, south of Ypres, 200
yards east of Wieltje Farm, north of Hooge, on Whit Monday, 24 May,
1915; unm. His regt. had been practically wiped out on the 13th, and
when he heard of this he insisted on leaving Boulogne, where he was in
hospital, and going back to reform the regt. He arrived at headquarters
west of Ypres, Friday, 21 May, and there found 85 worn-out men of his
battn., and about 450 of the 5th Fusiliers and Durham L.I., and 15
officers, a new draft which had just arrived, all from the same depôt.
These he formed into a battn., and on Sunday, 23 May, was ordered to
join the Brigade--only two clear days to form a new regt.! They marched
between 15 and 29 miles on a sweltering hot day, losing several men
on the way under shell fire. They arrived at Menin Road on Monday
(Empire Day) the 24th; and were ordered out into support at 6 a.m.
Wreford-Brown was commanding. At about 1 p.m. he received orders to
advance to a certain point and attack a position which was allotted to
him. The battn. shortly after leaving its support position came under
heavy fire, and for a distance of two and a-half miles across country
of open fields of buttercups, was continually under high explosive fire
and shrapnel, machine and rifle fire. The regt. was formed up for the
attack on the ridge which they took, but with very heavy casualties.
Ten of the officers were wounded in this, leaving Wreford-Brown and
two lieutenants. These and the remaining men dug themselves in, and
on getting to the ridge they found the Germans very strong in a farm
called Wieltje: it looked as if the Germans were on three sides of
them. The regt. on the right could not be found, and two companies of
the 5th were taking on three miles of Germans. At 7 p.m. he sent word
as to his position and the heavy casualties. The answer came back: “You
must try and take it and hold it at all costs.” One of the captains
in the firing line who was wounded and lying in a ditch reports that
Wreford-Brown told him to go back to hospital, and congratulated him
on getting back to England wounded, and said: “Good-bye, old fellow,
I shall not see you again. I am ordered to attack the place, it is
hopeless, but I shall lead my men to it”; and with that he turned to
his men and called for a rifle and bayonet and said: “Now we will make
the final charge of the Mohicans,” which he did, leading the men. The
Germans had 20 to 25 machine guns concentrated on them: Wreford-Brown
fell 10 yards from the German trench mortally wounded. The remaining
Lieut. reformed for a second attack and got wounded; the remaining few
retired back to the trench behind the hedge, which they had dug after
gaining the ridge. Only one officer got back safely, and he was with
the machine gun a long way behind, which did not come into action. The
regt. on the right had been delayed and came up afterwards. In the
opinion of all he was shot several times and was certainly killed.
Several attempts were made to recover his body, but it lay between
two trenches of the Germans, and it was impossible owing to their
withering fire. The Commander-in-Chief came round himself and thanked
the survivors for their bravery. His brother officers bore general
testimony to his capability and great courage. His brother, Capt. O. E.
Wreford-Brown, died 7 July, 1916, of wounds received in action on the
Somme.
[Illustration: =Claude Wreford-Brown.=]
=BROWNE, ARTHUR GEORGE=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Notts. and
Derbyshire Regt. (Sherwood Foresters), _s._ of the late John
Barrett Browne, Bandmaster 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers, by his wife,
Isabella Helen, dau. of the late Hon. Capt. A. J. White, Indian A.C.
Dept.; _b._ Mount Abu, India, 2 Sept. 1889; educ. Laurence
Military Asylum, Sanawar, India; joined the Army 2nd Sept. 1903,
at the age of 14, and served in the band of the 1st Battn. of the
Gloucestershire Regt. for eight years, when he became an N.C.O., and
joined the ranks, later becoming Sergt. He received his commission for
“services in the field,” 1 Oct. 1914, and was transferred to the Notts.
and Derbyshire Regt. He was killed in action near Armentières, 20 Oct.
1914; _unm._
[Illustration: =Arthur George Browne.=]
=BROWNE, GORDON STEWART=, Capt. and Adjutant, 1st Battn. Wiltshire
Regt., 4th _s._ of Henry John Browne, of Grosvenor House,
Faversham and Chatham, Merchant, by his wife, Emily Martha, dau. of
George William Gill, of Rochester; _b._ Chatham, 15 May, 1890;
educ. Haileybury and Sandhurst; gazetted to the Wiltshire Regt. 18
Sept. 1909; promoted Lieut. 26 Jan. 1911, and Capt. 25 Oct. 1914. He
went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and was wounded at Caudry
on the fourth day of the retreat from Mons, but recovered and returned
to the Front. On 17 Nov. he was badly wounded during the fighting at
Hooge and died at the Allied Forces Base Hospital, Boulogne, 27 Nov.
1914. His body was brought home and buried at St. Margaret’s Cemetery,
Rochester. Capt. Browne, who was _unm._, was mentioned in F.M. Sir
John French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915 for “gallant and distinguished
service in the field.”
=BROWNE, HAROLD VERNON=, Capt., Queen’s Own Dorset Yeomanry, yr.
_s._ of Leonard Gilbert Browne, of Hoburne, Christchurch, co.
Hants, formerly of Buckland Park, South Australia, by his wife, Helen
Mary, dau. of Henry Strong Brice; _b._ Buckland Park, 25 Aug.
1885; educ. Hazlewood, Limpsfield and Wellington College. He resided
from 1909–14 at Cheriton Manor, Templecombe, and after that at Preston
House, Iwerne Minster. In 1908 he joined the Dorsetshire Yeomanry and
became Lieut. 4 Oct. 1913, and Capt. July, 1915. On the outbreak of
the war he volunteered for foreign service, and was sent on special
service in July, 1915, from Egypt to Gallipoli, and was military
landing officer at Suvla Bay all through the August landing. He was
killed by a shell on the beach while doing his work of landing troops,
7 Sept. 1915, and was buried there. His commanding officer at Suvla Bay
wrote: “I, like all who came in contact with him, had learnt to be very
fond of and admire him. He was a splendid man and a brave soldier, who
did not seem to know such a thing as fear or danger, and he met his
death, I think and trust, a painless one, when nobly doing his duty,
and actually giving an order in connection with it. He was a true and
good soldier and died a soldier’s death.” He was a very fine all-round
athlete, he played in the school cricket eleven at Wellington, and
afterwards for Dorset County, was a first-class golfer and lawn tennis
player, hunted regularly with the Blackmore Vale Hounds, and rode in
many point-to-point races and steeplechases. Capt. Browne _m._
at St. Peter’s, Eton Square, 24 June, 1908, Doris (Preston House,
Iwerne Minster, Blandford), elder dau. of John Tillard, of Blakeney,
co. Norfolk, and had three sons and one dau.: Anthony Harold Scott,
_b._ 21 April, 1909; Peter Francis William, _b._ 1 Jan. 1912;
Nigel Philip, _b._ 20 Jan. 1913; and Ursula Patricia, _b._ 24
Nov. 1915.
[Illustration: =Harold Vernon Browne.=]
=COLLIS-BROWNE, ALFRED ULICK=, Lieut., 1st. Battn. King’s Own
Yorkshire L.I., yst. _s._ of William Alfred Collis-Browne, of
Monteagle, Godalming, Major (ret.) 5th Battn. Rifle Brigade; _b._
Byfleet, co. Surrey, 13 June 1889; educ. Killcott, Godalming;
represented the R.M.A. at Association Football, 1908; joined the
Yorkshire L.I. in South Africa, 1910, and was promoted Lieut. 27
July, 1914. On the outbreak of war he proceeded with his regt. to the
Front, was appointed Machine Gun Officer, and was killed in action
whilst making a reconnaissance of a trench at Ypres, 13 April, 1915.
He was buried at Zonnebeke, near Ypres; _unm._ The Adjutant of
his battn. wrote: “He was one of the pluckiest fellows I ever knew.
Only a fortnight ago, in an action we had, the captain in the trenches
reported how splendidly he worked his guns, and the good effect it had
on his men, by whom he was greatly beloved.” He was mentioned in F M.
Sir John French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915.
=BROWNING, FRANK HERBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 10905, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWNING, JAMES ALEXANDER=, Major, 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen’s
Bays), yr. _s._ of Edward Campbell Browning, of Rushden House,
co. Northants, by his wife, Alice Louisa, dau. of C. Pratt Barlow;
_b._ Onslow Square, London, 25 June, 1878; educ. Eton and
Sandhurst; obtained his commission, 11 May, 1898, and was promoted
Lieut. 16 Aug. 1899; Capt. 14 Sept. 1901, and Major 5 July, 1911. From
1906–09 he acted as Adjutant to the Queen’s Bays and was A.D.C. to the
Inspector-Gen. of Cavalry in the early stages of the South African
War, and in 1901–02 he took part in the operations in the Orange River
Colony, the Transvaal and Cape Colony, for which he received the
Queen’s medal with five clasps. On the outbreak of the European War he
went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and was killed by a shell
at Messines, 31 Oct. 1914, while in command of his regt. He was buried
at Wulverghem, and was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatches
[London Gazette, 22 June, 1915], for gallant and distinguished service
in the field. Capt. Browning _m._ at St. Mary’s Church, Higham
Ferrers, co. Northants, 21 March, 1903, Lilian Brenda (Stonycroft,
Aldershot), only dau. of Capt. Basil John Fisher, U.S.A., and had two
sons: Geoffrey Alexander, _b._ 21 March, 1907; and Peter Campbell,
_b._ 18 March, 1910.
[Illustration: =James A. Browning.=]
=BROWNLEE, JAMES ALEXANDER=, Petty Officer (N.S.), 185918, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BROWNLOW, MARK=, E.R.A., 2nd Class, 271387, H.M.S. Good Hope;
lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BROYD, ERNEST JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9569), 203287, H.M.S.
Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=BRUCE, ALFRED=, Private, No. 1239, 1/4th Battn. King’s Own
Yorkshire L.I. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of the late William Bruce, by
his wife, Alice Annie (40, Chatsworth Place, Harrogate); _b._
Aldboro’, Borobridge, co. York, 17 May, 1893; educ. Grove Road Board
School, and Technical School, Harrogate; entered the service of the
Educational Offices, Wakefield, where he was on the permanent clerical
staff, but after the outbreak of war enlisted in Sept. 1914. and was
accidentally drowned with six other soldiers at Gainsborough in a
pontoon accident, 19 Feb. 1915; _unm._ He won the West Riding
County Minor Scholarship in May, 1904, and passed the Oxford Junior
Examination at the age of 14.
=BRUCE, GERVASE RONALD=, Midshipman, R.N., _s._ of Percy
Robert Bruce, of Downhill, co. Londonderry, and Clifton Hall, Notts,
Major, South Notts Hussars, by his wife, Aletheia Georgina, dau. of the
Right Hon. Sir Richard Horner Paget, of Cranmore Hall, Somerset, 1st
Bart., P.C., and grandson of Lieut.-Col. Sir Hervey Juckes Lloyd Bruce,
of Downhill, near Coleraine, and Clifton Hall, Nottingham, 4th Bart.,
late Coldstream Guards; _b._ London, 19 Jan. 1899; educ. Osborne
and Dartmouth Colleges; mobilised from Dartmouth. Aug. 1914, and was
killed in action in the Battle off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, by
the sinking of H.M.S. Monmouth, 1 Nov. 1914.
=BRUCE, JOHN ELLIOTT LIDDERDALE=, R.A., Major, Royal Garrison
Artillery, 2nd _s._ of Col. Elliott Armstrong Bruce, of Stenhouse,
Barnstaple, Indian Army [grandson of Sir William Bruce, of Stenhouse,
7th Bart.], by his 1st wife, Mary Rebecca, dau. of the Rev. William
Dawson; _b._ Rangoon, 10 Jan. 1870; educ. Carshalton House,
Carshalton, Surrey; St. Paul’s School and Woolwich Academy; gazetted
2nd Lieut. Royal Artillery, 15 Feb. 1889, and promoted Lieut. 15 Feb.
1892, Capt. 19 July, 1899, and Major, 7 Aug. 1909; was D.A.A.G. for
Royal Artillery in India, 29 March, 1906, to 31 May, 1907; Staff Capt.,
India, 1 June, 1907, to 16 March, 1908, and Brigade Major, India,
17 March, 1908, to 28 March, 1910; served (1) in Burma as Orderly
Officer, 1891, with the Wuntho Expedition (mentioned in Despatches
[London Gazette, 9 Feb. 1892] (medal with clasp); (2) with the
Waziristan Expedition, 1894–5 (clasp); (3) in the operations in the
North-West Frontier, India, 1897–8, with the Tochi Field Force (medal
with clasp); (4) in South African War, 1900; took part in operations
in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Cape Colony, March to Sept.
(Queen’s medal with three clasps); (5) on North-West Frontier, India,
1908, as D.A.Q.M.G. (12–31 May) to Field Force during operations in the
Mohmand country; and (6) with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force
at the Dardanelles, 1915; took part in the landing, 25 April, and was
killed in action there 29 May following, being mentioned in Gen. Sir
Ian Hamilton’s Despatches [London Gazette, 5 Aug. 1915]. Major Bruce
_m._ at Tilford, Surrey, 12 Sept. 1900, Charlotte Mabel, yst.
dau. of the late T. J. G. Johnstone, of the Ceylon Civil Service, and
had two sons: John Charles Douglas, _b._ 2 Aug. 1902; and Henry
Malcolm, _b._ 28 Feb. 1904.
[Illustration: =John Elliott L. Bruce.=]
=BRUCE, JONATHAN MAXWELL=, Major, 107th Pioneers, Indian Army,
eldest _s._ of Richard Isaac Bruce, of Quetta, Teddington, C.I.E.
late Commissioner in the Punjab (who received the thanks of the Indian
Government on several occasions for distinguished frontier service),
by his wife, Lilla, dau. of the Rev. John Beavor Webb, Rector of
Dunderrow, co. Cork, and gdson. of Jonathan Bruce, of Miltown Castle,
co. Cork; _b._ Dharmsala, India, 22 June, 1873; educ. Haileybury
and Sandhurst; obtained his commission, 16 Jan. 1895, and was promoted
Lieut. 16 April, 1897, Capt. 16 Jan. 1904, Double Company Officer 8
March, 1908, and Major 16 Jan. 1913. He saw active service on the
North-West Frontier of India in 1897–8, taking part in the defence and
relief of Malakand, the action at Landaki and the operations in the
Mahmund Country, receiving the medal with two clasps. Major Bruce was
killed in action at Festubert, 24 Nov. 1914, and was buried at Bethune.
He _m._ at St. Alban’s Church, Teddington, 14 Sept. 1905, Mabel
Waldron (Kenilworth, Seymour Road, Hampton Wick), 3rd dau. of Henry
Trengronse, of Hampton Wick, J.P., and had two daus.--Mary Aileen,
_b._ 5 May, 1908, Barbara Maxwell, _b._ 11 March, 1910.
[Illustration: =Jonathan Maxwell Bruce.=]
=BRUCE, WILLIAM ARTHUR McCRAE=, Lieut., 59th Scinde Rifles,
Frontier Force, Indian Army, only _s._ of Col. Andrew McCrae
Bruce, of Roch d’Or, Sanares, Jersey, C.B., Unemployed Supry. List,
Indian Army; by his wife, Margaret Hay; _b._ 15 June, 1890;
educ. Mr. Bickerstith’s Preparatory School, Netherwood, Hastings; Mr.
Reynold’s Preparatory School, Cliff House, Southbourne, Hants; Victoria
College, Jersey, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Was a
King’s Indian Cadet, and after passing out of Sandhurst in the autumn
of 1909 was gazetted 2nd Lieut. on the unattached list for the Indian
Army 29 Jan. 1910, and sailed for India in H.M. Troopship Plassy, on 11
Feb. from Southampton. On arrival in India he was ordered in join 5th
Northumberland Fusiliers, to which regt. he was attached; after serving
with them for one year he was posted to the 59th Scinde Rifles F.F. at
Kohat, Punjab, and joined on 8 March, 1911. In 1911–12 he took part
with his regt. in one or two small affairs against Wuzeerie Raiders.
In 1912, he passed in musketry and signalling. In the autumn of 1913,
he marched with his regt. from Kohat to Qullundur, arriving there on
17 Dec. 1913. In June, 1914, Col. Fenner, commanding the regt. wrote
of him: “A big, fine and promising young officer of excellent ability.
As Transport and Signalling Officer, has performed his duties with
marked success. Personally popular, good at games and a fine rider. He
is good tempered, has tact, judgment, self-reliance, reliability and
common sense. His influence with officers and men is good, he is active
and temperate.” In 1914, he was granted eight months’ leave to England
where he arrived on 10 April. On the outbreak of war he was ordered
to rejoin his regt. and sailed for India in H.M. Trooper Dongola on
10 Aug. On arrival in Egypt he was ordered to disembark and proceed
to Cairo and await the arrival of his regt. With his regt, he arrived
in Marseilles about 17 Sept. and in Oct. joined the fighting line. He
took part in all the work done by his regt. until he was killed on 19
Dec. 1914. Major I. L. Leede, commanding the 59th Scinde Rifles F.F.
wrote on 20 Dec. 1914: “I am deeply grieved to have to write and tell
you that your son Lieut. Bruce was killed yesterday, during a night
attack. He met his death in a German trench which we had taken, he was
shot through the chest and killed instantly.... Until Col Fenner was
killed, your son was my company officer, and I was very fond of him
indeed, and I am more grieved than I can say to have to tell you of his
death. I consider him to have been a young officer of most exceptional
promise, and I have seen him under fire off and on for two months. Will
you please accept the very sincere sympathy and condolence of the whole
regt.” Capt. Anderson of 59th Scinde Rifles F.F. writing on 20 Dec.
1914, to Gen. J. R. B. Atkinson, said. “A N.C.O. of mine got back last
night. He had been with Bruce, who was the first man into his part of
the trench, and died most gallantly holding it. He (the N.C.O.) says
he told his men to retire, but they said the Sahib had ordered them
not to, so they died there.” Lieut. C. J. S. Le Cornu, 56th Punjab
Rifles F.F. with the 33rd Div. Sig. Coy., writing on 27 Dec. 1914,
said: “I had a long talk with Anderson, the Adjutant. He said to me:
‘If you are writing to Bruce’s people do tell them how very fond we all
of us in the regt. were of him, and that he died doing an extremely
plucky thing....’ He was leading a bombing party, ... and the men who
were with and near him that night cannot speak too highly of him....
Every single officer and man in the 59th I saw to-day had a word of
sympathy for you, and they one and all said how very pluckily your son
had died.” Capt. Scales, attached to the 59th Scinde Rifles, who was
very severely wounded in the same attack, wrote on 9 Jan. 1915: “Your
son was with me just a minute or two before we left our trenches to
attack the German trenches, he was in splendid spirits and ready for
anything.... His loss will be felt by everyone in the regt. as he was
the best of good fellows, and absolutely fearless.”
=BRUMPTON, ERNEST WILLIAM=, Gunner, R.M.A., 5923, (R.F.R., B.
547), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.