Fusiliers, 7th _s._ of the Rev. Benjamin Speke, Rector of Dowlish
Wake, by his wife, Caroline Sophia, elder dau. of John Bird Fuller,
of Neston Park, Wilts, grandson of William Speke, of Jordans, co.
Somerset, J.P., D.L., and nephew of John Hanning Speke, the African
Explorer; _b._ Dowlish Wake, co. Somerset, 24 Feb. 1878; educ.
Uppingham, and Keble College, Oxford; served in the South African War,
1899–1901, with the Wiltshire Yeomanry; afterwards continuing his
preparation for Holy Orders at Wells Theological College in 1901. He
was ordained at St. Paul’s Cathedral, Advent, 1902; was for three years
curate at St. Michael’s, Bromley-by-Bow, and was then Vicar of Curry
Rivel from 1905 to 1910, and in the autumn of that year left to take up
work in Western Canada, where he was on the Mission Staff at Edmonton,
and subsequently worked at Bow Island, Alberta, and was finally in
charge of the district of Athabasca, but, after the outbreak of the
European War in Aug. 1914, he returned to England in Oct.; and was
given a commission as Capt. in the 3rd Battn. of the Somerset L.I., 23
Oct. 1914. He transferred to the 9th Battn., and was promoted Major 21
Dec. following, and after training with it at St. Austell and Wareham,
exchanged into the 10th Lancashire Fusiliers in July, 1915, in order
to go to the Front. He went to France at the end of the month, and
was killed on reconnaissance at Vierstaat 11 Aug. following. Buried
in the cemetery at Dickebusch. A brother officer wrote: “It happened
about 11.30 on Wednesday night. He went out to reconnoitre the German
trenches with a Sergt.; he was away about an hour and a half, and
procured some very useful information; they were on their way back when
he was shot; he must have been shot at least three times in the head
and neck, and can have suffered no pain”; and another: “He was one of
the bravest and best, and in the short time he had been with us had
endeared himself to everybody. I am sure there is not an officer or
man who does not feel his loss. His own company is cut up terribly.”
Another also wrote: “We laid the Major to rest reverently with a short
service last night (Thursday) in a small cemetery near here and placed
a wreath on the grave, and are putting up a cross in a few days so as
to mark it. All the officers and the whole company are very cut up
over our loss as we were all very fond of him indeed. One of the men
remarked in a letter referring to the death of Major Speke, ‘he was a
brave and fearless man,’ which is very true, and we all had a great
respect for him,” and: “Your gallant husband died, not merely doing
his duty, but, as I judge, for another, for I feel pretty sure that
he undertook a dangerous job which he would not let one of his junior
officers undertake.” In Canada he proved himself a born pioneer. Even
the small prairie towns were irksome to him, and he would contrive to
spend most of his time in a shack out on the far-flung prairie. As
though his own wide field were not large enough he would, from time to
time, find that his duty called him on an expedition to the Sweet Grass
Hills, across the boundary line to the south, to the Cypress Hills away
to the east, or to the irrigated belt away to the north. Loth as he was
to leave S. Alberta, it was the same spirit that led him to accept the
offer to establish a pioneer mission in Athabasca, and so patiently
to face the vexing difficulties raised by others that would have led
most men to draw back before embarking on the task, and later to resign
when the conditions of service were so changed. One winter he spent
in a tiny shack measuring 10 ft. by 8 ft., having as his companion a
lad from his own village at home who in days gone by had carried his
gun. He _m._ at Tarrant Crawford Church, Dorset, 8 April, 1915,
Ruth Lettice, dau. of the Rev. Charles Lewis Kennaway, of Stephen’s
Plot, Spetisbury, Blandford, late Rector of Garboldishham, co. Norfolk;
_s.p._
[Illustration: =Hugh Speke.=]
=SPENCE, JAMES MCKENZIE=, Sergt., No. 12/218, 15th North
Auckland Regt., Signalling Division, Headquarters Staff, New Zealand
Expeditionary Force, _s._ of James Mearns Spence, of Deveron
Street, Whangarei, New Zealand; _b._ Whangarei aforesaid, 16
June, 1886; educ. there; was for some years a Reporter on the Staff of
the Whangarei “Northern Mail” and “Northern Advocate,” subsequently
becoming sub-editor of the “North Auckland Times” at Dargaville;
volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war; joined the
New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 15 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt as a
signaller with the main body, was successively promoted Corpl. and
Sergt., and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 16 Nov. 1915;
_unm._
[Illustration: =James McKenzie Spence.=]
=SPENCER, CHARLES JAMES=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Devonshire Regt., eldest
_s._ of Charles Alfred Spencer, of Stoughton Lane, Leicester, by his
wife, Mary, dau. of James Warwick, of Longthorpe, near Peterborough;
_b._ Leicester, 10 Jan. 1879; educ. Charterhouse; joined the Cardigan
Artillery Militia in 1898; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Devonshire
Regt., 18 Oct. 1899, and promoted Lieut. 11 May, 1901, and Capt. 14
July, 1908; served in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in
the advance on, and relief of Ladysmith, being with the 2nd Battn.
in Major-Gen. Hildeyard’s Brigade, while the 1st Battn. was shut up
in the town; operations of 17–24 Jan. 1900, and action at Spion Kop;
operations of 5–7 Feb. 1900, and action at Vaal Kranz; operations on
Tugela Heights (14–27 Feb. 1900) and action at Pieters Hill; operations
in Natal, March to June 1900, including action at Laings Nek (6–9
June); and those in the Transvaal, Nov. 1901 to 31 May, 1902; was
severely wounded and received the Queen’s medal with five clasps and
King’s medal with two clasps. He was Adjutant of the 7th (Territorial)
Cyclist Battn. of the Devonshires from 14 July, 1908 to 29 Feb. 1912.
On the outbreak of war he went to France with the Expeditionary Force,
5 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action, 18 Dec. 1914, while leading his
company in an attack on the German trenches. Buried near Estaires.
Capt. Spencer _m._ at Pennycross Church, near Plymouth, 20 Oct. 1909,
Katherine Margaret (Crapstone House, Yelverton, South Devon), yst. dau.
of the late Robert Bayly, of Torr, Plymouth, and had a son, Charles
Richard, _b._ 5 Dec. 1910.
[Illustration: =Charles James Spencer.=]
=SPENCER, JOHN=, Private, No. 572, 5th Coy., 2/5th Battn. King’s
Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of William Spencer, of Liverpool,
Watch Finisher; _b._ Liverpool, 1854; educ. Corporation School
there; enlisted in the R.G.A. (Militia) and served with them 22 years
(Long Service medal and certificate); re-enlisted in Oct. 1914, and was
accidentally drowned in Carrier’s Dock, Liverpool, 27 Dec. following,
while on service. He _m._ at St. Nicholas Church, Liverpool, Mary
Jane (23, Back Strickland Street, Liverpool), dau. of (--) Young, and
had five children: William, _b._ 28 Oct. 1878; John, _b._ 22
July, 1891, R.N.; George, _b._ 30 Jan. 1896; Margaret, _b._ 5
June, 1882; and Emily, _b._ 14 May, 1898.
=SPENDLOW, JOHN JAMES=, Leading Seaman, 237135, H.M.S. Cressy;
lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SPICE, ALBERT=, Cook’s Mate, 1766, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in
action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=SPICE, ROBERT WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 9019, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=SPICER, ARTHUR JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 2214),
301561, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of
Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=SPICER, GEORGE HENRY=, Gunner, 35031, 41st Battery, 42nd Brigade,
Royal Field Artillery, 3rd _s._ of George Spicer, of Frindsbury,
Rochester, Kent, by his wife, Jane; _b._ Frindsbury, 23 Jan. 1885;
enlisted 1 Feb. 1905; served seven years with the Colours then passing
into the Reserve, was employed at Messrs. Lysaght’s Works, Newport,
Mon.; mobilised 5 Aug. 1914; went to France, 20 Aug. 1914, and died
in No. 7 Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 9 Nov. following, of wounds
received in action at Neuve Chapelle in a gallant attempt to save
Lieut. Towell. Major H. A. Hamilton, Commanding 41st Battery, wrote:
“I am sure you would like to know how your husband gave his life for
his country. I need not say how much I and all his comrades sympathise
with you in your great loss, but you may have a little consolation in
knowing that he was severely wounded in performing a gallant act, which
was reported to his commanding officer and brought to the notice of the
general officer commanding the division.” He _m._ at St. Woolo’s
Church, Newport, Mon., 1 June, 1914, Beatrice Amelia, dau. of Henry
George Evans, of 19, Victoria Crescent, Newport; _s.p._
[Illustration: =George Henry Spicer.=]
=SPICER, MAURICE ARNOTT=, Corpl., No. 81840, 32nd, attd. 10th,
Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, 5th _s._ of the late Herbert
Spicer, of Cranbourne, St Margarets near Ware, by his wife, Martha
McMurray, dau. of David Arnott; _b._ Hambledon, co. Surrey, 23
April, 1882; educ. Mill Hill; was sisal growing in the West Indies from
1900 to 1903, afterwards farming in Canada until the outbreak of the
European War; enlisted in the 32nd Battn. 21 Oct. 1914; came over with
the reinforcements for the first contingent in March, 1915; went to
France with a draft for the 10th Battn. early in April, 1915, and was
killed in action at Festubert, 22 May, 1915; _unm._
=SPIELMANN, HAROLD LIONEL ISIDORE=, Capt., 1/10th Battn.
Manchester Regt. (T.F.), yr. _s._ of Sir Isidore Spielmann, of
56, Westbourne Terrace, Hyde Park, W., C.M.G., F.S.A., by his wife,
Emily, dau. of the late Sir Joseph Sebag-Montefiore; _b._ London,
12 Jan. 1893; educ. Clifton and Pembroke College, Cambridge (B.A. June,
1914); gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2/10th (Oldham) Battn. Manchester Regt.,
from the University O.T.C., 14 Oct. 1914; was promoted Capt. in March,
1915, to date as from 28 Nov. 1914; volunteered with the greater part
of the battalion for foreign service; landed in Gallipoli, in command
of a draft, 25 July, 1915, and was killed in an attack on the Turkish
position, 13 Aug. following; _unm._ Lieut.-Col. G. Robinson,
commanding 10th Manchesters, wrote: “He only joined us about three
weeks ago, when he arrived in command of a draft of 248 men, and I was
so impressed with his keenness and energy that I put him in command of
a company. My judgment was fully borne out. Your son worked hard, and
I felt I could always rely on him. On the evening of the 12th inst. a
battalion next to us in the fire trenches lost a portion of a trench
on their front, and I was forced to organise a counter-attack by one
hundred men of my battn. under your son and two other officers. Your
son was in command of his section of the attack, and carried out his
orders with skill and gallantry. He reached his objective, but was
immediately killed, and his men had eventually to fall back under
strong opposition. His death, by bullets, was instantaneous.... Our men
had done well, and we regained most of what had been lost, but they
were ‘done,’ and I lost many of them besides my excellent young officer
Spielmann.... It was crushing to me losing him. He was a ‘gentleman
officer’ with such high notions of chivalry, honour and _esprit de
corps_. I considered him one of my best officers, and had just
recommended him for a permanent captaincy, as I had such a high opinion
of his capabilities. Your boy died a hero’s death in his country’s
cause, and that must ever be a source of satisfaction and comfort to
you, and one in which you must all take a pride--falling in action
gallantly leading his men. What more can a soldier ask for?”
[Illustration: =Harold L. I. Spielmann.=]
=SPIERS, HAROLD ALFRED=, Boy, 1st Class, J 23568 (Ports.), H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=SPIERS, WILLIAM JOHN=, Stoker, Petty Officer (R.F.R., A. 2103),
131072 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea. 22
Sept. 1914.
=SPILLARNE, CORNELIUS WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class, 308380, H.M.S.
Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off
the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=SPINDLER, DAVID=, Stoker, 1st Class, 289816, H.M.S. Cressy; lost
in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SPINKS, FREDERICK HERMAN VICTOR=, Rifleman, No. 10489, B Coy.,
1st Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 2nd _s._ of Thomas Samuel
Spinks, of 114, Leucha Road, St. James’ Street, Walthamstow, by his
wife, Clara, dau. of Frederick Herman Greenslade; _b._ Clapton,
N., 29 Oct. 1896; educ. Coppermill Road Council School, Walthamstow;
enlisted 27 Jan. 1912; served with the Expeditionary Force in France
and Flanders from 13 Aug. 1914; served through the retreat from Mons,
etc., and was killed in action two days before his 18th birthday, near
Ypres, 27 Oct. 1914. A comrade wrote: “He was killed in action the same
day as Prince Maurice of Battenberg. His company had advanced against
the Germans and taken up a position for the night. He could have lain
down and gone to sleep, because he was a signaller, but the man next
him had to do two two hours on duty looking through the porthole in the
trench, and as he felt a bit bad, your poor boy offered to do it for
him. Well, Fred had not been looking out for more than ten minutes when
a bullet struck him in the head, and he must have died instantaneously.
I cannot tell you more particulars now, but I know it was near Ypres. I
was entrusted to write your letter because Fred was a signaller, and I
am one of the few that are left.” He gained the 3rd class certificate
for education, 23 Feb. 1912, and the 2nd class, 2 April, 1912.
[Illustration: =Frederick H. V. Spinks.=]
=SPITTLE, FRANK THOMAS=, Rifleman, No. 2857, A Coy., 1/9th Battn.
(Queen Victoria’s Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. _s._ of
Augustus Alfred Spittle, of 41, Manby Road, Leyton Road, Stratford,
Essex, by his wife, Ellen Emily, dau. of George Abbott, of Maldon,
Essex; _b._ Stratford, 25 April, 1896; educ. Downsell Road Council
School, Leyton, and County High School, Leytonstone; volunteered and
joined Queen Victoria’s Rifles on the outbreak of war; went to France,
22 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action, 23 Feb. 1915. Buried Wulverghem
Cemetery. Major Lees (since killed in action) wrote; “He was one of a
working party repairing the parapet of the trench during a mist, which
suddenly lifted, and the Germans opened fire, and he was hit before
he could get under cover, and died a few minutes later. He was very
popular with his comrades and will be sadly missed.”
=SPITTLES, THOMAS ROBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class, No. K. 726, 3rd
_s._ of Francis Edward Spittles, of South Hayling, by his wife,
Elizabeth Bessie, dau. of Robert Applin; joined the Royal Navy about
May, 1907, and was lost on H.M.S. Lynx, 9 Aug. 1915, when that ship
was sunk by a mine in the North Sea. He _m._ at Portsmouth, Alice
Georgina May (Rose Cottage, South Mundham), dau. of George Horne.
[Illustration: =Thomas Robert Spittles.=]
=SPOONER, ALEXANDER=, Leading Stoker, K. 114, H.M.S. Pathfinder;
lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East
Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
=SPOONER, CHARLES ALBERT VICTOR=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26754, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=SPOONER, WILLIAM CHARLES=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./16147, H.M.S.
Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
=SPORTON, GEORGE HERBERT=, A.B. (Coastguard), 206749, H.M.S.
Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
=SPRINGALL, WILLIAM EGLETON=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., Ch. B.
5437), 178793, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept.
1914.
=SPRUNT, ALEXANDER DALZELL=, 2nd Lieut., 4th Battn. Bedfordshire
Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. South Staffordshire Regt., 2nd _s._
of John Dalziel Sprunt, of 3, East India Avenue, London, E.C., and
Montgomerie, Berkhampsted, by his wife, Jane, dau. of John Naismith;
_b._ Hampstead, London, 7 Jan. 1891; educ. Berkhampsted School,
and New College, Oxford, where he graduated with honours in July, 1914,
and was nominated Assistant Professor of Natural History at Glasgow
University, obtaining his degree the week that war was declared. Having
served for about 10 years in the Officers Training Corps, he and his
brother (also killed in action) were offered commissions. He accepted
and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 4th Bedfordshire Regt., 15 Aug. 1914,
being ordered to join his Regt. at once at Dovercourt. Later he was
detailed to take out a draft to the Base at Havre, and from there took
up a draft of the Guards to the trenches, where he was attd. to the
2nd South Staffordshires, with whom he remained till he was mortally
wounded, bring shot down about 15 yards from the enemy’s lines. He died
in hospital at Lillers, France, 17 March, 1915, of wounds received in
action on the 10th, near Neuve Chapelle. His company had been chosen to
lead the attack, and he was shot down about 15 yards from the enemy’s
lines, where he seems to have lain from morning till night, when he was
rescued and finally taken to Lillers. He was buried in the cemetery
there; _unm._
[Illustration: =Alexander Dalzell Sprunt.=]
=SPRUNT, EDWARD LAWRENCE=, Private, No. 1510, 1st Battn.
Honourable Artillery Coy. (Stretcher-bearer Section), 3rd _s._
of John Dalziel Sprunt, of 3 East India Avenue, London, E.C., and
Montgomerie, Berkhampsted, by his wife, Jane, dau. of John Naismith;
_b._ Hampstead, London, 28 Aug. 1892; educ. Berkhampsted School,
and Jesus College, Oxford, at which latter he held an open exhibition.
Having served about nine years in the O.T.C., he was offered a
commission on the outbreak of war, but being eager to go to the Front
as soon as possible, and thinking he would probably be sent for months
to a regimental depôt to train recruits (as his elder brother was), he
enlisted as a Private in the Honourable Artillery Coy., and went to the
Front with them and served through the winter of 1914–15. Later was
again offered a commission and the War Office instructed his Col. to
send him home that he might take it up. After getting his discharge he
went back to the Col. and said he had heard there was to be a battle
next day, and as he did not wish to leave on the eve of it, he asked
permission to remain and see his comrades through it. The Col. replied
that as he had put it so gallantly he could not refuse his request, and
so he might remain. That evening the Battn. went up to the trenches and
was under fire about 36 hours, including the fierce fight of 16 June,
1915, losing about half its numbers. On 17 June, about 2 a.m., near
Chateau Hooge, Belgium, he was helping to carry a wounded comrade on a
stretcher, and had got within about 15 yards of the dressing station,
when a shell came over and exploded underneath the stretcher, killing
him and two others, and wounding the remaining two stretcher-bearers.
He was buried on the battlefield, near the Ypres-Menin Road;
_unm._ His commanding officer wrote: “Your son had the opportunity
of not going up (to the trenches) and of returning home, but refused
to leave his comrades at such a time, and so showed a magnificent
spirit--worthy of a man in this Regt. He discharged his duties with
great valour under great danger. The circumstances were such as to lead
me to specially recommend him for gallant conduct, and the enclosed
card has been received from the General. I have pleasure in sending
it to you, while regretting very much the circumstances which have
been greatly appreciated by his comrades.” The card is of the first
class, being printed in gilt letters, the ordinary card being in black
letters. It reads: “Third Division, British Expeditionary Force, 1510,
Private E. L. Sprunt, Hon. Artillery Coy. Your commanding officer and
brigade commander have informed me that you distinguished yourself
by your conduct in the field on 16 June, 1915. I have read their
report with much pleasure, and have brought it to the notice of higher
authority.” Later the Assistant Military Secretary wrote that he had
been mentioned in a despatch from F.M. Sir John French “for gallant and
distinguished service in the field.” “I am to express to you the King’s
high appreciation of these services, and to add that His Majesty trusts
that their public acknowledgment may be of some consolation in your
bereavement.”
[Illustration: =Edward Lawrence Sprunt.=]
=SPRY, ERNEST JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2224), 181820, H.M.S. Good
Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
=SPURDEN, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 7194, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent
Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in
action, 17 Nov. 1914; _m._
=SQUIBB, FRED=, Private, G. 909, 1st Battn. Royal West Surrey
Regt., _s._ of Frederick Squibb, of West Clandon, Surrey; served
with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died 5 Sept. 1915, of
wounds received in action.
=SQUIRE, ALAN RICHARD=, Sergt., No. 10/782, Wellington Infantry
Battn., eldest _s._ of Richard Jas. Squire, of Hawera, Taranaki,
New Zealand, by his wife, Charlotte Louisa, dau. of the late Josiah
Claridge, Carpenter; _b._ Hawera, 12 Sept. 1892; educ. Hawera,
N.Z.; was a Painter and Signwriter; volunteered on the outbreak of war
and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 7 Aug. 1914; left for
Egypt with the main body as a gunner; arrived at Gallipoli, 7 May,
1915, and served there for three months, taking part in the severe
fighting during that period; was promoted Sergt. the beginning of
Aug., and was killed in action there a few days later, 7 Aug. 1915;
_unm._ At the time he was killed he was temporarily in charge of
the machine-guns, most of the officers having been killed or wounded.
[Illustration: =Alan Richard Squire.=]
=SQUIRE, STANLEY CHARLES=, Lieut., 7th (Service) Battn.
Gloucestershire Regt., 2nd _s._ of the Rev. Charles Edward Squire,
M.A., Vicar of Southrop, Lechlade, co. Gloucester, by his wife,
Florence Charlotte, dau. of Morgan Yeatman, of Shawfield, Bromley,
Kent; _b._ Llangrove Vicarage, near Ross, co. Hereford, 26 June,
1893; educ. St. John’s School, Leatherhead, and Corpus Christi College,
Oxford (Science Scholar); gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Gloucestershire
Regt., 26 Aug. 1914; promoted Lieut., 27 Jan. 1915; sailed on 22 June
for the East; was at Cape Helles on 8 July for a few weeks, then took
part in the Expedition to Suvla Bay, where he was killed in action
while in charge of the machine-gun section, 9 Aug. 1915, on Chanak
Bair. They occupied an exposed position, and he was hit by a bullet
after bandaging a wounded man, and killed instantaneously, early in the
day. The only two survivors (Stokes and Bennett), who returned later on
with the last machine gun, received the D.C.M. He was _unm._ His
brother, Capt. G. F. Squire, of the same Battn., was wounded the same
day.
[Illustration: =Stanley Charles Squire.=]
=SQUIRES, FRANCIS CHAVASSE=, Capt. and Adjutant, 23rd Sikh
Pioneers, Indian Army, yr. _s._ of the late Rev. Henry Charles
Squires, M.A., for 20 years Church Missionary Society Missionary,
Western India, and afterwards Vicar of Holy Trinity, Richmond, Surrey,
by his wife, Ada Martha (23, West Park, Eltham, S.E.), dau. of Thomas
Chavasse, of Wylde Green House, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham, F.R.C.S.,
and nephew of the Right Rev. Francis James Chavasse, D.D., Lord Bishop
of Liverpool; _b._ West Chiltington Rectory, co. Sussex, 22 Feb.
1885; educ. St. Paul’s School (Foundation Scholar) and Sandhurst;
gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5 Aug. 1905, and attached to the East Surreys
in India, and the following year transferred to the Indian Army and
posted to the 23rd Sikh Pioneers. He became Lieut. 5 Aug. 1907, and
was appointed Adjutant, 25 Oct. 1912. He served in the Zakka Khel
Expedition, 1908, for which he received a medal, and on the outbreak
of the European War obtained his Company, 5 Aug. 1914. Capt. Squires
was wounded in action at Lahej, 5 July, 1915, and died at Aden on the
7th; _unm._ His commanding officer wrote: “His high and sterling
qualities were never better shown that on the extremely hard march
to Lahej, in intense heat, when he was indefatigable and untiring in
going back along the column, assisting men and getting them water,
etc., and keeping me informed of everyone’s position. He reached me at
Lahej just as the Turkish attack began, and throughout the early part
of the night did magnificent work conveying orders to different units,
and keeping me informed of their positions.... At about 11 p.m. the
advanced line was withdrawn to an enclosure.... At your son’s urgent
request I allowed him to go out with some men to keep clear a portion
of the road near at hand. It was while carrying out this order that he
received a gunshot wound.... He died on 7 July, and was buried in Aden
that evening.... As a regt. we mourn the loss of a gallant officer and
a kindly friend. Indian officers and men all express their deep grief.
I lose a trusted Adjutant, and one whose sincere friendship I am proud
to know I always held. His was a fine end, and I know he was contented
it came thus in action.” He was an enthusiastic soldier, devoted to the
well-being of his men, a good linguist and an excellent musician.
[Illustration: =Francis Chavasse Squires.=]
=SQUIRRELL, JOHN WILLIAM=, Private, No. 16149, 1st Battn. The
Suffolk Regt., 3rd _s._ of James William Squirrell, of Hill
Cottage, Hintlesham, by his wife, Emma, dau. of the late John (and
Ann) Percy; _b._ Hintlesham, co. Suffolk, 15 June, 1884; educ.
there; was a Stockman; enlisted after the outbreak of war, 6 Nov. 1914;
went to France about 20 May, and was killed in action at Ypres, 25
May, 1915. He _m._ at Hintlesham, 28 Dec. 1908, and had two sons:
Stanley William, _b._ 12 Jan. 1910; and Jack Reggie, _b._ 21
Jan. 1914.