Sidney Barclay Blair.

BLAKEWAY, COL. THE REV. PHILIP JOHN THOMAS, M.A., T.D., Chaplain, 4th London Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division, and Vicar of Walberton, Arundel, s. of Philip Edward Blakeway, of 29, Clifton Gardens, Folkestone, by his wife, Maria, dau. of John Wootton; b. London, — March, 1865; educ. Malvern, and Magdalen College, Oxford, and on leaving the latter in 1884 received a commission in the 8th Hussars and joined the regt. in India. After six years he sent in his papers, went back to Magdalen College, Oxford, and took his degree and was ordained Deacon in 1891 and priest in 1893. After holding curacies at Camberwell, Lambeth and Battersea, he was for seven years Chaplain to the Earl of Lathom, and in 1902 became temporary Chaplain to the Forces at Chichester Barracks. In 1903 he was appointed to the rectory of All Saints’, Hastings, and in 1907 to the Vicarage of Walberton. Since 1893 he had been Chaplain to the Middlesex Hussars (1st County of London), and when war broke out he applied to go to the Front, and was appointed 1st Class Chaplain with the rank of Colonel. He went out to Egypt with one of the first drafts of troops, and died on active service at Ismailia, 16 June, 1915, of heart failure. He m. at Old Windsor, 10 Aug. 1893, Sibyl Agnes (The Cottage, Halnaker, Chichester), dau. of Francis Ricardo, of The Friary, Old Windsor, and 44, Portman Square, W., J.P.; s.p.

Rev. P. J. T. Blakeway.

BLAKEY, GEORGE HENRY, A.B., J. 7104 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BLANCHETT, CHRISTOPHER, Sergt., No. 18159, 3rd Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, s. of Frederick Blanchett, of Whitehill Cottage, Wootton Bassett, by his wife, Mary, dau. of James Curry, of North Curry, co. Somerset; b. Wootton Bassett, co. Wilts, ....; educ. Council School there; enlisted in the Wiltshire Regt.; served through the South African war, afterwards going to Canada in April, 1913. After the outbreak of war he joined the Canadian Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Ducks’ Bill, France, 19 June, 1915. He m. at Wootton Bassett, 11 April, 1903, Mildred Ellen, dau. of William Sainsbury, of Wootton Bassett, and had a son and two daus.: Stuart, b. 19 Jan. 1912; Zita Mary Asenatte, b. 2 May, 1907; and Mildred Christina, b. 22 May, 1909.

Christopher Blanchett.

BLAND, CHARLES ERNEST WILLIAM, D.S.O., Capt., 3rd, attd. 2nd, Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, s. of Horatio Bland, of Stretton House, near Alfreton, co. Derby, Capt. (ret.) King’s Own Scottish Borderers, by his wife, Fanny Louisa (Stretton House, Alfreton, Derbyshire), dau. of William Henry Duff; b. New Wandsworth, co. Surrey, 21 Aug. 1881; educ. Marlborough and Sandhurst; joined the Scottish Borderers, 20 Jan. 1900, served in the Boer War, and was present at the actions at Vet River and Zand River, those near Johannesburg and Pretoria, and at Zillikats Nek (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps); became Capt. 9 March, 1908, and retired 26 Oct. 1910, being gazetted to the 3rd (Reserve) battn. of his regt. On the outbreak of war he rejoined, was attached to the 2nd battn. with which he went to the Front, was twice mentioned in despatches by F.M. Sir John French, and awarded the D.S.O. 18 Feb. 1915, and was killed in the action around Ypres, 23 April, 1915. He is believed to have been buried near Pilkem. Major D’Ewes Coke wrote: “The actual event which gained him the D.S.O. was when we were holding trenches in front of Ypres in Nov. His trench was several times attacked by Prussian infantry, as well as being subjected to very heavy fire from minewerfers and artillery, but he stuck to it and defended his trench with great bravery.” He m. at the Parish Church, Maynooth, co. Kildare, Ireland, 22 Oct. 1910, Isabella, dau. of William Browne-Lecky, of Ecclesville, co. Tyrone, and had a dau.—Patricia, b. 24 April, the day after her father was killed. Capt. Bland was well known in the hunting field, and was frequently out with the Cottesmore and Belvoir packs.

Charles E. W. Bland.

BLAND, PERCY, Junior Sick Berth Reserve Attendant, M. 8633, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BLANDFORD, GEORGE JOHN, Chief Armourer, No. Ch. 340800, R.N., s. of Martin Blandford, Leading Stoker on the Royal Yacht Victoria and Albert; b. Ewer Common, Gosport, 18 Sept. 1876; educ. Alverstoke School; was for many years at the Chatham Gunnery School; joined the Cressy on the outbreak of war, and was lost with that ship 22 Sept. 1914; unm. He had the Good Conduct medal.

BLANDFORD, HENRY, Private, No. 2253, 8th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (T.F.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died of wounds, 9 Sept. 1915.

BLANDFORD, THOMAS HENRY, Private, No. 9247, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Thomas Henry Blandford, of 19a Skelbrook Street, Earlsfield, S.W.; b. co. Surrey; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Boiseron, 8 Sept. 1914; unm.

BLANFORD, CHARLES EDWARD, Major, R.G.A., 30th Indian Mountain Battery, 3rd s. of Thomas Blanford, of 4, The Grove, Highgate, N., by his wife, Amy, dau. of Frederick Simpson; b. Kensington, W., 16 March, 1874; educ. Highgate School and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (Sept. 1891–93); gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.A., 1 Jan. 1894, promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1897, Capt. 9 April 1900, and Major—Oct. 1914; joined at Portsmouth, and after nine months there and at Gordon Hill, Isle of Wight, went out to India in Oct. 1894, and was attached to a heavy battery at Ferozepore. He served in India for 21 years with the exception of the period of the South African War, when he was given ordnance work at Kimberley (Queen’s medal with clasp) and for a short time (six weeks) at Spike Island, Ireland, before going to Kimberley; died of wounds received the same day, 11 July, 1915, near Nasiriyeh in the Persian Gulf, while commanding a section of the battery on rafts. His commanding officer wrote: “He has been such a tower of strength to me that I cannot say it often enough. Always ready for work and never complaining. He has had several hard tasks and carried them through most successfully.... The State has indeed lost a gallant and invaluable officer whose continual watchword was Duty.” A comrade wrote: “It is an irreparable loss to us, and his place will not be easy to fill; he was always ready to do anything, but what I have always admired most about him has been his pluck, courage and indifference to danger.” He m. at Eastbourne, 24 Sept. 1912, Vida May (28, Milnthorpe Road, Eastbourne), dau. of Albert Henry Trenchard, of Eastbourne, and had a son, Edward Oliver Trenchard, b. Thandiani, near Abbottabad, N.W.F.P., India, 4 Sept. 1913.

Charles E. Blanford.

BLANK, WILLIAM JOHN HENRY, E.R.A., 1st Class, 268654, H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914; m.

BLANSHARD, PHILIP ARTHUR, Private, No. 11466, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 4th s. of Henry Brand Blanshard, of 4, Finsbury Grove, Fountain Road, Hull, by his wife, Alice, dau. of the late George Hurdman of Hull, hairdresser; b. Hull, 18 Sept. 1894; educ. Park Road Board School there; was in the employ of the Hull Corporation (Sanitary Dept.), enlisted 4 Sept. 1914; left England for the Front, 21 Jan. 1915 and died in the 1st Field Hospital, at 3.30 p.m. 2 Feb. following, of shell wounds received in action at Cuinchy near La Bassée. He was buried in Bethune Town Cemetery.

Philip Arthur Blanshard.

BLATCHFORD, ALBERT, Acting Leading Stoker, (Dev.), K. 10989, s. of Joseph Blatchford, of 2, Weslet Terrace, Ipplepen, near Newton Abbot; lost in action when H.M.S. Goliath, was sunk at the Dardanelles, 13 May, 1915.

BLATCHFORD, ALBERT GEORGE, Shipwright, 1 Ch. 170876, H.M.S. Formidable; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the English Channel, 1 Jan., 1915; m.

BLATHERWICK, HENRY THOMPSON, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26731 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

BLATHWAYT, GERALD WYNTER, Capt., Royal Field Artillery, yr. s. of Arthur Pennington Blathwayt, member of the London Stock Exchange, and of Northwood Grange, R.S.O., Middlesex, by his wife, Mary Constantia, dau. of the late John Thorp, of Maldon, Essex; b. Belvedere, Kent, 30 June 1879; educ. Aldenham School, Herts; gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the Kent Artillery Militia, to the Royal Artillery, 22 Dec. 1898, promoted Lieut. 16 Feb. 1901, and Capt. 18 July, 1906. He served in the South African War and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps. From 1906 to 1909 he served as Brigade Adjutant, and from 1910 to Jan. 1914 was Garrison Adjutant, Eastern Command. At the outbreak of war Capt. Blathwayt went with his Battery to France and was in the retreat from Mons to the Marne. He was killed at the Battle of the Aisne, near Verneuill, 14 Sept. 1914, and was buried in the garden of the Chateau there. Major Barker, commanding the battery, in communicating his death wrote: “In him the Army has lost a gallant officer and myself and his other companions in the Brigade a beloved comrade and friend.” While at Woolwich he took an active part in the Garrison cricket and was Hon. Sec. of the club. He was recently elected a member of the “Band of Brothers,” and was member of the Junior United Service Club. He m. at St. Stephen’s, Gloucester Road, London, 26 Oct 1911, Margaret Aline (20, The Court Yard, Eltham), younger dau. of the late Charles Pickersgill-Cunliffe, of Cobb Court, Cootham, Sussex, and had two daughters, Madeleine Margaret, b. 12 July, 1912, and Elizabeth, b. 16 Feb. 1914.

Gerald Wynter Blathwayt.

BLEASE, HARVEY, Capt., 15th (Service) Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt., elder s. of Walter Blease, F.C.A., of Messrs. Blease & Sons, Chartered Accountants, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late James Harvey, of Salford; b. Liverpool, 29 Aug. 1882; educ. Parkfield School, Liverpool, and Sedbergh, Yorks, and afterwards entered his father’s firm and took great interest in the educational schemes of the Institute of Chartered Accountants. After the declaration of war he applied for a commission and was gazetted Lieut. to the 15th Battn. of the King’s Liverpools, 12 Nov. 1914, and promoted Capt. 15 Jan. 1915. He went out with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was there attached to the 7th Lancashire Fusiliers. He was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 7 Aug. 1915. Capt. Blease enjoyed a reputation as a batsman while at Sedbergh and later took part in the Old Boys’ annual tours. For fourteen years he was identified with the Sefton Park Club, during eleven of which he was captain, and for whom he gave many brilliant displays in Lancashire and Cheshire cricket. He was also an excellent cross-country runner. He m. at Liverpool, 15 Sept. 1910, Dorothy Stanley (Rostherne, Blundellsands, near Liverpool), 2nd dau. of the late Stanley Blease, of Liverpool, and had two children, Helen Margaret, b. 12 July, 1911; and Barbara Mary, b. 28 June, 1914.

Harvey Blease.

BLEES, JOHN, Private, No. 712, Princess Patricia’s Canadian L.I., Canadian Expeditionary Force, s. of the late John Peter Blees, of Jabalpur, India, by his wife, Mary Ann (24, Sandileigh Avenue, Withington, Manchester), dau. of James Bowden; b. Jabulpur, Central India, 25 Feb. 1889; educ. Dulwich College; went to Canada in 1900 and settled at Edmonton; on the outbreak of war volunteered and joined Princess Patricia’s L.I.; came over with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; crossed to France in Feb. and died 11 May, 1915, of wounds received in action near Ypres on the 8th; unm. One of his officers wrote: “He was wounded in the engagement on 8 May, in which engagement all the officers were either killed or wounded. The regt. endured an extremely heavy bombardment. How severe it was and how gallantly our boys stuck to their trenches and held back the Germans can only be told in the future, when military consideration will not restrict correspondence, suffice it to say that this regt. held out so gallantly and against such odds that Sir John French came down to personally thank the regt. for what they did that day. On that day every man was a hero, but some were conspicuous even here. Your son was helping the wounded out and binding their wounds when he was struck, a shrapnel caught him in the abdomen, but even with this desperate wound he was game and was carried out still cheery and encouraging the boys to stick it.” He was buried in the regimental burial ground at Hazebrouck.

John Blees.

BLIGH, ERIC, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn., attached 2nd Battn., the East Lancashire Regt., s. of William Bligh, of Caterham Valley, co. Surrey, by his wife, Lilian Josephine, dau. of William Lafone, of Monte Video; b. Caterham Valley, 30 Dec. 1894; educ. The Dene, Caterham, Sherborne School, where he was a member of the junior O.T.C. with the rank of Lance-Corpl. and Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he was a private in the senior O.T.C. Medical. After the declaration of war he applied for a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd Battn. of the East Lancashires, 15 Aug. 1914. He joined the 2nd Battn. at the Front, 7 March, 1915, served through the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and was killed in action opposite Fromelles, 9 May, 1915, in the assault on Aubers Ridge. His commanding officer, Major Maclear, wrote: “Your son was shot by a German machine gun whilst leading his platoon in an assault on the German trenches opposite Fromelles on Sunday, 9 May, death being instantaneous. Your son was only with us a short time, but we were all very fond of him, and you have the consolation of knowing that he could not have died a nobler death.” He was promoted Lieut. after his death to rank as from 13 Feb. 1915, and was buried on the road from Sailly to Fromelles.

Eric Bligh.

BLIGHT, CHARLES, Corpl., No. 3/5971, 1st Battn. Somerset L.I., s. of the late Charles Blight; b. London; and was killed in action, 19 Dec. 1914. Prior to the war he was employed as a Collier at the Cambrian Pits, Clydach Vale. He m. in Bath (—), and had two sons: Charles and Stanley.

BLISS, CHARLES, Major, 2nd Battn. 1st (King George’s Own) Gurkha Rifles, Indian Army, 2nd surviving s. of Sir Henry (William) Bliss, of The Abbey, Abingdon, K.C.I.E., J.P., late Indian Civil Service, by his 1st wife, Mary, dau. of Edmund Rendle; b. at Dindigul, Madras Presidency, 31 Dec. 1871; educ. Clifton, Heidleberg and Sandhurst; and obtained his first commission in the North Staffordshire Regt., 5 June, 1891; transferred two years later to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regt.), of which he was promoted Lieut. 4 July, 1896. In the Dec. following he joined the Indian Staff Corps, becoming Capt. 10 July, 1901. After a period with the 43rd (later the 8th) Gurkha Rifles and the Assam Military Police, he was appointed double-company commander of the 1st Gurkha Rifles, 5 Dec. 1908, and obtained his Majority 5 Dec. 1909. In 1903–4 he saw service in Tibet, being present in the action at Niani, and during the operations at and around Gyantse, and in the march on Lhassa, being slightly wounded. His services were mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 13 Dec. 1904], and he received the medal with clasp. Major Bliss commanded various punitive expeditions in the Nagar Hills, on the North-West Frontier, between 1907 and 1911, and from 1911 to 1913 was in command of escorts on several political, survey and exploration missions on the North-West Frontier. He had the Abor, Indian Police and Durbar medals, and in 1914 was made a C.I.E. On the outbreak of the European War he came to Europe with his regt., and died at Lille, 22 Dec. 1914, of wounds received in action at Festubert on the 20th. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 5 April [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915, for gallant and distinguished conduct in the field. Major Bliss m. at St. Paul’s, Knightsbridge, 11 April, 1901, Mabel Emmeline, eldest dau. of Col. Thomas M. Maxwell, late Sherwood Foresters, and had a dau., Lorna, b. 31 Aug. 1905.

BLISSETT, WILLIAM HENRY, Private, No. 18317, 3rd Battn., 1st Infantry Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, s. of Edward Blissett, of Bath, Butler, by his wife, Elizabeth (9, Coleman Street, Brighton), dau. of Samuel Wills, of Liss, Hants; b. Paddington, 16 Dec. 1885; educ. Gordon Memorial Schools, Diss Board School and Priory Road School, Hastings, and was then apprenticed as a carpenter to Mr. Harvey, King’s Road, St. Leonards. In 1907 he went to Canada, and after a year in Ontario, settled in Alberta, where on the outbreak of war he enlisted. He came over with the 1st Contingent, in Oct. 1914, and after training at Salisbury and Shorncliffe, went to the Front in May and was killed in action in the trenches, 8 Nov. 1915, by a bullet. He was buried in Wulverghem Cemetery; unm.

BLOFELD, D’ARCY FRANK, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Life Guards, only s. of Frank Blofeld, of Dunster Lodge, Alcombe, West Somerset, by his wife, Leslie Blanche, only dau. of Major Thomas Perkins, R.H.A., H.A.C., of Doverhay Place, Porlock, Somerset; b. Dunster Lodge, afsd. 21 April, 1890; educ. St. Michael’s (Mr. Hawtrey), Westgate-on-Sea, and Eton (Mr. E. L. Churchill’s House, 1903–8), where he won the Junior Pulling in his last year. He served three years with the Eton College Volunteers, but ill health prevented his going on to Sandhurst, and he spent several years in the Argentine, where he became interested in the breeding and schooling of polo ponies. He was living at Staverton, near Cheltenham, when war broke out, and immediately joined the Gloucestershire Yeomanry. On 9 Sept. he was gazetted to the 3rd Reserve Regt. of Cavalry, and took up his duties at Canterbury. He was posted to the Household Cavalry on 24 Oct. and joined his regt., the 2nd Life Guards, at Windsor. On 7 Nov. he went to Flanders, and served with his regt. in the trenches, and just before Christmas he came home on seventy-two hours’ leave. His second experience of the trenches was early in Feb., after which he obtained a week’s leave, but was recalled in four days, and from then until his death, near Ypres, on 12 May, he was at the Front. He and four other officers were killed instantaneously by an explosive shell. He had won the liking of his brother officers, and the confidence of his men. Mr. Blofeld was fond of all sport, he was a finished horseman and a most promising polo player. He was a member of the Cheltenham and West Somerset Polo Clubs, his handicap being 5 goals Hurlingham, 1914. He hunted with the Devon and Somerset Staghounds and the West Somerset Fox Hounds since early boyhood, and during the time he was at Staberton, with the Cotswold Hunt. He was greatly beloved by all who knew him and was a fine example of how quickly a good sportsman can become a good soldier. His Col. wrote: “As a horsemaster he was invaluable to me, and the fact that he had been chosen for the duty in which he met his death, proves that his Squadron leader relied on him.”

D’Arcy Frank Blofeld.

BLOMFIELD, CHARLES GEORGE MASSIE, Major, 1st Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., elder s. of Rear-Admiral Sir Richard Massie Blomfield, K.C.M.G., for twenty-eight years in charge of the Port of Alexandria and afterwards Director-General of all Egyptian Ports, etc., by his wife, Rosamund Selina, 2nd dau. of the late Right Rev. Charles Graves, D.D., Lord Bishop of Limerick, and nephew of Alfred Perceval Graves, author of “Father O’Flynn,” and the “Irish Ballad,” etc., and of Charles Larcom Graves, Assistant Editor of the “Spectator,” and a member of the Inner Round Table of “Punch”; b. London, 19 June, 1878, brought up at Port House, Alexandria, Egypt, until nine years of age; educ. Stubbington House School, Farnham, Cheltenham College and Sandhurst; received his commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Warwicks, 6 April, 1898, and was gazetted Lieut. 28 Dec. following, Capt. 16 Nov. 1901, and Major 19 Dec. 1914. He joined his regt. at Chatham and was sent to Malta, and in the following year (1899) to South Africa, and served through that campaign, 1900–2. He was employed with the Mounted Infantry, took part in the operations in Cape Colony, South of the Orange River (1900), in the Orange Free State, April to Nov. 1900, and in the Transvaal, 30 Nov. 1900, to 31 May, 1902, and received the Queen’s medal with three clasps, and the King’s medal with two clasps. On the close of the campaign he took over drafts to India to the 2nd Battn. at Bangalore. He then joined his parents at Assuan for the opening of the Great Dam, and was afterwards stationed in Ireland, where he continued his polo and hunting. He had meanwhile qualified as an interpreter of foreign languages and from May, 1905, to June, 1906, was attached to the Egyptian Army, and spent about a year in the Soudan, then rejoining his regt. at Aldershot. He became adjutant of the 4th (Special Reserve) Battn. of his regt. 31 Jan. 1912, a post he held for 3½ years, and after the declaration of war, did excellent work in preparing drafts for the front. He was posted to the 1st Battn., and joined the Expeditionary Force in France, 5 May, 1915, and fell, mortally wounded by a bullet through the head, 9 June, at 5 p.m. Gen. Landon, Royal Warwick Regt., wrote: “The regt. has sustained a loss indeed, which it will be hard to get over, and one it can ill afford. He was a most valuable officer and I know everyone loved him”; and Col. Poole, Commanding 1st Battn.: “His loss to me as one of my Coy. Commanders is irreparable. I had the highest opinion of him as a soldier, and he was worth anything in these hard times. We all mourn his loss.” He was on the staff of the “Army and Navy Gazette” and his humorous little work “The Young Officer’s Guide to Knowledge” cheered many a man in the hum-drum life of the trenches. A good violinist, he raised the band of the Special Reserve at Warwick. Major Blomfield m. at St. Paul’s, Wimbledon Common, 5 Oct. 1907, Hirell, elder dau. of the late James Clarence, of Castle Towers, Wimbledon Common, and had issue, Charles Clarence Massie, b. Aug. 1908 (d. in infancy), and Richard Beverley Massie, b. 25 June, 1913.

Charles G. M. Blomfield.

BLOOM, JOSEPH HENRY, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 6876, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BLOOMFIELD, SIDNEY HERBERT, A.B., J. 8083, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

BLOUNT, JAMES WILLIAM, C.E.R.A., 2nd Class, 269403, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BLOXAM, JOSEPH, Private, No. 1732, 5th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 4th s. of Thomas Bloxam, of Outram Street, Leicester, Framework Knitter, by his wife, Ann, dau. of Thomas Bowby; b. Leicester, 24 Oct. 1878; educ. Cottage Homes, Counterthorpe, Leicestershire; enlisted in the Leicestershire Regt. 20 years ago, and after serving his time went to Australia in 1910. On the outbreak of war he joined the Australian Imperial Force, and was killed in action at Gallipoli, 7 Aug. 1915; unm.

Joseph Bloxam.

BLOXSOM, WILLIAM JABEZ, Petty Officer, 1st Class, 164154, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

BLUE, DOUGALL, Capt., 3rd, attached 2nd, Battn. Scottish Rifles (The Cameronians), s. of Dugald Blue, of Glasgow; b. Glasgow, 10 June, 1878. He graduated M.A. at Glasgow in 1900, and three years later he accepted a scholastic appointment in Rhodesia. Whilst there he organised and commanded the first Cadet Corps ever formed in that country. He also held a commission in the Southern Rhodesian Volunteers. Returning to Glasgow in 1910, he became classical master in the High School, and received a commission in the School’s Contingent of the Officers’ Training Corps. In 1913, he became classical master in Hutchesons’ Grammar School, and there organised a Cadet Corps, which was affiliated to the 7th Battn. Scottish Rifles, Capt. Blue being appointed its first commanding officer. When the war broke out he received a captain’s commission in the 3rd Scottish Rifles, 3 Dec. 1914, proceeding shortly afterwards to France where he was attached to the 2nd Battn. Scottish Rifles. He was wounded in action near Fromelles, 9 May, 1915, and died two days later, and was buried in Merville Cemetery. He m. at Airdrie, 6 Jan. 1915, Katharine Armit, dau. of Thomas Swan, of Springhill House, Airdrie, Banker; s.p.

BLYDE, MICHAEL JOHN, Private, No. 280, 1st Newfoundland Regt., 4th s. of John Blyde, of 49, Fleming Street, St. John’s, Newfoundland, employee of St. John’s Municipal Council, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Philip Grouchy, Fisherman, and grandson of George Blyde (who served through the Crimean War, and after completing his 21 years’ service settled at St. John’s, Newfoundland); b. St. John’s afsd., 19 Feb. 1895; educ. Christian Brothers’ Schools there; was a member of the Catholic Cadet Corps and the local Boys’ Brigade, and also a Bugler in the local corps of the Legion of Frontiersmen; and on the outbreak of the European War volunteered for Imperial service with the 1st Newfoundland Regt.; left for England, 6 Oct. 1914; went to the Dardanelles, 20 Aug. 1915, and died 26 Sept. 1915, of wounds received in action at Gallipoli; unm.

Michael John Blyde.

BLYTH, REGINALD CROMMELIN POPHAM, Capt., 1st Battn. Gloucestershire Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. Royal Fusiliers, only s. of the Rt. Rev. George Francis Popham Blyth, D.D., late Bishop in Jerusalem and the East, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Col. James Arden Crommelin, R.E., and gdson. of the Rev. George Blanshard Blyth, by his wife (—), dau. of Col. Samuel Taylor Popham, 28th (now Gloucestershire) Regt., who served on the Duke of Wellington’s Staff [nephew of Gen. William Popham, who took Gwalior, and of Admiral Sir Home Popham, whose signalling code, still in use in the Navy, was used by Nelson for his famous signal to the Fleet at Trafalgar]; b. Darjeeling, India, 24 June, 1877; educ. St. Edward’s School, Oxford, and Brasenose College, Oxford; entered the Gloucestershire Regt. from the Militia 18 April, 1900; gazetted Lieut. 25 Oct. 1903, and received his company 14 Jan. 1911. Served in South Africa 1899–1900, taking part in the operations in Natal and the Orange Free State, and received the Queen’s medal with clasp. Capt. Blyth was with his regt. in India for some years, and acted as Divisional Staff Signalling Officer. In 1908 he was attached to the Egyptian Army for service in the Sudan, and was made a Bey. On the outbreak of the European War he was attached to the Royal Fusiliers, and was killed in action in Gallipoli, 4 June, 1915. He m. in London, 2 Aug. 1911, Norah (18, St. Leonard’s Road, Bexhill-on-Sea), dau. of Louis Edmund Hassells Yates, of Crawley, Sussex, and had one son, Lionel Popham, b. 16 June, 1912.

Reginald C. P. Blyth.

BOAG, HUGH, Stoker, P.O. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 4547), 279684, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BOARDMAN, ALBERT, Gunner, R.M.A., 10135, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BOATMAN, JAMES, Trimmer, 39810, H.M.S. Clan McNaughton; lost in that ship, Feb. 1915.

BOBBETT, ALFRED, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 19166, H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BOBBINS, HARRY, Private, No. 6899, 1st Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc., died 13 Jan. 1915, of wounds received in action; m.

BOCK, ROBERT HENRY, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111828, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

BODDY, TOM, Private, No. 8170, 1st Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., s. of the late John Thomas Boddy, of 69, West Parade, Hull, E. Yorks., Chronometer Maker to the Wilson Line of steamers, by his wife, Mary Artis, dau. of Capt. Ambrose White, R.N.R.; b. Hull, 22 Nov. 1887; entered the Army 13 July, 1905, served at home from 1905–7, and in India from 1907–13; returned to England in Dec. 1913, and joined the Special Reserve; mobilised 4 Aug. 1914, went to the front 7 Sept. 1914, was killed in action at La Courronne during the Battle of the Aisne, 16 Oct. 1914; unm. The commander of the section in which Boddy was serving writes: “My section under my command were sent out on point duty to the battn., that is about 200 yards in front, so as to prevent surprise. Tom and I were working as one pair in the centre, and I split up the others, ten men on each flank; we went along nicely until we came to the village of La Courronne, when we sighted a few Germans. These we drove along in front of us, for a distance of about half a mile. We then saw the enemy advancing towards us in large numbers, and a long shot wounded one of my men; we then took cover behind a house, and opened rapid fire to check their advance. I sent two men back immediately for reinforcements, another man was wounded, so this left me with only six men, and the enemy were within 400 yards of us, so I again sent for reinforcements which never came, so I made up my mind to try and get the wounded away with my remaining men, and I am sorry to say that it was whilst Tom and I were firing to cover the rescue party that poor Tom was killed.”

Tom Boddy.

BODIMEADE, HENRY CHARLES, Private, No. 3776, 7th Battn. The Middlesex Regt. (T.F.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 10 June. 1915; m.

BODKIN, GEOFFREY, A.B., 182664, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

BODY, WILLIAM HENRY, Chief Armourer, No. 5853, R.N., s. of John Body, Butcher (late Farmer); b. St. Cleer, near Liskeard, ... 1864; educ. Pelynt and Duloe, co. Cornwall; entered the Navy 28 June, 1886, served nearly three years on H.M.S. Firebrand, and on his return home was stationed at Devonport for some considerable time on H.M.S. Cambridge and H.M.S. Defiance; afterwards he served for about three years on the Penelope at the Cape of Good Hope, later went to China, and was for two and a-half years on the Tamar. He retired on a pension in 1908, but on the outbreak of war was called up and appointed to H.M.S. Majestic, and lost his life when that ship was torpedoed at the Dardanelles, 27 May, 1915, his body was picked up and interred at Sel-el-bahr. He m. at Talland Parish Church, near Looe, Cornwall, 19 Nov. 1891, Janie (196, Pasley Street, Stoke Devonport), dau. of Hugh Littleton, of Polperro, co. Cornwall, Builder, and had four sons and a dau.: William Maurice, b. 27 Aug. 1892, d. 25 Aug. 1911; Frederick Littleton, b. 10 Sept. 1893; Leonard Hugh, b. 28 Feb. 1899; Owen John, b. 12 June, 1907; and Doris May, b. 9 Feb. 1901. Body held the Good Conduct Medal.

William Henry Body.

BOEATER, ALFRED, Private, No. 6994, 2nd Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 18 Dec. 1914.

CRAWLEY-BOEVEY, EDWARD MARTIN, Capt., 1st Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., 2nd s. of the late Sir Thomas Hyde Crawley-Boevey, 5th Bart., by his wife, Frances Elizabeth, dau. of the Rev. Thomas Peters, Vicar of Eastington; b. Flaxley Abbey, co. Gloucester, 26 March, 1873; educ. Rugby and Royal Military College, Sandhurst, and was appointed 2nd Lieut. in the Royal Sussex Regt., 6 March, 1895, being promoted Lieut. 31 July, 1897, and Capt. 17 Dec. 1902. He served in the South African War, 1900–2, taking part in the actions at Houtnek, Vet River (5–6 May), Zand River, Johannesburg, Pretoria, Diamond Hill, Wittenbergen, and Ladybrand, for which he received the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps, and was mentioned in despatches. In 1902 he was chosen to represent his regt. at the Coronation of King Edward VII, and came home with a detachment from the Cape, and afterwards served in East Africa, 1908–10 (Somaliland medal with clasp). After the outbreak of the European War he was sent from Dover on 11 Nov. 1914, with a draft of 200 men of the 4th Royal Fusiliers to France, and was with that regt. when he was killed in action, near Bailleul, 24 Dec. 1914. He was a noted marksman, and a very gifted draughtsman, and was greatly esteemed by all ranks. He m. at Christchurch, Mayfair, London, 31 Oct. 1905, Rosalie Winifred (Thorwald, Godalming, Surrey), yr. dau. of Col. George Conrad Sartorius, C.B., and granddau. of the late Admiral of the Fleet Sir George Rose Sartorius, G.C.B., and had a son, Richard Martin, b. 31 July, 1907.

E. M. Crawley-Boevey.

BOLD, HAROLD EDWARD, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 8978; H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

BOLES, HASTINGS FORTESCUE, 2nd Lieut., 17th Lancers, attd. Royal Flying Corps, elder s. of Lieut.-Col. Dennis Fortescue Boles, of Watts House, near Taunton, M.P., Master of the West Somerset Foxhounds, now commanding 3rd Battn. Devonshire Regt.; b. London, 21 June, 1895; educ. Evelyns, Eton and Sandhurst; received a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 17th Lancers, 16 Dec. 1914, and joined the Reserve Battn. at the Curragh for training. In April he offered himself to the Royal Flying Corps as an Observer, and was accepted and appointed to duty with the Expeditionary Force in the North of France, and had some narrow escapes in reconnaissance duty, in which two of his pilots were seriously injured. Very early on the morning of 24 May he was engaged in making a reconnaissance over the German lines, when he was hit by a shot from an enemy anti-aircraft gun. The wound was seen to be extremely serious, but 2nd Lieut. Boles did not lose consciousness. When the machine returned to its base he was at once attended to by the surgical staff, placed under an anaesthetic and operated on, but died in the evening of the same day without recovering consciousness. The manner in which he met his death is best described in a letter from his commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. W. G. Salmond, who wrote: “Your son was very severely wounded in the head to-day by anti-aircraft fire whilst carrying out a reconnaissance. It occurred about 4.30 a.m. this morning. The wound was through the side of his head from front to rear. He was put under an anaesthetic. He was so plucky. When he was wounded he turned round to his pilot, Lieut. Bell Irving, smiled, and waved his hand, and when he came down I met him and he smiled again. He was conscious all that time, and even got out of the aeroplane, although he could hardly have been able to understand then. It is so distressing to have to write to you these things, but I thought you would rather hear them and know what grit he showed.” The machine was hit from the ground, where the enemy was concentrated in great force before the attack at Ypres—between Bercelaire and Dadizeele—at a height of over 7,000 ft. Lieut.-Col. W. G. Salmond also wrote again: “I cannot tell you how much we feel his loss. He was so quiet in all his work, which was always of the very best. I think few people realise what dangers our Observers have to face in the air. It is seldom that a machine returns from a reconnaissance without being hit. Your son showed no sign of the strain; he was always so cheery, ready and intelligent. He was by far the best at photography in the air this squadron or any squadron is likely to produce. In this he was as quick as lightning. He made up his mind in a moment that the area he was ordered to photograph was the area he was actually over at the time—no easy task—and took the photographs in succession at such a rate that the pilot had no need to turn and go over the ground again. When we were going to attack Hill 60 he took some photographs that morning of some German trenches and which were unknown to us, and was able to let our artillery know before attacking. The results he obtained were of the best the Flying Corps has produced. Photography of the German trenches are of tremendous value, and the results of his work were of very great value indeed to our Army. Only the day before his death he had been up photographing, and on his return showed me the back of his hand, which had been grazed by anti-aircraft splinter. He laughed at it. I am having these last photographs he took—which show the anti-aircraft shell actually fired at the machine bursting beneath, as well as the country he was asked to take—redone, so as to send to you when this war is over, as they are splendid examples of his skill and bravery. He was very gallant, and an example to us all.” He was buried at Bailleul; unm.

Hastings Fortescue Boles.

BOLITHO, FLEETWOOD JOHN, P.O., 1st Class, 167341, H.M.S. Clan McNaughton; lost in that ship, Feb. 1915.

BOLITHO, WILLIAM TORQUILL MACLEOD, Lieut., 19th Hussars, elder and only surviving s. of William Edward Thomas Bolitho, of York House, Penzance, and Hannaford, Ashburton, D.S.O., J.P., Banker, Major 1st Devon Yeomanry, now Lieut.-Col. Commanding 2/1st battn. of the same [a cadet of Bolitho of Trewidden], by his wife, Ethel Grace, 2nd dau. of Robert Bruce Æneas Macleod, of Cadboll, co. Cromarty, and Invergordon Castle, co. Ross, J.P., D.L., Comm. R.N.; b. Pendrea, Penzance, co. Cornwall, 13 Nov. 1892; educ. Warren Hill, Eastbourne, and Osborne and Dartmouth Royal Naval Colleges. He passed into Osborne College at 12¾ years old, and was given a remove from his own term to a term above, which was only very specially done. He continued to be head of his term, and passed out of Osborne and Dartmouth Colleges with top marks. He joined H.M.S. Cumberland at Devonport in Jan. 1909, and also passed out first from there after a six months’ cruise, taking three prizes. He was then appointed to H.M.S. Commonwealth as midshipman with four months’ seniority; he served in H.M.S. Cochrane and in H.M.S. Bellerophon, when he left the Navy of his own accord. As midshipman in the Bellerophon he won the Stoddart Cup for boat sailing, presented by Admiral Sir John Jellicoe. He then joined the Army by the Special Reserve, serving four months with the 11th Hussars at Aldershot, and passing into the Army by examination at Portsmouth in April, 1913; he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 19th Hussars 23 May, and joined 24 June, 1913. On the outbreak of war he crossed to France with B Squadron on 23 Aug. 1914, and served with it throughout the winter and spring. He was killed in action near Chateau Hooge, 24 May, 1915; unm. His Major, writing to his father, said: “Your son is a great loss to us, his name had been sent in for special mention after the operations on 13 May, when he found himself temporarily in command of the squadron, and made very good use of his opportunity.”

William T. M. Bolitho.

BOLLAND, THEODORE JULIAN, Major, 9th Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), late 16th Rajputs; b. 9 Jan., 1870; gazetted 2nd Lieut. unattached from the Militia 23 Nov. 1892, and after serving with the Manchester Regt., was appointed to the Indian Staff Corps, 27 Feb. 1894; joined the 16th Rajputs; promoted Lieut. 23 Feb. 1895, but was obliged to resign owing to severe attacks of malaria; went on half pay 26 April, 1900; and retired 11 June, 1902; volunteered for service when war broke out, and was gazetted Capt. 2nd Queen Victoria’s Rifles (6th London Regt.) 6 Sept., 1914; exchanged into the 9th Liverpools in March, 1915, went to France a few days later, was promoted Major on the 30th and was killed in action there 9 April following.

BOLSTER, GEORGE EMIL, Major, R.F.A., eldest s. of the late Surg.-Major Thomas Gardiner Bolster, A.M.S., by his wife, Ludivina (44, Lebanon Park, Twickenham), dau. of the late Lieut.-Col. John Frederic Nembhard, Bengal Army; b. Dagshai, India, 21 July, 1876. His childhood was spent at the various places where his father happened to be serving—India 4½ years, Devonport 2½ years, and Halifax, N.S., 5 years, during the whole of which time his mother was his sole instructress. On returning from Canada in 1888, he was sent to Ipswich School, and in 1883 passed direct into the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich. At the final examination two years later he passed out sixth on the R.A. list, and was awarded the prize for artillery. Gazetted on 2 Nov. 1895, he was promoted Lieut. 2 Nov. 1898, Capt. 1 Sept. 1901, and Major 17 Feb. 1912. Most of his time as subaltern was spent in Northern India, where he acted for two cold seasons as Staff Officer of the late Brig.-Gen. R. Purdy, R.A. The 36th Battery, to which he was posted on promotion, came home early in 1903, and was stationed at Newbridge, Ireland, where he was at once made Adjutant of the 35th Brigade, which post he held for over three years. In 1909 he was appointed Staff Capt. R.A., 5th Division Irish Command, but vacated that appointment in 1911, on being nominated for the Staff College. On completing the course, he was posted to the 106th Battery in South Africa. Recalled to England on the outbreak of war, his battery joined the camp of the 7th Division at Lyndhurst, and with it proceeded to Belgium. They were in the advance to Ghent to support the Naval Division from Antwerp, and the Belgian Army, and shared the hardships of the subsequent retreat to Ypres. He was killed in the historic stand which the 7th Division made near that place, 23 Oct. 1914. His engagement to Coralie, elder dau. of Col. Thomas de Burgh, of Oldtown, Naas, was announced one month before his death. Lieut.-Col. D. Fasson, commanding 22nd Brigade, R.F.A., wrote: “As a battery commander, he was hard to beat, and I certainly have never met a keener soldier. His whole heart was in his work.”

George Emil Bolster.

BOLTON, CHARLES, 1st Class Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8166), S.S. 103986, s. of William Bolton, by his wife, Louisa (Towns End, New Buckingham, near Attleboro’, Norfolk), dau. of Robert Duffield; b. Scole, 7 Oct. 1888; educ. there; joined the Navy 1906, and was lost in the North Sea when H.M.S. Cressy was torpedoed, 22 Sept. 1914; unm.

Charles Bolton.

BOLTON, ERNEST JAMES, Private, No. 10221, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of George Moore Bolton, of 60, East Street, Coventry; b. Warwick; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action between 21 Oct. 1914 and 5 Feb. 1915; unm.

BOLTON, GEORGE, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 6944, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

BOLTON, HARRY HARGREAVES, Capt., 5th Battn. East Lancashire Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of Henry Hargreaves Bolton, of Heightside, Newchurch-in-Rossendale, co. Lancaster, J.P., Colliery Owner, by his wife, Florence Eliza, dau. of Thomas Allen, of the Manor House, Thurmaston, Leicester; b. Accrington, co. Lancaster, 9 Feb. 1886; educ. Mostyn House School, Parkgate; and at Shrewsbury School, and after being at home for a short time, gaining some knowledge of the working of collieries, he went to Wigan, and attended for two years a course of mining instruction, part of which consisted of practical work underground in the mines of the Wigan Coal and Iron Company, Ltd., afterwards returning to Accrington Collieries to gain further experience, with a view to sitting for examination for the first-class mine manager’s certificate. This he obtained in Dec. 1912. Soon after, on the retirement, through ill-health, of the late Mr. James Whittaker, he was appointed to the responsible position of agent for the Accrington Collieries of Messrs. George Hargreaves & Co., of which his father was managing partner. He joined the 5th (Territorial) Battn. of the Manchesters at Bolton in 1905, which was then the 1st Battn. Volunteers, but on his return to Accrington he transferred to the 5th Battn. of the East Lancashires, and having passed the school of instruction for qualification to the Regular service, was given his commission as Capt. 25 July, 1911. On the outbreak of war he and his brother both volunteered for foreign service, and went out with their regt. from Burnley to Egypt in Sept. 1914, and on 5 May, 1915, to the Dardanelles. He wrote home from the transport on that day, and nothing more was heard until a telegram was received to say that he had been wounded on Whit Monday, 24 May, 1915, shot in the head, and he died without gaining consciousness the same day. Capt. Bolton took a great interest in the work of the Lancashire and Cheshire Coal Owners’ Rescue station, formed for the purpose of rescuing men at underground explosions, going through the course of training instruction with the Accrington Collieries rescue team, and obtained a certificate for competency. At the time of the Hulton Colliery explosion he took a team of men over fully equipped with the necessary appliances and went underground to help in the work required after the explosion. He was also a keen supporter of the National Service League, and was Secretary for the Accrington district. Closely associated with St. Augustine’s Church and School, Huncoat, he took a boys’ class in the Sunday School there regularly up to the time of his marriage. He m. at Habergham Church, Burnley, 1 June, 1911, Helen Oliver, dau. of Alexander Drew, of Holme Lodge, Burnley, J.P., and they lived at High Brake, Accrington, and had two children: George Henry Hargreaves, b. 14 Feb. 1914; and Rhona Helen Allen, b. 2 April, 1915. Capt. Bolton’s next brother, Lieut. John Bolton, was also killed at the Dardanelles (see his notice), and his two younger brothers, Lieut. Maurice Bolton and Lieut. Geoffrey Bolton, and his brother-in-law, Lieut. Douglas Hacking, Conservative candidate for Chorley, are now (1916) on active service.