Erasmus Darwin.
DASH, FREDERICK JOHN, Officer’s Cook, 1st Class, 363215 (Ports.), H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
DASHWOOD, FRANK LEOPOLD, L.-Corpl., No. 241, D Coy., 10th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, first and only surviving s. of the late Leopold Dashwood, of 180, Dereham Road, Norwich, Commercial Traveller, by his wife, Lottie, dau. of the late William Worts, of North Walsham; b. Norwich, 9 Feb. 1882; educ. Cambridge House and Higher Grade Schools, Norwich; joined the Royal Garrison Artillery in 1901 during the South African war, and served eight years with the Colours and four in the Reserve. He emigrated to Australia in 1911, and on the outbreak of the war joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force, 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 26 April, 1915; unm. His Capt. wrote: “He was a very fine soldier indeed, stood out from some others as a particularly smart example. It was not until we had been some time in Egypt that he would accept promotion, otherwise he would have been much higher in rank than he was. There is no question he was popular with the men in his section.”
Frank Leopold Dashwood.
DAUN, EDWARD CHARLES, Lieut. and Assistant Adjutant, 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., 2nd Infantry Brigade, only s. of Charles James Daun, by his wife, Ada Margaret, dau. of Lieut.-Gen. Edward Arthur Williams, C.B., Colonel Commandant R.A., and great-grandson of Col. Henry Williams, R.A., who served at Waterloo; b. Streatham, Surrey, 15 June, 1885; educ. Sunningdale School and Harrow; joined the 3rd Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. 27 Feb. 1904; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the 2nd Battn. 29 Nov. 1905, and promoted Lieut. 10 Nov. 1909. On the outbreak of war he left Woking for the Front, 12 Aug. 1914; was present in the fighting at, and retreat from, Mons, and was killed near Troyon at the Battle of the Aisne, 14 Sept. 1914; unm. A comrade wrote: “We were in the same company. I was unfortunately sent home with an injured leg, but last saw your son on 4 Sept. At that time he was in splendid health and in such good spirits. He was a splendid officer, and worked night and day for the good of his regt. and his company, and had a great future before him. He was to have been our next Adjutant, and will be a great loss to the regt.” The Colonel, senior Major and Adjutant all fell the same day. Lieut. Daun was a fine rifle shot, and won the Officers’ Cup at the Aldershot Command Meeting in 1912 and 1913, and was second in 1914. Of his uncles, Lieut.-Col. H. F. Williams, Royal Munster Fusiliers, and Lieut.-Col. E. G. Williams, C.M.G., commanding 1st Battn. Devonshire Regt., are at the Front; and Capt. A. L. Williams, Royal Scots (died 24 May, 1906) served with the Bechuanaland Expedition, 1884–85; while of his great-uncles, Lieut.-Gen. Sir H. F. Williams, K.C.B., 60th Rifles, served through the Mutiny and Lieut.-Col. the Hon. H. R. Handcock, 97th Regt., was killed at the storming of the Redan in the Crimean war; and his great-great-uncle, Admiral Sir William Pierson, K.C.B., was wounded as a Midshipman in the Belleisle at Trafalgar.
Edward Charles Daun.
DAVEY, ARTHUR JOHN, Private, No. 11483, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Richard Soper Davey, of Broadway, Woodbury, Exeter, by his wife, Emily, dau. of Samuel Litton; b. Woodbury, co. Devon, 23 May, 1897; educ. Woodbury Council School; enlisted 31 Aug. 1914; went to France, 11 Dec., and was killed in action at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914; unm.
DAVEY, WILLIAM ALFRED GEORGE, Rifleman, No. 2080, 1/18th Battn. (London Irish) The London Regt. (T.F.), s. of James Best Davey, Sergt. 15th Middlesex Regt., by his wife, Sarah Elizabeth (42, Pretoria Avenue, Walthamstow), dau. of William Thomas Warner; b. Willesden, 18 May, 1894; was a student at the International Correspondence Schools, Kingsway, and had been employed for many years on the clerical staff of the Stores Department of the London County Council. After the outbreak of war he joined the London Irish on 31 Aug. 1914; went to the Front, 9 March, 1915, and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; unm. He was in the first line of German trenches binding up wounds sustained by a comrade, when he must have been observed by a German sniper, for, as he was advancing towards the second line of trenches, he was shot in the head by a rifle bullet. Lieut. G. M. Slattery wrote: “The Capt. of your son’s company was struck by a shell, and your son was seen at once to make for him. On his way he was struck in the head and killed. He was a good lad and liked by everybody, and the action which led to his death was characteristic of him. He never seemed to trouble about himself, but was always the first to help others.” He was buried in a village just outside Loos.
William Alfred G. Davey.
DAVID, CHARLIE, Stoker, 1st Class, 311578, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVID, JAMES STANLEY, L.-Corpl., No. 30737, 1st Battn. Welsh Regt., s. of Walter David, of Uplands, Swansea; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, being buried in a trench on the night of 3 Aug. 1915, aged 23; unm.
DAVIDSON, ALEXANDER BISSETT, Private, No. 16166, 2nd Battn. (Queen’s Own) Cameron Highlanders, s. of James Brown Davidson, of 15, High Street, Portobello, near Edinburgh, an employee on the N.B. Ry., by his wife, Margaret, dau. of Alexander Bissett; b. Portobello, 12 Jan. 1891; educ. Tower Bank Public School there; enlisted 7 Dec. 1914; and was killed in action at the Battle of Hill 60, 29 April, 1915; unm.
Alexander B. Davidson.
DAVIDSON, ALEXANDER MURRAY STUART, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6689), 185747, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
DAVIDSON, DUNCAN HAMLYN, Capt., 1st Battn. Seaforth Highlanders, eldest s. of Duncan Davidson, of Inchmarlo, co. Kincardine, J.P., D.L., by his wife, Flora Frances (died 6 Jan. 1884), eldest dau. of sir Francis Burdett, of Foremark, 7th Bart.; b. Inchmarlo, 28 March, 1877, and was educated at Harrow. He served some time with the 3rd Gordon Militia, and during the South African War obtained (21 April, 1900) through King Edward a commission as 2nd Lieut, in the Seaforth Highlanders, although he was over the age, and was promoted Lieut. 19 April, 1902, and Capt. 25 March, 1911. He afterwards served with his regt. in Egypt and India, and was Adjutant to the 4th (Territorial) Battn. of the Seaforths from 1909 to 1913. Capt. Davidson was stationed at Agra when the European War broke out, and he went with his regt. to France, arriving there in Oct. 1914. He was severely wounded at Festubert, 17 Dec. 1914, and was invalided home. He returned to his own battn. on 28 March, and fell at Neuve Chapelle on 9 May 1915, while commanding the first company in the attack on the German trenches. His colonel wrote: “He was twice wounded in the advance, but still went on until he finally fell still leading his company. He was a good officer and a great favourite, and was much loved by officers and men. We miss him very much. He was a gallant fellow”; and again: “It was he who led us in everything, no matter what; and Ritchie told me it was Hamlyn who reached the German trenches in the fore front as usual. The 1st Battn. have lost their bravest and most gallant officer, and his brother officers their dearest pal. Both battns. have suffered so heavily, and how you have felt for us, I know, and I and others of the two battns. who knew and loved your son so well, grieve with you in your great loss. A brother officer tells me that the moment he crossed the parapet they came under heavy machine gun fire. He was hit, got up again, hit again; and again up at the head of what remained of his company. Then he was hit again and fell near the German trenches, and he could not or would not retire.” His younger brother, Capt. L. E. O. Davidson, R.F.A., Adjutant of the 55th Brigade, received the D.S.O. for gallant conduct on 16 Sept. 1914.
Duncan Hamlyn Davidson.
DAVIDSON, JAMES, Private, No. 9720, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; b. Bothwell Belshill, co. Lanark; enlisted 4 Sept., 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 23 July, 1915. He m. at Blantyre, 14 Dec. 1907, Mary (34, Hale Street, Blantyre), dau. of (—) Kelly, and had four daus.: Mary, b. 4 Dec. 1908; Annie, b. 23 May, 1910; Catherine, b. 23 Aug. 1912, and Agnes, b. 25 Sept. 1914.
DAVIDSON, JOHN HENRY, Coy. Sergt.-Major, No. 125, 9th Battn. Durham L.I. (T.F.), s. of Robert Davidson, of 75, Thomas Terrace, Blaydon-on-Tyne, Foreman on the N.E.R. Co., by his wife. Ellen; b. Hexham, co. Northumberland, 17 March, 1885; educ. Blaydon Council School; enlisted in the 5th Vol. (now the 9th Territorial) Battn. D.C.L.I.; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of war; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and greatly distinguished himself on Whit Monday, at the Second Battle of Ypres, when he carried four men who were gassed to a place of safety; was for this promoted Coy. Sergt.-Major, and was killed in action, 22 June, 1915, being shot by a sniper; unm. Buried at Kemmel. His commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. Henderson spoke of him as a splendid soldier.
DAVIDSON, WILLIAM, Chief Petty Officer (N.S.), 156472, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIDSON, WILLIAM LESLIE, C.B., J.P., Col. on the Staff, R.A., 2nd s. of the late Patrick Davidson, of Inchmarlo, co. Kincardine, LL.D., J.P., D.L., by his wife, Mary Anne, eldest dau. of William Leslie, 10th Laird of Warthill, co. Aberdeen; b. Aberdeen, 31 Jan. 1850; educ. the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (passing in twenty-seventh and out twenty-seventh), and entered the Army as Lieut. 7 July, 1869; was promoted Capt., 24 Jan. 1880; Major, 7 June, 1885; Lieut.-Col., 25 June, 1896; and Col., 23 Jan. 1900. He was for some time A.D.C. to the Commander-in-Chief in India, and subsequently to the Governor of Gibraltar; served through the Zulu Campaign (wounded at Ulundi—mentioned in Despatches, medal with clasps), 1879. Had charge of Cetewayo for some time in Cape Town. Took part in the Afghan War (medal), 1880. Served in the South African War, 1899–1900; commanded the R.H.A. on the forced march to the Relief of Kimberley; was present at Paardeburg, Poplar Grove, Driefontein and Karee Siding, and afterwards commanded the town defences of Bloemfontein (twice mentioned in Despatches, Queen’s medal with four clasps and C.B.). He retired in 1907, and in 1913 was appointed Gentleman Usher to the King. On the outbreak of the European War, in Aug. 1914, although 63 years of age, he immediately volunteered for active service and was sent to command No. 4 General Base Depôt at Rouen. There he fell a victim to over-exertion and died on active service, 3 Aug. 1915, from heart failure. He was buried with full military honours in the portion of the cemetery at Rouen reserved for British officers. A brother officer wrote: “He died when in the fulfilment of a duty to his country, towards which he devoted a life-time full of energy and heartiness. I felt sure that with his keen and vigorous sense of duty he would spare no pains to try and take his share of work in the Nation’s task.” Another: “A soldier to the backbone, he leaves a very fine record.” One from Rouen: “He was such a favourite amongst us all that we all feel the loss of a dear friend.” A naval officer: “He has given everything and laid down his life for the country like many another gallant gentleman.” A relation from France: “I can’t be thankful enough for those two afternoons that I saw him over this side, nor will I ever forget him, as I looked back, standing there in the sun, his hand raised in farewell, laughing with pure joy of life and the summer day. He was so smart and upright, with his rows of decorations, as he stood beside his pony, a British officer on active service. And he was so kind to everyone, all there seemed to be his friends and to want a word from him as they passed.” He m. at the Oratory, Brompton, 1 Feb. 1887, Lady Theodora, née Keppel, eldest surviving dau. of William Coutts, 7th Earl of Albemarle, and had two sons and four daus.: Donald Alastair Leslie, Lieut. Royal Flying Corps, formerly a Page of Honour to His Majesty King Edward VII, now (1916) on active service with the British Expeditionary Force, returned home severely wounded, b. 6 Oct. 1891; Colin Keppel, Lieut. R A., now (1916) on active service, b. 1 Sept. 1895; Doris, b. May, 1888 and d. 14 Oct. 1888; Hilary, b. 13 April, 1889; Vera Marian, b. 6 Aug. 1893, m. 17 Dec. 1914, Aylmer Probyn Maude, Lieut. Rifle Brigade; and Lena Theodora, b. 14 Sept. 1894. His nephew, Capt. D. H. Davidson, younger, of Inchmarlo, was also killed in action (see his notice).
W. L. Davidson, C.B.
DAVIES, ALBERT, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 16080, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVIES, ARTHUR, Private, No. 9579, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, eldest s. of Thomas Davies, of Poole Hills, Nantwich, Cheshire, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Henry Halfpenny; b. Burslem, co. Stafford, 22 Feb. 1894; educ. Acton School, near Nantwich; enlisted 24 April, 1912; went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force, 13 Aug. 1914; was wounded in Sept. but rejoined; took part, with his company, in the assault on the German trenches on 4 Oct., for which Corpl. Russell was elected by vote to receive the D.C.M., and was mortally wounded at the First Battle of Ypres, and died in No. 13 Clearing Hospital at Vlamertinghe, Belgium, 7 Nov. 1914; unm.
Arthur Davies.
DAVIES, CHARLES, Sick Berth Steward, 350753, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIES, FREDERICK ERNEST, Corpl., R.M.L.I. 15356 (R.F.R., B. 1855), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIES, GEORGE, Stoker 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9247), S.S. 106467, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIES, GEORGE ROLAND, Gunner, No. 80826, R.F.A., s. of (—) Davies, of Moss Bank, 27, Richmond Road, Ashton-under-Lyne; b. 1893; was a clerk; volunteered and enlisted 8 March, 1915; was drafted to Newcastle-on-Tyne, and died in the Armstrong College Military Hospital there, 27 April following, from pneumonia, contracted while training; unm.
DAVIES, GEORGE WILLIAM, Private, No. 8150, 2nd Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., s. of the late John Davies, by his wife, Mary, dau. of John Bright; b. Hansley, near Nottingham, 11 March, 1885; educ. Nottingham; enlisted 3 March, 1901, served three years with the Colours and eight with the Reserves, and was with the Militia in South Africa (medal). He was afterwards employed at Orgreaves Colliery, Truton, near Rotherham, but was called up on mobilisation, 5 Aug. 1914. Went to the Front, 18 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at La Bassée, 27 Oct. 1914. He m. at St. Mary’s Church, Sculcoates, Hull, 7 Oct. 1911, Lily (83, Stepney Lane, Beverley Road, Hull), dau. of John Brown, and had two children: George, b. 1 March, 1914; and Mary, b. 22 May, 1912.
George William Davies.
DAVIES, HAROLD, Private, No. 10744, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of William Davies, of Sandy Lane, Middlestown, Wakefield; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; reported missing between 29 Oct. and 2 Nov. 1914.
DAVIES, ISAAC, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7028), S.S. 101591, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
DAVIES, JAMES, Private, No. 15761, A Coy., 9th Battn, the Welsh Regt., s. of Isaac Davies, of Old Royal Oak Saw mills, Pumpsaint, co. Carmarthen, Builder; by his wife Letitia, dau. of David Lewis of Llanybyther; b. Pumpsaint, afsd., 10 Dec. 1896; educ. Llandovery Intermediate School; was a joiner; enlisted after the outbreak of War, 25 Sept. 1914; went to France, 19 July, 1915, and died in the hospital at Etaples, 29 Sept. 1915, of wounds received in action near Loos, four days previously. He was buried in the English Military Cemetery, Etaples (Grave D. 30); unm.
DAVIES, JOHN ROBERT, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5466), 178192, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIES, RICHARD, L.-Corpl. No. 8557, 1st Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., eldest s. of John Aubrey Davies, Colliery Manager, by his wife, Rachel, dau. of William Thomas, of the Brecon Arms, Penderyn; b. Abercanaid, Merthyr Tydfil, 2 Aug. 1878; educ. in United States and Penderyn, co. Breconshire; enlisted in the Somerset L.I. 24 April, 1899, and served through the South African War, 1900–2, took part in the relief of Ladysmith and in the operations in the Orange Free State and the Transvaal, receiving the Queen’s medal with three bars and the King’s medal with two bars. Afterwards he worked as a collier at the Tower Colliery of the Marquis of Bute, but was called up on mobilisation, 5 Aug. 1914; went to France the third week in Dec. 1914; was wounded by a shell in the left shoulder and side, 8 April, and died in the 4th General Hospital, Versailles, 17 April, 1915, being buried in the cemetery there. He m. at Aberpergwm Church, Glyn Neath, Glamorgan, 31 May, 1906, Catherine (51, Station Road, Hirwain), dau. of Rees Thomas, and left a son and dau.: Austin, b. 7 Oct. 1912; and Gwyneth, b. 1 Nov. 1910.
Richard Davies.
DAVIS, ALBERT HENRY, Leading Stoker, 305137, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVIS, ARTHUR ALBION, Stoker, Petty Officer, 306743, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIS, CHARLES WILLIAM, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3865), 292225, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVIS, EDWARD SAMUEL, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5119), 194384, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVIS, ERNEST GEORGE FRANK, Bugler, R.M.L.I., Ch. 17054, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
DAVIS, GEORGE DAVID, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8815), S.S. 105493, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIS, HENRY WILLIAM WARREN, Lieut., 1st Battn. Welch Regt., eldest s. of Henry Warren Davis, of Tre Warren, Milford Haven, J.P., Major of Mining Engineers (Militia) from 1888 to 1902, by his wife, Christobel, dau. of Christopher Robson; b. Milford Haven, co. Pembroke, 27 Dec. 1891; educ. Malvern College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Welch Regt. 14 Feb. 1912, and promoted Lieut. 1 Nov. 1914. On the outbreak of war he went with the 1st Battn. of his regt. to the Front, served in France and Flanders, and was killed in action at Zonnebeke, near Ypres, 18 April, 1915, being hit by a bomb on the head and killed instantaneously while assisting a wounded comrade. He was buried in the military cemetery there; unm. Lieut. Davis was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915. He was a first-class swimmer, and won prizes at Malvern; was also a good boxer, and won the amateur heavy weight at Cairo in 1912. His captain wrote of him that “A more lovable and splendid fellow it would be impossible to find.”
Henry William W. Davis.
DAVIS, REGINALD WILLIAM, E.R.A., R.N.R. 1011EA, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVIS, SIDNEY JAMES, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7182), S.S. 1186, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVISON, CHARLES FREDERICK, Leading Seaman, 209911, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAVISON, CHARLES GEORGE, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5469), 201505, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVISON, CHARLES HENRY GEORGE (alias CHARLES HENRY PETTMAN), P.O., 226607, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
DAVISON, HARRY, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 5032), S.S. 104650, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAVY, GEORGE HENRY, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111068, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
DAWDRY, THOMAS, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7924), S.S. 103616, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAWES, ALBERT, Gunner, R.M.A., 13515, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAWKINS, ALFRED, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 4885), 197385, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAWKINS, CHARLES JOHN RANDLE, B.A., LL.B., 2nd Lieut., 9th (Service) Battn. The Welsh Regt., only s. of Thomas Randle Dawkins, of Redhill, Haverfordwest, by his wife, Clara Vaughan, dau. of Charles Vaughan Simmons Bennett, of Haverfordwest, M.R.C.S.; b. Haverfordwest, co. Pembroke, 16 June, 1891; educ. at the Haverfordwest Grammar School, Clifton College, and Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A., and LL.B. with honours, taking a second class (First Division) in the Historical Tripos, part I, and a first class in the Law Tripos, part II. He was articled to Mr. C. W. M. Price, of Lincoln’s Inn, but on the outbreak of war applied for a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 9th Welsh Regt. 4 Nov. 1914, and proceeded on foreign service on 18 July, 1915. He took part in the great offensive at Loos, and was killed in action near there on 25 Sept. 1915. His capacity as an officer may be judged by the following extract from a letter written by his Company Commander: “He was always ready to volunteer for any task, more especially if it were of a dangerous nature; he was always ready to advise, and it was always the advice of a wise man, and was never proffered in anything but a good spirit; he was very interested in his profession and if ever any out of the way problem arose, one always appealed to him. He was the coolest man I ever met—his coolness under fire was almost uncanny and made the men look up to him with a sort of worship.” Huxley (his orderly) wrote: “I would rather have been struck by the shell myself than Mr. Dawkins, the best friend I ever had or expect will ever have. While he was with me, I did not know what fear was.” He m. at Camberley, 8 May, 1915, Enid Myfanwy, eldest dau. of David Evans, of Old Bridge House, Haverfordwest, and gddau. of Ceiriog, the Welsh Poet, and had a son, Thomas Charles Randle, b. posthumous, 29 Feb. 1916.
Charles J. R. Dawkins.
DAWSON, ALBERT GEORGE, Yeoman of Signals, 191036 (Devon.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAWSON, HENRY BEAL, Private, No. 8/32, 10th Otago Coy. Otago Regt., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, s. of the late A. Dawson, Settler, by his wife, Mary (Hampden, Otago, New Zealand); b. Hampden District, 8 April, 1891; educ. Hampden District High School; was engaged in farming, but on the outbreak of war was the first from his district to volunteer, and enlisted 12 Aug. 1914; left with the Main Expeditionary Force for Egypt in Oct.; took part in the landing at Gabe Tepe on Sunday, 25 April, 1915, and two days later was shot in the trenches by a Turkish sniper; unm. In letters from his comrades he was described as a brave, true soldier, afraid of nothing, and one who had done his duty and had done it well.
Henry Beal Dawson.
DAWSON, JOHN THOMAS GIBSON, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9653), S.S. 2426, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
DAWSON, WILFRED YELVERTON, Private, No. 1173, 4th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, s. of Yelverton Dawson, of Heathlands, Southbourne-on-Sea, co. Hants, M.D., by his wife, Alice Anne dau. of the Hon. Judge (Henry) Martley, of the Landed Estates Court, Dublin, M.A., Q.C., and gdson. of William Barry Yelverton Dawson, of Bellevue, Mallow, co. York; b. Aubrey, Shankill, co. Dublin, 3 Nov. 1871; educ. Sherborne and Trinity College, Cambridge (matriculated 1890); joined the Militia Battn. of the Sherwood Foresters in 1889, and the Cape Mounted Rifles in 1892, and went through the Bechuanaland campaign (medal). Returning to England he entered the Lincoln Theological College in 1895, but when the Boer war began joined Lock’s Horse and served in South Africa, receiving medal and clasp. Returning to England he finished his theological course, and was ordained in St. Paul’s Cathedral, 19 March, 1905. In 1911, he was received into the Roman Catholic Church, spent a short time in Canada, and then returned to South Africa. On the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914, he went to Sydney, N.S.W., joined the 1st Division of Australian Infantry, accompanied them to Egypt, took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action there two days later; unm.
Wilfrid Yelverton Dawson.
DAY, ARNOLD ELLIS, L.-Corpl., No. 2088, 1/5th Battn. West Yorkshire Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Edward Joseph Day, of 10, South Drive, Harrogate, Agent, by his wife, Adah, dau. of James Ellis, of Staincliffe, near Dewsbury; b. Dewsbury, co. York, 19 May, 1889; educ. Woodhouse Grove School, Apperley Bridge, Leeds; and was for seven years on the literary staff of the “Bradford Daily Telegraph.” After the outbreak of war he joined the 1/5th West Yorkshires, 28 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action near Ypres, 13 July, 1915, being buried at Turcos Farm, near Ypres; unm. 2nd Lieut. Allen wrote: “He was in my platoon and a most promising N.C.O. He was shot in the head while carrying out his duties, and died a little while afterwards;” and a comrade: “I wish you could have seen Arnold with the children out here; how they loved him. It was common to see him with a crowd around him, all talking to him at once, all of them adoring him. It was the same with the old people.”
Arnold Ellis Day.
DAY, AUBREY OLIVER FISHER, Boy, 1st Class, J. 27367 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
DAY, CHARLES FREDERICK, Rifleman, No. 3047, 1/17th Battn. (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), first s. of Frederick Charles Day, of 160, Usher Road, Old Ford, Bow, E., Labourer, by his wife, Matilda A., dau. of Samuel Williams; b. Bow, 9 Dec. 1894; educ. Monteith Road School, Old Ford Road; enlisted 15 Sept. 1914; left for the front, 8 March, 1915, and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos, 25 or 28 Sept. 1915; unm.
DAY, CHARLES FREDERICK, Gunner, R.M.A. 7880 (R.F.R., B. 1089), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914; m.
DAY, CHARLES, Stoker, P.O. (R.F.R., B. 10277), 299330, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAY, CHARLES GEORGE, Drummer, No 7037, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, eldest s. of Charles George Day, of 47, South Street, Bishop’s Stortford, Maltmaker, by his wife, Mary Eleanor, dau. of Joseph Bavin; b. Bishop’s Stortford, 26 June, 1892; educ. National School there; enlisted in 1st Battn. 26 Nov. 1906, and was transferred to the 3rd Battn. in Oct. 1907, serving with it in Egypt, 1907, to April, 1911, and with the Expeditionary Force in France, Aug. 1914, to Feb. 1915. He was shot through the head by a sniper while building a dug-out close to the brickfields near La Bassée, 22 Feb. 1915, and was buried at Cuinchy; unm. His N.C.O. spoke highly of him.
Charles George Day.
DAY, HENRY JOHN, Chief E.R.A., 1st Class 268182, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DAY, JOHN VICTOR, Rifleman, No. 5018, Machine Gun Section, 1st Battn. Rifle Brigade, s. of Edmund Brassey Day, of 1, Green Road, Whetstone, co. Middlesex, Tramcar Driver, by his wife, Lydia Mary, dau. of Jabez Craddock, of Bradgate, Napier Road, Wembley, Middlesex; b. Kensal Green, 6 July, 1896; educ. North Finchley; joined the Rifle Brigade, 20 March, 1912; went to the Front with the 4th Division, served nine months in France and was present at the Battle of Hill 60, also at Neuve Chapelle, and was killed in action in France, 6 July, 1915; unm. A comrade, Rifleman H. Rayner, wrote to his father: “Victor was killed in action after we had made an attack and taken the enemies’ trenches. Your son got his machine gun in position and did very good work with it, but it was the next day that he was killed, when the enemy gave us an eight hours’ bombardment; a big Jack Johnson burst on top of the trench, killing about six.” He was buried at Talana Farm [Map reference, Sheet 28, B 18 c, 9-4]. His eldest brother, Edmund Day, Sergt., 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., was very dangerously wounded at Richebourg l’Avoue, 10 May, 1915.
John Victor Day.
DAY, JOHN WILLIAM, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 9629), S.S. 2346, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAY MAURICE CHARLES, Lieut. 13th Rajputs, Indian Army, eldest s. of the Very Rev. Maurice William Day, Dean of Waterford, by his wife, Katherine Louisa Frances, dau. of Charles Garfit, and grandson of the late Right Rev. Maurice Day, Bishop of Cashel; b. The Palace, Waterford, 26 Feb., 1891; educ. Aravon, Bray (1902–5), Marlborough College (1905–10, Foundation Scholarship, Senior Scholarship, Leaving Exhibition), and Trinity College, Cambridge (1910–13, Exhibition, T.C. 1910; Senior Scholarship, T.C. 1913; Bell’s University Scholarship, 1912; Wrangler, B.A. 1913); and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the unattached list for the Indian Army, 5 Sept. 1913, to rank as from 5 Sept. 1911, being awarded six months’ seniority for his University honours in addition to 18 months as a University candidate. He was attached to the Royal West Kent Regt. for his first year and was stationed at Multan and Dalhousie. He was promoted Lieut. 28 Sept. 1914 (to rank from 5 Dec. 1913), and the same day joined his Indian regt., the 13th Rajputs. They started on Active Service the day after he joined and left Bombay with the Expeditionary Force for East Africa on 16 Oct. He fell in action at Tanga, German East Africa 3 Nov. 1914, the morning they landed. Lieut.-Col. Stewart wrote: “The Commandant, Lieut.-Col. H. W. Codrington, and the Adjutant, Capt. R. Clothier, and Major B. Corbett were all hit at the same time and place. Your son was buried by the Germans subsequently. Mr. Day joined us before we came on service, and when we landed was acting as Brigade Transport Officer. During the short time he was with us, we realised what a keen and promising officer he was. There can be no doubt that he would have made a name for himself, and that soon”; and Lieut.-Col. H. W. Codrington: “First I must tell you that your son, although he only joined the regt. on the day before we started from Agra, had become a great favourite, and that his loss is very keenly felt by all. It was a great blow to me personally, as I had taken a great fancy to him. Professionally he was a most exceptionally able, keen and promising young officer.... His brother officers would very much like if we may put up a small memorial brass to the memory of your son in your church. We shall be so glad if you will allow us to do this.” Capt. Cole also wrote: “Your son was in my double company and I was with him when he was killed. Colonel Codrington, the Adjutant, your son, and myself had just got on to a small hillock to have a look round when a machine gun opened on us at close range and the first three named went down instantaneously. Your son was killed outright. I cannot tell you how very deeply we mourn his loss, for although he had been with us such a short time we knew him for a brave, capable and resourceful boy.” Previous to joining the Army he had worked in the Trinity Mission at Camberwell, and the Vicar of St. George’s there (the Rev. H. G. D. Latham) wrote: “Your son when at Trinity was one of those who would not be content simply to get the best out of life for ourselves. He came here to do hard Mission work among our people and to share with those who had not had his privileges whatever of the Cambridge spirit can be shared by a simple and sincere friendliness, and so he has helped to sweeten life for many and to make the strained relations between class and class easier, and he has helped on the good Cambridge tradition of coming to South London. There are many here who will feel his loss as a personal blow, while they will be proud to have had his friendship.” He was unm.
Maurice Charles Day.
DAY, REGINALD CHARLES WILLIAM, Canteen Assistant, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DAY, THOMAS, S.P.O. (R.F.R., B. 7958), 292498, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
DAYSH, FREDERICK ARTHUR GEORGE, Private, No. 8989, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; reported missing, 14 Sept. 1914.
DEACON, STANLEY DOUGLAS, Gunner, Immed. Class, R.M.A. (R.F.R., 37), 9576, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DEACON, WILLIAM JAMES, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1386), 191882, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DEADMAN, CHARLES WILLIAM, Corpl., No. 18611, 12th (Service) Battn. Highland L.I., eldest s. of Charles Deadman, of 48, Grove Road, Shoeburyness, Brickmaker, by his wife, Sarah Ann, dau. of Philip Moss; b. Great Wakering, co. Essex, 28 Dec. 1894; educ. Shoeburyness Village School; was a bricklayer’s labourer; enlisted 9 Sept. 1914; went to France early in July, and was killed in action during the advance at Loos, 26 Sept. 1915; unm.
Charles William Deadman.
DEAN, ALBERT HENRY, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 17103, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DEAN, CHARLES ALFRED, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., 2758), 283360, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
DEAN, HORACE EDGAR, Electrical Artificer, 1st Class, 345055, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept, 1914.
DEAN, WILLIAM HUGH, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 3924), 179131, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DEAR, JOHN, Leading Stoker (R.F.R. Ch. B. 4482), 279327, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
DEARDEN, HERBERT, Private, No. 11435, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Herbert Dearden, of 9, Peel Street, Broomhill, by his wife, Alice, dau. of the late John Hill, of Sheffield; b. Broomhill, Sheffield, 8 Sept. 1884; educ. Council School there; enlisted at Sheffield, 4 Sept. 1914, and died of wounds received in action at Bethune, 10 May, 1915; unm.
DEASE, MAURICE JAMES, V.C., Lieut., 4th Battn. Royal Fusiliers, only s. of Edmund Fitzlaurence Dease, of Culmullen, Drumree, co. Meath, J.P., and grandson of James Arthur Dease, of Turbotston, J.P., D.L., Vice-Lieut. of Cavan; b. Gaulstown, Coole, co. Westmeath, 28 Sept, 1889; educ. Frognal Park, Hampstead, Stonyhurst College (1903), Army College, Wimbledon, and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 27 May, 1910, promoted Lieut. 19 April, 1912, and on the outbreak of war proceeded with his regt. to France. On 23 Aug. 1914, Lieut. Dease, who was Machine Gun Officer, was in command of the section placed to protect the crossing of a bridge at Nimy, north of Mons. During the action his position was heavily shelled by the enemy, all his men being either killed or incapacitated; he was several times seriously wounded, but refused to leave the guns, remaining near and working them until he fell mortally wounded. For this he was specially mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s Despatch of 7 Sept, and was awarded the Victoria Cross (16 Nov. 1914), the first officer to receive this distinction in the war. The action is thus officially described: “Though two or three times badly wounded, he continued to control the fire of his machine guns at Mons on 23 Aug. until all his men were shot. He died of his wounds.” His commanding officer wrote: “Lieut. Dease was wounded, and man after man of his detachment was hit. He appears to have received a second wound after neglecting a first wound in the leg; taking a little time to recover, he managed to return to the gun and kept it in action. He was then incapacitated by a third wound. Thus his conduct was heroic indeed, and of the greatest service in delaying the crossing of the enemy, which it was our object, in accordance with orders to effect.... I have brought his conspicuous gallantry to notice.”
Maurice James Dease, V.C.
CHAMPION DE CRESPIGNY, CLAUDE NORMAN, Lieut., 2nd (Queen’s Bays) Dragoon Guards, 5th and yst. s. of Sir Claude Champion de Crespigny, of Champion Lodge, Maldon, co. Essex, 4th Bart., by his wife, Georgiana Louisa Margaret, dau. of the late Robert McKerrell, Cadet of Hillhouse; b. Southsea, 14 June, 1888; educ. Hawtry’s, Westgate-on-Sea, and Cheltenham; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st Dragoon Guards, 2 Feb. 1907; promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1908, and transferred to the Queen’s Bays, 12 Nov. 1910. He acted as A.D.C. to General Allenby during the Army Manœuvres of 1913, and on the outbreak of war went to France with the Expeditionary Force. He was killed in action at Nèry, near Compiégne, France, 1 Sept. 1914. “The Brigade was hotly engaged, and on the Bays fell the brunt of the fighting on 1 Sept. Norman, with a few men, was holding an important tactical point, and he held it till every man was killed or wounded. No man could have done more, few would have done so much,” wrote General Allenby. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 4 Dec. 1914, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. A brilliant horseman and polo player, and a former Master of the Aldershot Beagles; he was very handy with the gloves, having boxed in the Army Championships both at home and in India. While at Sandhurst he won that much coveted trophy “The Saddle,” and was champion swimmer at Hawtrey’s. Lieut, de Crespigny m. in London, 7 Sept. 1913, Rose Olive, only dau. of Capt. Albert Edward Gordon, Roberts’ Horse, and a grandniece of General Gordon, of Khartoum; s.p.
C. N. C. de Crespigny.
DEED, JOHN CYRIL, Capt., Royal Marine L.I., 3rd s. of the Rev. John George Deed, D.D., Vicar of Nuneaton, co. Warwick, Canon of Coventry and Rural Dean of Atherstone, by his wife Elizabeth, dau. of William Snowdon Gard, of Hampstead; b. St. Albans, co. Herts, 22 May, 1876; educ. St. Albans Grammar School, and Greenwich College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Royal Marines, 1 Feb. 1894; promoted Lieut. 1 Jan. 1895, and Capt. 10 Oct. 1900. He served in H.M. ships Alexandra, 16 Jan. 1896–17 Jan. 1897, Coast Guard; Royal Arthur, Wallaroo, and Katoomba, 4 Feb. 1898–6 June, 1901, Australian Station; Minotaur, 20 June, 1902–19 Dec. 1902, Portland; and Vulcan, 22 Dec. 1902–5 Feb. 1905, and Suffolk, 6 Feb. 1905–18 Dec. 1905, Mediterranean Station; when he retired and joined the Reserve of Officers. He subsequently went to British Columbia, and on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he was asked to raise and command the 1st East Kootenay (Fernie) Contingent. He trained and commanded this till Sept. 1914, when he was ordered to return to England. He rejoined his old corps at Deal, 10 Oct. 1914, and was posted to H.M.S. Formidable, 16 Nov. 1914, and was lost when that ship was torpedoed in the Channel, 1 Jan. 1915; unm.
John Cyril Deed.
DEIGHTON, FREDERICK HAMILTON (“Jackie”), Lieut., 1st Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, eldest s. of Hamilton Deighton, Superintendent Imperial Police, Burmah, by his wife, Janet, dau. of the late Col. John Robertson, of Liddington Hall, Guildford, C.I.E.; b. Akyab, Burmah, 10 Sept. 1892; educ. Bedford Grammar School and Berkhamstead, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. He passed out of the latter in two terms, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut., 4 Sept. 1912, and posted to the 1st Battn. at Lucknow, and was promoted Lieut., 15 Nov. 1914. While in India he passed his signalling course at Kasauli and a transport class with honours, and received “D” Certificate. On the outbreak of war the battn. was sent to Egypt and then to Rugby, where he passed the one-man range finder, the Vickers new machine gun, and the explosives of bomb throwing courses. The Scottish Borderers afterwards formed part of the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and took part in the landing at Y beach, Gallipoli, on 25–26 April, 1915. Deighton was shot through the lung in the big advance on 4 June, and was taken to Malta, where he died in the hospital of the Blue Sisters on 18 June, 1915; unm.
Frederick H. Deighton.
DELAMAIN, HENRY CRESWELL, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., eldest s. of George Creswell Delamain, of Devona, Lymington, Hants, formerly a Cattle Ranchman in Mexico, by his wife, Annie Rosabel, yst. dau. of the late William Robinson Hill, of Lymington, M.D., and cousin of Major-Gen. W. S. Delamain, C.B., D.S.O.; b. San Antonio, Texas, U.S.A., 19 Aug. 1896; educ. King’s School, Bruton, co. Somerset; joined the O.T.C. at the age of 13, and on the outbreak of war applied for a commission and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd Dorsets, 19 Oct. 1914. He was severely injured while on active duty at Boscombe on Friday, 16 April, 1915, and died the next day in the Royal Boscombe and West Hants Hospital. His machine skidded on the tram lines and threw him under a passing motor car. The Bruton School magazine, “The Dolphin,” said: “There were two points about him which deserve record. One was his intense keenness alike in school and the playing field. The second was his extraordinary popularity. We shall never forget the ovation which his name evoked last Corpus Christi, the spontaneous testimony of his schoolfellows to the sterling qualities and natural charm which endeared him to all. That those qualities were fully appreciated by his regt. was shown by the testimony given to him by his Colonel and by the great gathering of brother officers at his funeral, which took place with full military honours at Lymington.”