John Fairclough.
FAIRES, WILLIAM, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3911), 194391, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
FAIRS, ERNEST WILLIAM, Private, No. 9551, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of William Fairs, of 32, Beaconsfield Road, Croydon, Surrey, Joiner, by his wife, Ellen Sarah, dau. of Skillington Medwell; b. Banstead, co. Surrey, 15 Dec. 1895; educ. Sydenham Road Council Schools, Croydon, and was employed at Messrs. Giddy & Giddy, Regent Street, Auctioneers & Estate Agents; joined the London Rifle Brigade in Aug. 1913; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war, in Aug. 1914; went to France, 5 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 3 May, 1915, and buried at Forturn; unm.
Ernest William Fairs.
FAIRWEATHER, GEORGE, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 6889, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FAIRWEATHER, JOHN, 2nd Engineer, R.N.R., yst. s. of William Fairweather, Gas Engineer to the Corporation of Kilmarnock, by his wife, Marjory, dau. of Peter Young, of Glamis, Forfarshire; b. Kilmarnock, 25 Jan. 1887; educ. Kilmarnock Academy; served his apprenticeship with Messrs. Andrew, Barclay, Sons & Co., Ltd., taking his second certificate as a marine engineer, and gaining considerable experience not only in shipbuilding yards on the Clyde, but in the service of the British India Co. and the Red Star Line; he was afterwards engaged in transport service between Canada and Liverpool, and after the outbreak of war joined the Royal Naval Reserve at the end of Oct. 1914. He was posted to the Clan MacNaughton which left Birkenhead just after Christmas, 1914, on her first patrol. The last signal made by her was at an early hour on the morning of 3 Feb. following, and it is supposed, according to the Admiralty report, that she was lost during the bad weather which prevailed at that time. Fairweather was unm.
John Fairweather.
KEAY-FALCONER, WILLIAM, Jun., Lieut., 7th Battn. Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), only s. of William Keay-Falconer, Clerk of Lieutenancy and Sheriff-Clerk and County Clerk of Kinross-shire, by his wife, Margaret More, dau. of James Thomson Morrison, of Coatbridge; b. Kinross, 29 Nov. 1894; educ. Edinburgh Academy (1907–13), where for the last two years he served in the O.T.C., and at the Institut Polyglotte, Namur; afterwards being employed in his father’s office. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, 20 Sept. 1913, and was promoted Lieut. 7 Sept. 1914. On the outbreak of war he immediately volunteered for service abroad, went to France with his regt. in Dec. following, and was killed while leading his men in a charge against the enemy, at Ypres, 25 April, 1915; unm. The Brigade of which his battn. was a unit had been called from a rest camp to help the Canadians whose flank was exposed through the troops acting with them having fallen back owing to gas. Col. Craig wrote: “While I was with the battn. in France I had many conversations with him on the subject of his work and have frequently remarked to Capt. Murdoch, and others who interested themselves in him, upon his coolness. He knew his work well, and was devoted to it. He didn’t know what fear was, and he seemed fully to realise the responsibility of his men’s comfort that rested upon him as a platoon commander, and the men were devoted to him.... I will never forget your son’s interest in his work, and his valuable services from the time of mobilisation in Aug. last till I left the battn. on 11 March.” Col. Carden who succeeded Col. Craig, wrote: “During the short time I have been in command of the battn. I had formed the highest opinion of your son’s military capabilities. He died bravely leading his men, and is mourned by all his brother officers”; and Capt. Murdoch: “Keay fell like a hero in front of his men.” Lieut. Keay-Falconer was a keen golfer, and a member of Edinburgh Academical Golf Club. He was also a prominent and enthusiastic member of Kinross Club, and held both the gold and silver medals for 1914. He spoke French fluently, and was consequently of much use to his comrades when abroad. Memorial brasses were erected to his memory in the Church of St. John the Evangelist, Princes Street, Edinburgh, and in St. Paul’s Church, Kinross. The tablet in the former church was placed there by the children of the church to perpetuate Lieut. Keay-Falconer’s memory, as he was Warden of their special services during the greater part of his school days in Edinburgh. The last five words of the inscription on the brass sum up his character as the subscribers to the memorial knew it: “Gallant and true and tender.” The brass in St. Paul’s Church, Kinross, was dedicated by the Bishop of St. Andrews on 1 Feb. 1916.
W. Keay-Falconer, Jun.
FARDELL, HUBERT GEORGE HENRY, Lieut., 3rd, att. 2nd, Battn. East Surrey Regt., only child of Hubert Askew Fardell, of 16, Brechin Place, S.W., late Capt. 4th East Surrey Regt., by his wife, Henrietta Alice, dau. of Henry Woods, of Warnford Park, Hants; b. London, 7 July, 1895; educ. Eton (R. S. de Havilland’s House), where he was Sergt. in charge of G Coy. in the O.T.C.; left there on the outbreak of War to join the Inns of Court O.T.C., and was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 3rd East Surrey Regt., 15 Aug. 1914, and promoted Lieut., 9 March, 1915; went to the Front, 23 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Zonnebeke during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, 23 April, 1915. He was killed instantaneously, about 2.30 in the afternoon, whilst passing through a communication trench to see how one of his brother officers was faring as the shelling had been heavy. His servant wrote: “He was a very brave man, one of the bravest I’ve seen out of my seven months in the trenches.” He was buried in the graveyard by the ruined church just behind the firing lines. His C.O., Col. Shipley, wrote: “Your son showed such great promise of being a very capable officer and leader of men.” He had been intended for the Diplomatic Service, his strong intellect and quickness in acquiring foreign languages, clearly marking him out for such a career. “The Eton College Chronicle” of 20 May, 1915, said: “Mr. Fardell did well at Eton, both in school and on the river. He was in the boats, rowing in the Victory in 1914. He won Junior Sculling in 1913, and did well in School Sculling the following year. As a coach he had a wonderful power of getting the utmost out of a crew, and was an admirable captain of a football team. In fact, as a coach and as a leader he found the work that suited him. Had he lived he would undoubtedly have been a very valuable officer and a first-rate leader.”
FARMER, HORACE, Colour-Sergt., R.M.L.I., 6271A., (R.F.R., Ch. A. 640), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FARMER, HENRY CHARLES MACLEAN, 2nd Lieut., 6th, attd. 4th, Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, yr. s. of the Rev. James Edmund Gamul Farmer, Rector of Waddesdon with Upper Winchendon, Aylesbury, Bucks, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of Captain Charles Bampfield Yule, R.N.; b. Arundel Vicarage, co. Sussex, 8 Aug. 1892; educ. Summerfields, near Oxford; Eton (Mr. Ramsay’s House), and Trinity College, Cambridge; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and applied for a commission, and while waiting for it enlisted in the 3rd Dragoon Guards, 3 Sept. 1914; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6th King’s R.R.C., 22 Sept. following; went to the Front in March, 1915, to join the 4th Battn. of his regt., and was killed in action near Ypres, 10 May, 1915. He was buried at the East Boundary of Bellewaarde Wood; unm. Col. Brownlow, K.R.R.C., wrote: “He worked hard down here (Sheerness) and was very keen to get to the Front”; and Capt. Field: “He was in my company the whole time he was at Sheerness, and King’s Ferry; a most excellent, cheery fellow, and a very conscientious, good, young officer.”
Henry C. M. Farmer.
FARNDON, WILLIAM, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26735, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
FARNSWORTH, JOHN, Private, No. 562, 4th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 4th s. of Henry Farnsworth, of the Buck Hotel, High Street, Clay Cross, Wine and Spirit Merchant, by his wife, Margaret, dau. of Joseph Cutts, Builder & Contractor; b. High Street, Clay Cross, co. Derby, 3 Sept. 1880; educ. Board School, Clay Cross, and Collegiate School, Kettering; emigrated to N.S.W., Australia, 25 Sept. 1903, and worked for a year and a half in the copper mines at Cobar. He then took a position on the G.W. Ry. under his uncle, Mr. B. Farnsworth, Inspector of Permanent Way, which he held until war was declared in Aug. 1914. He immediately proceeded to Sydney, and joined the Australian Imperial Force, and was killed in action at Gaba Tepe, 2 May, 1915, while repelling an attack by the Turks on the Australian trenches; unm. Sergt.-Major E. H. Stone wrote the following description of the incident: “I daresay you read in the papers about our Coy. relieving the marines, and how our Major got his D.S.O. Well, for the next two days, the Turks were persistent in their attacks, and it was as much as we could do to beat them back. On the afternoon of 2 May, they made a very determined attack which lasted about two hours. We manned the parapet and fired into them as fast as we could load, and after we had beaten them back turned and found many of our own lads in the bottom of the trench, and among them, John, shot through the head—not a moments’ pain, thank God. We took them out to the back of the trenches and buried them and put up a large wooden cross over them. I can safely say there is not a man in the Battn. who is more regretted than John.”
John Farnsworth.
FARQUHARSON, LEWIS SHAW, Capt., 1st Battn. Royal Scots, only s. of the Rev. Alexander Farquharson, of Spital, Aberdeenshire, and 41, Camden Square, London, N.W., by his wife, Mary Walker, dau. of Lewis Shaw, of Chesterfield; b. Chesterfield, co. Derby, 23 April, 1884; educ. Cottesmore, Charterhouse, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 10 Oct. 1903, and promoted Lieut. 5 April, 1906, and Capt. 31 Aug. 1914; served in India successively as Station Staff Officer at Kamptee, and as A.D.C. to General Keir, and was Adjutant of the 1st Battn. from 28 Aug. 1911 to 28 Aug. 1914. He also had the honour, with Col. D. G. Wemyss, of being selected to represent the regt. as extra A.D.C. to the King in Calcutta, during the Durbar tour. On the outbreak of war Capt. Farquharson was in India, and he went to the Front with his Battn. early in 1915. He saw much fighting, went through the varying phases of the long and severely contested Second Battle of Ypres, and had different narrow escapes. On 11 May, 1915, when the British line had been broken and a trench captured, on his own initiative Capt. Farquharson led forward his company, from the reserve line, drove back the enemy, and regained and held the lost ground. For his promptness and gallantry on this occasion he received the special thanks of his C.O., and Gen. Allenby sent his congratulations for what he described as “a splendid and successful counter attack.” Early the following morning (12 May) while superintending fresh protections for the shattered trench, he was shot through the head and killed instantly. He was subsequently mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch [London Gazette, 1 Jan. 1916] for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He was buried in Valmertinghe Cemetery, near Ypres. Col. Callander wrote that the whole regt. mourned his loss and that Capt. Farquharson was in every sense, one of the best of the younger officers in the Army and the most sterling good fellow he had ever known. Gen. Sir John Keir also wrote saying that “his future as a soldier had been assured, and that his name would be honoured for all time.” At school and college he took many prizes and represented each of them at both cricket and football. He played cricket twice for All India.
Lewis Shaw Farquharson.
FARR, JOHN, Seaman, R.N.R., 3525C, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FARRAR, SIR GEORGE HERBERT, 1st Bart., D.S.O., Col. and Assistant Q.M.-General, Central Force, Union Defence Forces, late Hon. Col. South African Light Horse, s. of the late Charles Farrar, of Chatteris, co. Cambridge, M.D., by his wife, Helen (The Crescent Lodge, Bedford), sister of Sir Frederick Howard, and dau. of John Howard; b. Chatteris, 17 June, 1859; educ. Bedford Modern School, and on leaving there entered the engineering business of his uncle Sir Frederick Howard, going in 1879 to South Africa to the Port Elizabeth and East London Branches. Eight years later he and his brothers established themselves at Johannesburg, where in a few years he became one of the leading men in the mining industry of the Witwatersrand. His chief enterprise was the formation of the East Rand Proprietary Mines, of which he was chairman from its inception to the day of his death. He was for some time a Member of the Legislative Assembly of the Transvaal and Leader of the Opposition. For his share in the Jameson Raid he was tried for treason and sentenced to death, but the sentence was remitted on payment of a fine of £25,000. When the South African War broke out he raised two regts. of South African Horse, and was appointed Major, Kaffrarian Rifles, 1 Dec. 1900, and served in this campaign as Major on the Staff of the Colonial Division, 1899–1900. He took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, including the defence of Wepener; operations in the Transvaal, west of Pretoria, Aug. to Sept. 1900; operations in Orange River Colony 1900, including actions at Wittebergen (1–29 July), and in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River. His services were mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 16 April, 1901], and he was awarded the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the D.S.O. (1900). After the conclusion of peace in 1902 he took an active part in the work of re-organisation, and when Responsible Government was granted to the Transvaal, he was unanimously elected leader of the Progressive Party in the House of Assembly, in opposition to the Ministry of General Botha. In 1903 was elected President of the Witwatersrand Chamber of Mines, and took a leading part in the negotiations which led up to formation of the Union of South Africa. He had been knighted in 1902, and on 2 Feb. 1911 was created a Baronet for his services on this occasion. He was M.P. for Georgetown in the first Parliament of the Union of South Africa, 1910–11, but in Dec. 1911 business demands in connection with the East Rand Co. compelled him to retire from political work in order to devote his whole energies to the re-organisation of that enterprise. When the European War broke out he was in England on a visit and was about to join General Sir Hubert Hamilton’s Staff with the Army in Belgium, but the day before he was to have left he was ordered by the authorities to South Africa. On arrival he was appointed to General McKenzie’s Force with the rank of Col., and was despatched to German South-West Africa as Assistant Q.M.-General. Proceeding to Luderitz Bay in advance of the main force he was engaged in the organisation of the base camp, and subsequently had charge of the restoration of the railway and of providing the water supply to the force, an operation of primary importance in that country. On 19 May, 1915, he was returning from a tour of inspection when the motor trolley in which he was travelling collided with a construction train at Kuibis, near Gidson, German South-West Africa, and Sir George succumbed to his injuries early next morning. Sir George Farrar was one of the best-known men in South Africa, to whose advancement he had, by legislative work, by attention to mining progress, and to practical sympathy with agriculture, powerfully contributed. He m. at Johannesburg, 3 June, 1893, Ella Mabel (Chicheley Hall, Newport Pagnell, Bucks; Bedford Farm, near Johannesburg, Transvaal), dau. of the late Charles William Waylen, I.M.S., and had six daus.: Helen Mabel, b. 2 Oct. 1894; Muriel Frances, b. 6 April, 1896; Gwendoline, b. 14 July, 1897; Georgina Marjorie, b. 17 Aug. 1901; Kathleen Elizabeth, b. 9 May, 1907; and Ella Marguerite, b. 28 April, 1911.
Sir George H. Farrar.
FARRAR, JOHN, Private, No. 7725, 4th Battn. Durham Light Infantry, only s. of William Farrar, of Southwick-on-Wear, by his wife, Treaser, dau. of Matthew Crawford, of Sunderland; b. Southwick, co. Durham, 12 Aug. 1890; educ. St. Benett’s R.C. School, Monkwearmouth; enlisted in 1907 in the Special Reserve of the Durhams and was discharged in 1913, when he rejoined for another term and was called up on mobilisation, 5 Aug. 1914, went to France with the first Expeditionary Force, and was killed in France, 5 Dec. 1914, while on sentry duty; and was buried on a farm, Du-Bix; unm.
John Farrar.
FARRAR, LUKE, Private, No. 10735, 2nd Battn. Durham Light Infantry, 4th s. of Luke Farrar, of Southwick-on-Wear, Shipyard Labourer, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of George Clark, of Southwick; b. Southwick, co. Durham, 25 July, 1884; was employed in Pickersgill’s Yard, Sunderland; enlisted 26 Sept., 1914; trained at South Shields; killed in action “somewhere” in France, 6 Feb. 1916, and was buried in Rotize Cemetery. He m. at Sunderland, 22 May, 1906, Mary Jane (4, Stoney Lane, Southwick-on-Wear), dau. of James Foster, of Sunderland, and had four children: Luke, Burliss, b. 8 June, 1912; James, b. 13 April, 1915; Sarah Elizabeth, b. 19 July, 1905; and Esther Jane, b. 13 Sept. 1908.
Luke Farrar.
FARRER, JOHN EDWARD, Private, No. 7152, 2nd East Lancashire Regt., s. of John Edward Farrer; b. 28 Jan. 1879; educ. Brunswick Day School, Burnley; was a Weaver; enlisted after the outbreak of war, 18 Sept. 1914; went to France, 26 Dec. following, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 14 March, 1915. He was formerly a cornet player in the local Volunteers. He m. at Gannow, Burnley, 4 June, 1904, Clara (37, Haslam Street, Burnley), dau. of William Sagar, and had two children: William Edward, b. 5 Nov. 1905; and Hilda, b. 4 May, 1914.
FAUGHNAN, FRANCIS, Private, No. 2972, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots, s. of John Faughnan, of Briskillbeg, Farmer, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of Patrick McAvey; b. Briskillbeg, Newtonforbes, co. Longford; educ. Cloonteagh National School, Newtonforbes; enlisted after the outbreak of war, and was killed in action on the Western front, 17 Nov. 1915; unm.
FAUGHNAN, PATRICK, Private, No. 2707, 1st Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, s. of John Faughnan, of Briskillbeg, Farmer, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of Patrick McAvey; b. Briskillbeg, Newtonforbes, co. Longford; educ. Cloonteagh National School, Newtonforbes; enlisted on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action on the Western front, 10 Oct. 1915; unm.
FAULKNER, VICTOR, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./16023, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
FAULKS, PHILIP ALBERT, Boy, 1st Class, J. 27543 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke, s. of John Thomas Faulks, of 4, Cobden Street, Loughboro’; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
FAWCETT, ROBERT HEATH, 2nd Lieut., 4th (Special Reserve), attached 1st, Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., eldest s. of Henry Heath Fawcett, of Berkhampsted, and of the War Office, by his wife, Colina, dau. of John Colin Sharp; b. Wimbledon, co. Surrey, 5 March, 1893; educ. Hillside, Godalming; Uppingham, and Emmanuel College, Cambridge (where he was an Exhibitioner, and a member of the O.T.C.); gazetted 2nd Lieut., 4th Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., 15 Aug. 1914; went to Flanders 10 April, 1915, where he was attached to the 1st Battn., and was killed in action near Ypres, 26 April, 1915; unm. He was buried at Zillebeke, near Ypres.
FAWLEY, FRANCIS HENRY BUCKLEY, Private, No. 1862, Honourable Artillery Company, s. of Henry John Buckley Fawley, of 35, Queen Elizabeth’s Walk, Stoke Newington, N., Journalist, by his wife, Emily, dau. of the late James (and Eliza) Smith, of Lordship Lane, Wood Green, N., formerly of Sittingbourne, Kent; b. Harringay, London, 16 Aug. 1895; educ. Finsbury Park College, London, was on the clerical staff of the Metropolitan Electric Tramways Company; joined the H.A.C. after the outbreak of the war in the beginning of Sept. 1914, went to France, 23 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action near Ypres, 15 May, 1915. He was buried in the grounds of the Chateau of Elzenwalle, near Voormezeele; unm. His Sergt. wrote: “He was killed on the night of the 15th inst. He lived for some hours after he was struck, and was quite conscious when I last saw him.... His pluck was wonderful; he knew he was mortally wounded yet possessed himself like the gentleman and man he was; never giving a sign of any pain—his main concern being for the safety of his comrades.... We all liked him and shall miss him greatly.”
Francis H. B. Fawley.
FAY, WALTER EDWARD, Rifleman, No. 2407, 18th Battn. (London Irish Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), s. of the late James Charles Fay (died 13 Nov. 1915), by his wife, (—) (79, Limerstone Road, King’s Road, Chelsea, S.W.); b. Fulham, S.W., 24 July, 1894; educ. St. Mark’s College, Chelsea; enlisted after the outbreak of war 2 Sept. 1914, and died of wounds received in action at the Battle of Loos, 27 Sept. 1915; unm.
FEATHERSTONE, ALFRED CHARLES, Rifleman, No. 2472, 1/8th (Leeds Rifles) Battn. West Yorkshire Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of Alfred Charles Featherstone, of West Normans, Park Avenue, Castleford, by his wife, Jane Harriet, dau. of Alfred Watson, of East Hardwicks, Yorks; b. Castleford, co. York, 30 April, 1891; educ. King’s School, Pontefract; entered the employ of the London City and Midland Bank at Morley, Yorkshire, when 16, and at the outbreak of the war was holding the post of Assistant Cashier. He enlisted 21 Sept. 1914; sailed for France, 15 April, 1915, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 May, 1915, and was buried in Rue de Bacquerot, France; unm. His officer wrote: “He was one of the most popular men in the company, and we all feel his loss very keenly.”
Alfred C. Featherstone.
FEATHERSTONE, CECIL FREDERICK, Lieut., 3rd, attached 2nd, Battn. East Surrey Regt., eldest s. of Frederick Featherstone, of Mount Pleasant, Plough Lane, Purley, member of London Stock Exchange, by his wife, Minnie Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas W. Dean; b. Lewisham, 13 Feb. 1897; educ. Holmwood, Bexhill-on-Sea (1906–1910), where in 1907 he joined the School Cadet Corps, which was affiliated with the 2nd Home Counties Royal Engineers (T.F.). In 1911 he went to Dover College, where he won prizes in English, Latin, and other subjects, and joined the O.T.C., in which he had reached the rank of Sergt., when gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battn. of the East Surreys, 16 Dec. 1914. Joining his regt in Jan. he left for France on 20 March, 1915, was attached for a while to C Coy. 1st Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., and later transferred for duty to the 2nd Battn. East Surrey Regt., being confirmed in his rank as 2nd Lieut. 9 April, 1915. He was killed in action, being shot through the heart while bravely leading his men in the repulse of the German attack on the British trenches near Ypres, 25 April, 1915. He was buried in the Officer’s Graveyard, 1½ miles east of Zonnebeke; unm. Sergt. Buckingham, of the East Surreys, gave the following graphic account of the incidents from 17 to 27 April: “Our headquarters were at Zonnebeke, near Ypres. About 3 p.m. on the 17th an order was given to pack up and move. There was some heavy shelling at the time, and it took about one hour to get everything on to the transport. We were then given another 150 rounds ammunition to carry and about 4.30 the order to move was given. We took a road to the left of Ypres. Our company officer, Capt. Fuller, was sick, so he was not with us, but Lieut. Rottman took charge. We had only three officers—Lieuts. Rottman, Featherstone and Ward—and we reached our destination, about a mile from Langemark, about 7 p.m. We were then under heavy shell fire. A, B and C Companies were put into position and we were to be the supports. We were in position all that night, but nothing happened. As it was getting daylight we retired a bit further back—this was the 18th—but had to stand to nearly all day as there was heavy rifle fire and shells. About 5 p.m. we pushed forward, going through the Canadians and some French infantry who had been pushed back, and we had to retake their trenches, which we did without much trouble. The French were made secure and got their trenches, and we took the Canadian’s and had orders to stop in them. We worked all night repairing the breastworks with sandbags, the officers and sergts. relieving one another for a rest. At dawn on the 19th the enemy started with their trench mortars, which were dropping just in rear of our trenches. We were expecting a big shelling then, but they must have been laying their guns or had brought more up for we were only getting a shell here and there and were pretty quiet and remained so until the afternoon of the 20th. From the 17th to the 20th we had no casualties amongst the officers and not many men. On the afternoon of the 20th the bombardment started, but they did not have a good range that day. At night the Middlesex brought our rations up and a working party, who made us a bit stronger. They left us about 3 a.m. on the 21st. Toward dawn we were bombarded again, this time a little closer. As it got lighter we saw about half a dozen German aeroplanes coming towards our trenches, they flew up and down dropping smoke bombs, and the shells were dropping all round us, so we had to lay close up to the parapets. Here we stayed all day, this night—21st, or rather early 22nd—no rations could be brought to us and no working party, so we dug ourselves right in as messages came that we were to hold on at all cost. We still had all our officers. As day dawned it was a bit quiet. That night we had our rations and hot soup brought up and were told we were going to be relieved the next night, 23rd. On the morning of the 23rd it was still quiet, but about 3 p.m. they started something terrible, only taking our regiment. They were then using gas shells and breaking our parapets and shelling the roads. Again a message came to hold on and that we would not be relieved, we then lost a few men. This lasted all day. On the early morning of the 24th Lieut. Fardell was killed, and gas was used all day. Lieut. Featherstone got some handkerchiefs and soaked them with water and handed them around and we lost about 40 men that day. As night came on, I think it was about 2 a.m. on the 25th. Mr. Featherstone, who was then taking his rest, came, and he looked very upset, and said to me: ‘Poor Mr. Rottman is killed.’ I said: ‘I am very sorry to hear that,’ and went and had a look at him. I came back and he was still standing, and I and Sergt. Lower said: ‘Why don’t you go and finish your rest, we will come and let you know if anything is wrong.’ So he went, but he did not stop long as it was getting on time to stand to arms, so we stood, and when it was light they sent shells in front of our trench and smashed the barbed wire, therefore we knew that they were going to attack, and while we were getting ready a shell struck the parapet, and me and Mr. Featherstone had the sandbags over us. We got out of that and laughed at one another. As it went on the parapets were being blown to bits, so an order came to get the men to the right and at some parts we had to crawl. Sergt. Lower led the way and Mr. Featherstone and I saw every man safe. It was while we were crawling past a gap in the parapet a piece of shell struck me, I did not stop, but he saw I was hit and said: ‘Are you all right? I said: ‘Yes, come on.’ We got past the gap and he said: ‘Where are you hit?’ I thought it was my arm and dropped my rifle. He picked it up and said: ‘We must get out of this,’ and we went on a bit and found we were in the Northumberlands and stayed there, and then the enemy were in our trenches. I had had my shoulder dressed and the order to spread out came. I then saw Mr Featherstone had lost his hat and getting close up to him I said, ‘the supports are driving them out so they were all shouting hurrah.’ Mr. Featherstone was then firing out of my rifle and I gave him another clip. I then saw him go up a little way further and fall. He was struck by a bullet and we sent for the stretcher bearers. He was then dead.” The Adjutant of his Battn. wrote to his father: “Like all our young officers he carried out his duty to the end and by his example the men remained steadfast and the trenches were held in spite of poisonous gases and rifle and shell fire. We have been so fortunate in having such good officers that the battn. has earned special praise from all, and General French thanked us yesterday for the work of 25 April, during which your son fell”; and a subaltern: “2nd Lieut. Featherstone was killed during the German attack on 25 April under circumstances which proved him a very brave officer. The enemy having got all round us our men were firing in all directions, generally at no particular object as often happens in times of excitement. It was in trying to stop the men wasting their munitions that Lieut. Featherstone was twice wounded. He still continued, however, to calm his men till he was shot in the heart by a stray bullet.” While at Holmwood School, Lieut. Featherstone was a sapper and shot in the School XI, winning the Sheffield Trophy on outdoor competition, at 200 and 500 yards with the service rifle; he also shot in the team for the Holman Cup, an indoor competition at 20 yards. At Dover College he was in the 1st Football XI, as well as playing cricket; and shot for his school at Bisley in 1913 in the Cadet pairs, likewise in the Team of the Ashburton Shield in 1914. Lieut. Featherstone was promoted Lieut. subsequent to his death.
Cecil F. Featherstone.
FEE, SAMUEL, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7543), S.S. 102801, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
FEE, SAMUEL, Corpl., No. 12808, 10th (Service) Battn. Highland L.I., 3rd s. of Robert Fee, of 33, Muslin Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow, Slater’s Labourer, by his wife, Lily, dau. of (—) Arnell; b. Bridgeton, Glasgow, 19 June, 1892; educ. Hozier Street Public School there; was a Miner, Old Farm Colliery, Rutherglen; enlisted 17 Aug. 1914; went to France in May, 1915, and was killed in front of the parapet during the advance at Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; unm. The Coy. Sergt.-Major wrote that “he was a good soldier and N.C.O.”
FEE, WILLIAM JOHN, Bugler. R.M.A., 11537, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FEENEY, THOMAS, Leading Signaller, 220726, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FEGAN, WILLIAM PATRICK, Sergt., No. 26519, 14th Battn. (Royal Montreal), Canadian Expeditionary Force, yst. s. of Francis Fegan, of Waggarandall, near Melbourne, Australia, Landowner, by his wife, Mary, dau. of (—) Homer; b. Major Plains, Melbourne, 29 Jan. 1877, and was educ. at Dookie College, near Melbourne. He was surveying in South Africa when the Boer War began; he immediately joined the Victorians, and served through that campaign, 1899–1902, being wounded twice and receiving the Queen’s and King’s medals. He then became an expert for the International Co., of Buenos Ayres, and went round the world eight times for them, and after some seven years at Buenos Ayres went to Canada where he was in Aug. 1914, when the European War was declared. He at once volunteered; enlisted in the Canadian Expeditionary Force; came over with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; went to France Feb. 1915, and was killed in action near Wulverghem, 27 Nov. 1915. His company officer, Capt. Whitehead, wrote: “Your husband was one of the finest men I ever met, and one of my most reliable N.C.O.’s, and his loss will be felt very heavily: he was killed almost instantly, the bullet entering the base of the neck, and passing through the body”; and Lieut. Gordon Leighton: “I can bear a few words of testimony of his courage and worth, having been associated with him since his arrival in France. He was a brave and soldierly man. He had been through some very trying times with us, but never lost his coolness and courage in the face of the gravest danger and difficult situations. Moreover he had voluntarily undertaken work he knew was of a dangerous character. I personally, and I think all the officers of the company, regret exceedingly the loss of Sergt. Fegan, as we feel we have lost a man who was far above the average and whose soldierly worth was invaluable.” He m. at St. Brigid’s Roman Catholic Church, Fitzroy, Melbourne, 10 June, 1911, Kathleen, sister of Private Arthur Moore, 5th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, who died of wounds received in action at the Dardanelles, 29 Feb. 1916 (see his notice), and dau. of Henry Albert Moore, of Park House, Whatley, near Frome, Somerset, and had two children: William Ernest Patrick, b. 10 Jan. 1913; and Kathleen Joan Florence, b. 5 Oct. 1915.
William Patrick Fegan.
FEILDEN, GRANVILLE JOHN HENRY, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Seaforth Highlanders, only s. of Major Granville Cholmondeley Feilden, D.S.O., late Seaforth Highlanders, now commanding the London Division of the Corps of Commissionaires (who served through the South African War, wounded at Paardeberg, 18 Feb. 1900, Queen’s medal three clasps, King’s medal two clasps), and his wife, Edith Margaret, 2nd dau. of the late Sir Henry Cockburn MacAndrew, of Aisthorpe, Inverness; b. Drummuie House, Golspie, co. Sutherland, 27 Aug. 1895; educ. the New Beacon, Sevenoaks, Wellington College (“Blucher”), and Sandhurst (Prize Cadet) and on passing out from the last was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 2nd Seaforth Highlanders, 12 Aug. 1914, and was ordered to join the 3rd Battn. at Cromarty on the 25 Aug. On 12 Sept. he went to France with a draft joining the 2nd Battn. on the Aisne. He moved from there with the 4th Division in the middle of Oct. to the Belgian frontier, and took part in the severe fighting around Frehlingham and Messines during the end of October and beginning of November, and spent five months with his regt. in the trenches near Messines. He came home on a week’s leave in Feb., returning to his regt. on the 10th of that month, and was killed in action on Sunday, 25 April, 1915, during the attack on St. Julien, in the second Battle of Ypres. His C.O. wrote: “You know how your son was loved by us all, he was so brave, so gallant, so cheery, and beloved by his men.... On the morning of 25 April I reached the right of the line about 9 a.m., and was close to your son when he was killed.... We have lost many gallant officers, but none more gallant than your son”; and the second in Command: “We advanced at dawn on Sunday, 25 April. The old Corps were as steady as ever.... our losses were very severe. Your son was killed instantaneously while doing his duty most well and gallantly.... We were all so fond of him, he was an absolutely first-class officer with any amount of initiative and ‘go’.” A fellow subaltern also wrote: “I was with John most of the night of the 24th and 25th, and he was very cheery then and full of spirits. I did not see him in the actual attack until we were about 40 yards from the German trenches, when he helped me to straighten out the company behind a defensive position. I was hit then, so did not see him again.” He was buried at Burnt Farm on the left of the St. Jean-St. Julien Road, with four of his brother officers, including the Capt. of his company.
Granville J. H. Feilden.
FELLOWES. ARTHUR ROSS, Private, No. 6/226, 12th Nelson Regt., Canterbury Battn., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, s. of Robert Ross Fellowes, of Stoke, Nelson, New Zealand; b. Takaku, Nelson, 14 Sept. 18..; educ. at Wakefield, Nelson; volunteered on the outbreak of war, leaving home to join up 12 Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the Main Force in Oct., took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal in Feb. 1915, and in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, and was killed in action near Gabe Tepe, between 25 April and 1 May, 1915, being shot by a sniper; unm. As a school cadet and in Egypt he proved himself a remarkably good shot, winning several prizes. He was the first Wakefield man to fall in action.
FELLOWES, WILLIAM JOHN, Sick Berth Steward, 350884, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
FELTHAM, ARTHUR, Signalman, J. 14117, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
FENDLEY, JOHN ROBERT, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 5634), 284849, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FENERAN, FRANK EDWARD, Capt., 1st Battn. King’s Liverpool Regt., 2nd s. of the late Lieut.-Col. Edward Feneran, 1st Northamptonshire Regt, (who served in the Crimea), by his wife, Caroline Elizabeth, dau. of the late Charles Herring-Cooper, and gdson. of Col. Francis Feneran, Derbyshire Regt. (who served at Waterloo); b. Kensington, 23 April, 1881; educ. privately and at the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted to the King’s Liverpool Regt., 12 Aug. 1899, and was promoted Lieut. 21 July, 1900, and Capt. 18 Sept. 1909. From April 1904 to April 1907, he was Ordnance Officer (4th class) and in 1911 was appointed Adjutant to the Special Reserve. He passed the school of signalling and in 1914 the examination for the Staff College. On the outbreak of the European War, he went to France with his regiment, Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10 Mar. 1915, while leading his men; unm. A brother officer, writing to Lord Derby, graphically described the heroism of the Liverpool Regt. at Neuve Chapelle, stating A Coy. was commanded by Capt. Feneran, who was killed leading his men, adding that he was a very sad loss indeed to the Regt. in which he had spent his life, but that his was a gallant end. Capt. Feneran was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915.
Frank Edward Feneran.
FENN, DAVID, Private, 10906, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Harry Fenn, of 36, Leader Road, Hillsboro’, Sheffield; b. co. York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Richebourg, 2 April, 1915. Buried Rue des Berreaux, Bethune.
FENNELL, JOHN, Chief Petty Officer (R.F.R., A. 907), 121737, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FENNESY, RICHARD, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R., B. 603), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914].
FENWICK, BASIL MIDDLETON, Sergt., No. 109, A Squadron, 10th West Australian Light Horse, only s. of Charles Richard Fenwick, of Ben Rhydding, Yorks, and 26, Park Row, Leeds, M. Inst. C.E., F.S.I., by his wife, Margaret, dau. of William Middleton, Solicitor; b. Pool, co. York, 3 Sept. 1885; educ. Haileybury College; went to West Australia in 1909 to the Murchison Goldfield; volunteered on the outbreak of War in Aug. 1914, and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force; left for Egypt in Feb. 1915, went to the Dardanelles; volunteered for special duty on 30 May, 1915, in the counter attack at Quinn’s Post, was there wounded and invalided into Hospital at Alexandria, being mentioned by his C.O., Maj. Thomas J. Todd, in his report; was promoted Sergt. June or July; returned to duty at Anzac in Aug. and was killed in action there a few days later, 7 Aug. 1915, on Russell’s Top, in the attack on the Turkish position at Walker’s Ridge. In this terrible charge some 700 men were killed in the course of a few minutes. Major Todd wrote, 22 Oct. 1915: “It may be a consolation to know that your son was specially mentioned for conspicuous bravery and I had him picked out for a commission, he was indeed a fine soldier.” Sergt. Arundel in hospital told a friend: “Sergt. Fenwick was one of the bravest, finest men on the Peninsula, a born soldier—a hero—he first distinguished himself at Quinn’s Post, bomb throwing in the most extraordinary brave way. He picked up and returned live bombs thrown by the Turks.” Trooper Sydney G. E. Robson wrote, 2 Oct. 1915: “In the charge at Quinn’s Post (30 May) we were side by side. Here your son showed great courage, he was first over the parapet, his coolness and initiative in the captured Turks’ trench undoubtedly saved our lives.” Major Love asked for names to be mentioned for distinction, a memorial was signed by the survivors, unanimously Basil Fenwick’s was voted. Lieut.-Gen. Sir Alexander Godley, C.B., K.C.M.G., also wrote: “I understand that he was looked upon by his comrades and officers as a particularly fine soldier and an exceptionally brave man.”
Basil Middleton Ferwick.
FENWICK, FREDERICK RICHARD WILLIAM, L.-Corpl., No. 11044, s. of John Fenwick, of 85, Oriel Street, Hirst Ashington, Northumberland; b. Durham; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914, aged 22.
FEREDAY, THOMAS HAROLD, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10391), 108085, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
FERG, EDWARD CHARLES, Private, No. 840, 8th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, 2nd s. of Fannin Ferg (born in Germany, went to Canada at the age of five), by his wife Sarah (Monkton, Ontario, Canada), dau. of William Blighton, of Newark, England; b. Elma Township, Perth co., P. Ontario, 23 July, 1887; educ. local Public School; was a Locomotive Engineer; joined 90th Winnipeg Rifles, in Aug. 1914, after the outbreak of War; left Canada with the 1st Contingent, and was killed in action at Langemarck, 22 April, 1915; unm. He was buried at St. Julien, near Ypres.
Edward Charles Ferg.
FERGUSON, JAMES, Private, No. 10202, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards, s. of James Ferguson, of 43, Lorburn Street, Dumfries; enlisted 4 Sept. 1914, aged 19; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 16 May, 1915; unm.
FERGUSON, JOHN, Private, No. 3361, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots. 2nd s. of the late Thomas Ferguson, Wool Factory Worker, by his wife, Mary (16, Lothian Street, Hawick), dau. of John Watts; b. Weensland, Hawick, co. Roxburgh, 20 Sept. 1879; educ. Trinity School there; worked on North British Railway, enlisted 10 Sept., 1914, went to the front 10 Oct. 1914, and was killed in action at Petite La Bloise, near Kemmel, Belgium, 14 Dec. 1914; unm.
John Ferguson.
FERGUSON, MATTHEW, Private, No. 11699, 1st Battn. Highland L.I.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Neuve Chapelle 11–18 March, 1915.
FERGUSON, PETER, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10201), 298040, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
FERGUSON, ROBERT, Private, No. 7060, 1st Battn. Highland L.I.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Richebourg, 17–23 May, 1915; m.
FERGUSON, WILLIAM, Private, No. 13355, 11th (Service) Battn. Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 27 Sept. 1915.
FERGUSON, WILLIAM, Private, No. 1799, 10th (Service) Battn. Highland Light Infantry, eldest s. of the late Archibald Ferguson, Electric Crane Driver, by his wife, Helen (106, Green Street, Calton, Glasgow), dau. of the late William Thompson; b. Calton, 26 Nov. 1894; educ. Campbellfield Public School, Glasgow; was employed as machine man with Singers, Clydebank; enlisted 15 Dec. 1914; went to France in May, 1915; volunteered as a bomb thrower, and was killed at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915, when in advance with a bombing party; unm. He is believed to have been buried at Cambrin.