PEAKE, CECIL GERALD WYATT, Capt., 2nd Battn. Lincolnshire Regt., 2nd s. of Henry Arthur Peake, of Westholme, Sleaford, co. Lincoln, Solicitor, by his wife, Alice Anne, dau. of the Rev. John I. Penford Wyatt; b. Sleaford, 21 Nov. 1891; educ. Aysgarth School, Charterhouse, and Trinity Hall, Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Lincolnshire Regt., 19 Jan. 1912; promoted Lieut. 28 May, 1913. and Capt. 21 Dec. 1914; served in Bermuda, Dec. 1913 to Sept. 1914, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 8 Nov. 1914 to March, 1915, on which date he was killed in action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, being among the first of the Lincolnshires to enter the enemy’s trenches; unm. Buried in an orchard at Masselot. Capt. Peake was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915. While at Oxford he gained his oar for rowing, and also took a 2nd in Law for his B.A. degree.

PEAKE, COLIN, Lieut., Leicestershire Yeomanry (T.F.), elder s. of Ronald Peake, of Howard House, Ashtead, co. Surrey, Solicitor, by his wife, Florence, dau. of the late Edward Adams; b. Ashtead, 28 Sept. 1889; educ. Fonthill, East Grinstead, and Charterhouse; admitted a Solicitor in 1913; joined the Leicestershire Yeomanry as 2nd Lieut., 23 April, 1909, being promoted Lieut. 1 April, 1911; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France with his regt. in Nov.; took part in the fighting in France and Flanders, during the winter of 1914–15, and was killed in action in an advance trench near Ypres, 13 May, 1915; unm.

PEARCE, ALFRED, Driver, No. 35452, Royal Field Artillery, yst. s. of Nathan Pearce, of 21, Sunnyside, Diss, co. Norfolk, Farm Labourer; b. Thrandeston, Diss, 18 Aug. 1885; educ. there; enlisted in the R.F.A. in Oct. 1907; served six years with the colours, then passed into the Reserve, and was engaged as a Dairyman at Chigwell, Essex; mobilised 5 Aug. 1914; went to France in Aug., and died in the Lycée Pasteur, Neuilly, 28 Sept. following, of wounds received in action during the Battle of the Aisne. He m. at Chelmsford, Jan. 1914, Grace, dau. of (—) Bradley; s.p.

PEARCE, DUDLEY HOGARTH, L.-Corpl., No. 2162, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars (Yeomanry), s. of Henry Pearce, of Elberton, Tockington, co. Gloucester, by his wife, Eliza Jane Sarah, dau. of the late Charles Smith, of Max House, Winscombe, co. Somerset; b. Winford, co. Somerset, 13 Oct. 1884; educ. Thornbury Grammar School; joined the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; trained at Newbury and Heacham; left for the Dardanelles, 15 April, 1915; was promoted Corpl. for his bravery and coolness during the charge of the Yeomanry on Chocolate Hill, 22 Aug. following, and was killed in action there at 5.30 a.m. on the 28th, while cooking his comrades’ breakfast; unm. Buried to the west of Chocolate Hill. His brother, Trooper Edward Charles Henry Pearce, was killed in action at Quinn’s Post, 7 Aug. 1915 (see following notice). L.-Corpl. Dudley Pearce was always called the father of the troop, for his great thought and kindness.

PEARCE, EDWARD CHARLES HENRY, Trooper, No. 190, 2nd Australian Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, s. of Henry Pearce, of Elberton, Tockington, co. Gloucester, by his wife, Eliza Jane Sarah, dau. of the late Charles Smith, of Max House, Winscombe, co. Somerset; b. Winford, co. Somerset, 26 Jan. 1883; educ. Thornbury Grammar School; served for three years in the Royal Gloucestershire Hussars; went to Australia in 1910 and was farming at Roma, Queensland, when war broke out; was one of the first men in that district to volunteer for Imperial service; joined the 2nd Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force; left for Egypt the end of Oct., where he completed his training; went to the Dardanelles; took part in the famous landing of the Australians there, 25–26 April, 1915, and was killed in action at Quinn’s Post, 7 Aug. following; unm. A comrade wrote: “He was one of the best chaps; he died as he had lived, an English gentleman to the last.” His brother, L.-Corpl. Dudley Hogarth Pearce, was killed in action at Chocolate Hill, 28 Aug. 1915 (see preceding notice).

PEARCE, HARRY CECIL, A.B., J. 896, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

PEARCE, JOHN ALBERT, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6098), 201703 (Chatham), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

PEARCEY, ALFRED STEPHEN, Private, R.M.L.I., Po. 12774, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

PEARCE, GEOFFREY VINCENT, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., only s. of Sir William Pearce, of Shepway Lodge, Walmer, co. Kent, M.P., J.P., by his wife, Ethel Alexandra, dau. of Edwin Neane, of Harefield, Sidling, co. Kent; b. Brentwood, co. Essex, 19 June, 1889; educ. Uppingham School, where he was a Sergt. in the School Corps; was a Chemical Manufacturer (Spencer, Chapman & Messel, Ltd.); joined the Artists’ Rifles in 1911; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France with the Artists’ Rifles, Oct. 1914; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Warwicks, ... Nov. 1914, and was killed in action 18 Dec., during an attack on the German trenches at Rouges Bancs, south-east of Armentières, and buried by the enemy; unm.

PEARS, STUART, Sergt., No. 974, 14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.); twin s. of Ernest Pears, of 69, Palace Road, Streatham Hill. S.W., Fellow of Chartered Institute of Secretaries, by his wife, Gertrude, dau. of John Campbell; b. Dulwich, 29 Oct. 1891; educ. Streatham Grammar School; was a Marine Insurance Clerk at Lloyds; joined the London Scottish in Nov. 1908; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France, Sept. 1914, and was killed in action in the trenches at Givenchy, 22 Dec. 1914, being shot by a sniper; unm. Buried in the churchyard there.

PEARSON, FREDERICK PHILLIPS, Corpl., No 2881, 6th Battn. South Staffordshire Regt. (T.F.), yst. s. of Edward Pearson, of Whitchurch, co. Salop, formerly of Waterloo, Liverpool, retired Draper, by his wife, Maria, dau. of the late Thomas Phillips, of Chelmsford, Essex; b. Liverpool, 11 May, 1880; educ. Merchant Taylors’ School, Great Crosby, and on leaving entered the service of the National and Provincial Bank of England, and was stationed at Chester. He there joined the 2nd Volunteer Battn. of the Cheshire Regt., and on the outbreak of the South African War in 1899, volunteered and served with the 1st Volunteer Coy. of that Regt., in that campaign, and was awarded the Queen’s medal with three clasps. On the outbreak of the European War he was Cashier at the Wolverhampton branch of the National and Provincial Bank, and again volunteered for active service; joined the 6th (Territorial) Battn. South Staffordshire Regt. in Sept. 1914; went to the Front in March, 1915, and was killed in action near Zillebeke, 7 July, 1915; unm. Buried in Sanctuary Wood. His Lieut. wrote: “A shell came over which did not explode but crashed in a dug-out burying two men, one of whom was lying in the débris wounded. Pearson and another man at once got to work to dig them out, and had just succeeded when another shell came over, and a bit struck Pearson on the head. I took him up myself, but all to no purpose, he was hit badly. We all recognised his position, and others like him nobly served their country by joining in the ranks. He was actually killed in trying to save the life of other men, which I take it is the greatest thing a man can do. On all sides one hears the men talking about him, and there is no doubt he is a loss to the Regt.”

PEARSON, SYDNEY JOHN, Rifleman, No. 3584, 2/9th Battn. (Queen Victoria’s Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of the late John Pearson, of St. Neots, by his wife, Alice, dau. of George Cramley, of Sandy, Beds; b. St. Neots, co. Huntingdon, 21 June, 1887; educ. Sandy, co. Beds, and Downshall, co. Essex, and held a responsible position in an Ironmongery business at Ilford, which he gave up after the outbreak of war and joined Queen Victoria’s Rifles, 4 Nov. following; went to France, 12 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Hill 60, during the Second Battle of Ypres, 21 April, 1915; unm. Buried at Ypres behind the firing line.

PEARSON, WILLIAM RANSOME, L.-Sergt., No. 7366, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, only s. of William Pearson, of 24, Ashford Road, East Ham, Essex, formerly Colour-Sergt. 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards (served through the Nile Expedition for the relief of General Gordon, 1884–85; wounded at the Battle of Abu-Klea, 17 Jan. 1885; awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal for service in the field), by his wife, Sophia, dau. of Samuel Ransome, of Sherborne, King’s Lynn, co. Norfolk; b. St George’s Barracks, Trafalgar Square, London, 16 Oct. 1892; educ. Sandringham Road (Forest Gate) and Monega (E.) Council Schools; enlisted in the Coldstreams as a Drummer Boy, 27 July, 1907; joined the ranks, 6 June, 1912; appointed L.-Corpl. the same day; promoted Corpl., 24 May, 1914; appointed L.-Sergt., 7 Aug. 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force; served through the retreat from Mons; was wounded in action and taken prisoner during the Battle of the Aisne, 14 Sept., and died a prisoner of war in the Fortress Hospital, Wesel, Germany, 24 Dec. 1914; unm. His Company Officer, Capt. Saint A. Warde-Aldam, wrote: “On 14 Sept. we had a hard fight; the first brigade (in which we are) attacked between two villages called Vendresse and Cerny near the Aisne; we captured a good deal of ground but were not able to hold all we had taken, and consequently a large number of casualties were left on ground afterwards re-occupied by the Germans. I am afraid your son was one of them. I knew your son well, having trained with him at Aldershot, but I cannot remember definitely seeing him myself on the 14th. He was a very promising young sergt. and was a great loss to the company.... Whatever has happened to your son, I am quite confident he did his duty and upheld our old Coldstream traditions.” He himself wrote to his parents from the Festungshazarett, Wesel, about 30 Nov. 1914: “I was shot in the right thigh, and lay where I fell for a whole week. I don’t know how I lived it through, but I did. On the morning of the 21st some German stretcher-bearers picked me up and took me to hospital where they dressed the leg, which, of course, was broken. I have been shifted from one show to another till I’ve landed here, and here I shall be for two or three months.”

PEART, GEORGE, Seaman, R.N.R., 5332A, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

PEART, STANLEY BRACE, A.C.I.S., Rifleman, No. 2436, B Coy., 21st Battn. (1st Surrey Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 3rd and yst. s. of George Peart, by his wife, Marie (55, Silverdale, Sydenham, S.E.), dau. of Francis Henry Moller; b. Adelaide, South Australia, 10 Aug. 1891; educ. Bellenden Road L.C.C. School and Dulwich College; passed the Intermediate Examination in June, 1914, and was admitted an Associate of the Chartered Institute of Secretaries the following month, and prior to the outbreak of war was engaged on the staff of the Kamfersdam Mines, Ltd., of Gresham House, Old Broad street, E.C., with Mr. W. Howarth, F.C.I.S., who held a high opinion of his abilities. He joined the 1st Surrey Rifles for active service, 31 Aug. 1914, and after training at St. Albans, Luton and Harpenden, went to France, 14 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Givenchy, 25 May, 1915; unm. His Company Officer, 2nd Lieut. H. Persse, wrote; “On 25 May the battn. was ordered to attack at Givenchy. In the ordinary course of attack the bombers go first so as to prevent what are known as flank attacks. Your brother was with them, and I saw him myself go right into the German front line trench and on then to the second line trench. The last I saw of him was when his supply of bombs had run out—he was standing his ground very coolly on top of a German trench using his bayonet to great effect. I am afraid he was hit by a bomb, for when we found him next day he was greatly damaged but quite dead. I buried him myself with a lot of his comrades, and I am sure it will relieve your sorrow somewhat to know that the ‘fellow Tommies’ put up a beautiful cross to him with his name and regt. upon it. I always knew Stanley Peart as one of my best men. When the call came for bombers (a most dangerous job), Peart didn’t wait to be selected; he volunteered, and paid the price. No work was too hard for him, and he certainly fulfilled my greatest expectations when the time came for the battn. to show what it was made of.” And a comrade: “He was my fellow bomber in our platoon. There are four of us to a platoon. Although I did not actually see him fall, I know pretty well what his end was. It happened just before our platoon went over the parapet to support the other fellows who were holding the captured trench in front. There was an urgent call for bombs and bombers, and as Stan. happened to have a bandolier of bombs on him he was detailed to go with some more bombers. He was with me when he got the order, but he went to join the others a few yards further down the line. It was just in the act of getting over the parapet that he was shot; I think a machine gun caught him. At any rate it was a bullet that caused his death, not a shell.... He was one of the most popular fellows in our platoon.” Peart was well known in South London as a most versatile athlete. He captained Bellenden Road L.C.C. School in cricket, football and swimming. He won the Rutherford Harris Shield, the Championship South London breast stroke swimming in 1904, the championship of Dulwich, 1904 and 1905, and played in the cricket team for the boys for East v. West at the Oval in 1905 and 1906, captaining the team in 1906. He was in the Dulwich Hamlet Reserves in the season 1910–11, when they won the Southern Suburban League Championship. He played in the first team of Honor Oak Cricket Club for several years, until he gave up playing by his doctor’s orders.

PEAT, WILLIAM McDONALD, Private, No. 10299, 2nd Battn. the Scots Guards, 2nd s. of Colin Peat, of 7, Roseburn Terrace, Edinburgh, formerly of Ratho, Midlothian, by his wife, Isabella, dau. of William McDonald, of Barflat, Aberdeenshire, Farmer; b. Edinburgh, 11 Feb. 1896; educ. Brunsfield and Roseburn Public Schools, Edinburgh; enlisted 1 Sept. 1914; went to France 16 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action by a shell near Givenchy, 14 June, 1915. He was buried along with seven of his comrades just where he fell, after a charge at Festubert, where his coy. were nearly all killed or wounded. He had been picked as reserve stretcher-bearer but did not have the opportunity of performing the duties assigned to him.

PECKHAM, BERTRAM, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 2854), 301582, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

PECKER, HENRY CYRIL, Lieut., 3rd. attd. 1st, Battn. The Royal Scots, 4th s. of Major and Quartermaster George Pecker, of Workington, co. Cumberland (now on active service with the Border Regt. (T.F.)), by his wife, Alice Charlotte, dau. of Septimus Radclyffe; b. Shrewsbury, 8 Oct. 1894; educ. St. Bees School, where he was a member of the O.T.C., and on leaving there entered the St. Helen’s Colliery Co.; joined the General Reserve of Officers of the 3rd Border Regt. as 2nd Lieut., 17 May, 1913, and on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, was drafted to the Royal Scots; went to France in Oct., was wounded at Ypres in Dec., but returned to his Regt. in March; was promoted Lieut. 29 April, and was killed in action at Hooge, by a shell, the following day, 30 April, 1915. Buried in Hooge Chateau. His school magazine wrote of him: “A keen sportsman, a charming companion, a gentleman in its fullest sense, he could not fail to win his way in his Regt., as he had done at School and in professional life.” He was unm.

PECKSON, JOSEPH WILLIAM, Leading Signalman (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9055), 196514, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

PEDDEL, SYDNEY EDGAR, Sergt., No. 8918, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), 4th s. of Edward James Peddel, of 33, Cardonzo Road, Caledonian Road, Holloway, N., Coach Trimmer, by his wife, Sarah Elizabeth, dau. of Isaac Salter, of Southampton; b. Salisbury, co. Wilts, 1 July, 1888; educ. St. James’s Church School, Holloway; was employed in a city stockbroker’s office; joined the L.R.B. in 1907; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France 1 Nov. following; took part in several trench attacks; came home on leave 21 Feb. 1915; returned to the firing line on the 28th, and was killed in action at Ploegsteert, 10 April following, unm. Buried in the L.R.B. Cemetery in the wood there. 2nd Lieut. A. Bryan White wrote: “Although I had only been his platoon commander for a very short time, I have known Sergt. Peddel for many years, and feel that I have not only lost a good N.C.O. but a very old friend. He was liked and respected by every man in the battn., and would have made an excellent officer had his commission gone through sooner.” Sergt. Peddel was well known in North London as an indefatigable athlete. He was a leader of the Gymnasium connected with St. James’s Church, Holloway, and the possessor of several medals won in various competitions. He took part in the Territorial sports at Stamford Bridge in 1913, when the London Rifle Brigade beat the London Scottish in the Marathon in the record time of 1 hour 33 mins. 37 secs.—a remarkably fine achievement. Sergt. Peddel was then a L.-Corpl. In April, 1914, when the L.R.B. made the forced march from London to Brighton, Corpl. Peddel (to which rank he had been promoted) was pacemaker, and assisted to set up a new record for long-distance marching, the Foreign Legion’s record of 50 miles in 15½ hours being easily beaten. The time occupied by the L.R.B. to do the 52½ miles was 14 hours 23 mins. (marching time 12 hours 44 mins.). Sergt. Peddel secured several prizes in L.R.B. contests. He won a silver cup in the school of arms competition 1913, bayonet v. bayonet, and another cup in the five miles race in the same year. He was also a member of the Orion Harriers, the Archway Harriers, the Crouch End Cyclist Club, and the Alexandra Park Tennis Club.

PEDDER, PERCY JAMES, Private, No. 7759, 2nd Battn. The Border Regt., eldest s. of (—) Pedder; was for some time in South Africa; returned during the Balkan War, and went to Greece with the British Red Cross. On the outbreak of the European War he volunteered and joined the 2nd Border Regt.; went to France with his Regt. in the 7th Division, and was killed in action 24 Oct. 1914, while assisting a wounded comrade. Coy. Sergt.-Major Stuart Davenport wrote: “I am able to inform you from an eyewitness who was next to him when he was killed that he died a hero in a trench at a traverse.... A man was hit by a shrapnel; no one would go and help him at the moment—as shell after shell was coming in at that particular spot. Pedder went and had succeeded in bandaging him up when he was struck behind the left ear by one bullet from a shell, which penetrated his brain. He died at once and said not a word, and he was buried that night, a cross was put on his grave.” He m. Annette (26, Palatine Road, Stoke Newington, N.), dau. of (—).

PEEL, ALAN RALPH, Capt., South Wales Borderers (24th Regt.), eldest surviving s. of Herbert Peel, of Taliaris Park, co. Carmarthen, J.P., D.L., by his wife, Mary Susannah Ainsworth, dau. of the late Capt. William Lee, R.M.L.I.; b. Taliaris Park, 7 July, 1886; educ. Cheltenham College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the South Wales Borderers, 24 Jan. 1906, became Lieut. 1 Dec. 1907, and Capt., 12 Sept. 1914; served with the 1st Battn. in India, 1907–9, and at Pretoria, 1910; attached to the South African Mounted Infantry, Feb. 1911, and quartered at Harrismith and Bloemfontein to 1912, in which year he was seconded to the West African Frontier Force (Nigerian Regt.). Returning home on furlough in 1914, he was the same year seconded for service with the Nigerian Mounted Infantry, and left again for West Africa in June; he was killed in action, leading a bayonet charge, at Kosseoa, near Marna, North Cameroons, 17 Nov. 1914; unm. His Commanding Officer wrote as follows: “I had made application for him to join me, knowing his ability. You have the honour of knowing no soldier could have met a more gallant death, viz., at the head of his men, leading them to the charge and showing an example of great bravery. He was buried with all honours by the Capt. of the French company with whom he was operating at the time.” The latter wrote: “I paid the funeral honours ... to the two brave English officers, MM. le Capit. A. R. Peel and Lieut. Percival, who fell on the field of honour while giving to their men an example of great bravery.” The Commandant of the Nigerian Regt. wrote as follows: “To lighten your great sorrow you have the honour of knowing that your son died in a manner worthily upholding the finest traditions of the Service, and setting an example of valour to the whole regt., among whom he was so deservedly known as a brave and upright officer and the best of good comrades.” Capt. A. R. Peel was a thorough all-round sportsman, a good rider and polo player.

PEELING, HARRY COURTLAND, Officer’s Cook, 1st Class, 365838, H.M.S. Hawke, s. of Joseph Peeling, of Gardener’s Lodge, Wickham Place, near Witham, co. Essex; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

PEET, JOHN EDWARD GRIMSTON, 2nd Lieut., 9th (Service) Battn. The Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt., elder s. of James Henry Peet, of Perry Hill, Worplesdon, co. Surrey, M.D., by his wife, Winifred, dau. of the late Major Henry Grimston Hale, 11th Hussars; b. Huddersfield, co. York, 24 April, 1895; educ. St. George’s College, Weybridge, and Douay Abbey, Woolhampton; enlisted in the Berkshire Yeomanry, 25 Sept. 1914; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Royal West Surrey Regt., 9 Feb. 1915 and was accidentally killed in a motor cycle collision at Guildford on the 27th while on service. Lieut.-Col. J. B. Kerslake wrote: “We had great expectations of him, and in no case have I recommended a commission with more confidence. His premature death is a loss not only to his family but to his country. In your great loss we, indeed, sympathise most deeply. Your only consolation can be that he met his death while serving his country, and doing his duty to the fullest.” And Brig.-Gen. Andrew L. Macfies, Commanding 1st South Lancashire Brigade: “The class of instruction to which your son belonged is attached to my brigade. He was, therefore, to some extent under my command, and I understand showed every promise of becoming a good officer.”

PELHAM, HENRY ALFRED, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 9409, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

PELHAM, HON. HERBERT LYTTLETON, Lieut. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., 4th and yst. s. of Francis Godolphin, 5th Earl of Chichester, by his wife, Alice, née Carr Glyn (Oldland, Keymer, Sussex), dau. of George Carr, 1st Baron Wolverton; b. Lambeth Rectory, London, 3 April, 1884; educ. by the Rev. A. Tabor, Cheam; Charterhouse; and Rev. V. Scott, South Lynn, Eastbourne; joined the Duke of Connaught’s Own Hampshire and Isle of Wight Royal Garrison Artillery (Militia), 12 April, 1902; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Royal Sussex Regt., 3 June, 1904; joined the 2nd Battn. at Malta, 5 Aug. 1904; served in Crete during the insurrection and later on the International Tribunal there; and in Belfast 1907 during riots; promoted Lieut. 26 Sept. 1908; passed first “distinction” in musketry and over 95 per cent. in machine gunnery courses at Hythe, 25 Sept. 1909; appointed Adjutant 18 Dec. 1911; took Brevet Certificate, and was accepted for Royal Flying Corps, 9 April, 1914; specially commended for work of mobilisation, Aug. 1914; left for France as Senior Lieut. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn., with 2nd Division, 1st Army Corps, 12 Aug. 1914, became acting Capt. after the death of Capt. Jemmet Browne, 12 Sept., and was killed in action 14 Sept. following, during the Battle of the Aisne; unm. The 2nd Royal Sussex were in reserve at Mons, and formed part of the rearguard during the retirement from that place, and then became the vanguard of the 1st Army, when the Germans turned, before the Battle of the Marne. Major-Gen. E. H. Bulfin wrote: “I ordered the Sussex to pass on and seize the ridges north of the village of Priez.... 10 Sept., for the good work done that day I sent in Pelham’s name for recognition. 14 Sept. Pelham with a handful of men of the Sussex held on to the Chemin des Dames, and it was here that he lost his life, working the machine guns, and he died one of the most brave and gallant gentleman it has ever been my honour to know. A fine capable officer who put his duty before everything, and by his self-sacrificing devotion set a splendid example to us all. By his death the Regt. has suffered a terrible loss and the Army has lost a most capable officer, who would have gone far in his profession.” His commanding officer. Major E. V. B. Green, wrote: “Your son died a soldier’s death in the forefront of the fighting on the 14th. I have sent you in a separate package a testament which was found on him, and I am sorry that there is nothing more to send. We have lost a much-loved comrade who we all felt had a promising career before him, in fact, perhaps I cannot do better than quote to you the words in which his name has gone forward for mention in despatches. ‘Lieut. and Adjutant the Hon. H. L. Pelham. I saw this officer two or three times under heavy fire conveying orders and encouraging the troops. He was killed in an advanced position, assisting with the machine guns, several of the detachment having been knocked out. In him the Army have lost a most promising officer. His work during mobilisation and during the campaign has been deserving of the highest praise.’” and again later: “I wish I could give you further details regarding your son, but the circumstances of the battle on the 14th, the first day of the Aisne, were such that we were not able to hold to the foremost ground to which we got that day, and indeed although we have been here a month to-day, we have never got back on the actual ground on which your son was killed. I am being perfectly honest with you, as I judge you wish me to be. We know where your son fell, in the forefront of the battle, but we do not know as yet where he lies. The Germans, doubtless, have buried him, and when we move forward we shall, I hope, be able to give you fuller particulars. I am very pleased to be able to tell you that I have heard to-day that the President of the French Republic has awarded your son the Legion of Honour. For this he was recommended previous to his death. It will be, I am sure, a solace to you to know that his worth has received this recognition. Like many of his forbears, he has given his life for his country, and has not lived in vain.... No! It was not at Moulines. The action was fought between a place called Vendresse and Cerney, and your son was killed just on the edge of the latter place. He was with Mr. Dashwood in a farmhouse with the machine guns when the building was destroyed by a shell.... Mr. Dashwood tells me that his death was instantaneous, and that he was struck by a piece of shell and was thus saved from suffering.” He was awarded the Croix de Chevalier of the Legion of Honour “for conspicuous gallantry in the field between 23 Aug. and 31 Aug.”

PELLETT, GEORGE ALBERT VICTOR, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 10403 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

LEIGH-PEMBERTON, THOMAS EDWARD GEOFFREY, Lieut., 13th Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensington) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Wilfred Leigh-Pemberton, of Wrinsted Court, Sittingbourne, Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Alice Augusta, dau. of the late Capt. David Rolland Erskine, 92nd Highlanders [2nd s. of Sir David Erskine, of Cambo, 1st Bart.], and grandson of Sir Edward Leigh-Pemberton, of Torry Hill and Wrinsted, co. Kent, K.C.B.; b. Wrinsted Court aforesaid, 15 Nov. 1893; educ. Rugby and Christ Church, Oxford, where he was in the O.T.C.; was, at the outbreak of war, learning business with the firm of Antony Gibbs & Sons; appointed 2nd Lieut. in the Kensingtons, 12 May, 1914, and promoted Lieut. 1 Sept. following; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug.; went to France at the beginning of Nov., and was killed in action near Laventie, 11 Jan. 1915; unm. Buried at Estaires. His commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. F. G. Lewis, wrote: “I feel I must write and tell you how all my officers will mourn his loss most deeply. His capacity and his popularity made everybody like him; he was a real good fellow in every way, and he has made a gap which we can never quite fill. I am sorrier than I can say”; and Major-Gen. Sir A. Turner: “He was a most excellent and conscientious young officer, and a great loss to his battn., in which he was a great favourite.” Capt. Thompson also wrote: “He was a really good officer, always cheerful, and of the very greatest assistance to me in the trying work of the trenches. The battn. has lost a good officer and all the officers a valued friend”; and Sergt. Stiles: “Lieut. Leigh-Pemberton was very much liked and respected by every man he came in touch with. One of our bravest officers; he considered his men; in fact, he used to take four hours duty whilst his sergeant slept, and the sergeant used to take two hours’ duty whilst he (the Lieut.) slept. He would at any time carry the pack of any man who was knocked up. I’m sure any of our men would have followed him through fire and water. His death was a great shock to the whole battn.” He was fond of sports of all kinds and hunted a small pack of harriers of his own.

PENDALL, WILLIAM ALBERT, Private, No. 13657, 13th (Service) Battn. The Royal Scots (T.F.), eldest s. of Albert Pendall (now serving in France as a Gunner with the R.G.A.), by his wife, Mary Jane (14, Usk Road, York Road, Battersea), dau. of Henry Brown; b. Wandsworth Common, 8 Dec. 1898; educ. St. John’s Schools, Battersea; was a Butcher; enlisted, 17 April, 1915; went to France, 4 Oct. 1915, and was killed in action there, 9 Dec. 1915; unm.

PENDER, JAMES (HAMISH) GRANGER GEILS, 2nd Lieut., 3rd. attd. 2nd Battn. The Gordon Highlanders, eldest s. of Major James Pender, of Ardnoe, St. Catherine’s, co. Argyle, 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, by his wife, Janet Helen Maude, dau. of the late Thomas Geils, of Geilston and Ardmore, Dumbartonshire; b. St. Catherine’s, 19 July, 1892; educ. Larchfield Academy, Helensburgh; Edinburgh Academy, and Edinburgh University; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd (Reserve) Battn. Gordon Highlanders, 17 Oct. 1914; went to France, 13 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle between 11–13 March, 1915; unm. A brother officer wrote: “He was shot through the head on the morning of the 11th trying to urge his men to keep their heads down and take cover, and his death was instantaneous. He died for his country and no mistake, and long will we all remember his cheery face”; and another: “He died thinking only of his men’s safety and not of his own, and was one of the most gallant among many gallant officers who died that day. As we were being enfiladed the men were in a very dangerous position, he shouted to them to get right in, as they could not hear, he stood up and signalled to them. He was shot through the head.”

PENFOLD, GEORGE HENRY, Acting Chief Petty Officer, 164841, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

PENGELLEY, HAROLD, Private, No. 9707, 1st Battn. East Surrey Regt., s. of Samuel Pengelley, of 2, York Road, Uxbridge; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died 6 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action.

PENMAN, WILLIAM, Private, No. 10614, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; b. Falkirk, enlisted 8 Sept. 1914, aged 24; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 16 May, 1915.

PENN, ALFRED EDWARD, A.B., R.N.R., 2453A, 3rd s. of Stephen Penn (died 1 March, 1912), by his wife, Elizabeth; b. Deal, 17 Sept. 1891; lost with his brother on H.M.S. Cressy, 22 Sept. 1914: unm.

PENN, JOSEPH LIVELY, Private, No. 2879, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 5th s. of William John Penn, of Leamington Spa, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Patrick Lively of Liverpool; b. Leamington Spa, 23 Feb. 1882; educ. there; enlisted in the Coldstreams in Aug. 1899; served for a short period in the South African War, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from early in Sept. to 29 Oct. 1914, on which latter date he was killed in action at Ypres. He m. 1906, Anne, dau. of William Oldham, of Sheffield, and had two sons: Joseph, b. 1 June, 1907, and Ernest, b. 1 Sept. 1910.

PENN, LEWIS SYDNEY, A.B., R.N.R., 2451A, 2nd s. of Stephen Penn (died 1 March, 1912), by his wife, Elizabeth; b. Deal, 1 July, 1889; was serving with his two brothers on board H.M.S. Cressy when that vessel was torpedoed by submarines off the coast of Holland, 22 Sept. 1914; unm. The elder brother, Hubert, was saved after being two hours in the water.

DOUGLAS-PENNANT, HON. CHARLES, Lieut., 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd s. of George Sholto Gordon, 2nd Lord Penrhyn, and yr. s. by his 2nd wife, Gertrude Jessie (37, Lennox Gardens, S.W.), yst. dau. of the Rev. Henry Glynne, Rector of Hawarden; b. at Wicken, Northants, 7 Oct. 1877; educ. Evelyn’s, Eton, and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Coldstream Guards, 8 Sept. 1897, and promoted Lieut. 5 Feb. 1899; served in South African War, 1899–1902; took part in the advance on Kimberley, including actions at Belmont, Enslin, Modder River and Magersfontein; operations in the Orange Free State, including actions at Poplar Grove, Driefontein, Vet River (5–6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal, May-June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11–12 June); operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, July to 29 Nov. 1900, including actions at Belfast (26–27 Aug.), operations in Orange River Colony, Nov. 1900, and in Cape Colony, Nov. 1900 to 31 May, 1902 (twice mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 26 Jan. 1900, and 10 Sept. 1901]; Queen’s medal with six clasps, King’s medal with two clasps); was A.D.C. to Major-Gen., 8th Division, 3rd Army Corps, and to Major-Gen. 8th Division, Irish Command (Sir Reginald Pole-Carew), 9 Nov. 1903 to 1905; retired and joined the Reserve of Officers, 22 Feb. 1905; rejoined his regt. on the outbreak of war; went to France, 11 Sept. 1914; was reported missing after the fighting near Gheluvelt, 29 Oct. following, and is now assumed to have been killed in action there that day. He m. at St. Michael’s, Chester Square, 28 Jan. 1905, Lady Edith Anne, née Dawson (Soham House, Newmarket), dau. of Vesey, 2nd Earl of Dartrey. His elder brother, Capt. the Hon. G. H. Douglas-Pennant was killed in action, 11 March, 1915, and his nephew, Lieut. the Hon. A. G. S. Douglas-Pennant, Grenadier Guards, was reported wounded and missing, 29 Oct. 1914.

DOUGLAS-PENNANT, THE HON. GEORGE HENRY, Capt., 1st Battn. Grenadier Guards, 2nd s. of George Sholto Gordon, 2nd Lord Penrhyn, and elder s. by his 2nd wife, Gertrude Jessie (37, Lennox Gardens, S.W.), yst. dau. of the Rev. Henry Glynne, Rector of Hawarden; b. Torquay, 26 Aug. 1876; educ. Evelyn’s and Eton; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Grenadier Guards, from the Militia, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I., 1 Dec. 1897; promoted Lieut. 12 July, 1899, and Capt. 1905; served in the South African War, 1900–2; took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, April-May, 1900; operations in Orange River Colony, May to 29 Nov. 1900, including actions at Biddulphsberg and Wittebergen (1–29 July); operations in the Transvaal, Feb.–March, 1901, also those in Orange River Colony, Dec. 1900 to Feb. 1901, and March, 1901 to 31 May, 1902, when he was employed as Signalling Officer (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 10 Sept. 1901]; Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps); was A.D.C. to Lieut.-Gen. Sir Leslie Rundle, Commanding-in-Chief, Northern Command, 1903–7, and in 1908 joined the Reserve of Officers. On the outbreak of the European War he was north of Gilgit, N. Kashmir, but at once returned to England, rejoined his old regt. in Sept., went to France in Nov., and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 11 March, 1915, while leading the King’s Coy., Grenadier Guards, into action; unm. Buried there. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915 [London Gazette, 22 June, 1915]. He took great interest in fox hunting, salmon fishing and big game hunting, and had travelled in East Africa, the Soudan, India, Turkistan, Persia, Canada, Alaska, etc. He left his collection of trophies, heads, skins, and specimens of game, to the National Museum, Wales, at Cardiff. His brother, Lieut. the Hon. Charles Douglas-Pennant, was killed in action, 29 Oct. 1914.

PENNELLS, CHARLES PERCY, Private, No. 85, 16th Battn. Australian Imperial Force; served in Egypt and at the Dardanelles; killed in action, 27 May, 1915.

PENNEY, JOHN EDWIN, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5060), 213157, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

PENNY, HENRY, Private, No. 7528, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action 22 Jan. 1915; m.

PENNY, WILLIAM, Chief Signal Boatswain, R.N., 2nd s. of James Penny, by his wife, Christina, dau. of (—) Gunn; b. Benares, Bengal, 11 June, 1864; entered the Royal Navy, 26 Aug. 1879, as a boy in H.M.S. Resistance; was drafted to the Impregnable, 30 Aug. 1879, and then to the Inconstant, in which ship he escorted the King, when Prince George, round the world. He served in the Egyptian Campaign, 1882, for which he received the medal and clasp. He also served in the following ships: Duke of Wellington, Victor Emanuel, St. Vincent, Northumberland, Active, Victory and Royal Oak, and was promoted Signal Boatswain, 8 July, 1896. He afterwards served in the Ramillies under Admiral Hopkins until July, 1899; when he was appointed to the Vivid for the Signal School until 1903, then to the Revenge, flagship of Admiral Wilson, with whose staff he transferred to the Exmouth until 1907, when he was appointed to the Victory for Signal School 1907–1910. He was promoted Chief Signal Boatswain, 4 June 1909, and served in H.M.S. Prince of Wales, under Admiral Jellicoe, 1910 to 1911. On the outbreak of the European War in 1914 he was appointed to the Good Hope, flagship of Vice-Admiral Sir Christopher Craddock, C.B., M.V.O., and was killed in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. He m. at St. John’s, Bognor, 26 Aug. 1893, Elizabeth Jane (Argyll Road, Bognor), eldest dau. of William Smith, late Chief Officer of Coastguards, and had two children: Gertrude Ethel, b. 14 June, 1896, and Dorothy Marguerite, b. 15 Jan. 1909.

PENSON, REGINALD, Private, No. 2391, 2nd Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), s. of Frederick Penson, of 8, Burns Street, Mansfield, Nottingham, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of Israel Dook; b. Leicester 11 April, 1887; educ. at Gainsboro’; was an employee in the Army and Navy Stores at Westminster; volunteered and joined the Royal Fusiliers, 6 Sept. 1914; went to Malta with his Battn., 9 Sept.; proceeded to France, 30 Dec., and was killed in action near Armentières, 16 May, 1915; unm. Buried at Ferme-de-la-Buterne, Chapelle d’ Armentières. Capt. R. Henman wrote: “It is with the deepest regret I have to inform you that your son was killed this morning whilst observing the effect of artillery fire. I would like to offer you my most sincere sympathy as well as that of the whole company. We shall all miss your dear son most awfully, as his genial manner, his courage, and his willingness to do any work made him loved by everyone.” Private Penson was a fine vocalist and won a £100 scholarship in London for singing.

PENTER, EDWARD SYDNEY, Petty Officer, 159207, H.M.S. Monmouth; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

PEPPER, JAMES WILLIAM THOMAS, B.A., Private, No. 793, 1/5th Battn. (The London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of James William Pepper, of 15, West Cliff, Whitstable, Local Secretary and Correspondent at Whitstable for the Kent Education Committee, by his wife, Emma Maria, dau. of John Harlow; b. Whitstable, co. Kent, 2 July, 1891; educ. Simon Langton School, Canterbury, and Goldsmiths’ College, London (B.A. 1912), and on leaving there was for several months a supplementary teacher for the Kent Education Committee, later being appointed certificated teacher at Bridge Road Council School, Harlesden, under the Willesden Education Committee, who wrote highly of his influence and of his ability. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he volunteered for foreign service and joined the London Rifle Brigade in Sept.; went to France with the first draft to join the 1/5th Battn., on active service in Flanders, in Jan. 1915; served in the trenches from Jan. to April; retired to the rear after Easter for a rest, but was suddenly ordered up with his regt. to the support of the Canadians at the Ypres salient, and was killed in action there, 26 April, 1915; unm. Buried at Fortuin, near St. Julien. He obtained a Junior County Scholarship at ten years of age and later a County Bursary; was especially interested in history and languages, and at the time war was declared was making a special study of Anglo-Saxon, and Old English. During his last two years at College he played successfully as a member of the College Rugby Team, and was also interested in cricket.

PEPPIATT, WILLIAM HENRY, Private, No. 9556, 5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of the late William Robert Peppiatt, by his wife, Emily Elizabeth, dau. of the late Charles Giles; b. Stoke Newington, London, 2 Nov. 1888; educ. Bancroft’s School, Woodford Wells; entered the service of the London & North-Western Railway Co. in 1907, and when war broke out was in the General Manager’s office at Euston; he had joined the London Rifle Brigade in 1912, and volunteered for foreign service in Aug. 1914; went to France in Nov. and died at Ploegsteert, 5 Feb. 1915, of wounds received in action there the previous day; unm. Buried in the London Rifle Brigade Cemetery, Ploegsteert, Major C. Burnell, the officer commanding his company, wrote: “I personally feel very much his loss, he was one of those always willing to help and always cheerful even when things were at their worst.” He was one of the team of his regt. which won the Territorial Marathon in 1913, and one of the contingent from the London Rifle Brigade which marched to Brighton in record time. He was also an expert bayonet fighter.