Thomas Percy Pilcher.
PILLAR, SAMUEL, Private, No. 9437, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd s. of the late William John Pillar, by his wife, Bessie (Hughenden House, Queen Street, Dawlish, co. Devon), dau. of George Henry Collings; b. Dawlish, 13 Jan. 1894; educ. there; enlisted, 11 Jan. 1912; went to France, 14 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Rentel, 8 Nov. following; unm.
PILLAR, WILLIAM HENRY, A.B., 224285, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PILLING, WALTER, A.B., 214963, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PINCHIN, JOHN HERBERT, Sergt., No. 5235, 1st Battn., The Wiltshire Regt.; b. Devizes, co. Wilts, 12 May, 1882; educ. Market Lavington and Easterton Elementary Schools, enlisted in Dec. 1898; promoted Sergt., July, 1914; served in the South African War, 1899–1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps), and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 16 Aug. 1914 to 22 Sept. 1914, on which latter date he was mortally wounded during the Battle of Mons, and died in the 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 23 Oct. following; unm.
John H. Pinchin.
PINLDEBURY, WALTER, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5415), 180820. H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PINK, JOSEPH, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 501), late R.M.A. 5791, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PINK, SIDNEY EDWARD, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 12242, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PIPER, EDWARD JAMES, E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 148209, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PITHER, JAMES HERBERT, C.E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 160538, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PITKIN, STANLEY, Private, No. 8/462, 8th Southland Coy., Otago Infantry Battn., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 5th s. of Edwin Pitkin, of Whaddon, Bucks, Agricultural Stockman, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Robert Reynolds; b. Whaddon, co. Bucks, 8 Sept. 1894; educ. National School there; went to New Zealand in 1911, and settled at Dipton, Southland, N.Z., as an Agricultural Worker; joined the New Zealand Territorials in 1912; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914; left for Egypt; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and died on H.M. Hospital Ship Dongola, 7 May, 1915, of wounds received in action in a bayonet charge there on the 2nd.
PITT, GEORGE ROBERT, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 16457, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PITT, JOHN, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5268), 203612, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PLATER, WILLIAM JOHN, Private, No. 8980, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd s. of William John Plater, of Ichnield Cottage, Little Kimble, co. Bucks, Cowman, by his wife, Jane; b. Great Kimble, 2 July, 1891; educ. there; enlisted 27 Jan. 1911; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action, 4 Oct. following; unm. Lieut. Beckwith Smith, D.S.O., wrote: “I knew Private Plater well, as practically throughout his soldiering he was under my command. He was in my platoon throughout, and I can only say that I wish every man in my platoon and in the British Army had been like him. During the retreat from Mons he suffered the most frightful blisters on his feet, but I never once heard him grumble and he never fell out. He was one of the 50 men I took with me on the night of 4 Oct. 1914, when I was told off to try and take two German trenches at the point of the bayonet. These two trenches were one behind the other, and the first one was not more than 100 yards from our own. This first was unoccupied, but the second one was full of Germans, and Private Plater was killed on reaching the parapet of this trench. We got into the trench and killed all the Germans in it, but were unable to hold it, as there were a lot more Germans coming up. I tell you all this because I did not see Private Plater killed myself, and as we retired we were unable to bring his body away with us. The men who were actually next to him both stopped to make sure he was dead before leaving him. Will you please convey to Private Plater’s sister my own personal grief at the loss of such an excellent soldier. The company, the regt., and, in fact, the whole army feel the loss of such men, as they are hard to replace. He died a death of which every soldier and every Coldstreamer is proud. Every man who took part in that charge that night was worthy of a D.C.M.”
William John Plater.
PLAYFAIR, LAMBERT, Lieut., 1st Battn. Royal Scots, attd. 1st Squadron Royal Flying Corps, only s. of Harry Playfair, of Siloni Bari Tea Estate, North Lakhimpur, Upper Assam, India, by his wife, Jessie, dau. of the late A. P. Sandeman, and grandson of the late Lieut.-Col. Sir Robert Lambert Playfair, K.C.M.G., LL.D., by his wife, Agnes (18, Queen’s Gardens, St. Andrew’s, Fife), dau. of Major-Gen. Thomas Webster, of Balgarvie, co. Fife; b. Dibrugarh, Assam, India, 7 Dec. 1893; educ. at Oakham, and passed into Sandhurst with a Prize Cadetship, 14 Jan. 1912; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Scots, 5 Feb. 1912, joined the 2nd Battn. in March, and afterwards the 1st Battn. at Allahabad; left India with his Regt. for England in Oct. 1914, and in March, 1915, entered the Royal Flying Corps as observer on active service. On 6 July, 1915, when engaged in signalling to our guns the positions of the enemy’s batteries, his aeroplane was assailed first by one German machine and then by another. These were driven off in turn whenever they ventured to approach, Lieut. Playfair in the intervals resuming his observation duties—then the two German machines which had the great advantage of superior speed, made a combined assault but rather than give way he ordered an attack on the two, although he had only five rounds left. He was shot through the heart and his body was skilfully brought back to our lines by his pilot, 2nd Lieut. O. D. Filley, who afterwards received the Military Cross for this engagement. He was buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium; unm. His Colonel wrote that he was an unusually capable officer, that his death was heroic, and that it was indeed an honour to have had such an officer under one’s command. His Major reported that he was extraordinarily brave, feared absolutely nothing, loving fighting in the air, and was such an example of grit and ability that his death was a great loss to the squadron, and added that he “knew of no one who could gather so much information from a single reconnaissance as Lieut. Playfair.”
Lambert Playfair.
PLAYFAIR, HON. LYON GEORGE HENRY LYON, Capt., 126th Battery, 29th Brigade, R.F.A., only s. and h. of George James, 2nd Baron Playfair, C.V.O., Brigadier General and Hon. Col. 2nd Highland Brigade, R.F.A., by his 2nd wife, Augusta Mary, dau. of Henry Thomas Hickman, of Chorlton House, Leamington; b. London, 19 Oct. 1888; educ. St. Andrew’s, Eton and the Royal Military Academy (where he passed in second); gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. 18 Dec. 1908, Lieut. 18 Dec. 1911, and Capt. 18 Dec. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action near Zonnebeke, while acting as observing officer for his battery, in a trench close to the German lines, 20 April, 1915; unm. One of his gunners wrote of him: “A finer officer or better gentleman, it would be hard to find.”
Lyon G. H. L. Playfair.
PLEACE, WILLIAM GEORGE, Corpl., R.M.L.I., 12239 (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1553), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PLUMB, ARTHUR EDWARD, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R.), Ch. 9435, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
PLUMB, WILLIAM, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 12774, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
PLUME, GEORGE, Master-at-Arms (R.F.R., Ch. A. 1814), 350101, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
MANSEL-PLEYDELL, EDMUND MORTON, of Whatcombe, co. Dorset, Lieut., 3rd (Reserve) Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., attd. 3rd Battn. Worcestershire Regt., elder s. of the late Lieut.-Col. Edmund Morton Mansel-Pleydell, of Whatcombe, co. Dorset, J.P., D.L., 12th Lancers (died 13 Oct. 1914), by his wife, Kathleen Emily (Croft House, Botley), 4th dau. of the late Sir Thomas Francis Grove, 1st Bart.; b. Bangalore, India, 23 Dec. 1886; educ. Wellington, and Sherborne; was for some time a Lieut. of the Royal Agricultural Contingent, Senior Division, O.T.C. (T.F.), and on the outbreak of war was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Dorsetshire Regt., 30 Nov. 1914; trained at Wyke Regis until 25 Jan. 1915, when he was ordered to Rouen, and there transferred to the Worcestershire Regt.; proceeded to the front, 2 March, and was killed in action at Kemmel, during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, on the 12th, while leading his platoon in a charge against the German trenches; unm. Buried there. His Col. wrote: “He was my most promising officer, and would have, had he lived, I am certain, distinguished himself.” He was a well-known footballer, forward member of the London Devonians, Lennox, Richmond, Trojair and Stund Clubs; a good rider to hounds, and polo player, a successful cricketer and shot, and a pig sticker while in Morocco.
E. M. Mansel-Pleydell.
PLUMMER, ARCHIBALD ALFRED, Private, No. 8652, 2nd Battn. Lincolnshire Regt., s. of William Plummer, Labourer; b. Bungay, co. Suffolk, 9th May, 1892; enlisted in the 3rd Battn. Norfolk Regt. 28 Jan. 1909, was transferred to the Lincolns and was killed in action with the Expeditionary Force in France, 10 March, 1915; unm.
PLUMMER, ARTHUR HENRY, 2nd Lieut. 5th Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), 3rd. s. of the Rev. Francis Bowes Plummer, Rector of Halewood and Hon. Canon of Liverpool, by his wife, Edith Mary, dau. of Rev. Canon Barker, Rector of Hexham; b. Walton-on-the-Hill, 5 Nov. 1891; educ. Trent College, Derbyshire, (Jan. 1901 to July, 1910, holding a scholarship for the last five years), and Trinity College, Oxford (Oct. 1910 to June, 1914), where he studied medicine and gained the first place in the 2nd Class Honours List of the Final School of Physiology. After the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he tried to secure some position in the Army where he could make use of his medical knowledge. Failing to realize his hopes, he applied for a commission in the 5th Battn. Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 19 Oct. After four months at Blackpool, with the reserve unit, he was, in Feb. 1915, transferred to the Service Battn. at Canterbury, and shortly afterwards (21 Feb.) left England to join the First Army in France. For four months he was engaged in hard fighting in the trenches near Bethune and, to use his own words, “was often as nearly blown to pieces as possible.” He was killed in the late afternoon, 17 May, 1915, in action near Festubert. Writing to his father, the Commanding Officer said: “He was killed whilst occupying with his platoon our foremost trench, doing his duty gallantly and fearlessly. In addition to his military command, he was throughout the long battle indefatigable in his attention to the wounded, and his medical skill brought timely relief to many a stricken comrade. His fine manly character and kindly disposition had already endeared him to all of us.” Capt. H. K. S. Woodhouse, commanding C Coy., wrote: “After a very hard morning, my company was told to go in support of another regt. and your son accompanied me with his platoon. I left him to go to some other duties, and did not see him again alive.... He was shot in the neck while he was directing some men to their places, and the bullet must have touched his spine, for he fell and was unconscious for an hour before he died.... He was buried in the rear of the English fire trench, alongside his platoon sergeant, who was killed earlier in the day.” While at Trent he was a member of the O.T.C. (1906–1910), Senior Prefect, Gold Medallist and Captain of Cricket and Football (1909–1910).
Arthur Henry Plummer.
PLUNKETT, GERALD, B.A., Barrister-at-Law, Sub-Lieut., A Coy., Collingwood Battn. Royal Naval Division, yst. s. of Patrick Joseph Plunkett, of 14, Palmerston Road, Dublin, and grandson of the late Walter Plunkett, of Bryne House, co. Meath; b. Dublin, 11 Aug. 1887; educ. Belvedere College (S.J.), Dublin (where he took honours each year in Intermediate Examinations), and New College, Oxford (B.A.); was called to the Irish Bar, 1910, and was a member of the North-West Circuit; joined the Trinity College O.T.C. on the outbreak of war, and was given a commission, 20 Oct. 1914; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles, and was killed in action there, 4 June, 1915. He was Platoon Commander and gallantly led his men in the attack on the Turkish position that day, cheering them on to the last. He was emptying his revolver into the Turks when he was shot in the head, and killed instantly; unm.
Gerald Plunkett.
POCOCK, FRANK WILLIAM, Sergt., No. 1851, 13th Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensington) The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of Frank Pocock, of 14, Tadema Road, Chelsea, by his wife, Rose Hannah, dau. of John Vickers; b. Chelsea, 11 Sept. 1891; educ. Harwood Road Council School, Fulham, was a Timber Merchant’s Salesman; joined the Kensingtons 24 Feb. 1909; completed his term of service 23 Feb. 1914, but on the outbreak of war in Aug. following rejoined his regt. on the 6th; volunteered for foreign service; went to France on 3 Nov., was wounded in the ear at Neuve Chapelle on 16 March, and was killed in action at Festubert, 9 May, 1915, while leading his platoon from one German trench to another; unm. Buried there. Lieut. Penn wrote that he “faced the enemy unflinchingly and died a noble soldier’s death.”
POCOCK, WILLIAM JONATHAN, Stoker. 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4447), S.S. 103463, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
PODD, JOHN EDMUND, Sergt., No. 106, 4th Battn. Suffolk Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of Henry Podd, of 23, Wykes Bishop Street, Ipswich, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of Daniel Button; b. Ipswich, 13 Oct. 1885; educ. Cavendish Street School, St. Clement’s, Ipswich; was a Machinist at Stoke Foundry, Ipswich; joined the Suffolk Territorials, 2 Sept. 1902; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war; went to France, 8 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915. He m. at Butley Church, co. Suffolk, 12 May, 1913, Kate Edith Elizabeth (15, Cobbold Street, Ipswich), dau. of David Mayhew, of Butley, and had a son: John Edmund, b. posthumous 10 June, 1915.
John Edmund Podd.
POINTER, WILLIAM, A.B., 220380, H.M.S Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
POLING, CHARLES WILLIAM, Bombardier, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 32), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
POLLARD, CLIFFORD, Boy, 1st Class. J. 23543 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; s. of William Pollard, of 15, Greenfield Road, Holmfirth, near Huddersfield; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
POLLARD, EDWARD BRANCH, Lieut., 8th (Service) Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, attd. 176th Coy. Royal Engineers, yst. s. of George Richard Macintosh Pollard, of Burns Cottage, Moffat, co. Dumfries, M.D., by his wife, Grace, dau. of the Rev. J. Macfarlane. LL.D.; b. Clapham, co. Surrey, 1 March, 1883; educ. Royal School of Mines, and on finishing his mining and metallurgical course went to the Mundydroog mines, Mysore, in Oct. 1907, where he was in the Mounted Rifles Coy. of the Kola Gold Fields Volunteers. When war was declared in Aug. 1914, he was in Northern Nigeria. As soon as practicable he threw up his mining appointment, returned to England in Nov. 1914, and was given a 2nd Lieutenancy in the 8th Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 6 Dec. 1914, being promoted Lieut. 27 Jan. 1915. He was for some time Transport Officer at Borden Camp, but on 17 April, 1915, was seconded to the 176th Coy. R.E., and sent to do mining operations in the North of France. On 7 July six of his men were entombed in a tunnel by the explosion of a German shell. He immediately organised a rescue party under heavy fire, and his men were subsequently saved by a brother officer. In order to get at some timber which had to be moved, he himself got up on the top of the debris, thereby exposing himself to the snipers, and was shot in the forehead, from which wound he died at Abbeville, on the 26th; unm. Buried in Moffat Cemetery. His Adjutant wrote: “His conduct in this necessary but dangerous work was beyond all praise. I reported the whole incident, and trust his conduct will receive due award.” In 1905 he gained the Remanet Scholarship, and in 1907 won the Edward Matthey Prize; obtained his A.R.S.M. in the same year, and was also a M.Inst.M.M. In 1907 he was selected by the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for Post-Graduate Course in various parts of the world.
Edward Branch Pollard.
POLLARD, GEOFFREY BLEMELL, Lieut., 119th Battery. R.F.A., elder s. of Alfred William Pollard, Assistant Keeper of Printed Books, British Museum, by his wife, Alice, dau. of George Francis Gloyns England, of Crediton; b. Kensington, 5 April. 1888; educ. King’s College School, Wimbledon, and St. Paul’s School, Hammersmith, where he was head of the Army Side, Captain of Shooting, Lieut. of the Cadet Corps, and Captain of his House. Passed 2nd into Woolwich in 1906 (thereby gaining an exhibition from his school), joined the 146th Battery, R.F.A., in 1908, transferred subsequently to 40th and 119th. Qualified as a 1st Class Interpreter in French, 1910. During the retreat from Mons, between Elouges and Dour, “he was in the very hottest on the very first day and behaved splendidly” (letter from Brigadier-General Headlam), helping Major E. W. Alexander and Capt. Francis Grenfell (both of whom obtained V.C.’s for their work that day) to manhaul the guns of the 119th when it was impossible to get the horses to them. He was killed while on observation duty in advance of his battery, 24 Oct. 1914, and buried the following day in the Churchyard at La Couture. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915. His war-letters “printed for friends” 1915, under the title: “On Active Service.”
Geoffrey Blemell Pollard.
POLLARD, HOWARD, Proby., 2nd Cook’s Mate, M. 7798, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
POLLEY, ALFRED CHARLES, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2949), 179128, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
POLLEY, HARRY, Private, No. 941, 15th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, eldest s. of David Polley, of Woodstock, Brambletye Road, Earswood, co. Surrey, Gardener, by his wife, Lucy Rebecca, dau. of Shadrach Fairs; b. Redhill, co. Surrey, 13 Feb. 1875; educ. St. Matthew’s Schools there; was for some time a Grocer’s Assistant at Home and Colonial Stores, Edgware Road; went to Australia in 1909, and settled at Lismore, New South Wales, working as a Cowman and General Hand; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of European War in Aug. 1914, and joined the 15th Battn. A.I.F.; left for Egypt in Dec.; went to the Dardanelles 1 June, 1915, and died on the Hospital Ship Maheno, 29 Aug. following, of wounds received in action at Suvla Bay the previous day; unm.
Harry Polley.
POLLOCK, FREDERICK ROBERT, Lieut., 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, elder s. of the late Robert Erskine Pollock, of Avening Court, co. Gloucester, K.C., J.P., Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Mary Viner, only dau. and heiress of Frederic Carl Playne, of Avening Court, aforesaid, Capt. 1st Battn. Rifle Brigade (who served through the Crimean War and Indian Mutiny), and grandson of Robert John Pollock, Barrister-at-Law, Lieut. 8th Madras Cavalry [2nd son of the Right Hon. Sir Frederick Pollock, 1st Bt.]; b. 74, Queens Gate, S.W., 24 Oct. 1885; educ. Eton College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Coldstream Guards, 13 Aug. 1904, promoted Lieut. 15 June, 1907, and from 29 Dec. 1909 to Feb. 1914, served with the West African Frontier Force. On the outbreak of the European War he went to France with the Expeditionary Force, and served through the retreat from Mons, the Battles of the Marne and the Aisne, and was killed while leading his men in an attack near Langemarck, Belgium, 23 Oct. 1914; unm.
Frederick Robert Pollock.
POLLOCK, MARTIN VINER, LL.B., Barrister-at-Law, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. South Wales Borderers, 2nd and only surviving s. of the late Robert Erskine Pollock of Avening Court, Avening, co. Gloucester, and 74, Queen’s Gate, K.C. (see preceding notice); b. 74 Queen’s Gate, S.W., 15 May, 1888; educ. Eton College and Trinity College, Cambridge; was called to the Bar at the Middle Temple in Nov. 1910, and went to the Oxford Circuit. He was given his commission in the 3rd (Reserve) Battn. of the South Wales Borderers, 15 Aug. 1914, and afterwards transferred to the 2nd Battn. He left with his regt. for the front in March, 1915, and was killed in action while leading his men in an attack near Richebourg St. Vaast, France, 9 May, 1915; unm.
Martin Viner Pollock.
POLLOCK, WALTER, Private, No. 2160, 3rd Battn. Australian Imperial Force, s. of James Pollock, of Port Glasgow; served in Egypt and in the Dardanelles; killed in action, 20 May, 1915.
POLSON, GEOFFREY WILLIAM, Lieut., 1st Battn The Black Watch, only s. of the late Daniel Maclean Polson, of Paisley, by his wife, Ethelle Beatrice (Invervar, North Berwick), dau. of the late Lieut.-Col. Joel Blades, R.A.; b. Paisley, 16 Sept. 1890; educ. St. Ninians, Moffat; Charterhouse, and New College, Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut., The Black Watch, 19 Aug. 1913, to rank as from 21 Sept. 1911, and promoted Lieut. 2 June, 1914; went to France, 13 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action during the Battle of the Aisne, 15 Sept. following, while temporarily in command of his company; unm. Buried in the Cemetery at Moulins, Canton of Craonne, France. Dr. W. A. Spooner, Warden of New College, Oxford, wrote: “Geoffrey Polson was one of the best, if not the best, undergraduate I can remember at his college. Understanding that he came to Oxford to learn, he stuck always manfully to his work, and succeeded in taking a fore place in the Honour History School, for which he finally entered. But study formed but a small part of his College activities; in games, particularly in all games bearing on military life, he was an expert and a natural leader; in social life he had the art of attracting and winning friends and was deservedly one of the most popular and most influential men in College. When he left us we all expected him to make a first-rate officer; and our expectations were filled during the short period of his military career. His friends and the whole College heard with profound regret of his death, but they felt that he had died as he had lived, and that his death was the worthy crown of his life.” While at Charterhouse he won two scholarships, and during his last year, when he was head of the school, was presented with a copy of “Forty Years of My life in India,” by the late Lord Roberts, for being the best all-round boy at school, and at sport. At New College, he took 2nd class honours in History; was a keen golfer and played for his College.
Geoffrey William Polson.
POND, BERTIE, Private, No. 7112. 1st. Battn. Lincolnshire Regt., 2nd s. of Henry Pond, of 212, King Street, Norwich, by his wife, Rose Hannah, dau. of John Richardson (and Mary Ann) Fox; b. Norwich, co. Norfolk, 20 Nov. 1888; educ. Carrow School, Norwich; enlisted in the Army, 25 July, 1904; went to France in Aug. 1914, and died of wounds received in action at Ypres, 25 Oct. 1914. Buried in Bethune Cemetery. He m. at Norwich, 1909, Alice Jane (36, Eagle Walk, Newmarket Road, Norwich), dau. of the late Josiah William (and Anna Maria) Larkman, and had three children: Donald Bertie; b. 15 Sept. 1909: Norman Henry, b. 23 Oct. 1910; and Phyllis Alice, b. 31 Dec. 1914.
PONSFORD, alias JONES, THOMAS EDWARD, Private, No. 57662, 20th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, only s. of Thomas Edward Ponsford (died 24 March, 1907), by his wife, Alice (8, Prospect Place, Barnsbury, Islington, N.), dau. of (—) Jones; b. Clerkenwell, E.C., 24 June, 1890; educ. Wilmington Street School there; went to Canada in April, 1910, and settled at Toronto, and was engaged on farm work; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914, and joined the 20th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force; came over in June, 1915, and died in hospital at Shorncliffe, 8 Sept. 1915, while training; unm.
Thomas E. Ponsford.
PONTEFRACT, ROBERT, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 17262, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
POOK, RICHARD THOMAS, Driver, No. 2268, 1/3rd Coy. Kent Fortress R.E., eldest s. of James Pook, of Noman’s Wood, Wadhurst, Carter, by his wife, Ruth, dau. of Richard Muggridge; b. Beanford Farm, Battle, co. Sussex, 15 April, 1883; educ. Battle School; was a Coal Carman at Tunbridge Wells; enlisted 31 May, 1915; left England for the Dardanelles, 12 Oct. 1915, and was drowned in the collision of H.M.S. Hythe, 29 Oct. 1915, when she was wrecked in the Ægean Sea, off Cape Wells. He m. at the Wesleyan Methodist Chapel, Wadhurst, Sussex, 14 Dec. 1907, Florence Edith (4, Hill Street, Tunbridge Wells), dau. of George Benge Gardener, and had two children: Francis Norah, b. 16 Sept, 1908; and Edith Margaret Elsie, b. 20 Nov. 1912.
Richard Thomas Pook.
POOLE, EDWARD BRUCE, Private, No. 2262, 5th (Cinque Ports) Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., s. of Frederick Poole, of 9, Hill Street, Hastings; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 9 May, 1915.
POOLE, FREDERICK, Private, No. 2518, 2nd Home Counties Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (T.F.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 13 May, 1915; m.
POOLE, HUGH EDWARD ALGERNON, 2nd Lieut., 11th (Prince Albert’s Own) Hussars, 2nd s. of Major Arthur Edward Poole, a Military Knight of Windsor, late 10th Hussars, by his wife, Mary, dau. of James Dunbar Smith; b. at the Cavalry Barracks, York, 7 Jan. 1889; educ. Christ’s Hospital, Horsham; enlisted in the 14th Hussars in 1906 and served in India. Being home on leave when war broke out in Aug. 1914, he was attached to the 20th Hussars, going to the front with them as a corpl.; mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 19 Oct.] 1914, he was promoted for gallantry in the field and gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 11th Hussars, as from 1 Oct. 1914; served in the trenches through the winter of 1914–15, and was wounded for the third time at Zillebeke, by a shell while guiding his squadron from the trenches in the early dawn of the 24 May; he was taken to Boulogne and died there of tetanus, 2 June, 1915, unm. He was buried at Windsor with full Military honours. On 1 Sept, at a place called Mary at the junction of the Marne and the Ourcq, he and two other men of the 20th Hussars returned three times under fire to try and save a mortally wounded comrade. The 20th Hussars were acting as rearguard at the time and were attacked at 2 p.m. His Commanding Officer wrote: “He had done excellent work ever since he had been with the regt. and was very popular with officers and men; he is a great loss to us.”
Hugh E. A. Poole.
POOLE, WALTER, Private, No. G. 3554, 1st Battn. East Surrey Regt., s. of Freeman Poole, of Witcham, near Ely; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 5 May, 1915.
POOLE, THOMAS LUKE, Private, No. 8947, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards, s. of J. C. Poole, of 35, West Street, Berwick-on-Tweed; b. Berwick: enlisted 29 April, 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 20–26 Oct. 1914.
POOR, ALBERT HENRY, Sergt., No. 9099, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Walter Poor, of 14, Union Terrace, St. Sidwell’s, Exeter, Gardener; b. Exeter, 27 Sept. 1893; educ. there; enlisted 1 May, 1911; went to France with the Expeditionary Force; was promoted Sergt. at the Front, 23 Nov. 1914; served through the retreat from Mons, the Battles of the Aisne, the Marne, Landrecies, La Bassée, St. Julien, Festubert, etc.; was home on leave in July, returning to the Front on the 28th, and died near Vermelles, at 2 a.m., 27 Sept. 1915, of wounds inflicted by a stray bullet. He was buried in Vermelles Cemetery. 2nd Lieut. E. Platt wrote: “I had an intense admiration for the smart way he performed all his military duties. This view I may say was shared by Capt. Darell who was commanding his Coy. in the early stages, and afterwards by Capt. Longueville.”
Albert Henry Poor.
POPE, CYRIL MONTAGU, B.A., B.C.L., Lieut., 2nd Battn. Worcestershire Regt., eldest s. of the late Reginald Barrett Pope, of 41, Sussex Square, Brighton, LL.B., Solicitor, by his wife, Mary Richardson (4, The Cliff, Blackrock, Brighton), dau. of Alexander Reid; b. Brighton, Sussex, 6 Aug. 1888; educ. Brighton; Temple Grove, East Sheen (now Eastbourne), and won a scholarship for Winchester College, where he won an Exhibition for Brasenose College, Oxford (1907), taking there a second class in “Mods,” and “Greats,” second class in Jurisprudence, the Senior Hulme Exhibition in 1912, and finally, in 1913, his B.C.L.; and was in the second year of his articles with Messrs. Stuckey, Pope & Carr. In 1910 he obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 5th Battn. Oxford and Bucks L.I. In March, 1914, was gazetted Lieut. to the 5th (Special Reserve) Worcester Regt. He went to France, 13 Aug 1914, attd. to the 2nd Battn.; served through the retreat from Mons, and was seriously wounded in a charge through the Polyon Wood, near Ypres, 24 Oct. 1914, dying on his way to the 22nd Field Hospital. He was buried in the cemetery on the Hollebeke Road, just past the junction of the Menin Road; unm. Major Sweetman, of the 2nd Battn. Worcestershire Regt., wrote: “I saw him just after I was hit leading on his men most gallantly against a strong position of the enemy.” At Brasenose he stroked the first Torpid in 1912 and was a member of the Association football team.
Cyril Montagu Pope.
POPE, ERNEST RICHARD, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9964), S.S. 2589, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
POPE, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111165, H.M.S. Hawke, s. of Henry Richard Pope, of 2, Hampton Road, Hanworth; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
POPE, HENRY JAMES, Private, No. 2292, 5th (Cinque Ports) Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of Henry Pope, of High Street, Burwash, Platelayer on the S.E. & C.R., by his wife, Emma Annie, dau. of the late John Isted, of Burwash; b. Burwash, co. Sussex, 28 July, 1883; educ. National School there; was a Gardener; joined the 1st Cinque Ports Rifle Volunteers in 1899 for three years and in 1912 became a member of the National Reserve. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he rejoined his old corps, went to France, 18 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Richebourg, 9 May following. He m. at Burwash Parish Church, 7 July, 1910, Alice Elizabeth (Sketrick, Etchingham, Sussex), dau. of Jabez Munday, of Faringdon, Berkshire, and had a dau., Alice, b. 28 Oct. 1912.
Henry James Pope.
POPE, HERBERT, Private, No. 631, 10th Battn. Australian Light Horse (Western Australia), s. of William Pope, of Henrietta Street, Waterford, Merchant, by his wife, Elizabeth (Brook House, Moss Lane, Pinner), dau. of Richard Harieey, of Killoteran House, Waterford; b. Tower Hill, Ferry Bank, co. Waterford, 11 April, 1893; educ. privately and at Waterford. About four years before his death he went to Western Australia and acquired a farm there. On the outbreak of war he enlisted, and was killed in action in the charge of the Australians at Suvla Bay, 7 Aug. 1915; unm.
POPE, REGINALD THOMAS BUCKINGHAM, Lieut., 1st Battn. Welch Regt., 2nd s. of the late Reginald Barrette Pope, of 41, Sussex Square, Brighton, LL.B., Solicitor, by his wife, Mary Richardson (4, The Cliff, Blackrock, Brighton), dau. of Alexander Reid; b. Eton Place, Brighton, 29 July, 1891; educ. Junior House, Brighton College; Rottingdean School, near Brighton; Bradfield College, where he won an exhibition, and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Welch Regt. 20 Sept. 1911, and joined at Cairo in Nov., was promoted Lieut. 16 July following; proceeded to France with his regt. in Jan. 1915, and was killed in action, 16 Feb. 1915. His Major wrote: “We had a most terrible time.... Your brother thought he had seen a sniper and got up with a rifle to try and shoot him, when almost immediately he was hit right through the forehead. He died at once without any suffering at all. When night fell I managed to get his body back and had him sent out of the trenches. He is buried at Chateau Rosenthal, Ypres, between Capt. Lloyd and another officer.” Lieut. Pope was a very keen sportsman, played football and cricket for his school, and went big game shooting in the Soudan in Jan. 1914. His elder brother, Cyril Montagu Pope, Worcester Regt., was fatally wounded near Ypres, in Oct. 1914 (see his notice).
Reginald T. B. Pope.
POPE, WALTER GEORGE HENRY, M.A.A., 165439, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
PORT, HARRY, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 3905), 191709, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
PORTEOUS, DICK MACDONALD, D.S.O., Capt. 1st Battn. Princess Louise’s Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, only s. of Col. John James Porteous, of 7, Sloane Street, S.W., late R.A.; b. Dublin, 15 June, 1883; educ. Wellington College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (the old 91st), 22 Oct. 1902, Lieut. 19 Oct. 1907, and Capt. 13 Sept. 1913; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, greatly distinguishing himself; was awarded the D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry on many occasions throughout the campaign [London Gazette, 15 April, 1915], the official record stating that “His very great daring and total disregard of danger on reconnaissance duty, especially at St. Eloi on 19 Feb. 1915, were noticeable,” and was mentioned again in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June, 1915], for distinguished service in the field. He was killed in action, being shot through the head in the trenches near Ypres, 10 May, 1915; unm.
PORTER, FREDERICK CHARLES, Rifleman, No. 1551, 1/18th Battn. (London Irish Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.); s. of the late Edward Porter, Plasterer, by his wife, Alice (now wife of Benjamin William Hatine, of 1, Ferndale Road, Forest Gate, E.), dau. of Edward Jackson; b. Childs Hill, London, N., 28 July, 1896; educ. Manse Road School, West Ham; was a Clerk in an Assurance Office, 110 Cannon Street; joined the London Irish Rifles in July, 1913; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France, March, 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 29 Aug. following. Buried in Hazebrouck Cemetery.
PORTER, GEORGE HENRY, Petty Officer 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2455), 169078, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
PORTER, HARRY, Private, No. 3617, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards; b. Codford St. Mary, co. Wilts; educ. there; enlisted in the Coldstreams, 14 June, 1900; was called up from the Reserve on mobilisation in Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action at St. Julien, 24 Oct. 1914. He m. at Wellow, co. Somerset, Elizabeth Ann (The Batch, Wellow, Somerset), dau. of (—), and had three children: William George, Frederick Robert, and Florence Gertrude.
Harry Porter.
PORTWAINE, HARRY, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 16678, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
POSTLETHWAITE, JOHN JOYCE, Trooper, No. 336, 11th, attd. 5th, Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, 2nd s. of Frank Postlethwaite, of Brentnor, Tavistock, co. Devon, M.R.C.S., by his wife, Emma Elizabeth, dau. of the Rev. H. M. Joyce, Vicar of Penton; b. Stapleton, co. Cumberland, 11 June, 1893; educ. King’s College, Taunton, and Tavistock Grammar School; went to Australia in March, 1911, and settled at Burrowa, New South Wales, and later at Winton, Queensland, as a Station Hand; joined the Australian Light Horse at Brisbane in Jan. 1915; left for Egypt in March; went to the Dardanelles, Aug. 1915, and was killed in action there, 2 Nov. following, while serving his machine gun; unm. Buried in Shell Green Cemetery, Anzac, Gallipoli. His company officer wrote: “Your son had recently been transferred from my squadron to the machine-gun section of this regt. (5th Light Horse), a position which he quickly learnt. At all times he proved himself to be a good soldier, as able and willing to perform the many fatigue duties as he was resourceful in the firing line”; and a comrade: “There were a good many of the men rolled up to see him buried: fellows from his own regt. and also from the one to which he was posted. From the Major downwards, your son was tremendously popular, and the men are very cut up at his loss. A cross, bearing his name, regt., age, and date of death, was erected by his regimental comrades.”
John Joyce Postlethwaite.
POTTER, BERT, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 2622), 284614, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
POTTER, FRANK WILLIAM, Private, No. 9478, 3rd Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, s. of Henry Potter, of 198, Bedford Hill, S.W., member of the firm of Henry Potter & Co., West Street, Charing Cross, Army Musical Instrument Makers, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of George Lash; and a great grandson of the late Samuel Potter, of the Coldstream Guards, who compiled and published in 1815 the authorised Bugle, Drum and Fife Calls, including the Last Post, a revised edition of which is now in use in the Army and Navy; b. Sidcup, Kent, 19 Aug. 1887; educ. Cheltonia College, Streatham, S.W. (where he won the prize for “High Character”); went to Canada about 1903 and was in Dakota when war was declared; went to Toronto and volunteered for Imperial service Aug. 1914; came over with the first Canadian contingent in Oct.; went to France early in Feb., served through the Second Battle of Ypres, and the various engagements during the early part of 1915, and was killed in action at Givenchy, 16 June, 1915; unm. Buried near Givenchy, behind trench No. 19, 500 yards east of the “Ducks Bill.”
Frank William Potter.
POTTER, MAURICE HENRY, L.-Corpl., No. 11182, 1st Battn. Sherwood Foresters, Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt., 4th s. of Elijah William Potter, of Six-Mile Bottom, Newmarket, co. Cambridge, Goods Porter on the Great Eastern Railway at Six-Mile Bottom Station, by his wife, Jane, dau. of James Cook; b. Six-Mile Bottom, 1 May, 1891; educ. Council School there; enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters, 2 March, 1909; served in India, Sept. 1911 to Oct. 1914, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, Nov. 1914 to 1 Feb. 1915, on which latter date he was killed in action near La Bassée, and was buried 30 yards west of the Estaires-La Bassée Road; unm. He gained the 2nd Class Certificate of Education 19 Dec. 1909, and a 1st Class Certificate of the same, 27 March, 1913; he also gained four good conduct badges, and the swimming certificate at Bombay, 17 Jan. 1914. His three brothers are all now (1916) on active service.
Maurice Henry Potter.
POTTER, VICTOR JAMES, Boy, 1st Class, J. 25352 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke, s. of William Henry Potter, of 23, George Street, Sutton, co. Surrey; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
POTTER, WILLIAM FREDERICK, Bugler, No. 1255, 1/21st Battn. (1st Surrey Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), s. of Reuben Potter, of 33, D’Eynsford Road, Camberwell, London, S.E., Pensioner, by his wife, Jane, dau. of the late John Faux, of Leatherhead; b. King’s Cross, London, N., 1 Aug. 1895; educ. Grove Lane Board School, Camberwell; was employed by Warner & Sons, 3 and 4, Newgate Street; joined the 1st Surrey Rifles, 20 Dec. 1911; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France, 16 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 25 May following; unm. Buried there.
POTTER, WILLIAM JOHN, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8288), 207367, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
POTTERTON, LEWIS JOHN, A.B., S.S. 618, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
POTTS, GEORGE, L.-Corpl., No. 15741, 15th (Service) Battn. Durham L.I., eldest s. of Thomas Farrar Potts, of 17, Grosvenor Street, Southwick-on-Wear, Shipyard Labourer, by his wife, Mary Ellen (died 1910), dau. of Joseph Rooney, of Southwick; b. Southwick, 14 March. 1895; educ. Board School there; was employed at Hylton Colliery; enlisted 7 Sept. 1914, trained at Halton, Yorks; was promoted L.-Corpl. and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos, 26 Sept. 1915; unm. He was buried in Loos Cemetery.