PUNCHARD, EDMUND ELGOOD, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regt. (21st Brigade, 7th Division), 2nd s. of the Rev. Elgood George Punchard, D.D., Honorary Canon of Ely, by his wife, Catherine Mary, dau. of Joseph Johnson; b. Luton, co. Beds, 21 Oct. 1890; educ. Haileybury (1902–08) and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst (1909–10); gazetted 2nd Lieut., Bedfordshire Regt., 5 Oct. 1910, and promoted Lieut., 11 June, 1912; left Southampton, 4 Oct. 1914; returned to Dover, because of submarines, 6 Oct.; left again and arrived at Zeebrugge, 7–8 Oct.; Bruges (St. Croix), marched from 4 to 8 p.m., 8 Oct.; left for Coq-sur-Mer, arriving at 2.30 p.m., bivouac at Uytkirke, 9 Oct.; left for Ostend, 5 a.m., 4 p.m. ordered back to Bruges, arriving 8 p.m., 10 Oct.; retreated to Beernem, 4 to 8 p.m., 11 Oct.; to Coolscamp, 7.30 a.m., 12 Oct.; to Roulers, 13 Oct.; to Ypres, 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., 14 Oct.; entrenched at Halte, on Menin-Ypres road, 15 Oct.; skirmish with Uhlans, at Gheluvelt, 16 Oct.; Gheluvelt, Battle of Ypres begun, 17 Oct.; left at 4.30 a.m. for Baecleare, arriving 7.30 p.m., advanced to Terhand, 18 Oct.; Terhand, retired to Gheluvelt, 19 Oct.; under heavy fire till dusk, moved out towards Baecleare, and entrenched, 20 Oct.; returned to Gheluvelt, in trenches, 21 Oct.; under heavy fire, worst at 3.30 p.m., 22 Oct.; shelled from 8 p.m., two Bedford officers killed, first Army Corps expected, 23 Oct.; fusilade, 6 a.m., seventh day of battle, third in trenches (night and day) unrelieved, 24 Oct.; reinforced by Highland L.I. and King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 25 Oct.; brigade hard pressed, retired to Hooge, 26 Oct.; advanced again towards Gheluvelt, bivouac at Kruiseck, 27 Oct.; shelled all day in trenches from 9 a.m., opposed by three German Army Corps, 28 Oct.; shelled at dawn, Yorks and Gordons retreated on Zandvorde-Gheluvelt road, trenches recovered, 29 Oct.; fight on Menin-Gheluvelt road and in the woods, 30 Oct.; trenches shelled from 2 a.m. to 1 p.m., ordered out of trenches at 4 p.m., advanced up the hill, over turnip field, by wood of Zandvorde, the ridge won, 31 Oct. He was killed in this attack, being shot at the head of his platoon; unm. The following day 300 survivors from the battn. mustered under the one officer left. Lieut. Punchard was buried at Kruiseck, near Gheluvelt. He was mentioned in Field-Marshal Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. [London Gazette, 18 Feb.] 1915 for distinguished service in the field.

PUNSHON, HAROLD FINLAY, Corpl., No. 2126, 8th Battn. Durham L.I. (T.F.), 2nd s. of Thomas Punshon, of Ashley Terrace, Chester-le-Street, co. Durham, by his wife, Agnes Kershaw, dau. of the late Richard Finlay; b. Chester-le-Street, 23 Feb. 1892; educ. Higher Grade School, Gateshead; was employed at the Priestman Colliery Office; joined the Durham L.I. Territorials in April, 1912; was in training in camp when war was declared in Aug. 1914, and volunteered for foreign service; went to France, 19 April, 1915, and was killed in action near Ypres on the 26th, being shot by a sniper; unm. Buried about half a mile S.E. of St. Julien. Capt. John Turnbull in a letter to his brother wrote: “I regret very deeply to have to inform you that your poor brother Harry was killed on Monday the 26th. I was not with him when he met his death, but saw him an hour before, when, I am sure you will be proud to know, he was doing his bit in a splendidly cool manner, under most trying circumstances. I got separated from the body of men with whom he was, but have since learned that he with two or three other N.C.Os., and a few men were cut off by a large body of Germans. Some of our chaps had to surrender, but Harry and a few others made a dash for it and got clear. He was killed soon after this, while going between trenches with ammunition.”

PUNTER, HENRY, Private, No. G. 282, 2nd Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt., s. of Frederick Punter, of Send Road, Send, near Woking; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Ypres, 2 Nov. 1911.

PURCHASE, FREDERICK WILLIAM, Sergt., No. 4204, 2nd Battn. The Essex Regt., s. of the late (—) Purchase; b. 20 Feb. 1876; enlisted in the Essex Regt., 8 May, 1894; served in the South African War, 1899–1902 (Queen’s medal with four clasps), and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 22 Aug. 1914 to 1 Nov. 1914, on which latter date he was killed in action. Buried at Armentières. Sergt. Purchase had the Long Service and Good Conduct medal, and was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 19 Oct.] 1914. He was also awarded the French Medaille Militaire for conspicuous bravery. He m. at St. Thomas Church, Brentwood, 25, Jan. 1913, Alice Elizabeth (32, Alfred Road, Brentwood, co. Essex), yst. dau. of Henry Matthews, of Hutton, co. Essex, and had a son, Frederick Henry, b. posthumous, 16 Nov. 1914.

PURDON, JOHN, Private, No. 11029, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; b. Whiston, co. Lanark; enlisted 14 Sept. 1914, aged 29; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; wounded and admitted to No. 23 Field Ambulance, 8 April, 1915; discharged to duty, 14 April; killed in action 16 May following. He m. at Glasgow, 19 April, 1912, Grace. (16, Moir Street, Glasgow), dau. of (—) Suttons, and had a dau.: Grace Catherine, b. 10 Dec. 1914.

PURDY, RICHARD, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8444), S.S. 104630, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

PURNELL, FREDERICK DAVID, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6455), 183408, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea. 15 Oct. 1914; m.

PURSER, JOSEPH, Private, S/7043, 4th Battn. Middlesex Regt., s. of F. J. Purser, of 24, Balmore Street, Highgate; died in Chelsea Hospital, 18 Jan. 1915, of tetanus, contracted while mobilised for service.

PURVIS, LIONEL, Sergt., No. 17, F. Coy., 14th Battn. (The London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. s. of John Prior Purvis, of 16, The Grove, Blackheath, S.E., Surgeon, by his wife, Frances Mary, dau. of William Vaughan; b. Greenwich, S.E., 19 July, 1873; educ. Roan School there; was a Furniture Manufacturer; joined the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers, 7th Middlesex, 12 Nov. 1894; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France 14 Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Messines, 1 Nov. following; unm. He won many prizes at Bisley and elsewhere, and was 7th in the King’s Prize Competition at Bisley in 1904; he was also twice a member of the winning team for the Daily Telegraph Cup.

PUTTERGILL, RICHARD, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5206), S.S. 1844, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

PUTTICK, JAMES FREDERICK, A.B., J. 8750, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

PYE, OSCAR GEORGE, Trooper, No. 3080, 1st Life Guards, 3rd s. of William Pye, of Jeskyns Court, Cobham, Gravesend, Farmer and Landowner, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late William Miskin; b. Cuxton, Rochester, co. Kent, 12 Aug. 1892; educ. Thanet College, Margate; was a Manager of Farms at Cuxton and Cobham, but after the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, joined the 1st Life Guards, 5 Sept. following; went to France, 1 Nov. 1914; took part in the fighting during the winter of 1914–15, and was killed in action in the advance trenches near Ypres, 13 May, 1915; unm. He was buried on the battlefield about 1½ miles from Ypres, on the Ypres-Menin Road. An officer wrote: “Your son was in my troop from the time he came up from the base, and I have never known any man who was more liked and respected by all his comrades, myself included. He was always an example to everybody by his cheerfulness and the way he did his work, and the troop feel his loss very much”; and a comrade: “He was an exceedingly brave man, he never showed any sign of fear, and was always one of the first to volunteer for any dangerous or disagreeable job.”

PYE, REGINALD EBE, Rifleman, No. 3847, 1/18th Battn. (London Irish Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd s. of Ebenezer Clayton Pye, of 8, Britten Street, Chelsea, S.W., by his wife, Elizabeth Emma, dau. of William (and Elizabeth) Allsup; b. Chelsea, 8 Oct. 1896; educ. Marlborough Road L.C.C. School there; was Page to the Hon. Mr. Gathorne Hardy, of Cadogan Square, then to Dr. McConnell, of Hampstead; when 17 years old he was apprenticed to motor trade, and got his licence for driving the Saturday before war broke out; joined the London Irish Rifles in March, 1914; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in the Aug. following; went to France, 1 Sept. 1915, and was killed in action during the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915.

PYEFINCH, LEONARD THOMAS, Private, No. 7861, 1st Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 20 Oct. 1914.

PYMAN, JAMES, Capt., 3rd Battn. The Border Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., yr. s. of the late James Pyman, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Shipowner, by his wife, Emily, dau. of the late John Sutcliffe, of Stallingbro’ Manor, Lincoln; b. Newcastle-on-Tyne, 12 Aug. 1883; educ. Mill Hill and Hamelin, near Hanover; gazetted Lieut. 3rd (Militia) Borderers, 20 May, 1903, and Capt., 19 May, 1906; later joined the Reserve of Officers, but on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, rejoined his regt.; went to France, 14 Oct. 1914, attd. to the 2nd Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., and was killed in action near Hooge, 18 Nov. following, by a high-explosive shell; unm.

QUEGAN, JOHN, Private, No. 2009, 11th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 2nd s. of William Quegan, of Kinnitty, King’s County, Labourer, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Terence Higgins; b. Kinnitty aforesaid, 20 Oct. 1890; educ. Kinnitty National School; went to Australia in April, 1912, and worked on the Trans-Australian Railway; volunteered after the outbreak of war and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in Dec. and died on board H.M. hospital ship Sicilia, 6 Aug. 1915, from wounds received in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli; unm.

QUICK, ROBERT GEORGE, Private, No. 2197, 4th Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of Robert Ernest Quick, L.-Corpl. No. 20592, Oxford and Bucks L.I., by his wife, Leonora (5, Stirling Road, Higham Hill, Walthamstow), dau. of George Bush; b. Higham Hill, Walthamstow, 30 Aug. 1896; educ. Higham Hill Council and the Higher Elementary (Scholar) Schools, there; was an apprentice to the wood machining; volunteered and joined the 4th City of London Royal Fusiliers, 10 Aug. 1914; sailed for Malta, 4 Sept. following; went to France from there early in 1915, and was killed in action at Ypres, 27 April, 1915; unm. Sergt.-Major Birch wrote speaking highly of him.

QUIGLEY, HUGH DOMINIC, S.B.A., M. 5012, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

QUIN, JAMES EDWARD, Private, No. 24640, 13th Battn. (5th Royal Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force, elder s. of James Quin, of Corbally House, Limerick, J.P., Merchant, head of the firm of John Quin & Co., of Limerick, by his wife, Marian Frances, dau. of Nicholas James Lalor, of 33, FitzWilliam Place, Dublin, J.P.; b. 70, George Street, Limerick, 24 Nov. 1888; educ. Stonyhurst College and Louvain University (where he obtained his degree “faculté de droit”), and went to Canada in April, 1912; was a Salesman with Lindsay & Co., Montreal. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he immediately proceeded to Valcartier, and joined the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada; came over with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; trained on Salisbury Plain, and went to the Front in Feb. 1915. He was reported missing after the Second Battle of Ypres, 22 April, 1915, when his battn. defended the cross-roads at Ypres, refusing to surrender, in spite of nearly all their number being killed, badly wounded, or taken prisoners, and he is now officially stated to have been killed in this action; unm. A comrade wrote: “I don’t think I ever met a more good-natured, generous hearted and unselfish fellow.... No words of mine would fit tribute to his memory.... I know he was thought a lot of by his superiors”; and another: “He was always given the most dangerous tasks to perform, and to my knowledge he always performed them ably and well.”

QUIN, SIDNEY JOHN, 2nd Writer, 347163, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

QUIN, THOMAS, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5827), S.S. 100714, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

QUINN, HENRY, Private No. 2013, 9th Battn. Durham L.I. (T.F.), s. of the late Charles Quinn, by his wife, (—) (45, Renforth Street, Dunston), dau. of (—); b. Teams, 27 Aug. 1893; educ. St. Philip’s R.C. School, Dunston; enlisted July, 1914; went to France, April, 1915, and was killed in action, 5 July, following; unm.

QUINN, JAMES, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8259), 293970, R.N., s. of Michael Quinn, Sugar Boiler in McFies, Liverpool; b. Liverpool, 10 April, 1878; educ. St. Joseph’s School, Liverpool; served 12 years in the Royal Navy, including the operations in China at the time of the Boxer rebellion, and lost his life in H.M.S. Cressy, when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. He was well known as the sailor “Handcuff King,” being a popular exponent of the trick of freeing himself from handcuffs and leg irons; he on several occasions demonstrated before Dover audiences, jumping from the Prince of Wales Pier Head while manacled at the wrists and legs, and in a few seconds coming to the surface entirely free from all encumbrances. He was a bearer at King Edward’s Funeral and received a memorial medal from King George V. He m. at Liverpool, 5 June, 1905, Mary Ellen (36 Boundary Street East, Liverpool, N.), dau. of Arthur Quinn, and had two sons: Arthur William, b. 21 Jan. 1909 (d. young); and James, b. 14 Jan. 1914.

QUINN, JAMES, Private, No. 1726, 3rd Battn. Durham L.I., s. of Joseph Quinn, of Sunderland, by his wife, Jane, dau. of Carry Plunkett; b. Ryhope, co. Durham, 1885; educ. Ryhope Elementary School; enlisted in the D.L.I. about 1903; served eight years with the Colours and then joined the Reserve; mobilised 4 Aug. 1914; went to France in Oct., and was killed in action by a hand grenade, 4 June, 1915, while on guard at Ypres. He m. at St. Patrick’s Church, Sunderland, 5 Feb. 1908, Elizabeth (17, Sussex Street, Sunderland), dau. of John Cassidy, and had three children: Patrick James Cassidy, b. 16 June, 1912; Joseph Cassidy, b. 14 Dec. 1914; and Elizabeth Jane Cassidy, b. 17 Feb. 1909.

QUIRK, ROBERT, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9517), S.S. 106877, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

QUOGEN, VICTOR WILLIAM, Stoker, R.N.R., U. 1368, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

QUY, TERENCE EDWARD DANIEL, Rifleman, No. 2447, 12th Battn. (The Rangers) London Regt. (T.F.), eldest s. of Daniel Arthur Quy, of 4, Formosa Street, Paddington, Grocer, by his wife, Mary Charlotte, dau. of Thomas (and Mary) Helier, of Woolwich; b. Paddington; educ. Longford House School, Margate, and the Polytechnic, Regent Street; enlisted in The Rangers on the outbreak of war, Aug. 1914; went to the Front with them in Dec., and was killed in action at Zonnebeke, 18 April, 1915; unm. Writing to his father, Capt. A. H. Arbuthnot said: “The Poly. Company went up to the trenches on the night of the 17th. and the next morning it was our duty to support by our fire a small attack that was being carried out by the battn. on our left. Your son was doing his part nobly when I deeply grieve to say, as he was firing over the parpapet, a bullet from the enemy struck him in the head. Death was instantaneous, so I am thankful to say he suffered no pain. That same night we buried him with three other comrades of his company in a little cemetery about 100 yards behind the trenches, and the spot is marked by a neat plain wooden cross.”

RACKHAM, ERNEST, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7267), 291149, H.M.S. Hogue, lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

RADCLIFF, HERBERT TRAVERS, Capt., 5th (Reserve), attd. 1st, Battn. Leinster Regt., 2nd s. of the late George Edward Radcliff, of Wilmount, Kells. co. Meath, by his wife, Emma May Alexandria, dau. of John Travers Madden, of Inch House, Balbriggan; b. Kells, 11 Aug. 1882; educ. Royal School, Armagh; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Leinster Regt., 27 Oct. 1906; promoted Lieut. and Capt. 10 Feb. 1913; went to France, 6 March, 1915, attd. to 1st Battn., and was killed in action at St. Eloi, 15 March following; unm. Lieut.-Col. A. B. Prowse, commanding 1st Leinster Regt., wrote: “He was holding a trench which had a garrison of 30 men, and which was attacked by 100 Germans at, or soon after, dawn. He was killed instantaneously by a bullet which struck him in the head, and could have suffered no pain. I may add that the Germans were beaten off with a loss of 34 killed alone. During the few days he has been with us he has proved himself a brave and gallant officer, and we deplore the loss of a good comrade, and offer you a whole-hearted sympathy”; and Lieut. C. I. Mackay, of the 5th Battn.: “I was with him when he was killed. He was my company commander both here and in Passage, and, like all the men of the company, I would have done anything for him. He always thought of the men first and afterwards himself, and it was through this unselfishness he met his death. Some one said the Germans were leaving their trench to attack, and no one looked out, so he looked over and was hit. He suffered no pain whatever. He was buried on Monday night, and we have handed all his things to the Quartermaster, who will send them to you in a few weeks. I only know too well how useless it is to express sympathy, but I have taken this opportunity of expressing not only my own sympathy, but that of all the men of the company, who had grown to love him, even in the few days under his command.”

RADCLIFFE, JOHN, Private, No. 12647, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, eldest s. of Thomas Craine Radcliffe, of Roslyn Boarding House, Isle of Man, Joiner, by his wife, Mary, dau. of George Towle, of Derby; b. Ramsey, 11 June, 1893; educ. Wesleyan Day School there; was a clerk in the office of Messrs. Dickenson, Cruikshank & Co., Advocates; enlisted 15 Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Cuinchy, 25 Jan. 1915; unm.

RADCLIFFE, SAMUEL, Gunner T., H.M.S. Laurel; killed in action in the Heligoland Bight, 28 Aug. 1914.

WILSON-RAE, REGINALD, Lieut., 3rd Battn. East Surrey Regt., eldest s. of William Wilson-Rae, of The Warren, Strawberry Vale, Twickenham, Landed Proprietor, by his wife, Felicia Benigna Iza, dau. of Felician Faleçki, a Baron of Poland; b. London, 12 Jan. 1891; educ. Mostyn House, Parkgate (Ches.) and Liverpool University; was attd. to the Statistical Department of the firm of Magniac Williamson & Co., Stockbrokers, London; joined the London University O.T.C. in 1913; gazetted 2nd Lieut., in the 3rd East Surrey Regt., 15 Aug. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 2 Feb. 1915; went to France, 19 Dec. 1914, and was attd. to the 1st S. Staffordshire Regt.; served with them until 22 March, when he rejoined his own regt., and was killed in action 2½ miles south of Ypres, on the 30th of that month, while leading a bombing party; unm. Buried at Voormezeele. He had been specially recommended by his commanding officer for his conduct in charge of night patrols and in the firing line. He was a fine all-round athlete, being a member of both the Vesta Rowing Club and Twickenham Football Club, and had won many prizes for rowing, cycling and shooting.

RADMALL, STUART, L.-Corpl., No. 10009, 1st, attd. 2nd Battn. Wiltshire Regt., yst. s. of John Henry Radmall, of Chingford, by his wife, Edith Anna, dau. of Josiah Griffin, of Blackheath; b. Chingford, co. Essex, 7 March, 1896; educ. Forest School, where he was in the O.T.C.; enlisted after the outbreak of war, 24 Aug. 1914; was promoted L.-Corpl., and went to France, 27 Nov. following; served in several engagements with the 1st Battn. till 27 Jan., when he was taken ill and sent to the Base Hospital at Rouen, where he remained for six weeks; on recovery joined the 2nd Battn., and was killed in action at Givenchy, 15 June, 1915; unm.

RAILSTON, SPENCER JULIAN WILFRED, Lieut., 18th King George’s Own Lancers, Indian Army, attd. 4th Dragoon Guards, 1914, yr. s. of Col. Henry Edward Railston, of Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, late Cameronians, by his wife, Magdalen, dau. of the Rev. Charles Edward Oakley, Rector of Wickwar, co. Glos., and subsequently of St. Paul’s, Covent Garden, by his wife, Lady Georgina, née Moreton, eldest dau. of Henry George Francis, 2nd Earl of Ducie; b. Hamilton, co. Lanark, 8 Jan. 1889, and was educ. at Radley College, from where he passed direct into Sandhurst at the age of 17, and passed out tenth in 1907. He won the Champion Cup for gymnastics at his Public School, and represented it in the Boxing Competition at Aldershot, and both at his Public School and at Sandhurst he was in the cricket XI. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. unattd. Indian Army, 17 Aug. 1907, and was attd. for his first year to his father’s regt., the Cameronians. Soon after joining, while in India, he entered without any training for the Lightweight Boxing Championship of India, and won it. At the expiration of a year he was appointed to the 18th K.G.O. Lancers, and played in their polo team. He was a good big game shot and a good steeplechase rider. When riding a steeplechase at Jubbulpore, a few months before his death, his girths broke after the first fence. He managed to pull the saddle and weight cloth from under him and rode the remaining 2¼ miles bareback, carrying them on his arm, and notwithstanding the horse falling once, he finished the course. He was promoted Lieut. 17 Nov. 1909, and after going through the cavalry course at Sangor came home on a year’s leave in 1914, and played polo through the London season in Count de Madre’s team (The Tigers). He was to have become Adjutant of his regt. on the expiration of his leave, but the European War broke out, and he at once volunteered for active service, and was attd. to the 4th Dragoon Guards, with whom he went to the Front and served with them through the battle of Mons, and all subsequent actions till he was killed at Messines, Belgium, on 1 Nov. 1914. The Major-General Commanding the 1st Cavalry Division sent the following account of Lieut. Railston’s death to his father: “I am deeply grieved at the death of your gallant boy, who on every occasion of this war has so distinguished himself. He is a great loss to his regt. He lost his life by a gallant act. His regt. was holding one-half of the village of Messines, south of Ypres, and the Germans the other half for 24 hours. In front of his troop a poor woman was lying wounded, and your boy left his cover to bring her in. He was struck by many bullets and killed. Had he lived he would certainly have been mentioned in despatches.” Another officer wrote: “His loss will be felt by the whole Cavalry Brigade, as he has been simply splendid through all these trying times, always cheery, and full of go, and ready to take on anything. Surely when the war is over, there will be no more gallant act than that to write of, and we are all so proud of him.” A memorial tablet was erected to his memory in Tortworth Parish Church. Gloucestershire.

RAILTON, ARTHUR TEMPLE, Lieut., 1/4th (Ross Highland) Battn. Seaforth Highlanders (T.F.), elder s. of Joseph Arthur Railton, of Woodburn, Buxton, by his wife, Alice Temple, dau. of James Mawson; b. 29 Nov. 1890; educ. Denstone College, Oundle School, and Glasgow University (where he obtained his B.Sc. degree in naval architecture, and served five years in the O.T.C.); volunteered on the outbreak of war and was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 4th Seaforth Highlanders, 2 Sept. 1914; went to the Front 5 Nov following, his Battn. being attd. to the Meerut, and then to the Lahore, Indian Division, with which latter he served through the Battle of Neuve Chapelle; was wounded in the attack at Aubers Ridge, France, 9 May, 1915, and killed by a shell a few hours later while lying helpless near the German trenches. Buried in the orchard at Vieille Chapelle, between two of his brother officers; unm. His commanding officer wrote; “He was as brave and gallant as anyone who has ever worn a uniform, and he simply did not know what fear was.... Had he been spared he would have gone very far in his profession as a soldier. He fell, as I am sure he wished, at the head of his men, who may and probably did equal him in bravery and gallantry, but who could not possibly surpass him in either.” His promotion to the rank of temporary Lieut. to rank as from 1 Nov. 1914, was announced the day before he fell.

RAINBIRD, JOHN, Private, No. 6365, 2nd Battn. Royal Irish Rifles, s. of John Rainbird, of 9, Ravensdon Street, Kennington; b. Fulham, 15 Jan. 1883; educ. North End Road Board School there; enlisted 11 June, 1901, served seven years with the Colours and then passed into the Reserve; was called up on mobilisation 5 Aug. 1914; went to France, 14 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action near Kemmel, 2 May, 1915. Buried at Dickebusch. He m. at St. Pancras, 6 April, 1910, Clara Frances (37, College Place, Camden Town, N.), dau. of William Gibaud, and had two children: Hilda Kathleen, b. 26 July, 1911, d. 18 April, 1914; and Edith Pansy, b. 31 Oct. 1912.

RAINES, CHARLES FREDERICK, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4733), 296016, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

RAINHAM, JOHN THOMAS, Trooper, No. 9/747, 5th Otago Mounted Rifles, New Zealand Expeditionary Force, yst. s. of Henry Rainham, of Otago, Central N.Z., Miner; b. Otago, N.Z., 24 Jan. 1871; was employed by the Dunedin Drainage Board as a licensed Drainer; was a member of the Dunedin City Guards, serving with them till they disbanded; volunteered and joined the New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 22 Oct. 1914; left for Egypt with the second reinforcements, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 27 Aug. 1915. He m. at Roxburgh 13 June, 1892, Mary, dau. of Patrick (and Margaret) Galvin, and had two sons; John, b. 18 Sept. 1893; and William, b. 8 Sept. 1894, who both volunteered for Imperial service. The elder was severely wounded at Anzac Cove, and the younger met with an accident while in camp which prevented his accompanying his battn. to the Front.

RALEIGH, GEORGE HEBDEN, Brevet Major, 1st Battn. Essex Regt., and Commander, 4th Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, yr. s. of William Thorp Raleigh, of Goronga, Pakenham Upper, Victoria, by his wife, Matilda Jane, dau. of George Hebden; b. Melbourne, Australia, 30 June, 1878; educ. C.E. Grammar School, Geelong, and Melbourne University; and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 15 Nov. 1899, and promoted Lieut. 11 March, 1900, Capt. 8 Jan. 1908, and Brevet Major 22 June, 1914. He served in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in the operations in Cape Colony, south of Orange River, 1899–1900, including actions at Colesberg (1–29 Jan.); the advance on, and relief of, Kimberley; in the operations in the Orange Free State, including operations at Paardeberg (17–26 Feb.); actions at Poplar Grove, Dreifontein, where he was dangerously wounded; Vet River (5–6 May) and Zand River; operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Diamond Hill (11 and 12 June); operations in the Transvaal, east of Pretoria, including actions at Frederickstad (17–25 Oct.); operations in the Transvaal and Cape Colony, 30 Nov. 1900, 31 May, 1902; during which actions he was with the Mounted Infantry, and received the Queen’s medal with six clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He then served with his regt. in India, Burma and Baluchistan for about eight years. On his return to England he did duty at Warley with the 3rd Essex Regt. (the old Essex Rifles Militia), where he gave great attention to flying, and was attd. to the Air Battn. R.E., 10 April-12 May, 1912, at Farnborough, and later was appointed to command the 4th Aeroplane Squadron at Durrington on Salisbury Plain. He went to the Front about 13 Aug. 1914; carried out air work at Mons, the Marne, the Aisne and Ypres, and was killed at Dunkirk, 20 Jan. 1915, by the falling of his aeroplane, after his return from a raid on Ostend on the night of the 19th; unm. Buried in Dunkirk Cemetery. While on Salisbury Plain Major Raleigh flew from there, in two stages, to France, and many of his flights were exceptional both for speed and altitude. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 19 Oct.], 1914, and again after his death in that of 31 May [London Gazette, 22 June], 1915.

RALPH, CHARLES WILLIAM, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 7430), S.S. 102654, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

RALPH, FREDERICK GEORGE, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4812), 296311, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.

RAMBERG, KARL ANDRES, A.B., J. 14096, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

RAMSAY, ALEXANDER, Lieut., 5th Battn. Royal Fusiliers, attd. 1st Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., elder s. of the Rev. Alexander Ramsay, B.D., Minister of the Highgate Presbyterian Church, London, N., by his wife, Ella Euphemia Barbara, dau. of the Rev. William Clark, of Barshead; b. Coatbridge, co. Lanark, 9 Aug. 1887; educ. City of London School, and Caius College, Cambridge, and on leaving there entered the Board of Education as a Junior Examiner; gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Reserve of Officers, 10 June, 1912, promoted Lieut. 25 March, 1915; was attd. to the 5th Royal Fusiliers on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France with the 1st Warwickshires, 21 Oct.; served in the trenches at Houplines, St. Yvon and Messines, and died a prisoner of war in a German Field Hospital, at Roulers, 28 April following, from wounds received in action at St. Julien, on the 25th, during the Second Battle of Ypres. Buried at Roulers. His Col. wrote: “He died gallantly leading his men against the German trenches on 25 April. He had done many gallant deeds since he has been with us, and we have all learnt his value as a man and as an officer”; and his Capt., who was wounded in the same engagement: “I had the luck to have him as one of my subalterns, and got to know him intimately since 1 Feb. I liked him immensely, and so did everyone else in the Battn. There was no one who looked after his men or got to know them like he did. I did not see him killed, but I feel sure he died a gallant death, leading his men in the attack in which we all suffered so.” A fellow officer, now (1916) on Headquarters Staff, also wrote: “Ramsay came to me when he first joined the Royal Warwicks, my regt., and I have no words to express the admiration I have always felt for him. He has been splendid out here, and I know all my men loved him, and we are all feeling his death as a personal loss. When I left my regt. and came to the Brigade Staff he asked me to write to you if anything happened, and that is how I know your address. He was thought highly of by everyone, and I know that his name has already gone forward in the honours list made up by the General some weeks ago.” While at Cambridge he took a double first (classics and history), was President of the Union, and obtained the Winchester Reading Prize.

RAMSAY, LEWIS NEIL GRIFFITT, M.A., B.Sc., 2nd Lieut., 3rd (Special Reserve), attd. 2nd Battn. Gordon Highlanders, 2nd s. of Sir William Mitchell Ramsay, of 41, Braid Avenue, Edinburgh, formerly Professor of Humanity in Aberdeen University, Professor of Classical Archæology in Oxford, Victoria Gold Medallist of the Royal Geographical Society, Medallist of the Royal Scottish Geographical Society, and one of the original Fellows of the British Academy, by his wife, Agnes Dick, 2nd dau. of the Rev. William Marshall, of Kirkintilloch; b. Aberdeen, 3 Feb. 1890; educ. Merchiston Castle School, Edinburgh; Aberdeen University; Christ’s College, Cambridge, and the Imperial College of Science. He graduated M.A. at Aberdeen in 1910 and B.Sc. in 1913, with special distinction in Botany, and was about to submit a piece of research work for his Cambridge B.A. During 1914 he acted as Assistant to the Professor of Natural History at Aberdeen, and shortly before the outbreak of war he had been made a Beit Memorial Fellow and had begun work at the Imperial College. He had been a keen Volunteer and Territorial, and applied for a commission on 11 Aug. 1914; rejoined his old unit, the 4th Battn. Gordon Highlanders (T.F.), as a Private early in Sept. 1914, and was at once promoted to his former rank of Colour-Sergt. In reward for his services in drilling he was (18 Nov.) given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battn., and early in Dec. was sent to France to the 2nd Battn., then at the Front. He was killed in action on Sunday, 21 March, 1915. His Battn. had taken part in, and suffered loss at, the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and were engaged in consolidating the position after the battle when he was shot by a sniper. He became engaged a few weeks before war began to V. Grace, dau. of the late Major Ferguson, I.M.S., and of Mrs. Ferguson, Aberdeen, and granddau. of Colonel Hunter, C.B., C.S.I. His orderly wrote: “On 21 March, about noon, I placed out in the sun a chair for him to write a letter while I was making his lunch, and about ten minutes after a man of our company was struck on the head at a low part of our trench, so Mr. Ramsay jumped up at once and went and dressed him. That was what caused his death. He knew it was a very dangerous part, but that was always his first thought, the safety of his men. So Mr. Ramsay gathered together all sandbags which were lying about, and started to put them up. It was while doing that that he was struck by a sniper. As soon as he fell I was beside him, for he was only working at about a few yards from me at the time. I got out his field dressing and bandaged him up the best I could, then I sent for the Doctor, who arrived a few minutes after; but he was beyond all aid. We made him as comfortable as possible until the end. He was unconscious the whole five hours and passed away peacefully. It was a great blow to his platoon for they thought the world of him, and myself I knew had lost a great friend and good master. He was taken away at night by the stretcher-bearers and buried in Estaires with full military honours, and laid to rest beside our dear old Col.” [Grave No. 524.] He had been a devoted student of field Zoology, and especially ornithology, from his earliest childhood, and had amassed a great amount of data regarding the ornis of Aberdeenshire. On the more technical side may be mentioned his notes on the moult of the herring-gull and on the collections made by the Scottish National Antarctic Expedition. He himself had travelled considerably, and had made valuable collections not only of birds but also of mammals, insects, and botanical specimens in various places, notably in Asia Minor in the summer of 1907. In addition to his work on birds, Mr. Ramsay left unfinished a “Revision of the Nereidac,” a piece of work which was expected by competent judges who knew its substance to become a classical paper on that group of marine worms. Latterly he had turned to entomology with a view to studying it from the economic side. A list of his published work appears in “British Birds,” IX, 1, 1915, p. 17 f., prepared by his friend, Lieut. A. L. Thomson, A. and S.H. He played the Highland pipes well, and was a member of the Aberdeen Pipers Society. He represented Aberdeen University for several years in long distance running and in swimming.

RAMSDEN, ARTHUR, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6557), 186587, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

RANCE, WILLIAM JOHN, Petty Officer, 201566, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

RANCOMBE, MARCUS ERNEST WILLIAM, Private, No. 1593, 1/3rd Battn. Monmouthshire Regt. (T.F.), only s. of William John Rancombe, of 15, Cwm Cottages, Abertillery, co. Monmouth, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Amos Buckle, of Waddesdon, Bucks; b. Abertillery, 14 April, 1895; educ. there; joined the 3rd Monmouthshire’s Territorial Regt., 25 June, 1913, and prior to the outbreak of the war was engaged at the Six Bells Colliery. He volunteered for foreign service; went to the Front, 16 Feb. 1915; was badly wounded in action near Messines Ridge, 16 March, 1915, and died at Bailleul, on Easter Monday, 5 April following; unm. He was buried in Bailleul Cemetery. His Company Officer wrote that he was one of his most reliable and useful men, a thorough good shot, signaller and despatch rider, one who could ill be spared.

RANDALL, GEORGE EDWARD, Private, No. 2093, 14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), yr. s. of Charles William Randall, of Barton Bendish, Alderton Hill, Loughton, co. Essex, Merchant, by his wife, Emma, dau. of Edward Witton, of South Lopham, co. Norfolk; b. Norwich, 29 Feb. 1892; educ. Sidcup College; was engaged in his father’s business as Managing Director of Hamburg (German) branch and Director of C. W. Randall & Co., Ltd., London; joined the London Scottish, 15 June, 1914; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug., went to France 15 Sept. with the first batch of Territorials to leave for the Front, and was killed in action at Messines, 1 Nov. following, during the famous charge of the London Scottish; unm. Buried there. A window was erected to his memory in Woodford Parish Church.

RANDALL, WILLIAM ARTHUR, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 6831, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

RANDELL, CHARLES WESTLEY, Petty Officer, 1st Class, 196243, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

RANDLE, DONALD, Rifleman, No. 2916, 21st Battn. (1st Surry Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. s. of the late George Beavis Randle, W.G., Manufacturers’ Agent, by his wife, Sarah (Shandwick, Hazelwood Lane, Palmer’s Green, N.), dau. of the late John Mitchell, of Dorking, Norfolk; b. Wood Green, 13 March, 1894; educ. there; was a Clerk with Messrs. Kirwan & Co., Hatton Garden; volunteered after the outbreak of war, and joined the Surrey Rifles in Sept. 1914; went to France, 15 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Givenchy, 25 May following; unm. Four of his brothers are on active service; the eldest an officer in A.S.C., another in R.F.C., and two in Royal Bucks Hussars.

RANGECROFT, WILLIAM EDWARD, Acting Chief Stoker, 283745, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

RANDS, WILLIAM FREDERICK, Rifleman, No. 3057, 1/16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), only s. of William Rands, of 108, Florence Road, Wimbledon; b. Battersea, 12 Feb. 1892; educ. Queen’s Road School, Wimbledon, and on leaving there in 1906 entered the shipping firm of Messrs. McEwan & Co., of 97, Cannon Street, E.C., in whose employ he was when war broke out in Aug. 1914; volunteered and joined the Queen’s Westminsters, 4 Sept. 1914; went to France with the first draft; was wounded in action at Armentières 3 May following, and died two days later in No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station; unm. Buried in the Bailleul Annex (Grave No. 816).

RANKEN, HARRY SHERWOOD, V.C., Capt., Royal Army Medical Corps, elder s. of the Rev. Henry Ranken, B.D., Minister of Irvine, by his wife, Helen, dau. of Mathew Morton; b. Glasgow, 3 Sept. 1883; educ. Irvine Royal Academy and Glasgow University, where he graduated M.B., Ch.B. “with commendation” in 1905, and became M.R.C.P., London, 1910; was for some time House Physician and House Surgeon, Western Infirmary, Glasgow, and Assistant Medical Officer, Brook Fever Hospital, Metropolitan Asylums Board; gazetted Lieut., R.A.M.C., 30 Jan. 1909, and promoted Capt. 30 July, 1912; transferred to Egyptian Army, Aug. 1911; Member of the Sudan Government Sleeping Sickness Commission, and in charge of the Sleeping Sickness Camp at Yei, Western Mongalla, 1911–14; came home on leave, July, 1914, and volunteered for war service, and was restored to British establishment, Aug. 1914; went to the Front, 12 Aug. 1914, attd. to the 1st King’s Royal Rifle Corps; created a Knight of the Legion of Honour by the President of the French Republic “for gallant conduct from 21 to 28 Aug. 1914,” and decorated with the Victoria Cross [London Gazette, 16 Nov. 1914] “for tending wounded in the trenches under rifle and shrapnel fire at Hautevesnes on 19 Sept. and on 20 Sept., continuing to attend to wounded after his thigh and leg had been shattered”; died of his wounds at Braisne, 25 Sept. 1914; unm. The Times History of the War, Pt. 41, p. 44, says: “It is a safe statement that no man ever won the Victoria Cross more nobly than did Capt. Harry Sherwood Ranken, R.A.M.C. Capt. Ranken was severely wounded in the leg whilst attending to his duties on the battlefield. He arrested the bleeding from this, and bound it up, and then continued to dress the wounds of his men, sacrificing his chances of salvation to their needs. When finally he permitted himself to be carried to the rear, his case had become almost desperate. He died within a short period.” Col. Northey, commanding 1st Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, wrote to his parents of his personal loss and the loss the whole Battn. has sustained. Several other of his brother officers wrote in the same strain. The P.M.O. of the Egyptian Army regarded his death as a great loss to science. Sir William Leishman deplored the loss of a friend, and wrote of him as a man who thought nothing of doing three men’s work. In collaboration with Dr. H. E. Plimmer and Capt. Fry he prepared a series of “Reports on the Experimental Treatment of Trypanosomiasis.”

RANKEN, JOHN, Corpl., No. 1839, A Coy., 1/4th Battn. The Royal Scots (T.F.), 3rd s. of William Ranken, of 11, Spence Street, Edinburgh, Glass Manufacturer, surviving partner of John Ford & Co., of Edinburgh, by his wife, Pauline Catherine, elder dau. of the late William Ford, of Ferreyside, Liberton, Midlothian; b. Edinburgh, 13 March, 1881; educ. George Watson’s College there (1886–98); was apprenticed to Messrs. Belfrage & Carfrae, C.E., Edinburgh, later seeking further professional experience in the west of Scotland and in the north of England, and eventually became Director and Joint Manager of the firm of Firth, Dunlop, and Ranken, Leeds, one of the largest steel stock firms in the north of England. He joined the Queen’s Edinburgh Rifle Volunteer Brigade, Royal Scots, on 16 Nov. 1899; served with them till 6 Jan. 1904, and on the outbreak of war, rejoined his coy. on 5 Aug. 1914; went to the Dardanelles 13 June, and on 28 June brilliantly led a bombing party in a successful attack on the Turkish trenches, and for his conduct was mentioned in Gen. Ian Hamilton’s Despatch [London Gazette, 5 Nov. 1915]; wounded in this attack he might, with honour, have sought hospital shelter, but he hung on and subsequently died before reaching the Hospital Ship, 29 June, 1915; unm. The following passage occurs in “The Story of the Royal Scots” (p. 243), “Bomb-throwing played an important part in the action, and is shown by the account of Private Herbert T. Grant, of B Coy.: ‘I noticed a communication trench at right angles to the one we held, and a little further down choked with Turks, so I grabbed the bag of bombs again and went down to the place. Fortunately Corpl. Ranken (Grenade Corpl.) was there, and we threw them at the Turks as fast as I could light them. There was an explosion which sent me flying. I managed to crawl up the trench a bit, and a fellow bandaged me up.’” Buried in Gulley Beach Cemetery. As a school boy he was a keen cyclist; captained his school club, and carried off its chief awards at the sports, under the auspices of that club, held at Powderhall in 1898. He was a well-known International runner in Scottish cross-country championships; captained the first Scottish cross-country International team, and represented his country on five or six different occasions; twice won the Scottish cross-country championship, and several times ran for Scotland in the International athletic championship against Ireland in the one mile and four miles events.