Gilbert Thomas Baskerville.
BASKERVILLE, HEDLEY, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2418), 204437, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BASNETT, JOHN, Corpl., No. 2801, D Coy., 8th (Service) Battn. Rifle Brigade, s. of John Basnett, of 14, Clement Street, Taylorson Street, Salford, Manchester, Labourer, by his wife, Emily, dau. of John Gallop; b. Bristol, 1 Sept. 1890; educ. Ordsall Board School, Salford; was employed at the Westinghouse Works, Trafford Park, but after the outbreak of war joined the Rifle Brigade, 31 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Hooge, 30 July, 1915; unm. His Capt., A. C. Sheepshanks, wrote that after the action he was found to be missing, and must have been struck down in the charge that day, adding: “He was turning out a most useful and reliable N.C.O.”
John Basnett.
BASS, HENRY, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 6800, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
BASSETT, VICTOR CHARLES, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26732, H.M.S. Hawke, s. of Isaac Bassett, of 12, Furnival Road, Sheffield; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.
BASTARD, REGINALD GEORGE, Officers’ Chief Steward, 362308 (Devon.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BASTARD, WILLIAM, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., s. of William Bastard, of Coltscombe, Slapton, near Kingsbridge, South Devon, by his wife, Helen, 2nd dau. of Joshua Edward Adkins; b. Coltscombe, 20 April, 1891; educ. Plymouth (Miss Tubbs’ preparatory school), Blundells’, and Exeter College, Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 22 Jan. 1913; was in South Africa at the outbreak of war, came home in Sept., was promoted Lieut. the 30th of that month, went to the front on 4 Oct., and was killed in action at Gheluvelt a few days later, 26 Oct. 1914; unm. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. The following remarks were received by his mother from Col. Coates—6 Nov. 1914. “From the day he joined I recognised that your son was one of the best types of officers—very keen on his work, thoroughly sensible, and willing to take responsibility. I always had him in my eye as being well fitted for the Adjutancy later on.”
William Bastard.
BATCHELOR, BENJAMIN EDWIN, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111822, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BATCHELOR, GEORGE, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5069), 177988, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BATCHELOR, HAROLD JAMES, Flight Sub-Lieut., Royal Naval Air Service, 3rd s. of Capt. (—) Batchelor; was in the merchant service; obtained his commission Nov. 1914; was killed in the Dardanelles 11 May, 1915; unm.
BATE, THOMAS HENRY, P.O., 2nd Class (R.F.R., A. 1815), 134972, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BATEMAN, CLAUDE JOHN, Private, No. 391, 7th Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, s. of F. Bateman, of Wainfleet, Lincolnshire; killed in action at the Dardanelles, 2 June, 1915.
BATEMAN, FRANK, A.B., R.F.R. (B. 2845, S.S. 184), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BATEMAN, WILLIAM THOMAS, Private, No. 748, 16th Battn. Australian Imperial Force; d. 15 May, 1915, of wounds received in action at the Dardanelles.
BATES, FRANK, Private, No. 2020, 4th Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.); d. at Cuckfield 31 Jan. 1915, of heart failure, while training.
BATES, GEORGE, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9776), 210136, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BATES, JAMES CHRISTOPHER, Private, No. 11259, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of Joseph Bates, of 113, Woodland Street, Smethwick, co. Stafford; served with Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; reported missing 22 Dec. 1914, and now assumed to have been killed in action on that date.
BATES, STANES GEOFFREY, Capt., 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, and Adjutant, North Somersetshire Yeomanry, only s. of Gilbert Thompson Bates, tenant of Mells Park, Frome, Somerset, J.P. [2nd s. of Sir Edward Bates, 1st Bt., M.P.], by his wife, Charlotte Thaxter, dau. of George Warren, of Woolton; b. London, 2 June, 1884; educ. Farnborough, Winchester, and Sandhurst. He joined the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, 22 April, 1903, and was promoted Lieut. 27 April, 1907, and Capt. 11 May, 1912. He spent two and a-half years in South Africa, and returned with his regt. in Dec. 1906, when they were quartered at Norwich and afterwards at Aldershot. In Oct. 1911 the regt. went to Bangalore, where he remained until July, 1913, when he returned to England on leave, shortly afterwards (1 Nov.) receiving the Adjutancy of the North Somersetshire Yeomanry. He went to the front with this regt. and was wounded at Vlamertinghe during the 1st battle of Ypres, 16 Nov. 1914, but was able to return to the front from the Base Hospital in a few days. At the 2nd battle of Ypres he was killed instantaneously in the trenches at Hooge by a shell explosion, 13 May, 1915; unm. He was buried there the same day, amid a few trees behind the line held by the North Somersets. For their conduct on this occasion the North Somersets were specially mentioned in Despatches. He was much beloved by his men in both regts., and his loss deeply regretted by his Colonel and brother officers in the 7th Hussars. A good all-round sportsman and well-known with the Blackmore Vale Hounds.
Stanes Geoffrey Bates.
BATES, STANLEY KNIGHT, Lieut., 5th Battn. The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.), yr. s. of Lieut.-Col. John Henry Bates, late 2nd in command of the same regt., formerly of Fir Bank, Penrith, Manager of the Penrith branch of the Liverpool Bank, by his wife, Sarah Eleanor, dau. of the late William Knight, of Milnthorpe, co. Westmorland; b. Morcambe, co. Lancaster, 19 June, 1897; educ. Lancaster Royal Grammar School in which he was House Prefect, and an Ashton House Exhibitioner. On the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in his father’s regt., 10 Aug. 1914, was promoted Lieut., 28 Dec. 1914, and went along with his father to France with his regt., 11 Feb. 1915. He was killed during the second Battle of Ypres in an advanced trench off the Zonnebeke River in front of Potijze at noon on Sunday, 9 May, 1915, while bringing food for the few men he had left with him. He was buried in front of the White Château, Potijze, near Ypres, where an iron cross was erected to his memory. Lieut. Bates took a great interest in the work of the O.T.C. from its commencement, obtained his colours in the Rugby team, and was also in the School Cricket team. A keen athlete, he was intended for the Army and was proud of the distinction of being the youngest full Lieut. in the Army; unm.
Stanley Knight Bates.
BATES, WILLIAM GEORGE HENRY, Capt., 1st Battn. (Prince of Wales’s) Leinster Regt., 2nd s. of the Rev. William Wheatley Bates, M.A., of Toronto, by his wife, Emily, dau. of Manasseh (and Emma) Leeson, extensive landowner of Canada; b. Thornhill, Toronto, 12 Oct. 1878; educ. privately, and Trinity College, Toronto. He enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1901, hoping to see active service in South Africa, but the regt. was ordered to Crete and kept there until the conclusion of the campaign. After serving over two years in the ranks, he was given a commission, 7 Nov. 1903, in the Leinster Regt., and promoted Lieut. 15 Dec. 1906, and Capt. 21 Sept. 1912. He saw much foreign service, serving in Crete, Malta, Gibraltar, South Africa, Mauritius and India. In South Africa he was Instructor in the School of Musketry, and invented an automatic elevating and traversing machine gun gear, which is now (1916) being tested in the Hythe School of Musketry. On the outbreak of war Capt. Bates was in India, and arrived with his regt. in Flanders 21 Dec. 1914, holding the double command of Company and Brigade Machine Gun Officer. He went through all the heavy fighting for Ypres, and served continuously until he was killed in action, shot through the head near Ypres, 26 April, 1915. His commanding officer wrote: “Your husband was one of the bravest and most gallant men I know, and his death leaves a gap which cannot be filled. I can only add that he died like the gallant man he was.” A brother officer also wrote: “The regt. can say of him that he never asked a man to do a thing he would not do himself. He simply did not know fear, and would always tell us that dying was part of the game. It isn’t only we officers who admired him, but every man who knew him would have followed him anywhere—everywhere he he led.” He m. at St. Margaret’s Church, Warnham, co. Essex, 10 Aug. 1912, Mabel (Dent, Warnham, Sussex), yst. dau. of Hastings Castor Draper, and left a son and a dau.: Lionel William Leeson, b. 25 May, 1913, and Pamela Dorcas, b. 2 June, 1914.
William George H. Bates.
BATEY, EDWARD HENRY, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7358), S.S. 102501, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BATEY, ROBERT, Private., No. 1852, 1/7th (Leith Territorial) Battn. Royal Scots, yr. s. of Edward Batey, of 22, Ryehill Gardens, Leith, Linotype Operator, by his wife, Christina Allen, dau. of Thomas Morrison; b. Walworth, S.E., 7 Jan. 1897; educ. at Parson’s Green School, Edinburgh, and Broughton Higher Grade School, Edinburgh; enlisted on the outbreak of war, 31 Aug. 1914, and was killed in the railway accident near Gretna on 22 May, 1915; unm. He was buried in Rosebank Cemetery, Edinburgh.
Robert Batey.
BATSON, ALFRED WILLIAM, Lieut. 2nd Battn. Duke of Cornwall’s L.I., only s. of William Lascelles Batson, of Dorking, Surrey, by his wife, Barbara Edwina, dau. of Edward Hugh Blakeney, M.D.; b. Dorking 25 Feb. 1887; educ. Fonthill, East Grinstead, Wellington College, and Sandhurst; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the Duke of Cornwall’s L.I., 9 Oct. 1907, and Lieut. 17 March, 1910. He served in Bermuda, South Africa (where he was attached to the Mounted Infantry), and Hong Kong. Soon after the outbreak of war his regt. was ordered home, and on the 19 Dec. 1914, was sent to France. Lieut. Batson was in charge of the machine-gun section, and on 24 Feb. 1915, he was commended by the Major-Gen. Commanding the 27th Division for distinguished service in the field. He was killed in action on the mount at St. Eloi, near Ypres, 14 March, 1915; unm. At Wellington College Lieut. Batson was in the Cricket Eleven and won Prince Christian’s prize for the best bowling average for that year, and also in Rugby football Fifteen won both prizes for the best kick of the season. While in South Africa he was a very keen Polo player.
Alfred William Batson.
BATT, JOHN ALBERT, alias FRANK, Private, No. 477, 10th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, s. of John Albert Batt, Lighterman; b. London, 10 July, 1874; enlisted in S. Australia under the name of “Frank” Batt, 14 Aug. 1914; killed at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915. He m. at Bermondsey, London, 25 Dec. 1896, Jessie Mary (9, Woolfe Street, Dockhead, Bermondsey), dau. of William Brockwell, and had five children: John Albert (Private, 3596, 22nd Queen’s), b. 10 Oct. 1897; William, b. 28 July, 1900; Henry, b. 9 Feb. 1903; Christopher, b. 26 July, 1905; and Arthur, b. 14 Sept. 1907.
BATT, NORMAN HAROLD, Private, No. 10140, 2nd Battn. Sussex Regt., s. of William Batt, of 33, Alma Villas, St. Leonards; served with the Expeditionary Force; killed in action at Richebourg L’Avoué, 9 May, 1915.
BATTARBEE, HERBERT, Signaller, No. 1578, 4th Battn. East Yorkshire Regt. (T.F.), 3rd s. of Frederick Battarbee, of 60, Tadman Street, Hull, by his wife, Clara, dau. of John Wrigglesworth; b. Hull, 11 Feb. 1895; educ. St. Luke’s Street Church School there; joined the 4th East Yorks in March, 1912, and was killed in action in France, 24 April, 1915; unm.
BATTEN, ARTHUR, Private, No. 8162, 4th Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action 12 Oct. 1914; m.
BATTEN, JOHN HENRY STRODE, Capt., 1st Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt., elder s. of the late Col. John Mount Batten, of Upcerne, co. Dorset, and Mornington Lodge, West Kensington, C.B., J.P., Lord-Lieutenant co. Dorset (d. 1916), by his 1st wife, Margaret Annie (d. 1893), dau. of the Rev. John Brooks, Rector of Walton-le-Dale, co. Lancaster; b. Aldon, near Yeovil, co. Somerset, 23 Dec. 1875; educ. at Rossall and Trinity Hall, Cambridge, and after taking his B.A. degree, was gazetted to his father’s old corps, the King’s Liverpool Regt., 20 May, 1899, and promoted Lieut. 21 March, 1900, and Capt. 1 Dec. 1909. He served through the South African War, 1899–1902, being employed with the Mounted Infantry, and later was Supply Officer; took part in operations in Natal, 1899, including actions at Reitfontein and Lombard’s Kop; defence of Ladysmith, including action of 6 Jan. 1900; operations in Natal, March to June, 1900; operations in the Transvaal, Dec. 1900, to Oct. 1901; and in those of the Orange Free State, Oct. 1901, to 31 May, 1902, and received the Queen’s medal with two clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. After the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914, he went to France with the first Expeditionary Force, and consistently did good work, his name being mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 19 Oct.] 1914. “On a particular occasion,” 20 Sept., during the Battle of the Aisne, his Brigadier said, “quite regardless of himself, he encouraged and steadied the men on the right of his battn., and of the brigade when very heavily attacked, and when the situation at that point was critical. It was owing to his very gallant conduct on that occasion that the portion of the line held its own.” He was killed in action, 25 Oct. 1914, being shot through the heart while on his way from the trench to confer with his Commanding Officer. Gen. R. H. Davies wrote: “I should like you to know that he was looked upon by all who knew him as one of the very bravest of the brave, and that by his exceedingly gallant and cool conduct at the Battle of the Aisne he did a great deal to stop a rush and prevent what might easily have proved to be a disaster to our part of the line.” And Col. Stevenson: “He saved the whole line on 20 Sept. just by his grit. Nothing would move him from the line he had to take up in that awful wood fight when Kyrke Smith and others were wounded.... He was killed outright crossing a small gap in a hedge by some men hidden in a house about 500 yards away.... We buried him that night beside the Colonel in an orchard close to a farm outside the village where he was shot.” “I owe him a debt I can never repay,” wrote Lieut. P. C. Snatt, “if it had not been for his gallant work on 20 Sept. I should now be a prisoner, I was wounded and unable to get away, and it was Strode who saved the line retiring.” Capt. Batten m. Alberta, yr. dau. of P. Kavanagh, of 56, Queen’s Gardens, Lancaster Gate, M.D.; s.p.
BATTEN, JOSEPH, Private, No. 8323, 1st Battn. East Surrey Regt., s. of Richard Batten, of 120, Nelson Road, Hornsey, served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc; killed in action 24 May, 1915.
BATTEN, WILLIAM HENRY, L.-Corpl., No. G. 321. 11th (Service) Battn., Middlesex Regt.; b. Hillingdon Heath, co. Middlesex, 22 Jan. 1888; volunteered and enlisted 11 Aug. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc., from May; d. 15 June, 1915, of wounds received in action; m.
BATTENBERG, HIS HIGHNESS PRINCE MAURICE VICTOR DONALD OF, K.C.V.O., Lieut. 1st Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps; yst. s. of H.R.H. Prince Henry of Battenberg, K.G., P.C. (who died on active service at sea, 20 Jan. 1896, of fever contracted during the Ashanti War), and of H.R.H. the Princess Beatrice (Princess Henry of Battenberg), yst. dau. of Her late Majesty, Queen Victoria; b. at Balmoral Castle, 3 Oct. 1891, and was educ. at Wellington, where he was a Lance-Corpl. in the O.T.C., and became one of the best marksmen at the College. He went to the National Rifle Association meeting at Bisley with the Wellington Shooting Eight which competed for the Ashburton Shield and other events. After leaving Wellington he went to Sandhurst, from which he was gazetted to a second lieutenancy in the King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 4 March, 1911. He was attached to the 1st Battn., then stationed at Gosport, as part of Brig.-Gen. H. H. Burney’s 9th Infantry Brigade. Prince Maurice came under the tuition of Lieut.-Col. R. S. Oxley and Capt. R. H. Seymour, and in due course was posted for duty to the 1st Battn. He served with this unit at Aldershot on transfer there into Gen. Davies’ 6th Infantry Brigade, and served under Lieut-Col. E. Northey in Salamanca Barracks, at the town end of the camp, and was senior 2nd Lieut. while there. He had been made a Knight Commander of the Royal Victorian Order, 19 June, 1911, and was promoted Lieut., 13 Feb. 1914. On the declaration of war he mobilised with his battn. at the town barracks in Aldershot and proceeded to France on 12 Aug. He proved himself possessed of sound soldierly qualities and was mentioned twice in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatches [London Gazette, 19 Oct. 1914, and 17 Feb. 1915] for gallantry in the field. At the crossing of the Aisne he was first over the bridge by which his battn. had to pass under heavy fire, and when Major Armytage led the line forward in a splendid charge he was in the thick of the fray. His name and that of Major Armytage were on every man’s lips in the battn. The following account of the action was given by Corpl. J. Jolley:—“Instead of retiring as we had been doing, on 5 Sept, we advanced five miles to Firoy. There was very fierce fighting, the German infantry advancing to within 800 yards of our artillery, and also in good rifle range. They were practically slaughtered, and hundreds of dead lay everywhere. Early in the morning of the 6th we were up and on the scent, the Guards being the advance guard for a change. Towards the afternoon they got in touch with the German rearguard at a place called by us and the Germans “The Valley of Death.” All the artillery possible was brought on to a ridge overlooking this valley, and played on the enemy, who could not get out of it in a hurry, and consequently got many casualties, the Guards capturing eighty men and five maxims, and losing only twelve men. We kept on going until we reached the heights overlooking Charly-sur-Marne. Here we took up our post about two miles from the enemy without knowing it. On the morning of the 7th the King’s Royal Rifles were the advance guard. We traversed a wood, and found that the enemy had camped on the other side. We could see the Germans making blockages on the bridge, preparing to blow it up, but on seeing us they made off, and as we had no artillery with us they got off free. The order then came that the bridge must be taken at once. When we got there we found that the bridge had three blockages, comprised of carts, furniture, glass, wire, etc. Prince Maurice of Battenberg was first man over, searching the house beyond all by himself. This was a brave act for an officer alone. The blockage was removed, and the battn. got across without a shot being fired. We went through Charly-sur-Marne, and halted about one mile on the other side for four hours, as the French were busy in action, and in the end they repulsed the Germans.” On 27 Oct. 1914, he was ordered to storm a German position and capture some guns which were doing a lot of damage. On the advance they came to a wood which was too thick for them to get through conveniently, and they had to cross an open field. Prince Maurice was leading his men across this open space when a shell fell and burst right by him. He knew that his injuries were mortal, and wished the men good-bye. He was carried to a field dressing-room, where he died. He was buried at Ypres on 30 Oct. about 3.30 p.m. “and not far away the German big guns were firing on our trenches, and our men were doing their best to put them out of action. The guns were making such a noise that you could not hear the Chaplain’s voice. It was a soldier’s funeral amidst the noise of battle,” wrote Capt. W. H. Dyer. The following eulogies were passed upon the Prince:—Sir John French: “The Army has lost a gallant officer, who was a fine example to all around him.” General Munro, Commanding the 2nd Division: “His Highness had throughout the campaign displayed a rare example of courage and fortitude to the men of his battn.,” and Sir Douglas Haig: “The Army loses a most gallant and valuable officer.” Prince Maurice supported the work of the Army Rifle Association and was also keen on polo, being in the Hurlingham handicap list. He did not play much, but he liked the game and was also fond of football, tennis, and motoring. He was also greatly interested in aviation, and made many flights as a passenger at Hendon. Prince Maurice was made a Freemason in the Heroum Filii Lodge, No. 3,404 (the Lodge of the Old Wellingtonians) on 21 June, 1912, and was installed Master of the Twelve Brothers Lodge, No. 785 Southampton, 22 April, 1914. His two brothers are (1916) on active service—Prince Alexander Albert with the Grenadier Guards and Prince Leopold with the 60th Rifles.
Prince Maurice Victor Donald of Battenberg.
BATTERHAM, JAMES, A.B. (R.F.R., B 6505), 204862, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BATTERSBY, AUGUSTUS WOLFE, Lieut., 4th Battn. Connaught Rangers, 2nd s. of the late John Radcliff Battersby, of Loughbawn, Collinstown, co. Meath, J.P., Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Augusta Helen, dau. of John Rynd, of Reynella, co. Westmeath; b. Loughbawn, 10 Feb. 1885; educ. Corring School, Kingstown, and Trinity College, Dublin (B.A.). He entered the Church 20 Feb. 1910, and was curate of Antrim Parish, co. Down, until he was gazetted to the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battn. of the Connaught Rangers, 14 April, 1914. He joined at Aldershot, 30 April, was promoted Lieut. 5 Dec. following, and was attached for service to the 2nd Battn. of the Nigerian Regt. He sailed for the Cameroons on the 17th of the same month; took part in operations at Wum Bidgas where he was slightly wounded, and died of dysentery at Duala, 8 June, 1915, and was buried in the cemetery there; unm.
Augustus Wolfe Battersby.
BATTERSBY, CHARLES FREMOULT PRESTON, Capt., 113th Battery Royal Field Artillery, only s. of Major-Gen. Thomas Preston Battersby of Imber House, East Molesey, Principal Ordnance Officer, by his wife, Agnes Janet, dau. of the late John Evens; b. Castle Barracks, Enniskillen, 11 July, 1887; educ. King’s School, Canterbury, and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 23 July, 1907, and became Lieut. 23 July, 1910, and Capt. 30 Oct. 1914. He was present at the retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Marne and in action for a long time on the Aisne. He was killed during the first bombardment of Ypres, 4 Nov. 1914, while a farm, in which he was billetted was being heavily shelled, he returned from his safety pit to release a horse which was tied up in the yard belonging to the farm, and he was killed by one of the shells while so doing. He was buried the following day in the cemetery at Ypres.
Charles Fremoult Preston Battersby.
BATTY, CHRISTOPHER, Leading Stoker, K. 3346, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BATTY, WILLIAM HENRY, Corpl., No. 7780, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, s. of William Batty, of Sheffield, late Scots Greys, by his wife, Helen; b. Sheffield, 13 Jan. 1889; educ. National School there; enlisted 1 April, 1908, served three years with the colours and then passed into the reserve, and joined the Sheffield Police. On the declaration of war, 5 Aug. 1914, he was called up, went to France, 8 Aug. 1914, and served through all the various engagements up to the 26th Dec. 1914, when he was severely wounded in action at La Bassee, while assisting a wounded comrade. He died in hospital at Boulogne, 19 Jan. 1915, and was buried in the cemetery there. He m. at Wadsley Bridge Church, 30 Jan. 1913, Lillian Moore (35 Fielding Road, Wadsley Bridge, Sheffield), dau. of John Parkin, of Sheffield, Accountant, s.p.
William Henry Batty.
BATY, ROBERT, Private, No. 13061, 5th Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd and yst. s. of William Baty, of Saskatoon, Canada, Accountant and Auditor, by his wife, Sarah, dau. of William Giles, Newcastle-on-Tyne; b. Port Elizabeth, South Africa, 27 July, 1890; educ. Winnipeg, Canada; was a Manufacturing Jeweller; joined the 29th Saskatchewan Light Horse in 1907, and became Regt. Sergt.-Major in 1912. When war was declared in Aug. 1914, he was the first man in Saskatoon to volunteer for service overseas; came over with the 1st Contingent in Oct., went to France, Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Festubert, 24 May, 1915, during the taking of a fortified redoubt described as “K. 5”; unm. Buried at Festubert. Lieut.-Col. J. A. Aikin, Officer Commanding Sask. 29th L.H., wrote that he had been his Regt. Sergt.-Major for two years, and had always proved himself a good soldier. His two brothers, Major William Baty, 3rd Canadian Mounted Rifles, and Lieut. Edward Baty, are now (1916) on active service.
Robert Baty.
BATY, THOMAS, L.-Corpl. No. 3607, 2nd Royal Scots, 2nd s. of Alexander Baty, of 127, North High Street, Musselburgh, Collier, by his wife, Mary Anne, dau. of Charles Fraser, 42nd Highlanders (Black Watch) (who was killed in action at the Relief of Lucknow in 1857); b. Musselburgh, 3 Nov. 1877; educ. St. Peter’s School, Mill Hill, there; enlisted 13 Nov. 1899; served through the South African war (Queen’s and King’s medals); retired, 28 May, 1902, and afterwards worked as a miner; re-enlisted 1 Sept. 1914, after the outbreak of war; promoted L.-Corpl. March, 1915; went to the Front, 27 Dec. 1914, and was killed in action at Hooge, 25 Sept. 1915. He m. at Musselburgh, 8 July, 1910, Elizabeth (7, Rothesay Place, Musselburgh), dau. of William Moffat, of Musselburgh, and had two children, William, b. 20 Jan. 1914, and Mary Anne, b. 22 April, 1911.
BAUCHOP, ARTHUR, C.M.G., Lieut.-Col., Otago Mounted Rifles, N.Z. Expeditionary Force, 3rd s. of the late Robert Bauchop, of Port Chalmers, New Zealand, by his wife, Maria, dau. of Peter Stewart; b. Port Chalmers, N.Z., 27 Feb. 1871; educ. there and Otago Boys School, Dunedin; entered the Volunteer Garrison Artillery at Dunedin in 1898, and served through the South African War with the 4th New Zealand Contingent 1900–2, being promoted Capt. 1900, Major 1901 and Lieut.-Col. 5 Sept. 1904. He first distinguished himself in the action at Ottoshoop, and was three times mentioned in despatches [London Gazette, 16 April, 1901, 20 Aug. 1901 and 25 April, 1902]; once, when a Major, for good service at the capture of a laager at Fanny Home, by Col. Bing. He held the Queen’s medal with four clasps and the King’s with two, and was awarded the C.M.G. for his services. He remained in South Africa for some time after the conclusion of the war and then returned to New Zealand, where he commanded in succession the Canterbury (1904), Wellington (1907) and Otago (1912) Military Districts. On the outbreak of the European War he was appointed to command the Otago Mounted Rifles with the N.Z. Expeditionary Force. Lieut-Col. Bauchop was wounded early in July, 1915, but had returned to duty, and was mortally wounded on Bauchop’s Hill during the great advance in Gallipoli, 7 Aug. 1915, and d. on board H.M.S. Delta, 10 Aug. following. He was buried at sea. Lieut.-Col. Bauchop was mentioned in Sir Ian Hamilton’s despatch of 22 Sept. 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He was a keen and very efficient officer, and most popular with his men. As a young man he was a prominent athlete, and held several long-distance records. He m. at Waikana, New Zealand, 12 Dec. 1912, Mary Jean, dau. of Henry Richardson Elder, of Waikana, N.Z., and had a dau., Elizabeth Elder, b. 19 May, 1915.
Arthur Bauchop, C.M.G.
BAVERSTOCK, ALFRED GEORGE, Leading Seaman, 237242, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BAVIN, NIGEL BENJAMIN, 2nd Lieut., 3rd Battn. Essex Regt., yst. s. of the late Benjamin Bavin, of Norwich, Solicitor; b. Northdene, Eaton, Norwich, 7 May, 1896; educ. Stubbington House, Fareham, Norwich Grammar School and Berkhamsted, was gazetted to the Essex Regt. from the Special Reserve of Officers, 15 Aug. 1914, and was killed by a shell, which fell in the trench, at St. Jean, near Ypres, 23 May, 1915; he was buried at La Brique.
Nigel Benjamin Bavin.
BAXTER, ALFRED JOYCE, Private, No. 2769, 14th Battn. (London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.); s. of Arthur Boyd Baxter, of 161, Burntwood Lane, Tooting, S.W., Wholesale Bookbinder, by his wife, Jessie, dau. of William Joyce; b. Stoke Newington, N., 17 Oct. 1895; educ. Cambridge House School, Margate; joined the London Scottish after the outbreak of war, 1 Sept. 1914, was wounded at Vermelles, during the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; and d. at No. 18 Casualty Clearing Station the following day; unm.
BAXTER, BERNARD EYRE, Private, No. 10/275, West Coast (A) Coy., Wellington Infantry Regt., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, s. of Stanley Eyre Baxter, of North Lees, Mangamuka, Hokianga, N.Z., Farmer [b. Upper Holloway, Highgate, London, 1861; emigrated with family to New Zealand, 1909], by his wife, Emma Louisa, dau. of Stephen Green, of Downhead, Somersetshire; b. Hagg Hill Farm, Hinton, Steeple Ashton, Wiltshire, 2 July, 1893; educ. at Shepton Mallet and Ashford (Kent) Grammar Schools; was for 12 months a Cadet at Weraroa Experimental Farm, near Levin; volunteered directly war was declared in Aug. 1914; went to Egypt with his regt.; took part in the repulse of the Turkish attack on the Suez Canal in Feb., and in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, and was killed in action at Anzac, Gallipoli, 29 April, 1915; unm.
Bernard Eyre Baxter.
BAXTER, JAMES PATRICK, Private, No. 5640, 2nd Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers, eldest s. of James Baxter, of School Street, Kilcock, co. Kildare, by his wife, Mary, dau. of John Word; b. Kilcock, 26 Jan. 1883; educ. the Christian Brothers’ School there; joined the 3rd Battn. Royal Dublin Fusiliers on the outbreak of war, and was later transferred to the 2nd Battn. He died at Netley Hospital, 4 May, 1915, from wounds received at St. Julien on the night of 25–26 April; unm. Private Baxter’s two younger brothers are also in the Army.
BAXTER, JOHN HENRY, Private, No. 10456, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots, 3rd s. of Frederick Henry Baxter, of 19, Portland Road, Colchester, Bootmaker in Government workshop, by his wife, Georgina, dau. of William Calversbert, of Colchester, Essex; b. Colchester, 17 Sept. 1890; educ. National School there; enlisted 4 Jan. 1909; served five years in India, and after the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, came home with his regt. and went to France in Dec. He was invalided home in Jan. 1915, with frozen feet, but returned to duty in July, and was killed in action in the attack on Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; unm.
BAYFIELD, ALFRED, Stoker, P.O. 286348, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.
BAYLEY, ALBERT EDWARD, A.B., S.S. 3556, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BAYLEY, GEORGE BAIRD, 2nd Lieut., King’s Own Scottish Borderers, only s. of Isaac Fenton Bayley, of The Halls, Dunbar, East Lothian, by his wife, Grace Jane, dau. of Gideon Pott, of Dod, co. Roxburgh; b. Halls, 1 July, 1894; educ. Cheltenham College and Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 24 Jan. 1914; killed in action at Ypres, 24 Oct. 1914; unm. Lieut. Bayley was wounded at Le Cateau, being invalided home, and had only returned to the Front a short time before he fell. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir J. French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field.
George Baird Bayley.
BAYLY, CHARLES GEORGE GORDON, Lieut., R.E. and Royal Flying Corps, only s. of the late Brackenbury Bayly, of the Cape Civil Service, M.I.E.E., by his wife, Beatrice Mary Jesser, dau. of Col. William Jesser Coope, late 57th regt.; b. Rondebosch, Cape Colony, 30 May, 1891; educ. Diocesan College School, South Africa, St. Edmunds Preparatory School, Hindhead, St. Paul’s School, Kensington, and Woolwich Academy, which he entered in Feb. 1910 as a Gentleman Cadet. He gained a scholarship for St. Paul’s School and later won an exhibition from the school on passing into Woolwich. He passed out 7th into the R.E., and while at Chatham represented the R.E. at football and cricket, and took his aviator’s certificate at Hendon (No. 441). On leaving Chatham he was gazetted to the 56th Field Co. R.E., and was stationed at Bulford Camp, Salisbury Plain. While here he won 2nd prize in the Royal Artillery point-to-point steeplechase. In May, 1914, he was appointed to take his course at the Central Flying School, Upavon, having applied for service in the Royal Flying Corps on leaving Chatham. Here he was interested in the study of wireless telegraphy from aeroplanes. On the outbreak of war he was gazetted to the 5th squadron Royal Flying Corps, and on leaving the school at Upavon was very highly reported on, his confidential report being “Very good indeed as pilot and his capabilities as an officer being above the average,” and an added note that he was “A very keen officer with plenty of initiative.” He was amongst the first to reach France, as he flew his machine from Dover to Amiens on 12 Aug. 1914, and thence to Maubeuge. He and his pilot were the first of the Military to be killed in action on the British side in the war. He was killed in action, 22 Aug. 1914, while on reconnaissance duty flying over the German lines, in the neighbourhood of Enghein Rassily, as observer with 2nd Lieut. Waterfall as pilot. They were shot down by German cannon-fire, and were hastily buried by the Germans in ten centimetres of soil, and later the owner of the park where they were buried exhumed the bodies and placed them in zinc coffins to await more decent burial. Lieut. Bayly was an officer full of promise and a keen sportsman. He represented his school at football and won second eleven colours at cricket; he boxed and shot for his house, winning the shooting cup for the house his last year at school. He represented Rosslyn Park at football on leaving school, and while at Woolwich won several prizes both in the athletic sports and swimming sports each year he was there. He was a good horseman and won his spurs at Woolwich.
Charles George G. Bayly.
BAYNES, JAMES, Private, No. 10499, 13th Coy., 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 2nd s. of Edward Clemminson Baynes, of 46, Parry Street, Barrow-in-Furness, Chauffeur, by his wife, Annie, dau. of George Dixon, of Blackburn, Bootmaker; b. Barrow-in-Furness, 9 July, 1894; educ. Oxford Street Schools there; enlisted Nov. 1913, and was killed in action at Zonnebeke, 21 Oct. 1914; unm.
James Baynes.
BEACH, ERNEST, Private, No. 11301, 2nd Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., yst. s. of George Beach, of Lime Street, Hull, Tailor, by his wife, Ada, dau. of (—) Gregory; b. Hull, 9 Feb. 1895; educ. at the Charterhouse Lane Board School there. Prior to the outbreak of war he worked at the Hull City Saw Mills; enlisted 2 Sept. 1914, and had only been at the Front 11 days when he was wounded while on guard by bursting shrapnel, 28 Feb. 1915. He died in County Kendal Hospital, Westmoreland, 21 March following; unm.
BEADLE, JESSE AUGUSTUS, Private, No. 1906, 2nd Battn. 1st Infantry Brigade, Australian Imperial Force, 3rd s. of the late Jesse Delias Beadle, by his wife, Susannah (125, Broadway, Bexley Heath, Kent), dau. of John Nash, of Chadwell St. Mary’s, Essex; b. Bexley, co. Kent, 20 Dec. 1890; educ. Bexley Heath. In Australia on the outbreak of war, he joined the Australian Imperial Force, left for the Dardanelles with the 5th Reinforcements, being employed as a bomb thrower, and was killed in action in the advance at Lone Pine, Gallipoli, 7 Aug. 1915; buried at sea. He m. in Sydney, New South Wales, March, 1914, Laura, dau. of (—) Casey, and had one dau., Ivy Alma, b. 10 Feb. 1915.
Jesse Augustus Beadle.
BEADON, BASIL HERBERT EDWARDS, Capt. and Adjutant, 7th Battn. (Merioneth and Montgomery) Royal Welsh Fusiliers (T.F.), yr. s. of Col. Frederick Watson Beadon, of Longley Hall, Huddersfield, V.D., Land Agent for the Ramsden Estates, Huddersfield, formerly commanding the 5th and 7th West Riding Regt., by his wife, Elizabeth Eleonora, dau. of the late William Bolam, of High Cross House, Newcastle-on-Tyne; b. Longley Hall, co. York. 11 Jan. 1887; educ. Cheltenham College and Sedbergh, and took up his father’s profession of Land Agent. He was brought up on the Ramsden Estate, then on the Duke of Buccleuch’s Rugby estate, and finally on Lord Hothfield’s Shipton property, whence he went to Mr. Naylor-Leyland’s Kerry (Montgomeryshire) estate as sub-agent, and returned to the Ramsden estates as assistant to his father in 1912. He had joined the Warwickshire Yeomanry in 1908, and on leaving the county passed into the 7th Royal Welsh Fusiliers in July, 1910, of which he was appointed Lieut. 18 July, 1913, and Capt. and Adjutant, 21 Nov. 1914. On the declaration of war he volunteered with his battn. for foreign service, and was sent to the Dardanelles. Capt. Beadon was killed in action at Suvla Bay, 10 Aug. 1915. According to a letter received by his father he was wounded in the morning, but was able to remain in the fighting line throughout the day. In the evening he had just concluded a consultation with his colonel and was turning to speak to another officer when he was shot by a sniper and killed instantly. He was buried there at 6 a.m. on 11 Aug. He was a keen footballer, and played in the Huddersfield Old Boys’ Rugby Union. Capt. Beadon m. at Boroughbridge, 14 Jan. 1913, Margaret Elizabeth, dau. of the late Anthony Maynard, of Newton Hall, co. Durham, M.F.H. North Durham Hounds, and had a dau., Joan, b. 1 Feb. 1915. His brother, Lieut. Scarth Beadon, is now (1916) the transport officer in the 18th Durham L.I.
Basil Herbert E. Beadon.
BEALE, JAMES, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7771), S.S. 103259, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BEAMES, ALFRED EDWARD, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 5024), 294677, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BEAN, FREDERICK JAMES, Private, No. 6575, Scots Guards, s. of A. Bean, of Station Road, Northiam, Sussex; b. co. Sussex; enlisted, 2 July, 1906; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action between 4–12 Nov. 1914; unm.
BEAN, GEORGE, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 16855, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BEAN, SAMUEL JOHN, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5305), 177884, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; m.
BEANEY, ALBERT EDWARD, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5833), 182377, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BEANEY, JAMES, Private, No. G. 4986, 1st Battn. Royal West Kent Regt.; served with Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action 18 April, 1915; m.
BEANLAND, HARRY, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 10231), 298948, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BEARD, FRED, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4369), 196362, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BEARMAN, WALTER JOHN, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 21160, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BEARMAN, WILLIE GEORGE, Leading Seaman, 155050, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.
BEARNE, ARTHUR HENRY, Officer’s Steward, 2nd Class, 359286 (Devon.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.
BEATSON, FREDERICK, Corpl., No. 9034, 1st Battn. K.O.R. Lancaster Regt., 3rd s. of William Beatson, of 16, Oak Street, Wavertree, Liverpool, by his wife, Alice, dau. of William Little; b. Liverpool, 22 April, 1887; educ. St. Clement’s National School, Liverpool; enlisted in 1905, served seven years and obtained his discharge in 1913, but on the outbreak of war rejoined, served through the retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Aisne and the Marne, and was killed in action “somewhere” in France, 18 March, 1915; unm. He was buried near Le Bizett Hospital, a mile from Armentières. Two of his brothers are now (1916) on active service.
Frederick Beatson.
BEATTIE, ISAAC, A.B., R.N.V.R., No. Tyneside Z/715, Collingwood Battn., R.N.D., 4th s. of John Beattie, of 9, Robson’s Buildings, Windynook, Gateshead, Miner; b. Windynook, 1891; educ. at the Council School there; joined the Navy at the outbreak of war, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 4 June, 1915; unm.
Isaac Beattie.
DE VERE BEAUCLERK, NEVILL, Lieut., 12th, attached 1st, Battn. Essex Regt., only child of Robert Sidney de Vere Beauclerk, B.A., London [gt.-gt. gdson. of Lord Sidney Beauclerk, 5th s. of Charles, 1st Duke of St. Albans, K.G.], and of Beatrice, dau. of the late Alfred Richard Hollebone; b. Ingatestone, co. Essex, 13 Oct. 1895; educ. Kenilworth School, near Cape Town, and South African College, Cape Town. At the age of sixteen he was a member of the Cape Town Society of Model Engineers, and won the Ashenden Shield for model speed-boat construction; on coming to London two years later he passed together the London Matriculation Examination and the Entrance Examination into the second year of the City and Guilds Engineering College. On the outbreak of war he immediately volunteered, and having had training in the South African Defence Force, obtained a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the 12th (Service) Battn. Essex Regt. For the first month he did Captain’s work at Harwich, and was within three months (9 Dec. 1914) promoted Lieut., later being appointed instructor in musketry, and afterwards machine gun officer. In the latter capacity he was sent with reinforcements to the Dardanelles, and attached to the 1st Battn. of his regt. He was killed in action while in charge of his gun, at Gallipoli, 17 June, 1915; unm. Letters received by his parents from friends and brother officers all testify to his cheerful disposition, his courage, and great capabilities. A private of his gun section wrote: “He was the sort of officer any man would be willing to die for,” and a sergt. of the section remarked to an officer: “Lieut. Beauclerk was the smartest officer we have ever had on the gun.” “Yes,” wrote a brother officer, “he was simply brilliant; but what was even better, he was so lovable.”