R.M.C. Cadets group photo

[BottsGreys]

Hello all. Below is a recently-acquired photo titled D Company, R.M.C., June, 1915. The printed names of the 70 pictured are listed in order of appearance. I have just started an effort to try to research the war service of these young men; however, the units with whom they each eventually served are, of course, not listed. I have found several on CWGC and in de Ruvigney's of which I am confident of the identification and several more of which are possibilities. I will list the names below in the order in which they appear. If a name happens to be familiar to someone, I would greatly appreciate any information known and, likewise, I would appreciate any suggestions as to researching these fellows. If anyone would like a cropped scan of a particular cadet, please let me know with your e-mail address, and I will be happy to oblige.

Chris

Back (6th) Row, L-R

1) R.E. Morris 2) F.H. Bourdillon 3) A.W. Parr 4) W.C. Newstead 5) O.H.M. Sturges 6) J.D. Gage-Brown

7) E.J. Cox 8) C.S. Gell - Per CWGC & de Ruvigny: 2nd Lt. Christopher Stowell Gell, 1st Prince of Wales's

Own (West Yorks) Regt. Prize cadet Royal Military College, Sandhurst. KIA 18/09/1916. 9) C.R. Farmer

10) A.C. Margrett 11) P.C. Grove - possibly 2nd Lt. Philip Cranstoun Grove, 2nd Seaforth Highlanders

Death 11/04/1917. 12) J.W. Hinchcliffe

5th Row, L-R

1) G.W. Bolster 2) M.H. Cooper 3) R.T. Cameron 4) J.G. Birney - Per CWGC & de Ruvigny: Lt. John Gordon

Birney, 1st Highland L.I. KIA 11/01/1917. 5) H.G. Killingley - Per CWGC: possibly Lt. Hastings Grevatt

Killingley, 2nd Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Death 23/10/1916. 6) A.G.C. Stainforth 7) F.R. Seely - Per CWGC:

possibly 2nd Lt. Frank Reginald Seely, 1st Hampshire Regt. Death 13/04/1917. 8) R.H. Turner - Per

CWGC: possibly Lt. Robert Henry Turner, 5th Lincolnshire Regt. Death 23/03/1918. 9) D.A. Le Peton

Per CWGC: 2nd Lt. Desmond A. Le Peton, 1st Somerset L.I. Death 09/08/1916. 10) K. Graham-Scott 11) E. Monat Biggs 12) W.J. Wyatt - Per CWGC: 2nd Lt. W.J. Wyatt, 8th Devonshire Regt. Death 29/10/1917.

4th Row, L-R

1) G.E. Edwards 2) W.G. Humphreys - Per CWGC: possibly 2nd Lt. William George Humphreys, 2nd Royal

Sussex Regt. Death 09/09/1916. 3) M.W. Kennedy 4) R.F. Browne 5) U.A. Williamson 6) G.F. Kemp -

Per CWGC: possibly Lt. Godwin Francis Kemp, 1st Border Regt. Death 23/04/1917. 7) G.H. Purdon

Per CWGC: 2nd Lt. George Hardress Purdon, 2nd KRRC. Death 23/07/1916. 8) B.D. Stead - Per CWGC:

possibly Lt. Brian Desmond Rowland Stead, 1st East Lancs Regt. Death 2103/1918. 9) E.L. Beville

10) F.T.A. Power 11) R.G. Thomson - Per CWGC: Capt. Reginald Gresham Thomson, "A" Coy, 1st King's

Shropshire L.I. Educated (among others) at R.M.C. Sandhurst. Death 18/09/1918. 12) E.F. Lynch

13) L.H. Churcher 14) F.M. Black 15) R.S. Cole 16) W.J. Yeo

3rd Row, L-R

1) Staff Sergt. G. Lawrence (The Queen's) 2) F.P. Butcher - Per CWGC: possibly 2nd Lt. F.P.H. Butcher,

1st East Lancs. Regt. Death 30/08/1916. 3) D. Allhusen 4) G.H. Maude - Per CWGC: possibly 2nd Lt.

Gervase Henry Francis Maude, 8th Royal Fusiliers. Death 09/04/1917. 5) W.R. Bucknall 6) P.S. Lyons

7) A.A. Pine - Per CWGC: Lt. A.A. Pine, 4th Worcestershire Regt. Death 16/01/1917. 8) N.W. Fletcher -

Per CWGC: 2nd Lt. Noel William Scott Fletcher, 11th Durham L.I., Educated at King's College Choir

School, Cambridge, Rossall, and Sandhurst. Death 07/03/1917. 9) W.L. Pauer 10) W.G. Carrington

11) R.W. Grey 12) T.C.H. Lucas - Per CWGC: Lt. Thomas Charles Harvey Lucas, RFC, secondary:

Suffolk Regt. Death 06/02/1917. 13) M.A. Ashby 14) L.R. Bradley 15) C. Biggs 16) Sergt. Cousins

(The Queen's)

2nd Row, *All by himself

1) H.W. Ballance

Front Row, seated, L-R

1) W.S. Cooper 2) R.P. White 3) A.C. Watt 4) L.A.K. Butt 5) T.C. Boyd - Per CWGC: possibly Capt. Thomas

Cecil Boyd, 1st Bn attd 7th Bn, Cameron Highlanders. Death 21/07/1917. 6) U.O.M.S. Adshead 7) Major

R.K. Walsh 8) Capt. J.L.G. Burnett, DSO 9) I.B. Evans 10) F. Leathley 11) N. Prynn - Per CWGC:

possibly Capt. Norman Prynn, 3rd Bn attd 1st Bn, Hampshire Regt. Death 28/03/1918. 12) C.C. Codner -

Per CWGC & de Ruvigny's: Capt. Christopher Cardrew Codner, 1st Somerset L.I., granted cadetship at

R.M.C. February 1915. ADC to BG C.B. Prowse, Feb 1916 until General was KIA 1 July 1916. Death

03/05/1917. 13) W.J. Godfrey - Per CWGC: possibly 2nd Lt. W.J. Godfrey, 1st Black Watch. Death

03/09/1916.

[SteveE]

I would greatly appreciate any information known and, likewise, I would appreciate any suggestions as to researching these fellows.

Chris

From a personal point of view, if I was researching these men I'd try to marry them up with a Medal Index Card for starters, bearing in mind that Officers had to apply for their medals so a card doesn't always exist.

Search for MIC's Here

Once I'd identified the Officer and his regiment (and the fact that I don't have easy access to the Army Lists) I'd use the online London Gazette to try and follow his military service. The London Gazette search engine can be a real pain though.

Search the London Gazette Here

This will certainly give you something to do

Regards

Steve

[BottsGreys]

Steve:

Thanks for the suggestions. I knew about the London Gazette, but I wasn't sure about the MICs for officers.

Chris

[BottsGreys]

Making some progress, as I was able to find some of these officers in the MICs.

As listed above:

6th Row

Captain F. H. Bourdillon, 36th Sikhs

Lt. W. C. Newstead, West Yorkshire Regt.

Lt. O. H. M. Sturges, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire L.I.

Capt. Alfred Cornelius Margrett, Yorkshire Regt.

Capt. John William Hinchcliffe, Northamptonshire Regt--prior Lt. in Gloucestershire Regt.

5th Row

Lt. George William Corliss Bolster, Royal Dublin Fusiliers--prior Lt. 7/8th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, also

Lt. 2nd Royal Fusiliers

Capt. A. G. C. Stainforth, East Kent Regt.

Capt. Kenneth Graham-Scott, Royal Highlanders (Black Watch)

4th Row

Lt. U. A. F. Williamson, Tank Corps--prior Lt. in Royal Dublin Fusiliers

Capt. Edward Lancelot Granville Beville, West African Field Force--prior Lt. Sierra Leone Carrier Corps, prior

a Lt. in 2nd North Staffordshire Regt

2nd Lt. Lionel Henry Churcher, Hampshire Regt.

3rd Row

Capt. Desmond Allhusen, KRRC

2nd Lt. William Rixon Bucknall, 2nd Bn Royal Hussars

2nd Lt. W. L. Pauer, Devonshire Regt

2nd Lt. William Gordon Carrington, Suffolk Regt

2nd Row, by himself

2nd Lt. Harold Edmund William Ballance, Royal Army Ordnance Corps

Front Row, seated

Capt. Leslie Acton Kingsford Butt, 2nd Brigade Royal Air Force--prior 2nd Lt in 16th Squadron, RFC

Flight Officer Forde Leathley, RFC and RAF--prior was 2nd Lt, and Lt. in Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Regards,

Chris

[BottsGreys]

I thought I would put some close up faces to this group image.

Chris

Below:

From de Ruvigny's: 2nd Lt. Christopher Stowell Gell, 1st Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorks Regt). Prize cadet at Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Gazetted 2nd Lieut. 10 August 1915. Went to France 25 July 1916, and was killed in action on the Somme front 18 Sept following. Buried in the neighborhood of Combles. "Lieut. Gell had been hit in the shoulder as soon as he and his men had gone over the parapet,

and almost directly was again hit in the temple by a bullet, being killed instantaneously. ..."His conduct just before his death, after his arm had been badly messed up, was a splendid example and incitement to his platoon."

[BottsGreys]

Below:

Lt. John Gordon Birney, 1st Highland Light Infantry. Served with the Indian Expeditionary Force in Mesopotamia from Feb 1916 and was killed in action, 11 January, 1917, at Kut East Mounds. Buried there.

[BottsGreys]

Below:

2nd Lt. Desmond A. Le Peton, 1st Somerset Light Infantry. Son of Alfred Edward and Rose Le Peton of Earlsfort Place, Dublin. Death: 09/08/1916.

[BottsGreys]

Below:

2nd Lieut. and later Capt. Desmond Allhusen, King's Royal Rifle Corps. Wounded on 15 May, 1919, in the capture of 60th Village in the campaign in North Russia.

[BottsGreys]

Below:

Capt. Reginald Gresham Thomson MC, "A" Coy, 1st Shropshire Light Infantry. Death: 18/09/1918.

[SteveE]

MC for 2nd Lt. Reginald Gresham Thomson, Shrops.L.I. was listed in the London Gazette #29608, dated 3rd June 1916.

Link to the Gazette is Here

Steve

[BottsGreys]

Steve: Thanks for the info and link for Thomson's MC.

Thanks as well to Annette B. (6th Shropshires), who kindly provided me with the following information regarding R.G. Thomson, (shown above) via PM:

"...the War Diary records that he joined the 1st Battalion on 3rd September 1917. On 27th December, 1917, the diary record Lt. R. G. Thomson, M.C., proceeds to 3rd Army School. The diary nor the Regimental History records when he won the M.C. He rejoins the battalion on 2nd Feb., 1918 but goes on leave between the 9th - 26th Feb. He was wounded on 21st March mpany. He rejoined the battalion on 27th August and takes command of "B" Coy. On 3rd September he was appointed Acting Captain.

As you know he died of wounds on the 18th September. The 1/K.S.L.I. were in second wave of an attack on Fresnoy-le-Petit. The first wave got into the village but were driven out. The K.S.L.I. joined the attack but held up by heavy fire from Fresnoy-le-Petit and right flank, the brigade on this flank had failed to gain its objectives. Captain Thomson, who's company was in support brought up a couple of platoons to reinforce the front line, the dairy does not record when he was wounded but records he died of wounds."

Very helpful and greatly appreciated, everyone.

Chris

[6th Shropshires]

Hi Chris

After looking at Steve's post above and Capt. Thomson's C.W.G.C. entry, I think he may have been attached to the 1/1/Herefordshire Regt., many K.S.L.I. were attached to them, he may have won M.C. with them.

Annette

[SteveE]

Hi Chris

Another MC for you, this time for W. C. Newstead (West Yorkshire Regiment).

London Gazette #30234, dated 16th August 1917.

Lt. William Cameron Newstead, W. York.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He led a raiding party on the enemy lines with great dash and gallantry. When the party retired, he remained behind with a wounded man, finally carrying him across the open under heavy machine-gun fire to our own lines.

Link to Gazette is Here

Regards

Steve

[SteveE]

Chris

I've posted a link to the London Gazette of 14th September 1915, there are a number of Gentlemen Cadets from the Royal Military College appointed as Second Lieutenants. I note that there are a few listed in the Gazette that match your list but I'll let you compare the two. Pages 12 to 14 carry the details....

Link to Gazette is Here

Regards

Steve

[BottsGreys]

Annette:

Thanks for the additional information reThomson--greatly appreciated & very helpful.

Steve:

Wow! Thanks for your continued interest. Yes, I was able to find 6 of my guys in the Gazette pages you provided, and very helpful--saw that I had misidentified H.W. Ballance. He is Howard Wentworth Ballance, not Harold E. W. Ballance, as I had thought. Following, by searching "Royal Military College", I was able to find numerous of these cadets listed by full name in Gazette entries from 15 June 1915, 13 July 1915, and 10 August 1915, when they were detailed to their regiments.

Thanks as well for the MC citation for Newstead--he performed quite a courageous feat, I'd say.

Best regards,

Chris

[Old Owl]

Hi Chris,

I have just seen your photo of the group from Sandhurst, June 1915, and wondered if I could impose upon you to do a scan of Cadet N. Prynn, number 11, front row.

Many thanks,

Regards,

Robert

[BottsGreys]

Robert:

I have been away from the Forum for a while and have just seen your post. I will get you a scan of Prynn.

Regards,

Chris

P.S. Your PM isn't working so I can't get your email address. I will post scan here.

[BottsGreys]

Robert,

Below: Capt. Norman Prynn, 3rd Battn, attached: 1st Battn, Hampshire Regt. Died 28/03/1918. Gazette 15/06/1915.

Chris

[pounds14]

With ref to 2Lt Lionel Henry Churcher Hampshire Regiment. 2Lt 20 Oct 1915, Lt 27 April 1917.

Served with 2nd Bn Hampshire Regiment. Having moved into trenches east of Potijze on 30 July 1916 the Bn was caught in a gas attack 8 Aug 16. The Bn suffered terribly, having nearly 240 casualties, more than half fatal.Four Officers and 125 men died and 6 Officers, including Churcher, were incapacitated along with 90 men.The Bn was luckily brought up to strength by a draft of 98 men on 12 Aug and 125 17 Aug.

Lt Churcher only appears in the regimental history once, as quoted, and listing his promotion dates.

Roger

[pounds14]

Further to my last. Norman Prynn, 2Lt 16 June 1915, Lt 3 July 1916 KIA 28 March 1918.

He served with the 1st Bn Hampshire regiment. Having relieved the Canadians south of the Menin Road, 22 Aug 1916, a nasty piece of line, which seemed to be overlooked from all around. Here the enemy were active, and on the 26 Aug 1916 a heavy bombardment caused 20 casualties in C Company, both Capt Smythe and 2Lt Prynn being buried for a time but dug out without serious injury.

During the German offensive 28 March 1918 the 1st Bn were in trenches just NE of Fampoux and throughout the day the Bn fought along with other Bns of the 4th Div against this assault. Along with other Divs engaged were left in possession of their Battle Zones. The history says, 'Several battalions of the 4th Div had lost heavily, the Essex had been nearly wiped out, but the Hampshires had fared none to badly: they had Capt Prynn and three 2Lts and 39 men killed 2 Officers and 85 missing and the Chaplain and 1 Officer and 81 men wounded, but they could reckon themselves fairly fortunate to have lost no more in doing so. (My italics).The above re the only references to Norman Prynn in the regimental history.

Roger

[BottsGreys]

Roger:

Thanks for the information regarding both Capt. Prynn and Lt. Churcher--greatly appreciated. Below is a scan of

Churcher.

Chris

[marksimner]

Hi All

I notice that a E.L.G. Beville is mentioned above in this thread. I am currently researching this officer who commanded a company of the North Staffords during the Third Afghan War of 1919.

Does anyone have a photo of Beville? I have tried the Staffordshire Regimental Museum but he does not appear to exist in their photo archive.

Thanks in advance!

Mark

[Piorun]

Thank you for reviving old memories. Like the rest of us who attended 'that place', they were just children. What a waste. Antony.

[BottsGreys]

Mark:

Have sent you a reply to your PM--will get scan for you when I get home tonight.

Antony:

Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Of the 66 cadets in the photo, 21 were killed during the War, with several wounded--one (Allhusen) wounded in North Russia in 1919 (above). Leathley became an Observer Ace with 8 kills (see separate thread).

Chris

[robinone]

Hi Chris

Just come on Lt.G.F.Kemp, 1st Border Regt. yours of Apr 23 2007

I am researching there family history and the photo is very useful.

Robin