Lt A Theobald MC 7th Battalion (T) Royal Scots - How did he die?

[old sparky]

This officer is the brother of one of the fallen of our parish. The son of a Methodist missionary to Natal, he seems to have first enlisted as a private in the Cameron Highlanders before training with the Inns of Court OTC. Commissioned into the Royal Scots on 23rd January 1916. He won his MC while leading a daylight trench raid but I don't yet know when or where this occurred. He death is recorded as 'died'.

Does anyone have access to a war diary please which casts some light on what 7 RS were doing around the 29th June 1918? I'll be most grateful for any help.

regards

Peter B

[ss002d6252]

'Died' usually indicates accident or illness rather than through enemy action.

Craig

[KevinBattle]

He was their only casualty that day.

I'm slightly puzzled that he was the brother of one of your Fallen, in Cornwall, I assume...

Is this your chap?

THEOBALD, ARTHUR. Rank: Company Serjeant Major. Service No: 200070. Date of Death: 24/04/1917. Age: 23.

Regiment/Service: Gloucestershire Regiment. 1st/4th Bn.

Panel Reference: Pier and Face 5 A and 5 B. Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL

Additional Information: Son of Mrs. E. Simon (formerly Theobald), of 18, Villier's Rd., Stapleton Rd., Bristol, and the late Jacob Theobald.

[ralphjd]

It is Arnold Theobald MC Royal Scots, found his LG entry but not how he died. Ralph.

[kenmorrison]

L/Gaz 20 September 1918 Issue number: 30915 Page number: 11310

Lt. Arnold Theobald, R. Scots.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to

duty in leading a daylight raid. He entered

the enemy's trench and secured a prisoner at

the point of the bayonet, shooting two of the

enemy himself. Afterwards he coolly rallied

his party and sent them back, while he and

two other ranks covered their withdrawal.

He showed a splendid example of courage

and leadership.

CWGC has:

THEOBALD, ARNOLD Rank: Lieutenant Date of Death: 29/06/1918 Age: 28 Regiment/Service: Royal Scots 7th Bn. Awards: M C Grave Reference V. C. 27. Cemetery LONGUENESSE (ST. OMER) SOUVENIR CEMETERY Additional Information:

Son of Mrs. E. Theobald and the late Rev. G. A. Theobald. Born at Pietermaritzburg, Natal.

The notes on this cemetery would indicate that Arnold died in hospital in St. Omer.

Ken

[KevinBattle]

... and possibly worth checking out the relationship to...

THEOBALD, W C R. Rank: Private. Service No: 3474. Date of Death: 18/07/1916. Age: 25.

Regiment/Service: South African Infantry. 2nd Regt.

Grave Reference: VI. L. 2. Cemetery: DELVILLE WOOD CEMETERY, LONGUEVAL

Additional Information: Son of Alfred James and H. A. Theobald, of 483, Bulwer St., Pietermaritzburg.

[HarryBrook]

The notice of his death, published in The Times on Thursday July 4 1918 would suggest that he died of some illness. The notice appears in a section reserved for military deaths separated by a line across the column, below blocks of notices for those 'killed in action' and 'died of wounds'.

THEOBALD - On the 29th June, at a clearing station abroad, LIEUT. ARNOLD THEOBALD, The Royal Scots Regiment, son of the late Rev. G. A. Theobald, South Africa, and of Mrs. Theobald, Downs Court Cottage, Purley, aged 28.

[KevinBattle]

Probate Record: Theobald, Arnold of Downs Court Cottage, Downs Court Road, Purley, Surrey. Lieutenant 4th Reserve battalion Royal Scots Regiment died 29 June 1918 in France. Probate London 28 January to John Henderson, cape (Cape?) merchant's manager and Agnes Dora Theobald, spinster. Effects £146 2s 8d.

His mothers death registration: Theobald, Eliza Hastie Lillie, of 2 Chenies Street Chambers, Chenies Street, Middlesex. Widow died 3 September 1932. Probate London 3 November to Agnes Dora Theobald and Emelie Theobald, spinsters. Effects: £2,090 4s 6d.

In 1911 Census Eliza stated she was a widow but had been married for 23 years, with 6 children, 4 still alive. Agnes 22; Arnold 21 and Emelie 13.

In 1901 Census, widow Eliza was living on her own means with 4 year old Richard also present. A visitor, Mary Ann Anderson aged 45, also born in Edingurgh was also there, possibly Eliza's maiden name might also be Anderson.

From the abscence of earlier Census records, it is possible that the family had been living in Natal where the children were born.

Perhaps the Rev G A Theobald might have died in the Boer War, prompting the family to return to England.

[kenmorrison]

Great bit of research Kevin - can I just add that Eliza Hastie Lille STODDART was born in 1857 in Newington & Grange, Edinburgh.

and - Peter, who was the brother, Richard?

Ken

[Patrick Watt]

Hi there

Arnold Theobald's father, Reverend George A. Theobald emigrated to South Africa in 1882 and died in Bloemfontein in 1897 - his obituary has been transcribed here http://archiver.rootsweb.ancestry.com/th/read/SOUTH-AFRICA-IMMIGRANTS-BRITISH/2011-09/1316203756

He joined the 4th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders as Private 2189 on 7 September 1914 in London. He was one of the 250 volunteers for the 2/14th London Regiment (London Scottish) who were surplus to requirements for that battalion and were snapped up by the 4th Camerons (in total 1200 men were taken by the Highland Division between 4 and 9 September 1914). Private Theobald travelled to France with the 4th Camerons on 19 February 1915 (not as his MIC states 19 December 1915). He was promoted Lance Corporal on 23 March 1915 after the Battle of Neuve Chapelle and was wounded in the shoulder (bruising) and left knee (two pieces of shrapnel) at Festubert on 17 May 1915. He was evacuated back to England on 24 May and was treated at the Southern General Hospital in Bristol until 13 July when he was discharged 'cured'. On 22 September he applied for a transfer out of the Cameron Highlanders and was posted to the Inns of Law Officer Training Corps. Was commissioned into the Royal Scots on 23 January 1916.

The 7th Royal Scots served in the 52nd (Lowland) Division in Egypt until April 1918 when they moved to France. Still not sure of cause of death. Certainly there were a few hospitals based in St Omer at the time so he could have been wounded and died some time after or, more likely I think, died of illness or an accident.

Hope this adds some context,

Patrick

[old sparky]

Thanks guys. As ever, I'm blown away by the response on GWF. You have given me everything and more.

The brother of Lt Arnold Theobald is Pte William Oswald Theobald, London Scottish and he was killed at Gommecourt on 1 July 1916. The family was living in Tooting having been brought back from East London, Cape Colony after the death of the Rev Theobald. William was educated at Kingswood School, Bath, and was gaining farming experience in our parish before returning to South Africa to take up farming there. A letter written to his sister Agnes by his platoon commander states of his death 'I find that your brother never left our trench. He was seen about five minutes before our charge, and I fear he must have been hit by a German shell.'

The mother was indeed Eliza H L of Edinburgh and she had brought the family home on the 'Tantallon Castle' arriving in London August 1997.

Thanks again everybody and a Happy New Year to you all!

Peter B

[Guest skersley]

Hi All,

I've come across this thread as I am researching Lt Arnold Theobald - he appears on the Roll of Honour of my local Cricket Club whose history I am compiling. Just to say thanks for all the information, some of which I'd pieced together elsewhere but the depth here is amazing. And in particular KenMorrison's note re his mother. I recognised Eliza Hastie Lille STODDART as the sister of Robert Steward STODDART who also emigrated to South Africa. He tooreturned to live in Tooting - in the next street to his sister. His son Thomas STODDART also joined the 4th Cameron Highlanders presumably at the same time as his cousin (many others from the cricket club joined the 14th London (London Scottish) around the same time but were not surplus to requirements). He too was in France in 1915 but was killed at the 2nd Battle of Givenchy on 16th June and therefore also appears on our Roll of Honour. But thanks to the info above I've been able to piece this together and work out they were cousins. Thanks again.