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The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Capt Christopher William Lacey, IARO


Kimberley John Lindsay

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Kim,

Charmian Lacey became an architect (Google for a few references to her work). She married David W. Shenton in 1988, and I think we can assume had no children. She died on her 91st birthday, 31st December 2017, and there is a picture of her here: http://rosslynhillchapel.org.uk/weekly-notices-7-jan-2018/

 

Her mother, Marjorie Bradford Newman, was, according to a family tree on www.ancestry.co.uk, born Marjorie Bradford Silverthorne, and had previously married a George A. Newman in 1913 in London before she ultimately married Lacey in India. She was known as "Madge"; Newman was of Panfield Hall, Braintree, Essex. Her father was a Major in the Yorkshire Regiment.

 

I'll send you notice of the engagement off-line.

 

Everything bar the kitchen sink and a photo of Lacey.

 

Noel

 

 

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Dear Noel,

Thanks for that; I had earlier found the Charmian photo and made enquiries (not answered). Talk about kitchen sink/photo!

Interestingly, Marge had married a much older man (Newman) and in 1922, C. W. Lacey was co-respondent in the divorce, and later married Madge in India...

I have now tried a local researcher (i.e., near Ely, etc.). 

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Dear All, and Noel,

I have now called the Chapel where Charmian Shenton, C. W. Lacey's architect daughter, was a stalwart, and followed up with a (second) eMail, asking for the family contact details. 

Of course I am a year too late, but we shall see what eventuates, if anything.

Thanks for all your help in this on-going saga!

Kindest regards,

Kim. 

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Dear All,

The "Assam Planter" goes to: Noel Clark (Australia), who found a Rugby photo of C. W. Lacey, 1908-09 at Bedford School. Super!

Moreover, Noel found a clipping image001.jpg.1abb099945ac1f5a2e7b47cc8f27d8b7.jpg498832516_C.W.Lacey1908-09BedfordRugbyTeam.jpg.37509832600e6f21d4022732d04e6d1b.jpgwhich shows that the younger brother, F. H. Lacey (also in the 1909 Team photo with his brother, and who distinguished himself further on the Rugby field), later won the MC and became a Lt-Col. (Details would be interesting!)

My grateful thanks to all the GWF enthusiasts who looked here, there, and everywhere, in the search to find Christopher William Lacey. Noel thought that Lacey's involvement with an "Establishment" divorce (her husband was 'old money'), could well have had a knock-on effect, making photos of C. W. Lacey hard to find...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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  • Admin
1 hour ago, The Inspector said:

Hi Kim and all,

And the next one is ???

Regards Barry

Well Barry we have so far sadly failed with the one linked below, so perhaps a fresh look there?

Regards 

David

 

Note - there is more than one thread concerning Capt Davis, no doubt Kim can provide the links.

 

Edited by DavidOwen
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Hi David and all

Haven't stopped looking..."we accomplish the difficult almost immediately the impossible takes a little longer"...........the search continues

Regards Barry.

Edited by The Inspector
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Dear All,

Thank you all so much for taking it in a Sporting manner as befitting the GWF.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

PS: The group of three to Lieut David Thomson, attd RAF (IGS "Afgh NWF 1919" named to 'F(lying).- OFFR.')265411855_2-LIEUT.F-OFFR.D.THOMSONRAF.jpg.18851e79d31d996428e9985d6722f8ab.jpg1372756790_WilliamDavisMiD_small.jpg.2fb5551bcee81d9a7f4d54bf62a4bf33.jpg ; and the group of six to 2Lt T/Major Wm. John Davis, BSc., IARO and PWD (IGS "Malabar 1921-22" named to 'EX(ecutive).-ENGR.').

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Dear All,

And here is the full group of Bedford School 1909 Rugby XV (Frank Lacey, later MC, is standing, centre).

Kindest regards,

Kim.1297842733_BedfordSchoolRugby1908-09.jpg.b0cab68653ed1bb47226ae298d59aac5.jpg

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Happy New Year Kim.  

So pleased you found a photo of C W Lacey at long last.  He and his brother look so similar they could almost be twins.

 

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Dear Susan,

Thanks for that.

Yes, I agree. Frank Lacey also went on to RMC Sandhurst...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Dear All,

When looking up the London Gazette entry for the Military Cross to Frank, the younger brother of "my" erstwhile Labour Corps T/Capt Christopher William Lacey, I discovered an MC to the Labour Corps!

T/Capt William McEnuff, Lab. Corps, must have been a gallant and capable Officer - and a rare bird indeed...

Kindest regards,

Kim.1246942845_CaptFrankHerbertLaceyMCLG3Jun1918.jpg.4be324625081d4a5233aaca88cb4b51d.jpg

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Dear All,

Researching the redoubtable McEnuff further, I found that he was (British) Labour Corps.

W. McEnuff had been previously Qr.-Mr. and Hon. Lt., Gen. List and to be T/Capt., 16 Mar 1917. MC gazetted 3 Jun 1918. Relinquished his commission on completion of service, 4 Jan 1920, and retained the rank of Capt (L. G., 5 Feb 1920).

This latter London Gazette entry showed Officers of the Labour Corps, variously as 'Ind. Lab.'(T/Lt. R. Manners); 'Chinese Lab.' (Lts. Barrett and Ings); and 'Egyptian Lab.' (T/2nd Lt.Payne).

Clearly, IARO 2nd Lt. (T/Capt.), substantive Lieut. C. W. Lacey was Indian Labour Corps...

Kindest regards,

Kim.181208855_LabourCorpsInd.L.C.ChineseEgyptian....jpg.67d32ffaae561f972883f9eeedfd9fab.jpg932534058_Ind.MIC2LtT-CaptC.W.LaceyBWMandvictory.jpg.fbfcc0c05a6aed3acbfc28b71fd01c2f.jpg

Edited by Kimberley John Lindsay
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Hi Kim,

You may already have this:-

William McEnuff was born in Gibraltar, Pension records on Ancestry. Joined Royal West Kent  14th April, 1892 aged 20 yrs. Pte 3316. He was a clerk in the Royal arsenal. Discharged as a Cpl. on first period of engagement 8.4.04. Lots of detail regarding service In India.

Also records from 1914 attested 21.9.14., 912 RWK. later 12/12264  East Surrey. Disch 12.6.15 on commission.

Regards Barry

Edited by The Inspector
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Dear Barry,

McEnuff, born 1872, must have been the oldest Officer to have won the MC.

On reflection, T/Lt R. Manners (Indian Labour Corps) may be more pertinent, vis-a-vis T/Capt - substantive Lieut - C. W. Lacey.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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  • 2 weeks later...

Dear All,

I saw a 2011 book, "125 Years of the Blues" - a history of a rugby, club, Then thought it might contain a reference to Christopher ("Christie") Lacey. 

Son Philip and daughter-in-law Biggi ordered the book for me, and, sure enough: two rugby groups, including Lacey! He is standing back row - the 1909-10 group,  he standing alongside his brother:

Kindest regards,

Kim.1266539042_TheBedfordBlues1909-10FrankandChristieLaceystandingcentre.jpg.58519a45ddd7e3f02c965d2541cc3330.jpg86379426_TheBedfordBlues1910-11ChristieLaceystanding7thfromleft.jpg.bb5fe6ef23f8a6f8ea962d19d4df2e7c.jpg1266539042_TheBedfordBlues1909-10FrankandChristieLaceystandingcentre.jpg.58519a45ddd7e3f02c965d2541cc3330.jpg

Edited by Kimberley John Lindsay
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Dear Mark,

In the 1909-10 group, he is standing together with his younger brother Frank (later Lt-Col MC: wounded during the Great War): Christopher ("Christie") Lacy being the third player from right (or fifth, including the officials), and Frank is at his right shoulder (third player from the left: fifth, counting the officials).

In the 1910-11 group, Frank had left for RMC Sandhurst (where he played for their 1910 Rugby XV, but I cannot download or purchase the RMC Sandhurst team photo: maybe someone can help, please?), and Christopher Lacey had left Bedford School (although I cannot find his Leaving Certificate), but is shown here, standing fifth player from left (or seventh from left including the officials).

He was obviously a handsome devil and one is not surprised that he was a co-respondent in the divorce of same-age Madge from a monied Establishment type over twenty years older; and that Christopher ("Christie") Lacey did the decent thing and married her - at the cost of her small daughter. Par for the course in the 1920s, perhaps, amongst the, say, upper middle-class.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Edited by Kimberley John Lindsay
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Dear All,

The 1908-091078763823_BedfordSchoolRugby1908-09.jpg.0259c7ebeb6c1b968c543965e378928c.jpgBedford School Rugby XV included many future Great War officers: Capt C. W. Lacey, IARO, and his younger brother Major F. E. Lacey, MC (RE, 1918), being only two.

Standing: C. F. Maltby; D. B. O'Brien; Moran (?); F. E.Lacey; B. S. Milton; T. T. G. Laville

Seated: P. L. Corban-Lucas; H. K. Nailer; G. H. Chambers; E. H. Dasent, Esq (Coach); R. C. Wilkinson; R. G. Rolfe-Rogers; C. W. Lacey

In front: J. A. Thompson; D. M. Spankie.

Perhaps GWF experts can enlarge on the war services of the one, or the other?

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Edited by Kimberley John Lindsay
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Dear All,

I feel sure that C. F. Maltby, P. L. Corban-Lucas, R. G. Rolfe-Rogers (who was something in Tea?), T. T. G. Laville and R. C. Wilkinson, would have been outstanding during the Great War. probably with British forces (my reference works are Indian Army - which shows C. W. Lacey, of course).

For example, another Rugby contemporary of C. W. Lacey at BedfordDownload.png.9d751b6b787bc6084eaf9a90284f1245.png, but not in the photo, was H. C. B. Wemyss (pron. weems), who not only won the DSO and MC during the Great War, but reached high rank subsequently: General Sir Colville Wemyss, KCB, KBE, DSO, MC (1891-1959).

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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  • 1 month later...

Dear All,

The Bedford School archivist has kindly beamed me the Register details for C. W. Lacey (shown only as Christie Lacey) and a May 1908 group of Monitors (Prefects), including the handsome and well-dressed Christopher William Lacey. Super!

At last I have a picture of C. W. Lacey, wearing something other than Rugby attire. A Great War photo of Capt Lacey, IARO attd Labour Corps 356810996_MonitorsMay1908ChristieLaceybackrow6thfromright.thumb.jpg.16bdbaa2912650e13a242d607c54e36a.jpgIMG_20190304_0001.jpg.aa497833a3bb4333efacbea34336b85f.jpg1980192234_LaceyCW1903-07.jpg.3bfe91ffe437ca68b91b5e4fb8a9166d.jpg195620028_LaceyCW1903-07ii.jpg.f0e978b6b27a948d6ad5cdcc01175ebd.jpgremains elusive, however...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Dear David,

Yes, I'm thrilled to bits! 

I have been unable to locate anything much about the school he attended as a small boy in India: Christ Church School, Simla. (The father of C. W. Lacey was a PWD official, in Simla.)

"Under the Old School Topee" (1998) by Hazel Innes Craig, refers to 'Christ Church Girls' School at Simla - which also catered for small boys...

Certainly, Christie Lacey benefitted as few boys did, from his time at Bedford School.

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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Dear All,

The nice Bedford School archivist kindly beamed me the clearest detail so far, of C. W. Lacey - as he was in May 19081542423179_LaceyCW1903-07iii.jpg.e9283b5ad3803bbf77ab7f64679d1177.jpg...

Rather good, considering my groping in the dark at the beginning of this Thread!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

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