Officers, 279th Party, School of Musketry Photograph

[FROGSMILE]

15 hours ago, PRC said:

Thank-you, fascinating stuff and for someone like me it's finding out that sort of thing that makes these searches such a great learning experience.

To save others having to go back and search it might be an ideal time to bring forward the numbered image for ease of reference.

Original image courtesy @mrfrank,

Cheers,
Peter

It’s been largely forgotten now in it’s military context, but at that time fencing was considered a skill-at-arms and manly activity, with a particular focus in the army by officers and staff sergeants equipped with swords, plus of course the arme blanche, the cavalry.  Indeed the equivalent of an assistant physical training instructor in the cavalry had the term fencing in his appointment title.

Within the infantry some officers took it quite seriously and trained assiduously.  Others favoured pugilism and participated in inter company boxing competitions.  Within the infantry fencing was viewed as in partnership with bayonet fighting, and in organised competitions there were bouts between fencers and bayonet men, as well as those purely between bayonets.  The techniques necessary go back a surprisingly long way.  Captain Huntington would have been closely involved in all of that.  

Edited 8 February by FROGSMILE

[stephen p nunn]

19 hours ago, FROGSMILE said:

Interesting that the motto on his memorial is that of the 60th Rifles (King’s Royal Rifle Corps).  Presumably either a nod to his father’s regiment (which seems odd), or perhaps he did serve with that regiment for a period, despite the apparent association with the Wiltshire’s, Essex and Suffolk Regiments.  More details to confirm it seems.

As you say, one of the nicknames of the KRRC was the 60^th Rifles. Their motto is indeed ‘Celer et Audax’ (‘Swift and Bold’).

[FROGSMILE]

1 hour ago, stephen p nunn said:

As you say, one of the nicknames of the KRRC was the 60^th Rifles. Their motto is indeed ‘Celer et Audax’ (‘Swift and Bold’).

It wasn’t a “nickname” Stephen, but the regiment’s formal title before 1881 (along with secondary title The Royal Americans).  Although the title was formally changed to KRRC in July 1881, within the regiment it continued to refer to itself as the 60th Rifles, as did many of the other infantry regiments.  Indeed that title remained on some items of uniform regalia.

Edited 8 February by FROGSMILE

[stephen p nunn]

1 minute ago, FROGSMILE said:

It wasn’t a “nickname” Stephen, but the regiment’s formal title before 1881 (along with secondary title The Royal Americans).  Although the title was formally changed to KRRC in July 1881, within the regiment it continued to refer to itself as the 60th Rifles, as did many of the other infantry regiments.  Indeed that title remained on some items of uniform regalia.

I thought they carried on with it as a "nickname" post formation of KRCC (along with 'Royal Americans' and 'The Jaggars')?

[FROGSMILE]

28 minutes ago, stephen p nunn said:

I thought they carried on with it as a "nickname" post formation of KRCC (along with 'Royal Americans' and 'The Jaggars')?

Not really a nickname when it was previously their formal regimental title Stephen.  Cherry bums (11th Hussars), Nanny Goats (RWF), Celestials (2nd RWK), The Sweeps (Rifle Brigade) Those are typical of nicknames.  The principal nickname of the KRRC was “The Kaisers Own” (a second was “The Jaegers”).

Edited 8 February by FROGSMILE

[PRC]

27 – John Wyndham Aylmer.  Lt 4th  Dragoon Guards at the time of the course. Survived the war and died in 1953.

John Wyndham Aylmer was born on the 9^th March 1889 at Moorefield House, Newbridge, County Kildare – it is notable that many of the other births on the same page of the civil register were at Curragh Camp. He was the son of John Algernon Aylmer, a Captain in the 4^th Dragoon Guards, and Blanche Aylmer, previously Montgomery, formerly Wyndham. https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1889/02476/1919201.pdf

On the 1901 Census of England & Wales there is a 12 year old John W. Aylmer, born Curragh, County Kildare, who was recorded as a boarding school pupil at Arnold House, Llanddulas, Denbighshire.

The new school was rebranded as Arnold House School, Llanddulas and was officially opened in 1875. It was classified as an independent Preparatory Boarding school for boys aged between 7 and 13 years old and catered for the sons of the gentry, clergy, middle classes, business leaders and high ranking members of the armed forces.

Arnold House School, Llanddulas was extremely successful in preparing young men for Common Entrance Scholarships to famous public schools and naval colleges. The school closed it doors circa 1943. https://www.llanddulasremembers.co.uk/arnold-house.php

Apparently he was educated at Wellington College subsequently and then went on to Sandhurst. https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Aylmer-253

The edition of the London Gazette dated January 29, 1909 on page 663 has a list of University Candidates and Gentlemen Cadets from the Royal Military College who were to be Second Lieutenant, dated 27^th January 1909. Under the entry for the 4^th (Royal Irish) Dragoon Guards is John Wyndham Aylmer. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28218/page/663/data.pdf

The 1911 edition of Hart’s Annual Army List shows the 4^th Dragoon Guards started the year at Brighton but were under orders to move to Tidworth. John had been promoted Lieutenant with effect from the 26^th October 1910.

On the 1911 Census of England & Wales Lieutenant John Wyndham Aylmer, aged 22, unmarried and born Moorfield, Curragh, Kildare, was one of four 4^th Dragoon Guard Officers recorded at Woolwich Common Barracks, Woolwich, London.

John, still a Lieutenant, deployed with the 4^th Dragoon Guards to France on the 16^th August 1914 according to his Medal Index card. He would later serve with the Worcestershire Yeomanry, first as Captain, and then Major. When he formally applied for his medals towards the end of 1920 he gave a contact address of Madresfield Grange, Madresfield, Malvern, Worcester. The card records that he had also received the Military Cross.

By then he had married a Edith Margaret Loder, daughter of Wilfrid Hans Loder and Sarah Winifred Rowe, on 8 August 1918 at Holy Trinity Church, Sloane Street, London. He retired from the military in 1924, with the rank of Major, late of the 4th Royal Irish Dragoon Guards. He held the office of Master of Foxhounds, The Kildare between 1925 and 1926. He sold Courtown, Kilcock, County Kildare, in 1947. He lived at The Park, Charleville, County Cork, Ireland. He died on 22 March 1953 at age 64.
https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Aylmer-253

But so far no pictures of John.

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

28 – Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson.  2^nd Battalion York and Lancs  Regiment at the time of the course. Survived the war, retired from the Army in 1928 and died in 1953.

His personal papers covering the period 1899-1942 are held in the University of Manchester Library. https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/498bdd64-3730-3802-a409-6c203a46bb33?component=43f5831d-2893-3d2a-b256-e623b937ef6b

The 1939 second half yearly Army List has him under Officers on Retired Pay. He was born 14^th April 1888. Commissioned 22^nd February 1908, he made Major on the 12^th November 1921. Still serving with the York and Lancaster Regiment he moved to half pay on the 4^th May 1928, and retired on the 16^th June 1928. https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn30/9018/90184939.30.jpg

The 1911 Census of England & Wales has a 22 year old Lieutenant Charles Bramwell “Armytage” Jackson, born London and single, who was recorded in barracks at Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire, with the 2^nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment.

His Medal Index Card shows his disembarking in France on the 9^th September 1914 as a Lieutenant with the 2^nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. He would go on to serve on attachment with the Machine Gun Corps, reaching the rank of Temporary Major. Looking at the information on the reverse of the MiC he may have been at the Machine Gun Training Centre at Grantham at the start of 1918 – he appears on a list of officers submitted from there who were believed to be eligible for the 1914 Star. When he formally applied for his medals towards the end of 1921 his contact address was then given as the 2^nd York & Lancs Regiment, Karachi, India.

Could be a co-incidence but a Charles B.A. Jackson married a Hazeldine Lyall in the Epsom District of Surrey in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1923.

A subscription source “Somerset Monumental Inscriptions” has a record for a Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson who died in 1953, but no equivalent match in the civil death records for England & Wales. This is explained by his entry in the 1953 Probate Calendar.
“JACKSON Charles Bramwell Armitage otherwise Charles Bramwell of Manor Farm Charlton Mackrell Somerton Somersetshire died 22 October 1953 at The Royal Victoria Hospital Netley Hampshire Probate London 19 December to Hazeldine Jackson widow. Effects £14162 9s.”

But no obvious images.

Cheers,
Peter

[Bob Davies]

6 hours ago, PRC said:

Could be a co-incidence but a Charles B.A. Jackson married a Hazeldine Lyall in the Epsom District of Surrey in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1923.

 

A subscription source “Somerset Monumental Inscriptions” has a record for a Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson who died in 1953, but no equivalent match in the civil death records for England & Wales. This is explained by his entry in the 1953 Probate Calendar.
“JACKSON Charles Bramwell Armitage otherwise Charles Bramwell of Manor Farm Charlton Mackrell Somerton Somersetshire died 22 October 1953 at The Royal Victoria Hospital Netley Hampshire Probate London 19 December to Hazeldine Jackson widow. Effects £14162 9s.”

 

But no obvious images.

 

Cheers,
Peter

28 – Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson.  2^nd Battalion York and Lancs

Great work Peter,

I think you have the correct marriage here to 'Hazeldine'.

In the 1939 England and Wales Register he is living at Manor Farm Charlton Mackrell Somerton with Hazeldine, there is also a Paul Jackson, born 11th May 1924, with them.

Charles is listed as 'Former Officer Retired Army Incapacitated'

20 odd family trees, some with dubious research show no photographs.

Major Jackson, Chas Bramwell Armitage arrives in Plymouth from India on 9th April1923 from Bombay via Port Said and Malta.

Proposed address is 'Updown, Eastry, Kent'.

Presumably for his wedding?

Regards, Bob.

[PRC]

30 – Bertram Maurice  Kenny.  Lt  1st  Battalion, The Queens (Royal West  Surrey Regiment) at the time of the course, survived the war but died in 1926.

Born 12^th August 1884, Dublin [1] Or Malahide, County Dublin, (although his parents home address was No.35 Fitzwilliam Place, Dublin. Father William Kenny was a Barrister. Mother Mary Kenney looks like her maiden name was Coffey. [2]

Educated The Oratory School for whom he played Cricket 1900-1902 [1]

On the 1901 Census of England & Wales the 16 year old Bertram Maurice Kenny, born Ireland, was recorded as a pupil at The Oratory (Roman Catholic School). Edgbaston, Birmingham.

The historical schools records were transferred to the Birmingham Archives in 1973. [3] They do not appear to be available online. However the driving force behind the school was Cardinal Newman and his paperwork, including a large number of photographs of pupils handed over to The John Rylands Library and have been digitised. [4] Unfortunately their search system completely defeated me.

16^th August 1905.  Genteman Cadet of the Royal Military College he was commissioned Second Lieutenant in The Queens (Royal West Surrey Regiment). Page 5620 The London Gazette, August 15, 1905, [5]

A cousin, Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Kelly-Kenny was Colonel of the same Regiment from April 1902 until his death on the 26^th December 1914.[6]
 
Bertram played Cricket for the 1^st Battalion while they were stationed in Aden, (known matches November – December 1909 and at least one match with them in England on the 29^th July 1911. [1]

Harts’ Annual Army List for 1911 shows him as a 2^nd Lieutenant with the 1^st Battalion, The Queens. The Battalion was then stationed at Warley. [7]

When the 1911 Census of England & Wales was taken on the 2^nd April, the 26 year old Lieutenant Bertram Maurice Kenny, single and born Dublin, was recorded in either a mixed barrack or on some sort of course at Longmoor Camp, East Liss, Hampshire. He is in with a group of officers, mostly Lieutenants, drawn from a wide variety of Infantry Regiments.

The West Sussex Gazette, (16^th January 1913) and the Hampshire Post and Southsea Observer (17^th January 1913), have him then stationed I believe at Bordon when they reported on him being fined for keeping a motor car without an excise licence. [8]

On the 11^th August 1914 an Officers Mess Photograph was taken of the 1^st Battalion at Bordon Camp, Aldershot. Lieutenant B.M. Kenny is stated to be in the third row, fourth from left. [9]

That enables this comparison.

No new IP is claimed for the above, and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owners.

His Medal Index Card shows him first landing in France  on the 13^th August 1914 serving as a Lieutenant with the 1^st Battalion, Royal West Surrey Regiment. He would subsequently serve on the Staff as a Captain and Brevet Major. While a 1914 Star and clasp was issued, there is nothing on the MiC to indicate that he ever applied for his Victory Medal and the British War Medal. He is shown as having received the Military Cross. There is no contact address details [10] The would tie in with source [11] which only has a picture of his M.C. and 1914 Star. The M.C. award appears to have been in the January 1918 New Years Honours List. (The Times, Thursday, January 3^rd, 1918). He received it at Buckingham Palace on the 2^nd March 1918. (The Times, Monday March 4th, 1918).

He appeared in a list of Officers Wounded in the edition of The Times dated September 19^th  1914. Royal West Surrey Regiment Officers listed as killed included:-
Lieutenant R.L.Q. Henriques.  His Commonwealth War Graves Commission webpage shows him as 2^nd Battalion attached 1^st Battalion and that he died on the 14^th September 1914. There is a concentration report attached – originally buried as an Unknown British Officer, probably by the Germans.[13]

War diary transcript for the 14^th September 1914.
NEAR PAISSY.
Marched off at 7.10am through MOULINS to PAISSY. The Battn, was detached from the remainder of the Bde, to act as escort to our Artillery on the right flank, and next to the French. Deployed to the N.E. of PAISSY and advanced in extended lines of Platoons, B and C Companies in the firing line and A and D Companies in support. No serious opposition was encountered before arriving on the line of the CHEMIN DES DAMIN road. The advance was continued to the front edge of a wood (about 400-500 yds N of the road). Here our left consisting of B and C Coys, encountered serious opposition and came under heavy rifle and M, G, fire. A Coy, now reinforced this flank while D Coy, held the front edge of the wood. The Battn, machine guns were at the outset brought up on the right flank, but finding an inadequate field of fire, Lieut, PRINGLES moved them across to the left flank to assist A,B and C Companies. To our front the enemy were advancing across towards the right flank where the French were and a considerable amount of casualties were caused at a range of 1100 yards. A wide valley separated our position from the enemy's main line of trenches, D Company, on the N edge of wood were well concealed from view and had few casualties. At about 3.00pm the Commanding Officer ordered a counter attack to be made to our right flank against the enemy's flank as they advanced onto the French. Captain HUNTER with 2 Platoons of D Company proceeded to this flank but it was found impossible to carry out this attack, the enemy being by this time in considerable numbers and the French having fallen back to the line of the CHEMIN DES DAME. On our left a much more serious attack was made against A B & C Coy, (No officers now remain of these companies and details cannot be given as to the movements on this flank). At about 4.30pm the Commanding officer directed that a retirement should be carried out to the line of the CHEMIN DES DAME. D Coy, fell back first, in well extended formation, followed by A & B Coys with C Company bringing up the rear. Captain LONGBOURNE commanded the latter Company and brought in several of our wounded officers and men. The Battn, lay about 50yds in front of our own Artillery and under heavy shell fire from the enemy until darkness came on.

The following were the casualties amongst the officers and men of the

Battn:-

Lieutenant R.L.Q. Henriques Killed
Major H.C Pilleau D.S.O. - Wounded
Brevet Major E.B Mathew-Lannowe – Wounded
Captain  M.G. Heath – Wounded
Captain A.E McNamara – Wounded
Lieutenant B Kenny – Wounded
Lieutenant Denton – Wounded
Lieutenant Pringle – Wounded
Lieutenant Hayes – Wounded
Lieutenant Bushell - Wounded

13 N.C.O's and men killed
88 wounded.
39 N.C.O's and men missing[14]

According to Colonel Kelly-Kenny’s family, one of his last acts was to visit his cousin Lieutenant Bertram Maurice Kenny in hospital, where he was seriously wounded. Kelly-Kenny was proud of the family connection with Lieutenant Kenny's father William Kenny (judge, privy councillor and Unionist MP) to whom he left £1000 in his will. [6]

19^th June 1925 married Mary Rachel eldest daughter of Ernest Jackson of Withnell House, Lancashire in London.[12]

Retired from the Army in 1925 due to ill-health. [11]

Died 24^th May 1926 at Rugby, Warwickshire. [1] No obvious probate calendar entry.

Cheers,
Peter

Sources:

[1] https://stats.acscricket.com/Archive/Players/1197/1197569/1197569.html
[2] https://civilrecords.irishgenealogy.ie/churchrecords/images/birth_returns/births_1884/02680/1987501.pdf
[3] https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/71e89846-b898-475c-a08e-d44696a2cc0e
[4] https://newmanarchive.wordpress.com/
[5] https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/27827/page/5620/data.pdf
[6] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Kelly-Kenny
[7] https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/100803853
[8] British Newspaper Archive
[9]  https://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/new_museum/20th_century_room/case4/officers_mess/officers_mess_1914.shtml
[10] Ancestry https://www.ancestry.co.uk/imageviewer/collections/1262/images/30850_A000893-02379?treeid=&personid=&queryId=abc8b6d7-cac6-47f1-ab73-93fd1ad6ff5f&usePUB=true&_phsrc=LDq5421&_phstart=successSource&pId=415873
[11] https://books.google.co.uk/books?id=2qrBCwAAQBAJ&pg=PA265&lpg=PA265&dq=Bertram+Maurice++Kenny&source=bl&ots=YrxhomuUTS&sig=ACfU3U1DNj1gGLnVlFXbJ0TrmtnZBO5PGQ&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwimla_esJ-EAxX5XUEAHaibAO84FBDoAXoECAUQAw#v=onepage&q=Bertram%20Maurice%20%20Kenny&f=false
[12] https://www.youwho.ie/kenny.html
[13] https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/323070/ronald-lucas-quixano-henriques/
[14] http://qrrarchive.websds.net/PDF/QWD0011914013.pdf

Picture Source

[a] https://www.queensroyalsurreys.org.uk/new_museum/20th_century_room/case4/officers_mess/officers_mess_1914.shtml

Cheers,
Peter

[Bob Davies]

Great work again Peter @PRC that is him.

While I have 'Hart's List' open here is the 1914 listing for;

39. Lt Ronald Foster Forbes HLI.

Screen shot courtesy of and link to the page concerned  https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/100748587

 

[Grandrew2]

On 09/02/2024 at 12:37, PRC said:

28 – Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson.  2^nd Battalion York and Lancs  Regiment at the time of the course. Survived the war, retired from the Army in 1928 and died in 1953.

 

His personal papers covering the period 1899-1942 are held in the University of Manchester Library. https://archiveshub.jisc.ac.uk/search/archives/498bdd64-3730-3802-a409-6c203a46bb33?component=43f5831d-2893-3d2a-b256-e623b937ef6b

 

The 1939 second half yearly Army List has him under Officers on Retired Pay. He was born 14^th April 1888. Commissioned 22^nd February 1908, he made Major on the 12^th November 1921. Still serving with the York and Lancaster Regiment he moved to half pay on the 4^th May 1928, and retired on the 16^th June 1928. https://deriv.nls.uk/dcn30/9018/90184939.30.jpg

 

The 1911 Census of England & Wales has a 22 year old Lieutenant Charles Bramwell “Armytage” Jackson, born London and single, who was recorded in barracks at Blackdown, Farnborough, Hampshire, with the 2^nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment.

 

His Medal Index Card shows his disembarking in France on the 9^th September 1914 as a Lieutenant with the 2^nd Battalion York and Lancaster Regiment. He would go on to serve on attachment with the Machine Gun Corps, reaching the rank of Temporary Major. Looking at the information on the reverse of the MiC he may have been at the Machine Gun Training Centre at Grantham at the start of 1918 – he appears on a list of officers submitted from there who were believed to be eligible for the 1914 Star. When he formally applied for his medals towards the end of 1921 his contact address was then given as the 2^nd York & Lancs Regiment, Karachi, India.

 

Could be a co-incidence but a Charles B.A. Jackson married a Hazeldine Lyall in the Epsom District of Surrey in the April to June quarter, (Q2), of 1923.

 

A subscription source “Somerset Monumental Inscriptions” has a record for a Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson who died in 1953, but no equivalent match in the civil death records for England & Wales. This is explained by his entry in the 1953 Probate Calendar.
“JACKSON Charles Bramwell Armitage otherwise Charles Bramwell of Manor Farm Charlton Mackrell Somerton Somersetshire died 22 October 1953 at The Royal Victoria Hospital Netley Hampshire Probate London 19 December to Hazeldine Jackson widow. Effects £14162 9s.”

 

But no obvious images.

 

Cheers,
Peter

 

Many thanks Peter & Bob here is a bit more to add to No 28 Charles Bramwell Armitage JACKSON (apologises for the overlap but easier to repeat some than miss something by mistake)

Thanks to Graham Saggar who provided me with the WO338 info 

 

Military Career

Charles Bramwell Armitage Jackson was born in London 14 April 1888.

He attended the RMC Sandhurst and was commissioned from there to be a 2^nd Lieut in the 2^nd Battalion York and Lancaster’s on the 22 Feb 1908. The following year he was promoted to Lieutenant on the 19 Sept 1909. 

1911 Census has him in the Dettingen Barracks, Blackdown with the 2^nd Y&L

Promoted to Captain 10 Sept 1914

Attached to the MGC as a Major 14 Oct 1916 (Capt. Y&L)

His medal Index Card shows he earned a 1914 Star Bar Trio and shows his address as Karachi.

He was MID three times. 

Staff LG 1 Nov 1916  page 6 York & Lancs

T/Lieut Staff 25/9/16 page 9341

T/Major Staff Y&L LG 5/7/1919 Page 8494 York & Lancs

 

1939 Census has him living at Manor Farm Charlton Mackrell. He is shown as Retired Army Officer incapacitated.

He dies on 22 Oct 1953 at Netley Hospital is home address is still Manor Farm

 

NB there is another C B A Jackson who gets an MC with the Suffolk Yeomanry, but this one is Cyril Bramwell Armitage Jackson, and he dies in Suffolk 14 Sept 1920. They are cousins their Granny was Jane Armitage and their grandfather was Sir Charles Robert Mitchell Jackson -see below

 

I could not find Charles’s officer Papers in WO339 or WO374 but WO338 has (see extract attached below)

 

 

Grandfather Charles was born in 1813, he was the son of Alexander Jackson.^[1] He passed away in 1874.

He held the office of Member of the Legislative Council (M.L.C.) [India] in 1859.1 He held the office of Judge of the High Court of Judicature in 1862.1 He was Royal Commissioner on the failure of the Bank of Bombay in 1868.1 He held the office of Auditor of the India Office in 1873.^[2]

Charles the grandfather married Jane Armitage on 28 December 1844 in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.^[3] In the 1871 census Charles (age 54) was in Bryanston Square, St Marylebone, Marylebone, London & Middlesex, England.^[4]

 

Andrew

Edited 10 February by Grandrew2

[PRC]

10 minutes ago, Grandrew2 said:

He dies on 22 Oct 1953 at Netley Hospital

Thanks @Grandrew2. To the best of my knowledge The Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, was still a military facility at that point. As the 1939 Register tells us he was a retired Army Officer due to incapacitation, it is suggestive that he might have been in hospital directly as a result of his former service at the time of his death. Did you ever have cause to get a death certificate for him - I believe many are now available for £2.50 on the GRO website.

1 hour ago, Bob Davies said:

Great work again Peter

Just wish I'd found the picture before I did the faux Wikipedia piece

Cheers,
Peter

[PRC]

31 - Reginald John Brownfield,  Lt 3^rd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment at the time of the course. Killed in Action 18^th December 1914.

There is a piece on him and an image at https://llandudno-parish.org.uk/wordpress/extra/the-great-war/b/brownfield-reginald-john

Their narrative reads “Roy Brownfield was born on 7 April 1886. He was the only son of Douglas Harold Brownfield, a china manufacturer living at Trentham, Staffordshire, and his wife Martha Brownfield (née Walker). The Census for 1891 reveals that Roy had two sisters, Gladys Mary and Eileen Moira. Roy was educated at Strubbington House School, Ascot; Wren’s School, Bayswater; and Denstone College, Uttoxeter. The Census for 1901 records him as being a boarder at Denstone. He later went to Sandhurst, passing out in 1905 and was gazetted as a second lieutenant in the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He served “at home” from 15 August 1905 until 29 September 1908 when he was sent to 1st Battalion in India, being promoted to lieutenant on 1 April 1909. On 30 July 1910, Roy was posted for a tour of duty with the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion at the regimental depot at Warwick. The Census for 1911 records Lieutenant Brownfield billeted at Longmore Camp in Hampshire. Roy’s parents’ then address was “Kenilworth”, Abbey Road, Llandudno. The 1911 Census describes Douglas Brownfield as a merchant in clay. Roy resigned his commission on 20 August 1913 and was promoted to the rank of captain on the Reserve List in the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battalion, formerly the 2nd Warwickshire Militia. He moved to Llandudno on his retirement from the army but what occupation he took is uncertain. His address was later given as “Llys Helyg”, Abbey Road. He played for the Llandudno Cricket Club and was a member of both the Llandudno Golf Club and the Caernarvonshire Golf Club at Conwy and had a wide circle of friends.

When war was declared on 4 August, Roy Brownfield reported to the 4th Battalion on the Isle of Wight. The 2nd Battalion, which had been in Malta at the outbreak of war, returned to England on 19 August and landed at Zeebrugge on 6 October. Roy Brownfield was subsequently attached to the 2nd Warwicks, disembarking in France on 26 November 1914.

Roy Brownfield was killed in action whilst leading an attack on a German trench at Rouge Bancs, near Armentières on 18 December 1914 aged 27. He was later mentioned in dispatches. He has no known grave. Roy’s father died in 1917 so when Roy’s estate was finally wound up in 1918, probate was granted to his mother.

To untangle that a bit:-

The London Gazette, 19^th August 1913.
4^th Battalion, The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, Lieutenant Reginald John Brownfield, retired pay late The Royal Warwickshire Regiment, was to be Lieutenant under the provisions of Article 510, Royal Warrant for Pay and Promotion, 1909, with seniority as from 22^nd January, 1909. Dated 20^th August 1913. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28747/page/5937/data.pdf

The August 1914 British Army List shows him as a Captain with seniority from the 20^th August 1913 on the Officer establishment of the 4^th (Extra Reserve) Battalion of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment. He is also shown as being a Lieutenant on retired pay. Column 950. https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/103631078

His MiC doesn’t show which Battalion he landed in France on the 26^th November 1914 with or to serve with. His Victory Medal and British War Medal were issued on the Royal Warwickshire Regiment Reserve of Officers Roll.

His entry on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission shows him simply as serving with the 2^nd Battalion when he died on the 18^th December 1914. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial. He is recorded as 28 years old. (That would tie up with the 7^th April 1886 date of birth given on the Llandudno site). https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/875092/reginald-john-roy-brownfield/

From the 2nd Bn, RWR War Diary 18th Dec. 1914 = "The Bn was ordered to advance in 3 lines at 4.30 pm to attack & take the German Trenches which were in front of le MALSNIL [Le MAISNIL]. The attack was proceeded by a heavy artillery bombardment by our artillery to which the enemy made hardly any reply. Attack was started by "B" Company on the right, led by Capt Haddon, advancing in 2 lines : A Co advanced on the left in 2 lines with D Coy in the centre. "C" Coy formed the third line with entrenching tools. A Machine Gun was on each flank. Immediately the attack was opened, the enemy opened a very heavy rifle & machine gun fire. The Battalion advance under this with steadiness, suffering very heavy casualties. The 2/Queens sent in 1 1/2 companies in support & although our dead were found only a few yards from the German trenches, the attack failed in its objectives. What remained of the Bn. subsequently retired into our trenches. Shortly after daylight the enemy came out and started examining our dead. Parties went out fr. our lines & buried some of the officers and collected discs from some of the killed. Owing to 2 officers of the Queens & several small parties of the Bn, when engaged in carrying our wounded into the enemy's lines, (the enemy refusing to allow us to remove our wounded) being made prisoners, & also to Lt Bover S. Staffords being killed while helping to collect our wounded, the informal armistice was terminated. Lt. Col Brewis was found killed about 40 yards from the ememys line. Capt. Brownfield, Lts. Monk, Tucker, Campbell & Birt (attached R.E.) together with 34 men were found a few yards from a German Machine gun, from evidence available it is apparent that Capt Brownfield though previously wounded continued to lead the attack on the Gun." https://livesofthefirstworldwar.iwm.org.uk/story/79209

His entry in The Denstonian, (the College Magazine), dated March 1915 reads:-
“Reginald John Brownfield came in Jan., 1901, and left in July, 1902. He was a Prefect and a Member of the X I .

He was Lieutenant in the 3rd Battn. of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, and on the outbreak of war was appointed Captain in the 4th Battalion. He was killed in action on Dec. 18th, 1914. His Commanding Officer gives the following account of his death:—"Captain Brownfield met his death in an attempt to capture the German trenches, on the night of the 18^th of December. He was found the next morning in front of 4 officers and 32 men, who were also killed. His great effort is deserving of all praise, for he died, as one always knew him to be, a brave and gallant soldier. He is buried on the ground where he fell leading his company. He was much esteemed by all ranks, and the loss of such a brilliant officer is a great blow to the regiment.'' http://www.worldwar1schoolarchives.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/1915_031.pdf

No new IP is claimed for the above, and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owners.

Source
[a] https://llandudno-parish.org.uk/wordpress/extra/the-great-war/b/brownfield-reginald-john

Cheers,
Peter

[FROGSMILE]

Very interesting Peter and laid out in your usual brilliant style.  I always enjoy reading what you dig out on these individual officers, who often have such tragic stories / ends. 

Edited 10 February by FROGSMILE

[PRC]

47 minutes ago, FROGSMILE said:

Very interesting Peter and laid out in your usual brilliant style.  I always enjoy reading what you dig out on these individual officers, who often have such tragic stories / ends. 

Thank you - I do worry a bit that because I'm only following the leads that might end up in an image that can be used for a comparison that I'm not really doing their stories full justice. All I can hope is that it inspires someone else to pick up the mantle and flesh out the bare bones.

Sadly the next one doesn't have a good ending either.

32 - Edward Charles Dimsdale,  Lt 6th Battalion Rifle Brigade at the time of the course. Killed in Action \ Missing in Action 8^th May 1915 attached to 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. 

Captain Edward Charles Dimsdale, Rifle Brigade, attached 1^st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment died on the 8^th May 1915. He has no known grave and so is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. https://www.cwgc.org/find-records/find-war-dead/casualty-details/1610064/edward-charles-dimsdale/

A blog post has this on the circumstances of his death.

At  the height of the fighting on 8th May 1915 during the Second Battle of Ypres, the battalion headquarters of the 1st Monmouths became cut off from the troops of the battalion who were facing strong German attacks. In order to gain some measure of control over events, the officers of the headquarters moved forward to the front line. As a consequence, the battalion Commander, Colonel Charles Robinson, and the second in command, Major Edward Williams, were both soon killed. Another officer who moved forward with the headquarters was Captain Edward Charles Dimsdale, the adjutant with responsibility for battalion administration. Faced with attacks from their front and from their right flank, where adjoining British troops had withdrawn, the situation of the Monmouths was desperate. A particular problem was a German machine gun, located in a farm. Captain Dimsdale attempted to organise an attack on the farm with the aim of silencing the machine gun. Rifleman David John Jones of B Company wrote to Mr Edwin Morgan at the loco motive shed on Alexandra Dock Newport and described the event:

 “I am sorry to have to write to you, as it is bad news I am sending.  Harry is reported missing, and so is young Alf Baker.  You would be able to break the news to Harry’s wife and mother; that is why I am writing to you.  How it happened was this.  The brigade which was supposed to relieve us failed to come up in time last Thursday.  As we were in support we had to go back to the trenches.  We went back on Thursday night and carried up trench stores.  Early on Friday morning we went into the first line dug-outs.  We stayed there all day and at night took our place in the trenches.  Half had to go in the firing trench while the other half went into the reserves trenches, which were about 20 yards behind.  Harry, Alf. Baker, Jack Lawrence and myself were in the same trench.  Just after daylight the Germans opened a very heavy fire on us which lasted all the morning.  The shelling was awful and they blew in every parapet along the trenches.  We first realised that the position was serious about noon when the order came, ‘All support into the firing trench.’  Just as we started the Adjutant came and said, ‘About turn; the Germans are charging.  They have got the farm on the right.  Who’ll volunteer for a charge and drive them back?’  Harry, Jack Lawrence, Alf Baker and myself at once sprang forward with fixed bayonets together with all the platoon.  When the adjutant saw the response he said, ‘That’s right boys, come on.’  Just then he fell dead.  But we kept on and when we came to the barn we made the charge.  We were outnumbered by great odds.  As the regiment we were supporting had been gassed, they could do nothing.  We had to retire again and when we got back to the trenches I started looking for the boys, but couldn’t find them anywhere.  I started making inquiries, and someone said they had seen Jack Lawrence lying in a trench dying, with five wounds.  I couldn’t find any trace of Harry or Alf anywhere.  Bob Brown was killed and Jim Stuart is missing, we still retained some hope for their welfare.  When we retired we got mixed up with some other regiments.  Jim Crump and some others were missing but they returned to camp yesterday.  He had been with another regiment.  When we got back to the trenches, we held on with the pluck which always characterises a British soldier.  We suffered heavily but the Germans have suffered more so.  As last when there was only a handful of us left and the Germans were coming on again, we had to retire a little way back, as the heavy firing which was going on stopped re-inforcements reaching us.  We got the trenches back at the bayonet point.  We have now been relieved after nearly a month of trenches and supports and are on the way back for a rest.  Jack Hughes is in the hospital.”

Captain Edward Charles Dimsdale was attached to the 1st Monmouths from the Rifle Brigade. He was 31 and the son of Charles, The Seventh Baron Dimsdale, of Meesden Manor, Hertfordshire. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate. Within a year his younger brother, Lieutenant Reginald Thomas Dimsdale was also killed while serving as commander of submarine E22. On 25 April 1916 the submarine was torpedoed in the North Sea by German U Boat UB18 commanded by the German U Boat ace Otto Steinbrinck.
https://gbt01.wordpress.com/category/wales/

Edward left a wife and at least one child.
Katharine Joax Barclay, born at Leyton. Essex, on 12th August, 1884. Married at Brent Pelham Church, on 12th October, 1910, age 26, Edward Charles Dimsdale, son of Baron Dimsdale and his wife Alice Monk. He was born at 32 Cadagon Terrace. S.W., on 20th December, 1883.
Their son, Thomas Edward Dimsdale was born at Blackheath on the 11^th October 1911 – so barely a fortnight before Edward started the Musketry course.
Source - https://archive.org/details/photographicpedi00bens/page/178/mode/2up?q=%22Edward+Charles+Dimsdale%22

The marriage did make The Tatler, (October 19^th, 1910) edition, but only a picture of the bride is included. https://archive.org/details/the-tatler-1901-1929/1910-1919/1910/The%20Tatler%20%230486v038%20%281910-10-19%29%20%28BNA%29/page/n3/mode/2up?q=%22Edward+Dimsdale%22

The Imperial War Museum has a picture of Edward which I’ve used for the comparison.

No new IP is claimed for the above, and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owners.

Source

[a] Captain Edward Charles Dimsdale IWM HU 121286 Imperial War Museum https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205293530

Cheers,
Peter

Edited 10 February by PRC
Formatting

[PRC]

33 – Guy Vincent Hugh Gough, Lt  1^st Battalion, KRRC at the time of the course. Survivied the war and died in 1959.

Born 9 Dec 1887 Curragh, Ireland
Grandson of 2nd Viscount Gough, son of Col. Hon. George H. Gough CB
Educated Eton 1901-04 and RMC Sandhurst.
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Capt. G.V.H. Gough, 13 Grosvenor Place, London SW1 - Farm 466
Married: 8 Sep 1928 Mrs Lily Margaret Gregory née Parry.
??1937 Kihingo Estate, Karen, Farmer.??
1939 England and Wales Register living in Guildford, farming.
Died 26 Mar 1959 Bramley, Surrey
Source: https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=18430

The 3 year old Guy V. Gough, born Ireland, was recorded on the 1891 Census of England & Wales at 10 Lowndes Street, Knightbridge, London. This was the household of his parents George H., (aged 38, a Cavalry Colonel, born Ireland), and Hilda E., (28, born Windsor, Berkshire). As well as 3 of Guys’ siblings there were also 7 live in servants.

Colonel Gough would die in South Africa in 1900.

On the 1901 Census of England & Wales the 13 year old Guy Vincent H. Gough was recorded as a pupil at Eton. Birthplace is shown as Curragh, Ireland.

Nothing obvious in the Eton College Digital Archive.

Commissioned 8^th February 1908 according to the London Gazette dated February 7, 1908 – but that is shown under the heading Territorial Force  and the Kings Royal Rifle Corps did not have any Territorial Force Battalions. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28107/page/896/data.pdf

By the time the 1911 Census of England & Wales was taken on the 2^nd April Lieutenant Guy V.H. Gough, single and born Curragh Camp, County Kildare, was recorded at New Barracks, Gosport, Hampshire with the 1^st Battalion.

His Medal Index Card shows he landed in France with the 1^st Battalion on the 13^th August 1914. Highest rank served in a Theatre of War was Captain. The back of his MiC shows that his mothere applied for “her late sons” medals in January 1918, but I suspect that relates to one of Guy’s brothers, Harold Stewart, a Second Lieutenant in the KRRC who died in 1916. When Guy formally applied for his medals in 1921 he gave a contact address of 13 Grosvenor Place, (London), S.W.1

His future wife Lily had lost her first husband fighting in Italy in 1918 and then had been the sole survivor of an IRA ambush at Ballyturin in May 1921. Her later life with Guy is covered on @corisande‘s website here http://theauxiliaries.com/INCIDENTS/ballyturin-ambush/gregory/gregory.html

The British Newspaper Archive has a significant number of mentions for a “Guy Gough”, from 1910 onwards and post-war for a “Captain Guy Gough” – and quite a few with pictures, particularly in the 1930’s. However from the snippets it is possible there may have been two or even three Captain Guy Gough’s with an Irish connection, so more work would need to be done to confirm the pictures are relevant.

No pictures found so far.

Cheers,
Peter

[FROGSMILE]

20 minutes ago, PRC said:

33 – Guy Vincent Hugh Gough, Lt  1^st Battalion, KRRC at the time of the course. Survivied the war and died in 1959.

 

Born 9 Dec 1887 Curragh, Ireland
Grandson of 2nd Viscount Gough, son of Col. Hon. George H. Gough CB
Educated Eton 1901-04 and RMC Sandhurst.
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Capt. G.V.H. Gough, 13 Grosvenor Place, London SW1 - Farm 466
Married: 8 Sep 1928 Mrs Lily Margaret Gregory née Parry.
??1937 Kihingo Estate, Karen, Farmer.??
1939 England and Wales Register living in Guildford, farming.
Died 26 Mar 1959 Bramley, Surrey
Source: https://www.europeansineastafrica.co.uk/_site/custom/database/default.asp?a=viewIndividual&pid=2&person=18430

 

The 3 year old Guy V. Gough, born Ireland, was recorded on the 1891 Census of England & Wales at 10 Lowndes Street, Knightbridge, London. This was the household of his parents George H., (aged 38, a Cavalry Colonel, born Ireland), and Hilda E., (28, born Windsor, Berkshire). As well as 3 of Guys’ siblings there were also 7 live in servants.

 

Colonel Gough would die in South Africa in 1900.

 

On the 1901 Census of England & Wales the 13 year old Guy Vincent H. Gough was recorded as a pupil at Eton. Birthplace is shown as Curragh, Ireland.

Nothing obvious in the Eton College Digital Archive.

Commissioned 8^th February 1908 according to the London Gazette dated February 7, 1908 – but that is shown under the heading Territorial Force  and the Kings Royal Rifle Corps did not have any Territorial Force Battalions. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/28107/page/896/data.pdf

 

By the time the 1911 Census of England & Wales was taken on the 2^nd April Lieutenant Guy V.H. Gough, single and born Curragh Camp, County Kildare, was recorded at New Barracks, Gosport, Hampshire with the 1^st Battalion.

 

His Medal Index Card shows he landed in France with the 1^st Battalion on the 13^th August 1914. Highest rank served in a Theatre of War was Captain. The back of his MiC shows that his mothere applied for “her late sons” medals in January 1918, but I suspect that relates to one of Guy’s brothers, Harold Stewart, a Second Lieutenant in the KRRC who died in 1916. When Guy formally applied for his medals in 1921 he gave a contact address of 13 Grosvenor Place, (London), S.W.1

 

His future wife Lily had lost her first husband fighting in Italy in 1918 and then had been the sole survivor of an IRA ambush at Ballyturin in May 1921. Her later life with Guy is covered on @corisande‘s website here http://theauxiliaries.com/INCIDENTS/ballyturin-ambush/gregory/gregory.html

 

The British Newspaper Archive has a significant number of mentions for a “Guy Gough”, from 1910 onwards and post-war for a “Captain Guy Gough” – and quite a few with pictures, particularly in the 1930’s. However from the snippets it is possible there may have been two or even three Captain Guy Gough’s with an Irish connection, so more work would need to be done to confirm the pictures are relevant.

 

No pictures found so far.

 

Cheers,
Peter

 

The Gough family were one of the most famous in the Army with no less than three VCs to their name including a father and son.  They also had a strong connection with the Armies in India, with one eminent Gough commanding during the wars with the Sikhs.  They were at one time referred to as the bravest family in Britain and Ireland (they had Irish origins) as if being courageous was somehow in their very DNA.

It’s interesting that his initial commission was listed as an auxiliary one, although they have confused matters by referring to it as TF.  The TF was not formed until 1st April 1908, so commissions before that date were with the VF.  During that period there were plenty of VBs for the KRRC, including several that became a part of the London Regiment, and a one or two more that ended up with other regiments after 1908, if I recall rightly. I suspect that his commission was with a KRRC VB.

Edited 11 February by FROGSMILE

[corisande]

9 hours ago, PRC said:

His future wife Lily had lost her first husband fighting in Italy in 1918 and then had been the sole survivor of an IRA ambush at Ballyturin in May 1921.

Thanks Peter

I feeling was the she was involved in the ambush in one way or another. Sole survivor of the Ballyturin Ambush in May 1921. There were 5 in the car, 3 men and 2 women.

Oddly this is never mentioned in any of the Gregory history - and there is a lot written about the Gregorys because of Lady Gregory's connection with W B Yeats. 

7 or 8 years ago when I was there, there was little to see of the ambush site, and the big house was in ruins - Sic transit gloria mundi

I see that recently a plaque has been put up to the ambush

[Clancy]

Hello,

Humble offerings for No. 33 Guy Vincent Hugh Gough.  These are from Findmypast.  There were a couple of Guy Goughs but this seemed the correct one going by the captions.  I couldn't find any younger photos.

 

 

[PRC]

5 hours ago, Clancy said:

Humble offerings for No. 33 Guy Vincent Hugh Gough.  These are from Findmypast.  There were a couple of Guy Goughs but this seemed the correct one going by the captions. 

Thank you for hunting them down - I still think it makes for a worthwhile comparison

No new IP is claimed for the above, and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owners.

Cheers,
Peter

[FROGSMILE]

18 minutes ago, PRC said:

Thank you for hunting them down - I still think it makes for a worthwhile comparison

No new IP is claimed for the above, and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owners.

Cheers,
Peter

Yes it’s still a good match Peter, I agree.  Note how the newspaper article still referred to him as late “60th” rather than KRRC. 

Edited 13 February by FROGSMILE

[PRC]

35 – Gordon Roy Elliott Lt., 3rd Dragoon Guards at the time of the course. Transferred Royal Flying Corps and finished the war as a Major in the RAF. Died in Switzerland in 1933.

The 1911 Harts Annual Army List shows him as Second Lieutenant G.R. Elliott with seniority from the 10^th June 1910. The 3^rd (The Prince of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards are recorded as stationed at Aldershot.  https://digital.nls.uk/british-military-lists/archive/100801861

On the 1911 Census of England & Wales there is a 22 year old Lieutenant Gordon “Ray” Elliott, 3^rd Dragoon Guards, single and born London, who was recorded staying at his club. This was the Devonshire Club at 50, St. James Street, London.

And on the 1901 Census of England & Wales there is a 12 year old Gordon R. Elliott, born Norwood, Surrey who was recorded in the infirmary at Harrow School.

The birth of a Gordon Roy Elliott was registered with the civil authorities in the Croydon District in the January to March quarter, (Q1), of 1889.

In the August 1914 British Army Monthly List he is recorded as Lieutenant G.R. Elliott with the 3rd (The Prince of Wales’s) Dragoon Guards and with seniority from the 28^th March 1911.

The Long, Long Trail entry for this regiment shows:-
August 1914 : at Cairo in Egypt. Recalled to England, arrived at Liverpool on 18 October 1914.
31 October 1914 : landed in France and on 4 November under command of 6th Cavalry Brigade in 3rd Cavalry Division.
https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/army/regiments-and-corps/cavalry-regiments/the-dragoon-guards/

The MiC for Lieutenant G.R. Elliott, 3^rd Dragoon Guards, shows him landing in France on the 31^st October 1914. He would reach the rank of Major serving with the Royal Flying Corps. A list of officers eligible for the 1914 Star was received at the records office on the 12^th December 1917 from the General Officer Commanding, Headquarters, Eastern Training Brigade, Royal Flying Corps, 19/20 Duke Street, St James, (London), S.W.1.
When Gordon formally applied for his medals late in 1920 he gave an address of the Orleans Club, 29 King Street, St James, (London), S.W.1.

Aviators’ Certificate number 1872 was issued to Lieutenant Gordon Roy Elliott, 3^rd Dragoon Guards who passed his test flying a Maurice Farman Biplane at the British Flying School, Le Crotoy, France on the 11^th October 1915 according to an official notice of The Royal Aero Club of the United Kingdom that was published in the edition of Aeronautics, dated November 3, 1915 https://archive.org/details/aeronautics8lede/page/308/mode/2up?q=%22Gordon+Roy+Elliott%22and Flight Magazine dated October 22^nd 1915. https://archive.org/details/sim_flight-international_1915-10-22_7_43/page/n23/mode/2up?q=%22Gordon+Roy+Elliott%22

I believe those certificates bear a picture and can be sourced – possibly from the RAF Museum? Ancestry?

A Rattles of Pebbles: the First World War diaries of two Canadian airman references an Elliott in the entry for one of them dated Saturday, March 4^th, 1916. The airman concerned appears to have been stationed at Netheravon, but his billet is said to be only about 5 miles from Bristol. On the day in question he was allowed to fly solo for the first time after Elliott had tested the machine. (Page 48). In the evening the went to Bristol in Elliotts’ car. A reference to Elliott on page 49 describes him as a Senior Subaltern. https://archive.org/details/rattleofpebblesf0000unse/page/48/mode/2up?q=%22Gordon+Roy+Elliott%22

In a report on a Coroners inquest on Lieutenant Haden Mostyn Kendrick that appeared in the Coventry Evening Telegraph, 20^th September 1916 and the Aberdeen Press and Journal \ Burton Observer and Chronicle dated 21^st September 1916, (and numerous other papers) a Captain Gordon Roy Elliott gave evidence as to the likely cause of an aeroplane crash. (British Newspaper Archive).
The CWGC entry for Lieutenant Haden Mostyn Kendrick shows him aged 25 when he died on the 18^th September 1916. He is simply shown as Royal Flying Corps and 5^th Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment. His death was recorded in the Thetford District of Norfolk.

On a piece on South Gloucestershire in the Great War in connection with the 66 Squadron at Yatesbury it notes “Major Small remained in command of No.66 Squadron until the beginning of January 1917, when Captain Gordon Roy Elliott, one of No.66 Squadron’s Flight Commanders,took over temporarily allowing Major Small to take up his posting as Wing Commander at the 21st (Training) Wing Headquarters at Cirencester on the 4th.”

On 21 January 1917 Major Leighton left to take command of No.23 Squadron at Gosport, which was about to begin working up with SPAD S.VII fighters prior to moving to France. His place at No.62 Squadron was then filled by two temporary Squadron Commanders, these being Captain John Sowrey (ex-6th Battalion, Queen’s Regiment) who served between 21 January and 8 February, when Captain Gordon Roy Elliott (ex-3rd Dragoon Guards) took over. Finally, on 3 March 1917 Major Reginald George Douglas Small (ex-Leinster Regiment), who had recently been the Officer Commanding No.33 Squadron at Filton and then the Wing Commander at the 21st (Training) Wing Headquarters at Cirencester, arrived to take command of No.62 Squadron."
https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2081730/south-gloucestershire-compendium-1914-1918-by-john-penny.pdf

In a newspaper report that appeared in the editions of the Bristol Times and Mirror dated 29^th and 30^th June 1917 on a coroners inquest on two deceased airman a Captain Gordon Ray Elliott of the Dragoon Guards attached to the Flying Corps gave evidence confirming identification. (British Newspaper Archive).

A further accident occurred on 26 June and involved 5876, a B.E.2d, which had been manufactured by the British & Colonial Aeroplane Company at Filton. After service in France it had been returned to England on 24 April 1917 prior to being allocated to No.62 Squadron. On the day of the accident it was being flown by Captain George Walter Thomas Lindsay (ex-Royal Field Artillery), with 33467 Air Mechanic 1st Class, Charles Edward Sharman R.F.C. as the passenger, both men, who were then serving with No.62 Squadron, being aged 26. The aircraft suffered a fractured longeron in flight due to the excessive strain of a spinning nose dive from 3000 feet, causing it to crash at Stoke Gifford killing both occupants.

The inquest into their deaths was held on 28 June by the Bristol Coroner Mr A. E. Barker, and evidence of identity was given by Captain Gordon Roy Elliott, (ex-3^rd Dragoon Guards), a Flight Commander (Temporary Squadron Commander), of No.66 Squadron at Patchway. https://www.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/2081730/south-gloucestershire-compendium-1914-1918-by-john-penny.pdf

The Air76 record for Gordon Roy Elliott is available at the National Archive and can currently be downloaded for free.

This records him as born 9^th January 1889. He has no permanent home address and his next of kin is his brother, Captain A.G. Elliott, of 14 Hanover Square, (London), W.
Gordon held a commission in the 3^rd Dragoon Guards. He joined the Royal Flying Corps on the 21^st October 1915 at Castle Bromwich as a Flying Officer (Observer). Subsequently:-
5-11-15 – 8 R.A.S.
18-1-16 – Promoted Flying Officer.
28-1-16 – 33 Squadron
1-3.16 to 46 Squadron as a Flight Commander.
3-6.16 – 12. R.S.
16-10-16 – 57 Squadron
By 2-11-16 – 46 R.S.
By 5-11-16 – 66 Squadron
By 24-1-17 – 62 Squadron
12-3-17 – To 1 A.S.A.G. for Senior Officers Course
2-6-17 – Promoted Captain
26-7-1917 – To Expeditionary Force, joined 22 Squadron
25-10-17 – To Home Establishment as a Squadron Commander.
27-10-17 – To Eastern Training Brigade 56 T.S.
On creation of the RAF he was still serving with what looks like 56 Training Squadron in the S.E. Area Command as an acting Major. He was recorded as having flown Maurice Farman S.H.’s, Avro, B.E’s, Vickers, ACO(?), Bristol Fighters, Sopwith Pups, SPADs and S.E.5’s. On the 30^th July 1918 he was transferred to the Expeditionary Force, going on to serve with 207 Squadron.
He resigned his commission on grounds of ill health on the 22^nd July 1919.
https://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D8257592

Gordon doesn’t appear to be recorded on the 1921 Census of England & Wales, but the same year a 31 year old Gordon Roy Elliott sailed from Glasgow bound for Sydney, Australia aboard the Ascanius.

This wasn’t his first trip out. The U.S. Immigration authorities have records of a Gordon Roy Elliott, aged 31 and born London, who landed in San Francisio on the 30^th June 1920 from the S.S. Siberia Maru. He was listed in transit from Sydney, Australia to London. His nearest relative or friend in Australia was a Dr. J.E. Elliott, of O’Connell Street, Sydney. His physical description was given as 5 feet, 10 and a half inches tall, with brown hair, grey eyes, a fair complexion and with no distinguishing marks. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3Q9M-C9B2-G3TH-C?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3ACDCT-8SPZ&action=view

The Ships passenger manifest shows him travelling with a Reginald Leslie Eliott, a Chemical Engineer, aged 45 years and 9 months and unmarried. He too is recorded as Australian, travelling from Sydney bound for London, although the manifest shows they have arrived at San Francisco via Yokohama. The same list shows Gordon as a Merchant and aged 31 years and 5 months. Both Elliott’s are unmarried. https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:33S7-95L6-SCJ?view=index&personArk=%2Fark%3A%2F61903%2F1%3A1%3AKX4V-JKR&action=view

The 1933 UK Probate Calendar records that Gordon Roy Elliott, of The Orleans Club, St. James, Middlesex and of the Villa Babouchka, Biarritz, France, died on the 25^th March 1933 at Le Grand Hotel, Leysin, Switzerland. Administration limited to his estate in the UK was granted to Percival Hardy, solicitor, attorney of Reginald Leslie Elliott.

So possible sources of photographs:-
Harrow School digital archive.
Aviators Certificate – Possibly Ancestry or the RAF Museum.

Cheers,
Peter

[mrfrank]

Fantastic information Peter. The reference to 3rd Dragoon Guards in Cairo in 1914 reminded me of an album I bought a few years back and sure enough he’s on the officer’s photo. Unfortunately, not a good quality image of him stood at far right

Edited 14 February by mrfrank

[mrfrank]

Believe this is him with centre parting on the B Squadron plate. Clearer image too. 

[PRC]

9 hours ago, mrfrank said:

Believe this is him with centre parting on the B Squadron plate. Clearer image too. 

I believe it's him as well and certainly does make it easier to do a comparison

No new IP is claimed for the above, and all image rights, if any, remain with the current owner(s).

How many other golden nuggets have you got squirrelled away - don't let @FROGSMILE know where you live!

Cheers,
Peter