Lieutenant Charles James WILLIAMS

Died of wounds 19th December 1915, aged 28.

Charles was born in North Lawton, Oakhampton, Devon on 21st April 1887 and was a Cadet at the Charterhouse OTC and a Solicitor before the war, earning a B.A. and B.C.L. He enlisted into the Inns of Court OTC incredibly early in the war, on 5 August 1914, becoming Private 887. When he was commissioned into the 8th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment 18th September 1914, Charles was just under 6 feet tall and lived at 16 St. George's Road in Bedford. He trained with the battalion and went to France with them in August 1915, where he served with them until his death. At 5.30am on the 19th December the Germans started a day of Gas attacks and heavy shelling, with bouts of heavy fire being directed at their trenches but no assaults. Charles was caught by the gas shells and died at No.10 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) later that day from the effects. He was the son of Henry Clissold Williams, I.C.S. and Mary Williams, of 16 The Beacon in Exmouth, Devon and is buried at the Lijssentheok Military Cemetery, 1km south or Poperinghe west of Ypres. Interestingly, he is mentioned in the 'Liber Vitae', a remembrance calendar used by the Toc-H (Talbot House) branches. His officer's service number was 38959 and his service record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/20192.

Cyril Shaw SHIPPEY

Died of Wounds 21st December 1915.

Charles was a native of South Africa and initially served as a Private in the R.A.M.C. but was commissioned into the Bedfordshire Regiment before being sent abroad. He was posted into the 3rd battalion for Officer training and sent to France on the 4th October 1915. On arrival 2/Lt Shippey was attached to the 8th battalion, arriving with them on the front lines 18th October 1915. I have yet to identify his service record so am uncertain when he received the wounds that would take his life but he is buried Lijssenthoek military cemetery, on the site of the casualty Clearing Station where he died. Cyril was the son of Frederic Shippey, of Pietermaritzburg, Natal. His brother James Reginald SHIPPEY was an 'Old Contemptible' who went to France in the 1st battalion as part of the original British Expeditionary Force in August. He also fell in the regiment and his biography can be found here.

Lieutenant and Acting Adjutant Edmund Wallis BECK

Died of wounds 9th January 1916, aged 26.

Edmund was born in Poona in India on 27th July 1889 and served in the Wellingborough O.T.C. for 18 months before the war. He enlisted on the 29th October 1914 as a single man who lived at 'the Hall' in Sydenham. Edmund trained with the battalion and led the honour guard during the King's Inspection of the battalion in Surrey in August 1915. He landed in France with them on the 31st August 1915 and fought at the Battle of Loos. At 5.30am on the 19th December 1915, the Germans started a day of Gas attacks and heavy shelling, with bouts of heavy fire being directed at their trenches. No assaults were launched but the battalion suffered a huge number of casualties, including Edmund, who was rushed to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station. The following day he was admitted to the 7th Stationary Hospital at Boulogne with a 'gunshot wound' to the head, which was more than likely shrapnel. He was still classed as 'dangerously ill' on New Year's Day and eventually succumbed to his wounds on the 9th January 1916. He was buried in Boulogne Eastern cemetery. Edmund's brother, Second Lieutenant Percy Latham Beck of the Royal Monmouthshire Special Reserves, attached to the Royal Engineers was also killed on the 6th March 1915. In amongst his effects is a bill for considerable repairs carried out to his motorcycle and sidecar during September and October 1914, totalling over £3. After their deaths, there was some disagreement relating to their estates as their mother filled a form out incorrectly. Some correspondence either way appeared to have sorted the problem out but it makes a sad ending to an already sad chapter in their family history. Edmund was the eldest and last surviving son of the late Percy Charles and Alice Mary Beck, of Smedly's Hydro, Matlock, Derbyshire, who lived in Luton during the war. Charles' obituary was shown on page 1 of the Times from the 26th January 1916 and page 10 on the 20th. His service record is held at the National Archives, reference WO339/194.

Lieutenant Edward Noel MITCHELL

Killed in action 15th February 1916, aged 20.

Edward was born 28th December 1895 in Hong Kong, the eldest of six siblings, to Eric John Richard and Margaret Sarah Mitchell. His father worked for Messr. Bradley & Co. of Hong Kong but Edward was educated at Bedford Grammar School. When war broke out he enlisted almost immediately and at the time, the single, eighteen year old lived at Oakvale, Shrublands Road in Berkhampstead. He was commissioned into the 8th battalion and went to France with them in August 1915. Having survived their involvement in the battle of Loos, 2/Lt Mitchell was out on patrol with Captain Simeons (below) when they were caught by a burst of machine gun fire at 2am on the 15th February. He was killed outright but his body was brought in for burial. Edward was the son of the late Mr. Eric John Richard Mitchell, and Mrs Margaret Sarah Mitchell of 64 Stamford Brook Road, N. London. He was 20 years old and is buried in La Brique Military Cemetery No.2, Ypres. His Officer's service record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/14571, his service number being 30885.

Captain Edward Emil SIMEONS

Died of wounds 17th February 1916, aged 23.

Edward was born 26th April 1893 and was educated at the nautical training College, HMS Worcester. He was an officer in the Territorial 5th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment from 1st January 1912, at which time he was an apprentice to the British Gelatine Works. Although he resigned from the Territorial Army during 1914, Edward enlisted into the army again very early in the war. When he was commissioned into the 8th battalion on 15th August 1914, he was single and lived at 'Lea Dale', New Bedford Road in Luton, Bedfordshire. He arrived in France as a Lieutenant with the battalion in August 1915 and on 24th September was promoted to Temporary Captain. Having taken part in the Battle of Loos and surviving the December engagement, whilst on leave in February 1916, he contracted Acute tonsillitis. By the 8th February 1916 had fully recovered and reported for duty 2 days later. Within days of his return, Edward was to lose his life. At 2am on the 15th February 1916 he and Lieutenant Mitchell (above) were out on patrol when they were both caught by a burst of machine gun fire. Lt Mitchell was killed outright but Captain Simeons was wounded in the head, left thigh and received a fractured right arm. He was recovered and rushed back to the medical facilities but died two days later at No.10 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) in Lijssentheok, 1km south of Poperinghe, where he is buried. He was the second son of Charles and Edith Simeons, of Dudley, Blyth Road in Bromley, Kent and his death was recorded on page 6 of the 21st February 1916 edition of the Times. Edward's officer's service number was 31293 and his record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/14851.

Second Lieutenant Charles CARTWRIGHT

Killed in action 19th April 1916.

Charles was born on the 25th November 1894 in Callington, Cornwall, the son of the Reverend S.D. Cartwright, formerly the rector of Wimpole in Cambridgeshire and Mrs W. Cartwright. Educated at Dunston College, Cambridge, Charles was in their Cadet Corps during his schooling. When war broke out he was a Schoolmaster from Callington in Cornwall and enlisted on the 27th August 1914, becoming Private 12370 in the 6th battalion, Bedfordshire Regiment. On the 2nd September he became a Lance Corporal and ten days later a Corporal. The 1st November saw him promoted to Sergeant and he was discharged to commission as a Temporary Second Lieutenant in the 9th (Reserve) battalion on the 28th January 1915. At the time he was 5 feet 9 ¼ inches tall, of dark complexion, with brown eyes and dark brown hair. His brothers were recorded as being the reverend Cuthbert Cartwright of the Gamlingay Vicarage near Sandy in Bedfordshire and Edward of New Wimpole Hall. He was married on the 3rd March 1915 at Christ Church, Dore in Derby to Louise Hozland, the marriage being witnessed by Charles Haywood Hozland and Isabel Hozland. Charles was later attached to the 8th battalion and served with them on the Western Front from his arrival in early January 1916 until his death in April. Charles was initially buried north of La Brique, 1 ½ miles north of Ypres, but his grave was later lost. Now he has no known grave but is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, which can be seen above. The inventory of personal effects returned to his widow was extremely small and included just his damaged binoculars, 2 books, a letter and a pipe. Charles did not leave a will and his wife Louise (of Thornfield, Totley Brook in Sheffield) had to complete the forms to release his assets. On them they reveal his eldest sister was the 52 year old Agnes Parker of the Vicarage in Falmouth and his eldest brother was the 48 year old George Cartwright. He had 11 further siblings but no children himself. His twin brother, Edward of the Canadian Expeditionary Force was badly wounded in September 1916 and died at Leeds hospital in October. He was laid to rest in Wimpole, Cambridgeshire. Edward's officer's service number was 61418 and his record is held at the National Archives within reference WO339/32594.

Captain Roy Molyneux QUILTER

Killed in action 19th April 1916, aged 27.

Roy was born 29th October 1888 at Selsley House, Albert Road, Battersea Park in London. He was the eighth of nine siblings of John S. Quilter F.R.I.B.A. and Sarah Amelia Willis Quilter. Whilst in education at Dulwich College he served in the Cadet Rifle Corps and became an accountant one his studies were complete. When war was declared, the single, 25 year old accountant enlisted into the army on the 5th August 1914, into the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps as Private 955. He was 6 feet tall and weighed 137 pounds but by the 19th September was discharged to Commission in the 8th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment. In May 1915 he was promoted to Temporary captain and trained with them until they were posted to France on the 30th August 1915. Captain Quilter was mentioned in dispatches 30th April 1916, for his gallantry on the day he fell. Like Charles Cartwright (above) Roy was initially buried north of La Brique, 1 ½ miles north of Ypres, but his grave was later lost. Now he has no known grave but is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, which can be seen above. Roy's father had died by the time he was killed and his mother lived at 37 Kirkstall Hill. Streatham Hill in 1916. By the end of the war she had moved to 2 Ashurst Gardens in Tulse Hill, London. His service record is held at the National Archives within reference WO339/20183, with his officer's service number being 38947.

Second Lieutenant Douglas William McMICHAEL

Died of wounds 20th April 1916, aged 23.

Douglas was born in Oundle, Northamptonshire on 6th January 1893, the eldest son of William McMichael. He was educated at Oundle School and later at Clare College, Cambridge University. When war broke out, he enlisted into the Public Schools Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, aged 21. The dark haired, blue eyed Undergraduate from 113 Hook Road, Epsom joined up at Norwich on the 15th September 1914 as Private 703 but was discharged to Commission on the 29th December 1914. Douglas stood at 5 feet 8 inches and weighed 139 pounds. After training, he landed in France with the battalion on the 30th August 1915, surviving both the Battle of Loos and their December action. However, Douglas was one of the four Officers killed and many other casualties suffered by the battalion on the 19th April 1916, during the intense, day long barrage on their positions. He died of wounds 20th April 1916, aged 23 before reaching a Casualty Clearing Station. His body was laid to rest in the Essex Farm cemetery, Boezinghe, on the Ypres-Dixmunde road where Lt-Colonel John McCrae wrote the famous poem "in Flanders Fields". Included in his personal effects that were returned to his parents were 26 letters, 15 cards, 20 photos and several items which were broken, presumably during the barrage that led to his death. Curiously a set of false teeth were also included although it is unclear who they belonged to. At the time of his death, his parents lived in Tudor House in Oundle, but by the end of the war had moved to Nene Cottage in Oundle, Northamptonshire. His service record is at the National Archives within reference WO339/5195, his officer's service number being 015301.

Second Lieutenant Harry Anderton SQUIER

Killed in action 19th April 1916.

Harry was born 16th December 1895 in New Cross, Deptford, the son of Harry Squier. When war was declared he enlisted into the 18th battalion of the Royal Fusiliers at Westminster, becoming Private 2101 on 3rd September 1914. The fair haired, brown eyed 18 year old was 5 feet 4 inches tall and weighed 115 pounds. When he applied for a commission on 24th August 1914, he was a single man who lived with his parents at 'Cumbria', Grove road in Sutton, Surrey. His commission was eventually approved 22nd February 1915, when he joined the 10th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment. After officer training he was attached to the 8th battalion on 20th March 1916 and embarked for foreign service on 23rd March 1916. He arrived with the 8th battalion on the front line 28th March and was killed three weeks later. Although initially posted as missing, his body was found a few days later and buried in the Essex Farm Cemetery, Boezinghe, Ypres. Not long before his death, his father seems to have moved to 15 Frewin Road in Wandsworth, and initial attempts to inform him of his son's fate failed until a telegram reached his new address 5th May. His service record is held by the national Archives under reference WO339/35931, with his officer's service number being 102012.

Second Lieutenant Sidney James VIPOND

Died of wounds 20th April 1916, aged 24.

Sidney was born 20th April 1892 in Gateshead, Durham the son of James and Jane Ann Vipond, and served in the OTC at Chelmsford School during his education. The 22 year old single man enlisted into the army on 9th September 1914, becoming Private 262 in the 7th Royal Fusiliers (the 'Empire battalion'). He was 5 feet 11 inches tall. In the same queue that day was Rupert Gretton, who would also become an 8th battalion officer and was the battalion's first officer casualty (details at the top of this page). Sidney was commissioned into the 8th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment on 26th January 1915 and trained with them until they were mobilised that summer. He landed in France with the battalion on the 30th August 1915 and was wounded in the fighting on April 19th. 2/Lt Vipond received shrapnel wounds to his abdomen and was dangerously ill by the time the 17th Field Ambulance got him to No.10 Casualty Clearing Station at Lijssentheok that afternoon. Closer inspection at the CCS revealed further wounds to his legs and hand but he died at 4.45pm the next day (20th April) and is buried in the Poperinghe Military Cemetery, 1km south - west of Ypres. At the time of his death, his parents lived at Silverdale, Park Road in Chelmsford, Essex. His service record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/33598, with his officer's number being 80762.

Second Lieutenant Leslie Croom TELFER

Died of wounds 12th May 1916, aged 22

Leslie was born in St. Albans 1st October 1893, the son of Henry John and Emily Telfer. At school he joined the OTC and when war broke out, the 20 year old Insurance Clerk attested on 15th August 1914, becoming Gunner 812 of the 4th East Anglian Brigade of the Royal Field Artillery. He was single, 5 feet 6 inches tall, with light brown hair and blue eyes. At the time, he lived with his parents at 'Androssau', New Barnes Road in St. Albans. Leslie was commissioned into the 9th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment on the 24th January 1915 and trained as an officer for almost a year. Once his training was complete, he embarked 9th February 1916, landing at Etaples the following day. On 14th February he joined the battalion in the field and survived the barrage and raid that April. During a working party late on 6th May, he was hit by a German shell and rushed to the 16th Field Ambulance nearby. Further investigations at No.10 Casualty Clearing Station (CCS) showed he was suffering from multiple shell wounds to both arms, his left leg and other more private areas of his body. His parent's request to visit him was refused, due to his serious condition and he was transferred to 7th Stationary hospital in Boulogne 11th May 1916. The following day his parents' request to visit him there was granted but sadly he died from his wounds at 2pm on 12th May 1916. Whether or not his parents made it to his bedside in time is uncertain. By the time of his death, his parents lived at 5, Elgin Court, Maida Vale, London. Leslie lies in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, having died from his wounds in No.7 Stationary Hospital there almost a month after being wounded. His officer's service number is 61577 and his record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/32717.

Second Lieutenant Charles Justus BUCH

Killed in action 13th September 1916, aged 36.

Charles was born 16th April 1880 in Lee, Lewisham. His father was Charles Heinrich Buch, a merchant, and his mother was Louise Augusta Buch, formerly Schacht. When he applied for a commission in July 1915, he worked in the Ministry of Education in Cairo and was posted to train as an officer in the 9th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment. Once training was completed, he was attached to the 8th battalion and posted to the Western Front. Charles embarked for France 29th April 1916 and arrived with the 8th battalion in the field on 24th May. He was initially thought to have been wounded in the early morning attack on German positions on the 13th September but this was quickly amended to him being killed, although his parents received telegrams confusing them soon after his death. 2/Lt Buch's body was buried on the battlefield but later lost so he has no known grave so is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing. At the time of his death his parents lived at 114 St. Julian's farm Road in West Norwood but by 1919 they had moved to 77, Thurlestone Road in West Norwood, London. His service record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/37020, with his officer's number being 103485. Please note that his death is recorded as being on either the 13th 14th or 15th September but, weighing all the facts up, it appears the correct date is the 13th September 1916.

Lieutenant (Acting Captain) Edwin Roland Watts DRAISEY

Killed in action 15th September 1916, aged 21.

Edwin was born 23rd September 1894 in Acton, the son of Edwin William Draisey. In September 1913 he became a Private in the University of London OTC, remaining there until his application for a commission on 19th December 1914. Edwin was commissioned as a 2/Lt in the 8th battalion early in January 1916, trained with them and served on the western Front with the battalion from their arrival on the 30th August 1915. He qualified as a Machine Gun Officer, was promoted to a Temporary Lieutenant from 20th December 1915 and served as an Acting Captain from 13th August 1916, whilst in command of A Company, which he led during the assault. Captain Draisey was initially posted as missing believed killed, which was later confirmed (on the 29th September) as killed in action. Edwin has no know grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Throughout his service, his parents' home was Station House, Lionel Road in Brentford, Middlesex. Edwin's record is held at the National Archives within reference WO339/5077, his officer's service number being 6985.

Lieutenant Archibald Gordon HODGES

Killed in action 15th September 1916, aged 31.

Archibald was born 7th July 1885, the son of the Right Reverend Edward Noel Hodges, D.D. Whilst in education at St. John's College in Oxford, he spent two years in the Oxford University Volunteer Battalion, attending camps at Aldershot in 1907 and 1908 and achieving the rank of Corporal during his service. Still single, he enlisted into the army when war broke out in August 1914 and was commissioned into the 8th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment early the following year. Archibald arrived in France with the battalion on the 30th August 1915 and was engaged during the Battle of Loos within weeks of their arrival. He received a severe gunshot wound to his left hip on the 26th September 1915 during the Battle of Loos and on the 28th was moved to the 3rd General Hospital, returning to England on the 1st October. On his return, he was admitted to 33 Upper Fitzwilliam Street hospital in Dublin to recover and moved to the King George V Hospital in Dublin in October. He was back at Reed Hall Camp in Colchester the next month and fit for light duties. By February 1916 the 30 year old was fit for active service once again. His final medical board commented that Archibald thought he was 'perfectly well'. He then returned to France on the Mail Boat, landing 27th April 1916 and on the 11th May he rejoined the 8th battalion on the front. During the assault against the Quadrilateral Redoubt in September he was D Company's Commanding Officer. Lieutenant Hodges was initially reported as being wounded, but this was later changed to killed in action 15th September 1916. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Archibald's father was the reverend of St. Cuthbert's rectory in Bedford during 1916, Woburn Sands in 1917 and Hoddesdon in Hertfordshire by 1920. At the time of his death Lieutenant Hodges' home was in Sittingbourne, Kent. Archibald was evidently fond of music as in amongst his personal items was a musical manuscript in addition to his letters and the like. His service record is held at the National Archives, within reference WO339/1772, with his officer's service number being 35391.

Second Lieutenant Colin McLaren LEYS

Killed in action 15th September 1916, aged 22.

Colin was born 21st August 1894 at Hampton Hill, Middlesex, the son of John Kirkwood Leys and Ellen Leys. He was educated at Wycombe Royal Grammar School for 2 ½ years, where he served in the O.T.C. until discharged on the 19th December 1911. Colin lived with his parents in "Ronhead", Montague Road, Berkhampstead when he enlisted on the 22nd August 1914. He initially served as Rifleman 2313 in the 1st/16th County of London Regiment (the Queens Westminster Rifles) and fought in France from the 1st November 1914. However, he was discharged to commission as a 2/Lt in the 10th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment in May 1915. He arrived in France again on the 26th April 1916 and joined the 8th battalion in the field on the 3rd May as a Second Lieutenant. Colin Leys was in C Company and was reported as being killed at the start of the attack, although he was initially posted as missing as no verification could be found. By the following September no further information came forward so he was posted as having been killed that day. Colin was the son of Ellen Leys, from Five Trees Bungalow, Pensham Hill in Pershore, Worcs, and the late John Kirkwood Leys. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. His service record is at the National Archives, reference WO339/3573.

Second Lieutenant Honoratus Leigh Murrow (Murron) THOMAS

Killed in action 15th September 1916.

Honoratus Thomas was born on 17th June 1895 in San Francisco, California, the son of Commander George Charles, R.N.R. and Essie Thomas. After schooling, the 18 year old Clerk enlisted into the 1st battalion of the Scots Guards on 29th January 1914, becoming Private 8894. Other than a bout of Dermatitis throughout April 1914, his training was uneventful and he gained his 3rd and 2nd class certificates in the early summer of 1914. When war broke out, he was transferred into the 3rd battalion and remained on home soil whilst the fully trained, Regulars went to Europe. The 5 feet 7 inch tall, 19 years old Lance Corporal was discharged to commission on 18th November 1914. Honoratus was posted into the 9th battalion for training and was later to be attached to C Company of the 8th in France. His fellow officers and the men under his command referred to him as being 'fearless', which was added to by his battalion C.O.'s letter to his father, that remarked that "he did not say very much but worked very well, and looked after his platoon splendidly". So it was perhaps not unexpected when he was wounded on 29 May 1916, but he had recovered in time for the assault on the Quadrilateral Redoubt. He was initially posted as missing, with a report suggesting he had been wounded or killed during the opening phase of the attack, although no-one was able to confirm this. In a revealing series of letters held in his file, his mother continued writing to the War Office, convinced that her son still lived. At that time his mother lived at 30 Graham Street, Eaton Square, S.W. London, whilst her husband served in the Dover Patrol. In May 1917 her husband, a serving Royal Navy Commander, wrote delicately to them requesting that they direct further letters to him - on the one hand it was apparent that he did not wish to upset his wife by voicing the opinion that their son was dead, yet he also wished to start tidying his son's affairs up. Perhaps as a direct result, that month saw the official acceptance of his death, no doubt to the dismay of his mother. 2/Lt Thomas' body was never identified and he has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing. His record is held by the National Archives under reference WO339/71945 and his officer's service number was 149551.

Second Lieutenant John Vincent VAULKARD

Killed in action 15th September 1916.

John was born on the 28th January 1896, the son of William Vaulkard. When he applied for a commission in January 1915, John was a student at Trinity Hall in Cambridge, having served in their OTC from October 1914 onwards. He was later accepted and trained in the 10th battalion, until orders for foreign service saw him attached to the 8th battalion in the spring of 1916. He embarked for oversees service on 29th April 1916, arriving with the 8th battalion in the field on 24th May. On the 12th June John was admitted to No.12 Casualty Clearing Station suffering from Pyrexia and influenza but returned to the battalion 23rd June. Following the assault against the Quadrilateral Redoubt, John was initially posted as missing but within 2 weeks a report surfaced that confirmed he had been seen being killed, which was relayed to his parents 1st October 1916. Like so many of his comrades who fell that day, John has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. At the time of his death his parents lived at 31 Crescent Green in Kendal, now in Cumbria. John's service record is held at the National Archives and his officer's number was 102780.

Second Lieutenant Frank Lloyd SHARPIN

Died of wounds 14th October 1916, aged 33.

Frank was born in Bombay, the youngest son of the Reverend F.N. Sharpin M.A. from Bexhill on Sea, who was the Archdeacon of Bombay and rector of Millbrook in Bedfordshire and Helen Sharpin. He was also the grandson of the late Henry Sharpin, 4th Light Dragoons and General Sealy of the Royal Artillery. Frank was educated at Bedford Grammar School and was working at the St. James' branch of the County and Westminster Bank when war broke out. He enlisted into D Company of the 1st battalion, Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) on 14th August 1914, becoming Private 1486 on the 25th. After just basic training, Frank went abroad with the battalion, who were one of the first Territorial Army units to be sent into a Theatre of War, arriving in France 28th December 1914. On 26th March 1915 he was wounded by shrapnel in the jaw and sent to No.8 Casualty Clearing Station and onto the 2nd General Hospital in Bailleul the next day. Frank returned to England on the H.M. Asturias, landing 30th March 1915. After recovering in the 3rd battalion of the HAC, on 25th September 1915 he was commissioned into the 9th battalion of the Bedfordshire Regiment and proceeded to Ampthill Park for training. Within his record is a curious event, considering his father's position and 'rank'. Whilst he was training to become an officer, a night out in Leicester Square, London on 24th April landed him in trouble with the Military Police and, when taken into their custody, also gave a false name (Stuart Riddle!). On 23rd May he was court martialled for 'Drunkenness' and Conduct to the prejudice of good order and military discipline' 'but was just severely reprimanded for his conduct. His address at the time was given as 45 St. Peter's Green in Bedford. After training was completed, he was attached to the 8th battalion and arrived with them in the field on 2nd October 1916. 2/Lt Sharpin received a gun-shot wound to the abdomen on the 12 October whilst in the front line east of Gueudecourt and died two days later from his wounds at No.34 Casualty Clearing Station. Frank is buried in Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, just south of Albert. By the time of his death, his father was the Venerable Archdeacon Sharpin and lived at 37 Eversley Road, Bexhill on Sea. His record is held at the National Archives under reference WO339/15085, with his officer's number being 31616.

Second Lieutenant John Seear GIBSON

Died of wounds 15th October 1916.

John was born 24th January 1891, the fourth son of Edward Morris Gibson and Martha Gibson. He probably enlisted early in 1915 and became a Second Lieutenant on the 19th March 1915. 2/Lt Gibson married Elsie May Dean on the 15th April 1916 at St. Barnabus Church, St. Barnabus, Sutton, Surrey. Two days later he was on a troop ship bound for France and on the 23rd April joined the 8th battalion in the field. He seems to have been absent from the battalion, possibly to undergo training ready for a posting tot eh Trench Mortar Battery, as John rejoined the battalion on the 14th August 1916. He was attached to the 16th Trench Mortar Battery when he was wounded during an intense barrage on the 15th October and died later that day. John has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. When he was killed John's father had already passed away and his mother lived at "Hillside", Carshalton road, Sutton in Surrey. His wife, Elsie May Gibson, lived at "Northcote", Victoria Road in Maidstone, Kent. His service record in held at the National Archives within reference WO339/23617, is officer's service number being 43947.

Second Lieutenant Charles Percival MATTEY

Died of wounds 22nd January 1917, aged 29.

Charles was born in 1887, the son of George and Elizabeth Mattey from Penglais in Burghill, Hereford. He was a bank clerk in the London and River Plate Bank in Buenos Aires when war broke out and returned home to join the army. Enlisting on 12th April 1915, the 5 feet, 4 inches tall 27 year old was posted as Private 3348 in the Honourable Artillery Company. After training, he moved into the 1st battalion HAC and went to France on the 18th, joining the HAC in the field on the 22nd August. Private Mattey was commissioned as an officer into the 1st battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment on the 30th April 1916 but, although no firm evidence exists, it appears he was attached to the 8th battalion over the summer. 2/Lt Mattey was later admitted to Le Touquet hospital with a slight shell wound to his right forearm on 1st August 1916 and sailed for England the next day. He embarked from England again on the 24th December 1916 and arrived with the 8th battalion in the field 28th December. Around midnight on the 20th/21st January 1917, he went out into the snow on a night patrol with Sergeant Hunter to reconnoitre the ground in readiness for a raid, but did not return. Witnesses recall someone calling "Are you Bedfords?" before a single bomb flash in no man's land but no further firing. A German prisoner taken two night later stated that he understood that an officer and Sergeant had been captured but still nothing firm was known. By August 1917 no news had been received of his fate so his death was presumed but in October the Germans reported his death from wounds on 22nd January 1917. It was not until 1920 that his burial place was discovered as being in Annoeuillin Communal cemetery, east of La Bassee. His remains were moved when the cemeteries were collected together after the war and he is buried in the massive Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery at Souchez. By the time of his death, his father had died and his mother lived at Edenhurst, White Cross, Hereford. His record is held at the National Archives, with his officer's number being 133800.

Second Lieutenant Walter Thomas SMITH

Killed in action 3rd March 1917, aged 35.

Both of the 'standard' sources record Walter as being killed in the 8th battalion but, although he served in the 8th battalion, further research suggests he fell in the 1st battalion instead. The information has been passed onto the appropriate authorities who will correct their records in time. As a result, his fascinating and full biography can be seen here.

Second Lieutenant John Oswald TAYLOR

Killed in action 19th April 1917, aged 28.

John was gazetted as a 2/Lt in the 5th battalion of the Bedfordshire regiment on 19th December 1916 and was attached to the 8th battalion, arriving at the front with them in February 1917. Around two months later he was killed during a five day battle south of Loos when over 300 of the battalion became casualties. John Taylor was the son of James O. and Mary Elizabeth Taylor of Rotherwas Park in Hereford. He has no grave but is remembered on the Arras memorial to the missing. I was unable to trace a service record at the National Archives, although this may have been an error on my part of course.

Captain James Elliot BLACK, M.C., M.B.

Killed in action 19th April 1917, aged 30.

James was the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC) Medical Officer attached to the 8th battalion. During the assault against the Quadrilateral redoubt in September 1916, he tended the wounded under heavy machine gun and artillery fire, later venturing into no man's land to find more of the battalions wounded. For his actions he won a Military Cross and appears to have survived unscathed. On 23rd March 1917 he was admitted to a convalescent hospital sick but was back with the battalion in time for their assault around Loos in April 1917, where he was killed. The inventory of effects sent to his mother list just his pocket book, letters, wrist watch, cigarette case, a flask and a solitary medal ribbon, presumably being the Military cross ribbon he earned only months earlier. He was the unmarried son of Adam Elliot Black and Mary Bruce Murray Black of Finglen in Campsie Glen, Stirlingshire and is buried in the Philosophe British Cemetery in Mazingarbe. At the time of his death, his widowed mother was the next of kin and lived at 18 Westbourne Terrace in Glasgow and appears to have moved to Finglen cottage, Campsie Glen in Stirlingshire before early 1918. James' long service number was 22632 and his record is held at the National Archives, under reference WO339/10835.

Second Lieutenant Donald Samuel WRIGHT

Died of wounds 25th April 1917, aged 22.

Donald was commissioned as an officer into the 1st battalion and was later attached to the 8th battalion when he went to the Western front. He was leading his platoon forward when wounded by a shell in the lung and right eye on the 19th April during the fighting south of Loos. Donald was the only son of Samuel E. and Emma Westrope Wright, who lived in Lyndhurst, Walkern and owned the Victoria Brewery in Walkern, near Stevenage in Hertfordshire at the time of his death. Donald is buried in the Calais Southern cemetery, France. I was unable to trace a service record at the National Archives, although this may have been an error on my part of course.