Major

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1
The grave of Lesley Douglas-Hamilton at Peronne Road Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of Lesley Douglas-Hamilton at Peronne Road Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

24th July 1916. Lesley Douglas-Hamilton. A Social, 1896. Major, Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action.

He was a career soldier whose original commission was in the Cameron Highlanders in September, 1901. He was promoted to Captain in 1905.  He served in the last year of the 2nd South African War and elsewhere in the colonies. He was awarded the Queen’s Medal with five clasps.

As a serving soldier, when the War began he was transferred from his original regiment and given a commission as a Major with the Lancashire Fusiliers.

Aged 35

Lesley Douglas-Hamilton, Major, Lancashire Fusiliers. kia Battle of the Somme

Lesley Douglas-Hamilton, Major, Lancashire Fusiliers. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1
The grave of John Mowbray at Peronne Road Cemetery. Photographed for 'Marching in Memory' for Combat Stress, July 2015

The grave of John Mowbray at Peronne Road Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

Battle of the Somme

21st July 1915. John Mowbray, DSO. H & D Socials, 1889. Major, 41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action.

At Radley, he rowed in the First VIII. After leaving school he trained as a civil engineer. He then changed career to become a soldier. He received a commission in the Royal Field Artillery in July, 1900, and joined a battery in India. He was afterwards transferred to the Royal Horse Artillery, with which he remained until entering the Staff College, Quetta, in 1907. On passing out he was appointed to the General Staff at Simla, where he remained until 1913. He went to France as staff captain in August, 1914, and became brigade major on a divisional staff three months later. He resigned in the spring of 1916 in order to take command of a field battery. He was promoted captain in August, 1911, and major in December, 1914. For his services in France he was twice Mentioned in Dispatches and received the DSO.

Aged 41

John Mowbray, Major, 41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. kia Battle of the Somme

John Mowbray, Major, 41st Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. kia Battle of the Somme

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

18th December 1915.  John Douglas, E Social 1891.  Major, 10th Bn, Yorkshire Regt.  Died of wounds received in an unknown engagement in France.

 

After leaving school, he went to Merton College, Oxford and then qualified as a barrister at Gray’s Inn. He spent some time in South Africa, and then went to Shanghai: ‘He was very popular in Shanghai, where he was known as “one of the best magistrates the Settlement ever had.” Latterly he had been in private practice as an advocate in the Supreme Court of China and Korea.’  He left Shanghai with a contingent of volunteers in 1914.

 

Aged 39
John Douglas, Major, 10th Bn, Yorkshire Regt. Died of wounds 18 December 1915

John Douglas, Major, 10th Bn, Yorkshire Regt. Died of wounds 18 December 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

17th November 1915.  Henry Napier, A Social 1890.  Major, 11th Bn, Sherwood Foresters.  Wounded in the Battle of Loos. Drowned in the sinking of the hospital ship HMS Anglia.

 

HMS Anglia hit a German mine just outside Dover. The majority of the wounded and nursing staff were lost. The steamer Lusitania, which came to her aid, was also destroyed by a mine after launching life boats to help save the personnel on the Anglia.

 

Henry Napier had retired from active service in 1909. He was recalled to the Sherwood Foresters in 1914.  Aged 39
Henry Napier, Major, 11th Bn, Sherwood Foresters. Wounded and drowned 17 November 1915

Henry Napier, Major, 11th Bn, Sherwood Foresters. Wounded and drowned 17 November 1915