mentioned in despatches

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

First Day of the First Battle of the Somme

1st July 1916. Maurice Kennard, MC, C Social, 1896. Lt-Col commanding 18th Bn, West Yorkshire Regt. Killed in action, Battle of the Somme. He was a career soldier who joined the 6th Dragoon Guards from the Militia in 1902. After holding the adjutancy of the regiment for a period from April 1910, he became Captain in 1913. While serving with the 6th Dragoon Guards in the early days of the war, he was wounded, and was mentioned in dispatches as early as October 19, 1914. Subsequently in November, 1915 he was appointed temporary major and second in command of the 13th York and Lancaster Regiment, and was afterwards transferred to the command which he was holding at the time of his death.

The history of the Regiment records: Less than a hundred yards in front of Dunmow trench they came under a heavy cross fire from machine guns firing from their right, probably from the Quadrilateral Redoubt and south of the Serre Road. Almost everyone dropped flat on their stomachs to escape this murderous scythe, except their commanding officer, Lieutenant-Colonel M.N. Kennard. Standing calm and erect amid the crack and whine of bullets and carrying only a walking stick he called out ‘come on boys, up you get’, turned and began to walk at an easy gait towards the enemy. The Battalion rose to their feet and followed him. As they came out of the dead ground in which their assembly trenches were dug they were additionally engaged by a rapid fire from the front. Casualties were heavy, particularly amongst the officers and including Lieutenant-Colonel Kennard, who was killed by a shell which burst close by him. Everard Wyrell. The West Yorkshire Regiment in the War 1914-1918

At school he was the Captain of the Soccer Team, and represented the school at Fives and Boxing. He won ‘Sword v Sword’ (Officers) at the Naval and Military Tournament, 1913-14

Aged 32

Maurice Kennard, Lt-Col cmdg 18th Bn West Yorkshire Regt. kia 1 July 1916

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Mervyn Richardson at Point 110 Cemetery. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

Today we remember …

19th March 1916. Mervyn Richardson, D Social, 1908. Capt, 1st Bn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of wounds received in an unknown engagement.‘Tracker’ Richardson was one of the young officers mentioned in Siegfried Sassoon’s diary, which became his fictional Memoirs of a fox-hunting man. At Radley he was Captain of the Boats, and rowed twice at Henley in the Ladies’ Plate, rowing No. 6 in the winning heat v. University College, Oxford, in 1912. He was a member of the Leander Club. After leaving school, he attended Sandhurst, then went straight out to the Western Front in 1915. He was Mentioned in Despatches. A letter from the Regimental Chaplain to his parents describes the scene of his funeral:CHAPLAIN’S LETTER, March 22 (Wed.).

DEAR SIR,-You might care I think to know the details of your son’s burial and last resting place from the Chaplain of the Regiment?… Your son was the most gallant and best loved of a gallant band of young officers… I have been with the battalion a year, and through more than one action, yet I do not remember so solemn a funeral or such real quiet grief. It took place on Tuesday night at 9.45. The little burial ground lies in a slight hollow only 100 yards behind the front lines. The nearest village is Reanite, near Albert, but from there it is a walk of two miles over rolling chalk downs to the line. The little plot is reverently tended, and a cross already in position on the grave. At the end of the war you will find no difficulty in finding it and tending it as you like.

As we left the dug-outs for the cemetery, two canisters burst quite near with a deafening roar. There in the darkness I took the service. All the officers were present and many men. The moon came out in the middle, and shone on the grey steel helmets of the group, and made the colours of the Union Jack that lay on the body gleam. The service ended, to the roar of another German canister, more suitable perhaps to the occasion than any organ.

Eric Milner-White

Aged 22

Mervyn Richardson, Captain, 1st Bn, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of wounds 19 March 1916

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

The grave of Richard Dundas at Cabaret Rouge. Photographed for ‘Marching in Memory’ for Combat Stress, July 2015

25th September 1915

Battle of Loos

Richard Dundas, D Social 1882. Lt-Col commanding, 11th Bn, The Royal Scots. Reported missing, presumed killed in action on the first day of the Battle of Loos, along with most of his battalion. ‘His magnificent and heroic leadership at Loos will never be forgotten, and his loss there cannot be too much deplored. His was a great personality and attractive nature, absolutely just and true, unfailing in sympathy and courtesy to all, untiring in work, an ideal soldier, with the keenest of brains, who jealously guarded the honour and traditions of the regiment that he loved, lived, and died for, and to which his loss is irreparable.” The Times.

He was a career soldier whose family had served in the regiment since 1670. Like Cecil Palmer (killed at Gallipoli) he had come out of retirement to command one of the newly formed battalions.

Richard Dundas, Lt-Col commanding 11th Bn, Royal Scots. Missing 25 September 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

26th July 1915. Cecil Palmer, H & G Socials 1888. Lt-Col commanding, 9th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt. Killed in action at Gallipoli. The Warwickshires were one of Kitchener’s newly recruited forces. Cecil Palmer, a career soldier, was called up from retirement to command them. He left a widow and three children. Aged 42

Cecil Palmer. Lt-Col commanding 9th Bn, Royal Warwickshire Regt. kia 26 July 1915

The Helles Memorial. Photo David Bennett, 18 May 2015

Cecil Palmer commemorated on the Helles Memorial. Photo David Bennett, 18 May 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

28th June 1915. Augustus Fitzclarence, C Social 1893. Captain, 2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers. Killed in action at Gallipoli. He was a superb all-round sportsman. At Radley, he was Captain of Boats and competed at Henley, and in the Soccer XI:‘He was a fine athlete – a good boxer and long-distance runner. In latter years he went in for fencing and sabre play, competing at the Royal Naval and Military Tournament and winning the second prize in the epee in 1913 and second prize in the sabre v. sabre in 1914. In 1912 he was one of the representatives of this country at the Olympic Games.’He was a career soldier who fought in the Second South African War in 1900. Aged 35

Augustus Fitzclarence, Captain, 2nd Bn, Royal Fusiliers. kia 28 June 1915

Augustus Fitzclarence commemorated on the Helles Memorial. Photo David Bennett, 18 May 2015

The Helles Memorial. Photo David Bennett, 18 May 2015

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

4th February 1915. Richard Fitzgibbon, F Social 1904. Lt, 128th Pioneers, Indian Army. Died of wounds received in the Defence of the Suez Canal.

Mentioned in despatches. Record of a citation: Major General Sir A. Wilson’s recommendations: 128th Pioneers. Lieutenant R. A. Fitzgibbon behaved with conspicuous gallantry. When severely wounded he ran a considerable distance under fire to the 5th Egyptian Battery. He has since died of his wounds.

He twice coxed the Radley VIII at Henley Regatta.

Aged 25

Richard Fitzgibbon, Lt, 128th Pioneers, Indian Army. Died of wounds 4 February 1915

Commemorating the Fallen of WW1

Today we remember …

16th December 1914. Hugh Brooksbank, G Social 1907. 2nd Lt, 2nd Bn, Yorkshire Regt. He went to Sandhurst. Died in London of wounds received on 3rd November in the First Battle of Ypres. Aged 21. Twice mentioned in despatches.