Chapter XXII: Part 22

=COOMBS, ARTHUR ERSKINE GURNEY=, Lieut., R.N., elder _s._ of Richard Samuel Gurney Coombs, of Church House, Oundle, by his wife, Kathleen Maria, dau. of Adolphe Philippe de Chastelain; _b._ Kensington, 3 Feb. 1888; educ. Oundle School; entered H.M.S. Britannia as a cadet, Jan. 1903, at the head of the list; appointed Midshipman, H.M.S. Ocean (China Station), April, 1904; transferred to H.M.S. Goliath (Mediterranean Station), 1905, and to H.M.S. Illustrious, March, 1907; appointed to Royal Naval College, Greenwich, for special course, April, 1908, and obtained four 1st classes; promoted Sub-Lieut. 30 July, 1908, and appointed to H.M.S. Dee (Destroyer), Jan. 1909; promoted Lieut. 30 April, 1909; appointed to H.M.S. Hindustan (Battleship), Sept. 1909, and to H.M.S. Dryad for navigation course, Jan. 1910; qualified as Lieut. (Navigating), and appointed to H.M.S. Essex (Cruiser), Aug. 1910, and to H.M.S. Blanche (Cruiser), Feb. 1911; transferred to H.M.S. Foresight (Light Cruiser), March following, and appointed to H.M.S. Diamond (Cruiser), Nov. 1912; and as Navigating Lieut. to H.M.S. Juno, Dec. following; appointed for first class ship’s course in navigation at Portsmouth, Jan. 1914, and obtained first place in examination; appointed Navigating Lieut. to H.M.S. Hawke, Feb. 1914, and was lost in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914, when that Cruiser was torpedoed. At the time of the attack Lieut. Coombs was on navigating duty on the bridge with the Capt. (Williams), and they remained there together until the ship sank. Coombs was subsequently seen in the water by survivors among the crew, but is presumed to have perished from the cold. He was _unm._

=COONEY, JOHN DANIEL=, Private, No. 2486, 6th Battn. Manchester Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of John Patrick Cooney, J.P., by his wife, Mary (Garranlea House, Cahir, co. Tipperary), dau. of Daniel Joseph Geary; _b._ Cahir, 20 Aug. 1889; educ. Rockwell College and Blackrock College, Ireland; enlisted in the Manchester Regt. on the outbreak of war, went with his battn. to the Dardanelles, and was killed in action at Gallipoli, 29 May, 1915. He had been nominated for a commission, against his express wishes, just before his death; _unm._ Private Cooney played Rugby football regularly for the Manchester City Club and Lancashire County. He was a good boxer and a first-rate athlete, winning many prizes at 440 and 880 yards.

=COOPER, ALBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4085), S.S. 102471, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COOPER, ALFRED=, Private, No. 9720, 2nd Battn. The Royal Scots (Lothian Regt.); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Croix Barbée, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=COOPER, ANDREW=, Private, No. 14288, 4th Battn. The Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died at Zolobes, 14 Oct. 1914, of wounds received in action.

=COOPER, EDWARD WYNDHAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5932), 215711, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COOPER, ERNEST=, Private, No. 10041, 4th Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 30 Aug. 1914.

=COOPER, ERNEST ROBERT=, Stoker, R.N.R., 1202T, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COOPER, HANWAY=, Sub-Lieut., R.N., yst. _s._ of the late William Cooper, M.A. Oxford, by his wife, Marion (Gravel Hill, Boxmoor, co. Herts), dau. of the late Major James German, of Maywood, Sevenoaks, J.P., D.L., grandson of John Cooper, of The Oaks, Preston, co. Lancs, and great-great-nephew of Admiral Sir James Hanway Plumridge, who fought in the Crimea; _b._ Hampstead, co. Middlesex, 2 May, 1892; educ. St. Christopher’s School, Eastbourne, the Royal Naval College, Osborne (entered 12 Jan. 1905), and Britannia College, Dartmouth; and was promoted Acting Sub-Lieut. 15 Sept. 1912, and Sub-Lieut. 15 Nov. following. He served on H.M. ships Commonwealth (15 Sept. 1909–14 Sept. 1910), Rattlesnake (15 Sept. 1910–14 Nov. 1910), Warrior (15 Nov. 1910–4 April, 1911), Britannia (14 Sept. 1911–2 Sept. 1912, “a zealous, hard-working officer”), Dryad (3 Sept.-9 Oct. 1912), Circe (10 Oct. 1912–6 March, 1914, “has carried out the duties of executive officer with zeal and ability”), Pembroke (7 March–22 March, 1914), and Shannon (23 March–30 July, 1914, “a very capable and promising officer”), and on the outbreak of war was appointed to H.M.S. Monmouth. He was killed in the naval action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, when the Monmouth and Good Hope were lost with all hands, 1 Nov. 1914. Sub-Lieut. Cooper was to have been promoted to the rank of Lieut. 15 Nov. following his death.

=COOPER, HENRY=, Private, No. 10894, 4th Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died on active service, 4 Nov. 1914, of enteric fever.

=COOPER, JAMES HAMILTON=, Private, No. 8551, 2nd Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs), _s._ of Alfred Cooper, of The Lilac, Plantation Road, Hextable; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; died 29 May, 1915, of wounds received in action.

=COOPER, JOHN=, Fleet Paymaster, R.N., yr. _s._ of James Cooper Cooper, formerly Tuthill, of Cooper Hill, Clarina, co. Limerick, J.P., by his first wife, Mary, dau. of Charles Pickering, of Roebuck, co. Dublin; _b._ Cooper Hill, 4 July, 1869; educ. Burney’s School, Gosport; joined the Navy as an Assistant Clerk in 1886, becoming Paymaster in 1900, Staff Paymaster in 1904, and Fleet Paymaster, 1 Feb. 1908. He served in H.M. Yacht Osborne from 1899–1902, and was afterwards Secretary to Admiral Custance in the Venerable, and to Admiral Sir Charles Briggs in the Lord Nelson and the Dreadnought. He joined H.M.S. Monmouth, 1 Aug. 1914, and was lost in action when that ship was sunk in the Battle off Coronel, 1 Nov. 1914. He _m._ at St. Peter’s, Cranley Gardens, S.W., 5 June, 1905, Marguerite Sutherland (Chiltern House, Chesham), dau. of the late Capt. Francis Sutherland, Royal Scots Greys, and had three children: James Francis, _b._ 5 May, 1906; John Christopher, _b._ 15 May, 1907; and Elizabeth Mary, _b._ 20 Feb. 1909.

=COOPER, LEONARD GOSSE=, 2nd Lieut., 4th (Service) Battn. South Wales Borderers, yst. _s._ of Walter Percy Cooper, of Ambleside, Abergavenny, Managing Director of Seargeant Bros., Ltd.; _b._ Abergavenny, 15 June, 1892; educ. Llandovery College, and Jesus College, Oxford, where he won a classical scholarship and also a Goldsmith’s Exhibition, and was placed in the first class in Honour Classical Moderations in 1914. On the outbreak of war he applied for a commission, and was gazetted to the South Wales Borderers, 29 Aug. 1914, accompanied the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force to the Dardanelles, and was killed in action 9 Aug. 1915; _unm._ He was buried in the 29th Field Ambulance Cemetery, at the mouth of the Aghyl Dere, Gallipoli, near Col. Gillispie and Major Sir Lennox Napier. Capt. C. E. Kitchen, commanding the C Coy., wrote: “It was early on 9 Aug. that the Turks attempted a surprise attack upon us where we were holding a very difficult position which we had not time to properly strengthen. My company had to occupy a rough knoll, covered with scrub, and in the semi-darkness it was very difficult to see the enemy. I immediately ordered up two platoons--No. 12 (your son’s) and No. 11 (Mr. Miller’s)--and was successful in keeping back the Turks. Unhappily Leonard, whilst gallantly leading and encouraging his men, was shot through the body, and passed away almost at once.” The regt. was congratulated by Sir Ian Hamilton for their conduct on this day.

=COOPER, STANLEY JAMES=, Armourer’s Crew, 228727, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COOPER, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 14542, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=COOPER, THOMAS WILFRED=, Private, No. 12629, 4th (Service) Battn. South Wales Borderers, 2nd _s._ of George Cooper, of Joyford Hill, Coleford, by his wife, Jessie, dau. of George Taylor, of Joyford Hill; _b._ Coleford, co. Gloucester, 13 April, 1890; was employed at the Connop Collieries; volunteered and enlisted, Aug. 1914; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles from 29 June, 1915, to 10 Aug. 1915, on which latter date he was killed in action there; _unm._

=COPE, HARRY FITZGERALD=, Private, No. 81177, 8th Battn. (90th Winnipeg Rifles), Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd _s._ of Gilbert Augustus Cope, of Russell, Manitoba, Canada, Farmer, formerly of Tralee, co. Kerry, and Sydenham, co. Kent, Organist of St. Michael’s, Lower Sydenham, 1882–88, by his late wife, Annie, dau. of the late William Burley, of Hastings, Sussex; _b._ Kilmalkeader Farm, Russell Co., Manitoba, 8 May, 1896; educ. Londonderry, near Russell, and Russell High School; joined the 32nd Manitoba Light Horse on its formation in May, 1913; trained at Sewell, 1913–14; volunteered for overseas service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, and was drafted to the 32nd Battn. Canadian Expeditionary Force, at Winnipeg; came over with reinforcements for the first contingent, 17 Feb. 1915; trained at Shorncliffe Camp; went to the Front, 29 April, 1915; transferred to 8th Battn., 8 May (his 19th birthday); wounded in the left shoulder in action at Givenchy, 21 June, 1915, by a piece of shrapnel, but remained in the trenches with his company; appointed Headquarters Runner to the Battn., 1 Aug.; killed in action at Ploegsteert, Belgium, about 11 p.m., 12 Sept. 1915, while repairing trench under fire, being shot near the heart. Buried in the 90th Rifles graveyard in Ploegsteert Wood; _unm._ Capt. L. Gysin wrote: “He had been so familiar and well-liked a figure amongst us, as he had always been a good soldier and seldom without a smile, that his death will be a great loss to us”; and Private C. Robin: “All the Russell boys, in fact all the boys who knew him, feel pretty bad. He was one of the best, always cheery and cool under fire.”

=BIDDLE-COPE, ANTHONY CYPRIAN PROSPER=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. King’s Shropshire L.I., _s._ of James Cyprian Biddle-Cope, formerly of Broadwood Hall, co. Salop, by his wife, Marie Louise, dau. of Edward Angell Saunders; _b._ London, 9 May, 1889; educ. Barnabite College, Florence, Italy; and was afterwards a Cadet on H.M.S. Conway, where he received the King’s gold medal. He was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st Battn. King’s Shropshire L.I., 10 Aug. 1910, and went to the Front with them on the outbreak of war. He was present when the general move of the British Army was made in Belgium and Northern France, and when the Germans made their first attempt to capture Calais, and was killed in action while saving the life of a friend, near Ypres, 26 April, 1915; _unm._ A Major of the 1st Battn. King’s Shropshire L.I., in a letter to his family, wrote: “The death of your son was not a surprise to me, for I knew it must only be a question of time before he was either killed or wounded seriously enough to lay him up for the rest of the war, for he was one of the bravest men I have ever met. I knew him first at the depot at Shrewsbury, when he first joined in 1910, and even then I was so much impressed with his pluck and his constant desire to do his duty in everything that I used to say that if ever I went on service I should rather have him to help me in a tight place than any other young officer I knew. When we were out on the Aisne, if ever there was any dangerous job that required to be done he would volunteer to do it, and yet the way he carried it out showed that he had caution and sense besides mere pluck. When he was first wounded, on 23 Oct., he came up to me with his hand bound up, and was all for leading a bayonet charge in daylight. The day before that he had walked across an open space of 50 yards to bring me a message, with the bullets spattering all around him, and nothing I could say would make him wait till dark before going back.” Another officer, who was wounded in the same engagement as that in which Lieut. Biddle-Cope met his death, wrote: “During the fight round Ypres two companies were ordered with the machine guns to reinforce a regt. who were having a very had time. On arrival there some selected men of our company were ordered to take a trench held by the Germans, and I was one of the officers, and while waiting to move out of our trench to attack, Biddle-Cope came up and chatted with me and wished me good luck; and I left my stick with him till I came back. The order to advance was given, and we charged, and just before we got to the enemy’s trench Biddle-Cope rushed by at a terrific pace, and was shot as he got to the enemy’s trench. When just in front of me he fired two shots from his revolver, and I think was again hit. I dropped down beside him and fired at the German who had shot, him, but can’t say whether I hit him or not. I myself had damaged my knee so severely that I could not walk at the time, and I saw no use trying to do any more, so collected the few men left--about five at the moment--and crawled back in. Biddle-Cope was machine gun officer, and should not have been there, but I can only think that he saw things were going badly and came out to help me.”

=COPE, MICHAEL WILLIAM=, Private, No. 6317, No. 3 Coy. 1st Battn. 1st Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of the late Michael Brown Cope, of The Corner House, Castledermott, co. Kildare, by his wife, Isabella, dau. of John Brown, of Woodlands, Castledermott; _b._ Castledermott, 1 Sept. 1892; educ. there; went to Canada, 24 May. 1912, and after a few months in Arkona, Thedford, Ontario, with his uncle, George Brown, J.P., became a clerk on the Canadian Pacific Railway at Windsor, Ontario. On the outbreak of war he enlisted and came to England with the first Canadian contingent, and after training at Salisbury during the winter, left for the Front, 7 Feb. 1915. He was killed in action between Bethune and La Bassée on the evening of 1 June, 1915; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “He was killed in one of the most daring attacks of this war. It commenced at 6 p.m. The hail of bullets and shrapnel which swept over our parapet was perfectly ranged; it was suicide to show oneself over the breastwork, for the enemy were less than 75 yards away. In spite of all, not a man hesitated. The whole platoon, of which William was one of my best chums, crossed the parapet with our heads down and a muttered prayer. We made straight for the German lines. We dropped into shell holes for a breather, and I glanced back and saw half of the boys (chums all of them since leaving Windsor, Ontario) lying dead and wounded. William, I afterwards learned, suffered no pain; his death was instantaneous. We had many debts to pay--Ypres, Festubert--and we alleged together to form one terrible effort, which carried us to their third line. William was with us through all our trouble at Ypres and Festubert, and has won the love and respect of us all. There are but few survivors left of the willing bands that landed in France last February.”

=COPELAND, TOM=, Officer’s Steward, 1st Class, 357988, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=COPELAND, WILLIAM GEORGE=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 10384), 206235, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COPELAND, WILLIAM JOHN=, Corpl., No. 10666, Machine Gun Section Wellington L.I., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 2nd _s._ of Thomas Mercer Copeland, of 30, Liffeton Street, Wanganui, New Zealand, Building Inspector etc., for Wanganui Borough Council, by his wife, Emma; _b._ Wanganui, 23 Jan. 1890; and was educated at the District High School and at Mossten, Wanganui. He joined the Defence Cadets as a boy, winning a cup for shooting at the age of 15, and afterwards attained the rank of Lieut. of the Senior Cadets acting at Capt. for eighteen months, but had to resign on leaving Wanganui for New Plymouth to take up other work. He was a Mechanical Engineer and Motor Expert by trade and on the outbreak of war volunteered for Imperial Service and joined the Wellington Infantry Battn., 18 Aug. 1914. He left New Zealand with the Main Expeditionary Force, was promoted Corpl. while in Egypt on Christmas Day, 1914, and was killed in action at Gallipoli, 2 May, 1915; _unm._ Col. Malone wrote: “When on the death of all his superior officers I placed him in charge of my four machine guns and recommended him for a commission to be my Machine Gun Officer. He was trying to locate the Turk’s fire which was harassing them when he was shot,” adding that “it was an extremely plucky act.”

=COPLAND, DUDLEY CHARLES JAMES=, 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt.), only _s._ of Charles Copland, Professor of Singing, R.A.M; _b._ Hampstead, 2 May, 1896; educ. St. Paul’s Cathedral Choir School and Denstone College; joined the 28th Battn. (Artists’ Rifles) The London Regt., and was gazetted to the Sherwood Foresters, 2 March, 1915. He was killed in action at Aubers Ridge, 9 May, 1915, being buried in the cemetery at La Cordonnierie.

=COPLAND, LEONARD GEORGE=, Ordinary Telegraphist, J. 14426, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COPLAND, MAURICE=, Private, No. 2363, 5th (Cinque Ports) Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of John Albert Copland, of Chelmsford, Solicitor, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Isaac King; _b._ Chelmsford, co. Essex, 21 Dec. 1876; educ. Chelmsford Grammar School, New College, Eastbourne, and Pembroke College, Cambridge; enlisted 8 Sept. 1914; proceeded with his regt. to the Front, and died in the Stationary Hospital, Boulogne, 21 March, 1915, while on Active Service; buried in Wimereux Military Cemetery, Boulogne Base, Grave No. 285; _unm._

=COPPINGER, CYRIL DOUGLAS=, Private, No. 12650, 1st Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., only _s._ of Col. Thomas Stephen Coppinger, of 168, Worple Road, Wimbledon, late 11th Regt., and Chief Paymaster, A.P.D. (who served in the Zulu war of 1879 and the last South African war), by his wife, Aldegonde Emily, dau. of Edward Thomas ffrench Beytagh, Q.C.; _b._ Maidstone, 26 July, 1890; educ. Wimbledon College, Edge Hill; was a journalist on the stall of the “Evening Standard,” and latterly a sub-editor on the staff of the Exchange Telegraph Co. On the outbreak of war he enlisted in the Northamptonshire Regt., joining the 1st Battn. at the Front, 2 Feb. 1915; he took part in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and was killed in action in a charge on the German trenches at the Aubers Ridge, between Richebourg l’Avoue and Festubert, 9 May, 1915; _unm._ He was buried north of the Rue du Bois, between Richebourg St. Vaast and Richebourg l’Avoue. In announcing his death, the “Pall Mall Gazette” stated: “He was a young man of great promise, and several of his short stories, which recently appeared in a number of London magazines, attracted considerable attention.”

=COPPINS, HUGH JOSEPH=, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 15587, H.M.S. Pathfinder, lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=CORBALLY, LOUIS WILLIAM=, Capt., R.F.A., 3rd _s._ of the late Matthew James Corbally, of Rathbeale Hall, Swords, co. Dublin, J.P., D.L., by his wife, Sara Louisa, dau. of Thomas O’Kelly, of Bridge House, co. Kerry; _b._ Dublin, 27 May, 1876; educ. Stonyhurst and The Oratory School, Edgbaston; served with the Irish Hunt Yeomanry through the South African War (medal and clasps), and was gazetted Capt. R.F.A., 29 Sept. 1914. On the outbreak of the European War he left with the R.F.A. for the Front; served in France and Flanders, and died from wounds received in action, at Bailleul, near Ypres, 6 May, 1915. He _m._ at The Oratory, Brompton, London, 26 April, 1906, Nancy, 4th dau. of John Joseph Whyte, of Loughbrickland, co. Down, D.L., and had two sons and two daus.; Marcus, _b._ 29 Aug. 1907; Edward, _b._ 15 Jan. 1909; Dorothy, _b._ 25 June, 1910; and May, _b._ 29 Dec. 1912. A brother officer wrote: “Our position was on the railway about 4 miles N.E. of Ypres, and it was going back to see the first line ... about ½ a mile along the track that the shelling took place. It was more or less a chance shell but there was a good deal all three days. I can only repeat how much Capt. Corbally is regretted and missed by all ranks in the Battery. One has to censor their letters and the sympathetic allusions to him have been very touching. As you know the funeral was at Bailleul in France.”

=CORBET, SIR ROLAND JAMES=, 5th Bart., Lieut., 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, yr. and only surviving _s._ of the late Sir Walter Orlando Corbet, of Moreton Corbet, 4th Bart., Capt., Coldstream Guards, by his wife, Caroline Douglas (now wife of Reginald Basil Astley, of Compton Beauchamp, Shrivenham), only child of the late Capt. James Affleck Stewart, of St. Fort, Fife, 11th Hussars; _b._ 19 Park Lane, W., 19 Aug. 1892; educ. Malvern and Sandhurst; suc. his father, 20 Dec. 1910; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 22 Jan. 1913, and promoted Lieut. 9 Dec. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 1914–15, and was severely wounded at La Tretoire, near Rebais, on 8 Sept. and invalided home. From 28 Oct. to 22 Dec. 1914, he was on light duty at Windsor, returning to the Front on the latter date. On 6 Feb. 1915, he led successfully a most gallant attack on the Brickfields, for which he was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 22 June, 1915], and was killed in action at Givenchy, France, 15 April, 1915; _unm._

=CORBETT, GEORGE=, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 20391, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CORBETT, MICHAEL PATRICK=, Leading Stoker, 305374, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=CORBIN, ALONZO JOSEPH=, Seaman, R.N.R., 4187A, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CORBYN, VERNON HECTOR=, Midshipman, R.N., only _s._ of the late Major Hector Corbyn, R.H.A., by his wife, Lylie Evelyn (Stair Lodge, Wokingham, Berks.), dau. of Samuel Orby Carey: _b._ Ely Court, Llandaff, 16 Jan. 1898; educ. “Fonthill,” East Grinstead, Osborne, 1911, and Dartmouth; joined H.M.S. Cressy, 3 Aug. 1914, with which he went down in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CORDER, ERNEST=, Ordinary Seaman (R.N.V.R.), 297 (Sussex), H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=CORDER, HUGH GERALD ANNERLY=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. The Welsh Regt., only surviving _s._ of Major Arthur Annerly Corder, of Glendoone, Havant, Hants., A.O.D., D.A.D.O.S. (who served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles), by his wife, Lucy Ellen, dau. of George Armitage; _b._ Maesyneuadd Hall, co. Merioneth, 24 Jan. 1894: educ. Plymouth College and Sandhurst; was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Welsh Regt. 17 Sept. 1913, and promoted Lieut. 4 Nov. 1914; went to France with the original Expeditionary Force, took part in the retreat from Mons and the Battles of the Aisne, the Marne and Ypres, being wounded by shrapnel at the latter place on 2 Nov. and was invalided home. He returned to the Front on 9 April, and was killed while leading his men into action at Richebourg l’Avoue, 9 May, 1915; _unm._ He was buried in the British cemetery near Rue de Bois.

=CORDWELL, WILLIAM SAM=, Gunner, R.M.A. 7989 (R.F.R., B. 1103), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COREN, EDWARD WALKER=, 2nd Lieut., Royal Field Artillery, only _s._ of the late John William Coren, of Guyscliffe, Gloucester, Solicitor; _b._ Gloucester 8 Feb. 1893; educ. Cheltenham College, and on leaving there did 12 months’ training at Aldershot with the R.F.A. Special Reserve. He then went to the Malay States, but on the outbreak of war returned, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. in the Special Reserve of the R.F.A., 23 Dec. 1914, and into the Regular Army, 25 May, 1915. He went to the Front in March, and was severely wounded on the night of 14 June, 1915, while out with a party of men laying telephone wires. They had had to take shelter three times owing to the heavy shell fire. Lieut. Coren made a fourth attempt to finish the work, but he and three out of the four men with him were so severely wounded that they died the following day. The fourth man, a driver, was seriously wounded, but survived. He was buried at Ypres; _unm._ His Col. wrote speaking very highly of the work he had done while under his command. Coren was a good all-round athlete and sportsman. At Cheltenham he was a prefect and in the cricket eleven, and was considered a good bowler. He also played football and won the High Jump two years in succession. He was also an exceptionally good horseman.

=CORFIELD, HARRY=, Private, No. 6063, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; _b._ Annagh, co. Mayo; enlisted 22 May, 1905; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in action, 16 May, 1915; _unm._

=CORK, JOHN HENRY=, Leading Seaman, 223677, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CORKE, ARTHUR NOEL=, Rifleman, No. 1783, 1/18th (London Irish Rifles) Battn. The London Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of George Johnson Corke, of 9, Adelaide Road, Brentford, W., Commercial Traveller, by his wife, Clara Maria, dau. of the late John Boys; _b._ Chiswick, W., 25 Dec. 1893; educ. Gunnersbury College, Chiswick, and Rothschild School, Brentford; enlisted on 7 Aug. 1914, two days after the outbreak of war, served in France and Flanders, was wounded at Loos, 25 Sept. 1915, and died at Abbeville, 15 Oct. following, being buried there; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “Corke always had a quiet and gentlemanly air about him, and was thoroughly liked by all.... With regard to his life in the trenches, he did not seem to know the meaning of fear, and always took anything in that cool fashion of his which I have often envied during a heavy shelling.... In conclusion, one can say he was a good soldier, above all a good friend.” Four of his brothers joined the Army after war was declared: one the 10th Middlesex (T.F.), two the Australian Contingent, and a third the Queen Victoria Rifles.

=CORKRAN, REGINALD SEYMOUR=, 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Grenadier Guards, yst. _s._ of Col. Charles Seymour Corkran, of Chipstead, co. Surrey, late Grenadier Guards, by his wife, Florence, dau. of Sir Charles Lennox Peel, G.C.B., and gdson. of Charles Corkran, of Long Ditton, Surrey, by his wife, Georgiana Isabella, sister of the 5th Marquis of Hertford and dau. of Admiral Sir George Seymour; _b._ London, 28 June, 1890; educ. “Evelyns,” Uxbridge, and Eton. Was on the Stock Exchange, but on the outbreak of war enlisted in the Honourable Artillery Company, served eight months and was promoted Corpl. and Sergt., receiving a commission in 2nd Battn. Grenadier Guards, May, 1915. He served in France and Flanders, was seriously wounded in action by shrapnel, 7 June, 1915, and died in the Duchess of Westminster’s Hospital at Le Toquet, four days later; _unm._ He was buried at Chipstead, co. Surrey.

=CORMICAN, HUGH PATRICK=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 10490), S.S. 108467 H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=CORNER, ALBERT JUST=, Private, No. 1416, 4th Battn. Cameron Highlanders (T.F.), 8th _s._ of William Corner, of Brockside, Drummond Road, Inverness, late Actuary, Savings Bank, Inverness, by his wife, Hedwig, dau. of Heinrich Wolfgang Just; _b._ Inverness, 27 July, 1895; educ. High School and Royal Academy there; joined the 4th Camerons 1913, and on the outbreak of war volunteered with his company, went to France, 19 Feb. 1915, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915; _unm._ He had been trained for a bank life, and was a member of the Bankers’ Institute of Scotland. His elder brother, Otto, was also killed in action (see following notice).

=CORNER, OTTO HEINRICH=, Private, No. 22979, 14th Battn. (Royal Montreal Regt.) Canadian Expeditionary Force, 6th _s._ of William Corner, of Brookside, Drummond Road, Inverness, etc. (see preceding notice); _b._ Inverness, 7 July, 1892; educ. High School and Royal Academy there, and went to Canada 14 Aug. 1913; on the outbreak of war he volunteered for Imperial service, and joined the Royal Montreal Regt., came over with the first contingent, and was killed in action at Ploegsteert, 7 July, 1915; _unm._ Like his brother, he had been trained for a bank life, and was a member of the Bankers’ Institute of Scotland.

=CORNER, STEPHEN HENRY=, A.B., No. 118, Royal Naval Brigade, 4th _s._ of John Corner, of 5, James Armt Street, Sunderland, by his wife, Maria, dau. of John Tucker, of Sunderland; _b._ Southwick-on-Wear, co. Durham, 28 July, 1892; educ. Council Schools there; was a miner; enlisted in the Durham L.I. 23 Aug. 1914; was later transferred to the Naval Brigade; served through the Antwerp Expedition and with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force, and was killed in action in Gallipoli, 15 June, 1915; _unm._

=CORNICK, DANIEL=, Officer’s Cook, 1st Class, L. 989, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CORNISH, CHARLES LAWSON=, Lieut. 2nd Battn. Highland L.I., yr. _s._ of the late Henry Cornish, Barrister-at-Law and Co-Proprietor of the “Madras Mail,” India (died 7 June, 1915), by his wife, Emily Henrietta (Glastonbury, Lovelace Road, Surbiton), dau. of Charles William Engelbach; _b._ Brighton, 13 Aug. 1887; educ. Stoke House, near Slough, Charterhouse, and Trinity College, Cambridge (B.A.), from which he entered the Army as a University candidate. He was for some time attached to the King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. Highland L.I. in June, 1909, to rank as from 18 Sept. 1909. At the beginning of 1914 he resigned his commission, and was gazetted to the Reserve of Officers. On the outbreak of war he rejoined his regt., and was with it in the retreat from Mons, and through the Battles of the Marne, the Aisne and round Ypres, and was killed in action near the last-named town, 13 Nov. 1914; _unm._ He was buried alongside the Passchendael-Becelaere Road.

=CORNISH. HENRY GEORGE WILLIAM=, A.B., J. 1249, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=CORNWALL, GEOFFREY=, Private, No. 1667, 5th Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of (--) Cornwall; _b._ .. June, 1896; educ. Hadlow Down (Sussex) School; was employed by Mr. H. Morriss, of Stonebridge; joined the 5th (Territorial) Battn. of the Royal Sussex Regt. about 1913; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of the war, and went to France 9 March, 1915, and was killed in action in the charge of the Sussex Regt. at Richebourg, 9 May, 1915; _unm._

=CORNWELL, ABIJAH=, Sergt., No. 981, 1/8th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Eliphaz Cornwell, by his wife, Caroline (66, Queen’s Road, Southall, Middlesex), dau. of Joseph Brown; _b._ Southall, co. Middlesex, 5 Oct. 1877, and had been for some nine years in the employ of the Southall Gas Works when war broke out. He had joined the Southall Coy. of the Middlesex Territorials in 1908, and had risen to the rank of Sergt. He immediately volunteered for foreign service, and after going to Gibraltar with his regt., returned to England and went to France, 8 April, 1915; was wounded during the fighting at Ypres on Whit Monday, 24 May, 1915, and died in No. 13 Stationary Hospital at Boulogne on the following Friday morning, the 28th. He was a well-known and popular cricketer and footballer. He first played for the Norwood Green Cricket Club, later played for a short period for the St. James’ Electric Light Co. eleven, and then in 1906 joined the Brentford Gas Works cricket team, with which he continued to play for eight years. He _m._ at St. John’s Church, Southall, 8 Sept. 1900, Minnie Flora (66, Queen’s Road, Southall, Middlesex), dau. of William Cullen, and had six children: Eva Caroline, _b._ 31 March, 1901; Minnie Faith, _b._ 9 Dec. 1902; Dorothy Kate, _b._ 23 Dec. 1904; Ethel Mary, _b._ 19 July, 1906; Edith Florence, _b._ 20 Aug. 1908; Ida Ruth, _b._ 10 Dec. 1912 (_d._ 1915).

=CORREGAN, THOMAS HOWARD=, Bomber, No. 1037, Grenade Corps, A Coy., 8th Battn. (Winnipeg Rifles), Canadian Expeditionary Force, 3rd _s._ of the late Thomas Howard Corregan, of Nirvana Glen, Whitemouth, Manitoba, Canada, Merchant and Inventor, by his wife, Alice, dau. of William Henderson, of Kildonan, Manitoba; _b._ Springfield, Manitoba, 9 Oct. 1886; educ. Winnipeg High School; and American College, Chicago, U.S.A.; was a conductor in the employ of the Canadian Pacific Railway; volunteered and joined the Winnipeg Rifles on the outbreak of the European War, 15 Aug. 1914, and came over with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; went to France, Feb. 1915; was appointed a Bomber, 1 March, and was killed in action at Festubert, 24 May following, while leading and encouraging his bombing party with the rally call “Come on boys, follow me.” After clearing an enemy trench, he went on although wounded to capture a machine gun. His Major wrote: “I have seen, heard and read of many stories of brave conduct of our men, but what those who returned tell me of your son, is equal to any act for which men are decorated. He led the attack of the whole battn. engaged, and really took the position which we still hold. He was still leading in the gallant dash to silence the machine gun, but this cost him his life. Nothing could equal the manner in which he went after the Germans that morning, as calm as though he were out for a morning walk. We old boys of his company all believe that Corregan’s action easily won the V.C.” He was a good all-round sportsman.

=CORTIS, JOHN HALSTEAD=, 2nd Lieut., 3rd, att. 2nd, Battn. Wiltshire Regt., eldest _s._ of Arthur Brownhill Cortis, of Outspan, Downview Road, Worthing, by his wife, Lilian, dau. of Henry Alexander Papps; _b._ Worthing, 21 Dec. 1894; educ. United Service College, and Christ’s Hospital, where for two years he was in the Bisley Shooting Team. He afterwards entered the employ of the Capital and Counties Bank, and had passed the final examination of the Bankers’ Institute in all but two subjects. After the declaration of war he threw up his post and joined the Public Schools and University Corps, afterwards passing through Sandhurst, where he was promoted to Sergt. of his company and obtained his commission, 17 March, 1915. He went to France on 25 May, and was killed in action by a shell, while leading an attack on the German trenches at Givenchy, 15 June, 1915; _unm._ His battn. was not in this attack but he had volunteered to take the place of an officer who was ill. In this action out of eight officers only one returned and he was wounded in three places, and of the two companies every other man was wounded. His Col. wrote: “I took the greatest fancy to your boy when he joined us. He was extremely keen to go into action and was a first-rate soldier. The regt. feel the loss of such men as this; when we are able to do so we will erect a cross over his grave.”

=COSENS, HAROLD STANLEY FREDERICK=, Lieut., 1st Battn. East Yorkshire Regt., only _s._ of Frederick George Cosens, of Bacton, co. Norfolk, and 7 Observatory Gardens, Kensington, W., by his wife, Fanny Louisa Elizabeth, dau. of Thomas Henry Ambrose, of Copford, Essex, and Manchester Square, London; _b._ Kensington, 2 Dec. 1889; educ. St. Paul’s School and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted to the East Yorkshire Regt. 18 Sept. 1909, and promoted Lieut. 28 Feb. 1912. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 28 Oct. 1914; _unm._ Major W. Boyle wrote: “He was my subaltern, and I never want a better, always cheery and ready for any work that came in his way, and to take on any hard job, even when out of his turn, as often happened when I wanted a man I could trust to do any difficult or jumpy piece of work. I could not want for a nicer, more cheery and hard-working officer to soldier with.... The exact circumstances are these: He had led his men to retake some trenches from the Germans, and had carried out his work successfully, and was actually in the trench, doing a kindly act to one of the enemy, who wanted to surrender, when a sniper shot him from another direction. It is extremely painful to write thus, as it was sheer bad luck! My company are very cut up indeed. He died a gallant gentleman.” He was very keen on the Boy Scout movement, and the Vicar of St. Agatha’s (the Rev. Everard Digby) records in St. Agatha’s “Messenger” for Dec. 1914: “The year before last he gave up every evening of his two months’ leave to go down to different troops in East London to teach our scouts signalling. To give up every evening, to forego such luxuries as dining out, theatres, etc., for the whole of his furlough, involved no little self-sacrifice, but he never missed once, and he was so thoroughly good tempered and patient that even the stupidest boys managed to learn a good deal from him. The fruit of all is seen in the number of our lads serving with the Colours to-day. Several of the fellows he taught are now Army or Navy Signallers, and one or two are wearing the stripes of an N.C.O. as the result of his self-sacrificing labours. One thing was certain, whether they picked up more quickly or not, every Boy Scout he taught was a better chap for knowing him.” Lieut. Cosens had been on several occasions employed with the Mounted Infantry, and had passed with distinction through the schools of Signalling and Musketry.

=COSTELLO, PETER=, Stoker, R.N.R., 2108S., H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COSTELLOW, WILLIAM JAMES=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 14616, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=COSTIN, BRUCE DUFFUS=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Prince of Wales’s Own West Yorkshire Regt., only _s._ of John Duffus Costin, of New South Wales, and his wife, Adele (now wife of Walter Hobson, of Tan-y-bryn, Bangor); _b._ Strathfield, New South Wales, 20 June, 1889; educ. Bedford and Sandhurst; received his commission in the West Yorkshires, 18 Sept. 1909, and was promoted Lieut. 16 April, 1910. He died in hospital at Boulogne, 24 Oct. 1914, from wounds received in action on 20 Oct. at the Battle of Ypres, and was buried in Boulogne Cemetery. His commanding officer wrote: “You know without my telling you what a favourite he was with all ranks of the regt. and how we shall all miss him. He had done splendidly throughout the war, and was invaluable to us. He was always cool and cheery under fire, quite fearless, and had done very well on the 20th under an appalling shell fire. He is a great loss in every way to the regt. and the mess, so keen on both work and play, and the Rugby team will be nothing without him.” And the Chaplain: “He was a splendid officer, and a splendid man. I had many opportunities for forming an estimate of his character, for I knew him well, and I know he was a man of highest qualities and ideals, brave, honourable, respected by all who knew him, and loved by his brother officers and men under his command. His loss is a loss to the whole Army, and the cutting off of a keen soldier, who had promise of a brilliant career.” Lieut. Costin was good at all sports, a splendid rider and a keen follower to hounds in the South Staffordshire country. He played Rugby for the college fifteen at Sandhurst and for Rosslyn Park, and was capt. of the regimental football team. At Sandhurst he was in the winning teams for rifle and revolver shooting, and for riding.

=COTTAM, HARRY FREDERICK=, E.R.A., 2nd Class, 271794, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COTTER, JOHN JOSEPH=, Leading Seaman, 194875, Devonport, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COTTINGHAM, HERBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6015), 210795, H.M.S. Aboukir lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COTTON, HENRY ALBERT=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26631, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=COTTON, PHILIP=, Private, No. 6746, 2nd Battn. Royal Irish Regt., _s._ of Thomas Cotton, Chimney Sweep; _b._ New Ross, co. Hereford, 1885; educ. there; served 13 years in the Royal Irish Regt. (India medal, 1895); re-enlisted after the outbreak of war, 21 Sept. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, and was killed in the trenches by a flash of lightning, 22 May, 1915. He _m._ at New Ross, 20 May, 1907, Kate (2, Michael Street, New Ross), dau. of James Hennebury, of New Ross, and had three daus.: Anastatia, _b._ 1 Jan. 1908; Elizabeth, _b._ 1 Feb. 1912; and May, _b._ 27 Feb. 1915.

=COTTON, SIDNEY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5176), S.S. 1858, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COTTON, THOMAS FREDERICK=, Chief E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 149729 (Po.), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COTTRELL, GEORGE FREDERICK=, 2nd Lieut. 108th Heavy Battery, R.G.A., _s._ of George Anderson Cottrell, of Allandale, Sandon Road, Edgbaston, by his wife, Mary Agnes, dau. of the late Alexander Smith, of Bingley, Yorks.; _b._ West Bromwich, co. Stafford, 27 Oct. 1892; educ. Bromsgrove School and King Edward’s School, Birmingham, where he was Colour-Sergt. in the O.T.C., and was awarded the Coronation medal as the best all-round boy. He entered the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and there was senior Sergt., and won prizes for infantry training and military law. He received his commission, 18 July, 1913, and until the outbreak of the war was stationed in the Isle of Wight. In Sept. 1914, he left for the Front, and was attached to an ammunition column of the Indian Army, being posted to the 108th Heavy Battery, R.G.A., in Jan. 1915. He was killed in action at Ypres, 11 May, 1915, and was buried in a railed off piece of ground used as a war cemetery, in the grounds of the chateau of the Gold Fish, Ypres; _unm._ A stained glass window, subscribed for by his brother officers friends, was placed in the church used by the R.G.A. at Freshwater, I.W. Lieut. Cottrell was one of the “shop” fifteen while at Woolwich, and afterwards was a member of the United Services Football Club, and also played for the Army and three counties on various occasions.

=COTTRELL, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 7305, 1st Battn. Worcestershire Regt., _s._ of Edward Cottrell, Iron moulder, by his wife, Phoebe, dau. of Joseph Dean; _b._ Tipton, co. Staffs, 26 Oct. 1884; educ. Council Schools there; enlisted 6 Nov. 1902, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 10–13 March, 1915; _unm._

=COTTRELL, WILLIAM GEORGE=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 5209), 303575, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COUCH, HERBERT WILLIAM=, Engineer Lieut.-Commander, R.N., 4th _s._ of James Couch, Major, late 2nd North Staffordshire Regt., by his wife, Helen, dau. of William Hollis; _b._ Malta, 3 Sept. 1879; educ. Mile End House School, Portsmouth, and Keyham College, Devonport. Entering the Navy in 1905 he was promoted Lieut.-Commander in Aug. 1913, and appointed in July, 1914, to H.M.S. Good Hope, on which he was killed in action, off the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. following. Engineer Lieut.-Commander Couch had the Messina medal. He _m._ at Portsmouth, 18 Dec. 1906, Edith Cecila (Grace’s Farm, Martyr Worthy, Winchester, Hants), dau. of the late Richard King, Royal Mail Contractor, and had a son and dau.: Richard John Hollis, _b._ 16 Nov. 1907; and Cecile Mary, _b._ 12 Nov. 1909.

=COULL, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Leading Shipwright, 347244, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COULSON, JOHN=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch./17211, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=COULTART, WILLIAM PERCY=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 16961, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COUNTER, WILLIAM GILL=, Private, R.M.L.I., 13098 (R.F.R., B. 1831), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COUPER, WALTER=, Private, No. 9128, 4th Coy., 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 2nd _s._ of William Clark Couper, of 36, St. Mary’s Road, Watford, Herts, Police Constable, by his wife, Harriet, dau. of Henry Gulliver; _b._ Kensington, W., 24 March, 1892; educ. St. James’ School, Norlands, Notting Hill; joined the 1st Battn. Herts Regt. (T.F.) in May, 1909, and enlisted in the Coldstreams, 7 June, 1911; served three years with the Colours, and then passed into the Reserve, from which he was called on the outbreak of war. He went to the Front with the Expeditionary Force, and died in No. 11 General Hospital, Boulogne, 10 Nov. 1914, of wounds received in action on the 2nd. He was buried in Boulogne Cemetery (Grave No. c/19). A comrade wrote: “On 1 Nov. Corporal Palmer was wounded in the arm, and Walter took him to hospital. Walter did not come back till mid-day on Monday, the 2nd. I met him in the communication trench, and he had two letters for some one in another platoon. The Sergt. of this other platoon was behind him, so he had to turn round in the trench. The trench being rather narrow he had to show his head above the top. No sooner did his head show above the trench when a German sniper shot, and the bullet cut the side of his head where he had a bald patch. I obtained help at once, and our machine gun officer bound the wound up for him. He was then taken away on a stretcher. On 23 Oct. our platoon held a line of trenches from which the Queen’s (Royal West Surrey) had retired. It was open ground, and the bullets were whizzing over us pretty rapid. About 80 yards in front of us lay a fellow of the Queen’s, badly wounded. Seeing that he couldn’t crawl in, Couper ran out to him, cut his equipment off, and with the help of Corpl. Palmer, who had run out afterwards, got the wounded fellow on his back. He then carried him in by himself. There were only a few of us who saw this, and hardly any one else heard about it. There are a good many brave actions done out here which nobody hears about. I think if any one deserves the D.C.M. it is Private Couper.” His elder brother, Corpl. W. F. Couper, 4th Middlesex Regt., was taken prisoner at the Battle of Mons, and is now (1916) confined at Senneläger.

=COUPLAND, HENRY=, Lieut., 5th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Henry Coupland, of Stonewell, Lancaster, V.D., 5th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., now commanding the National Reserves at Lewes, Sussex, by his wife, Lilliere, dau. of Charles Innocent; _b._ Lancaster, 15 Dec. 1894; educ. Royal Lancaster Grammar School; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 5th Battn. King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., 1 Jan. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 2 Dec. following; served in France and Flanders, and died from wounds received in action, near Ypres, at the Clearing Station, Bailleul, 24 April, 1915; _unm._ He was buried in the cemetery at Bailleul.

=COURCOUX, WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2879), S.S. 196, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=COURT, CHARLES=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 9663), 297567, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COURT, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Chief Armourer, 340995, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=COURT, WILLIAM HUBERT ROYLANCE (ALGY)=, Capt., 9th (Queen’s Royal) Lancers, only _s._ of William Roylance Court, of Manor House, Middlewich, co. Chester, J.P., Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Mary Carlaw, eldest dau. of Sir Andrew Barclay Walker, 1st Bart., of Osmaston Manor, co. Derby; _b._ Osmaston Manor, aforesaid, 26 Sept. 1885; educ. Wixenford Preparatory School and at Eton; gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the Royal Garrison Artillery Militia to the 9th Lancers, 6 July, 1907; became Lieut. 4 March, 1910, and Capt. 23 April, 1913, and was for a lengthy period stationed with his regt. at Potchefstroom, South Africa. When the war broke out in August the 9th Lancers were at Mooltan Barracks, Tidworth, from whence they proceeded direct to France, being among the first contingent of the British Army to take part in the fighting in Belgium. It will be remembered that in the early stages of the war in particular the 9th Lancers did splendid work, and in his letters home Capt. Roylance Court related some stirring incidents. About Dec. he was wounded in the foot by shrapnel, and after being in hospital for a short time came home for a few days. On 24 May, 1915 (the day he fell), Capt. Roylance Court was second in command of B Squadron, the senior officer being Capt. Francis O. Grenfell, V.C. The force occupied trenches near Hooge, some 60 to 80 yards from those of the enemy. Capt. Court was in the act of communicating by telephone with the Base regarding the enemy’s gas attack and the general situation, when he was shot through the head and killed instantly. Capts. Grenfell, Noel Edwards and many men fell that day. The Adjutant of the 9th Lancers, when writing to a friend some time after the 24th, referred to the incidents and said: “It certainly was a bad day, but the regt. came out with much praise from everybody. This is some consolation to us for the loss of a great many friends, and in spite of losses the reputation of the regt. increases. ‘Algy’ did a particularly gallant thing on the day he was killed. When reinforcements were required he went down from the fire trenches through a terrific shell fire (any messengers we sent on this day were killed or wounded) and led up a company of the Buffs, showed them where they were wanted. They suffered severely on the way, having to cross about 2,000 yards of very open ground, which was swept by an absolute curtain of shell fire.” Capt. Roylance Court was buried during the night after the battle in the churchyard at Vlamertinghe, in Flanders, close to the grave of Capt. Grenfell, whose remains were interred at the same time. He was a very capable officer and a thorough sportsman, and when on leave was a familiar figure in the Cheshire Hunt, of which his father was joint-Master for four years. He was an enthusiastic polo player, and won several point-to-point races for his regt. and several of his friends. Golf was another sport of which he was very fond.

=COURTIS, ERNEST GEORGE=, Chief Gunner, R.N., _s._ of James Courtis, Engine Fitter, by his wife, Mary Catherine, dau. of Walter Perry Jenkins; _b._ Cornwall, 3 March, 1873; educ. St. James’ School, Keyham, Devonport; joined the Navy, 7 Dec. 1888, and reached Warrant rank, 1 Nov. 1898. He served on the Algerine during the Boxer rebellion in China, 1900, being Gunnery Officer of that ship during the bombardment of the Taku Forts. In the latter part of the engagement the starboard after 3-pr. quick-firing gun recoiled off the netting, fracturing almost all the small parts of the machinery and breech mechanism. He remounted it in a position (from which it was effectively used) in the Captain’s cabin in less than 15 minutes. Later, having observed a line of electric observation mines ahead, he put off in a dinghy with one man, and personally performed the dangerous service of destroying five of the mines by cutting wires, removing detonators and primers, and sinking the mines, thus probably saving many lives. He was subsequently landed in charge of two of the ship’s 4-inch quick-firing guns, and accompanied them to the Tientsin lines, where they were urgently required to outrange the enemy; afterwards took one gun some 4 miles from the supports and base and mounted it under a brisk shell fire, continuing in command of that gun during the remainder of the bombardment and capture of Tientsin City. At Sin-Ho he was appointed Transport Officer, which post he held for four months and was promoted Chief Gunner 1 Nov. 1913. He had the China medal (1900) with two bars. Chief Gunner Courtis lost his life on the occasion of the sinking of H.M.S. Clan McNaughton, 3 Feb. 1915. He _m._ at Belmont Wesleyan Church, Devonport, 12 Feb. 1900, Gertrude, dau. of Charles Montague, and had a son and dau.: Geoffrey Ernest Montague, _b._ 2 April, 1907; and Gertrude Ellen Mary, _b._ 1 Sept. 1904.

=COURTNEY, JOHN HENRY=, _alias_ =JOHN HENRY ALFRED ADKINS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 9614), S.S. 106961, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _unm._