Chapter LXVII: Part 67

=STEELE-PERKINS, CYRIL STEELE=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt., only surviving _s._ of George Chapman Steele-Perkins, of 30, Weymouth Place, Portland Place, W., and Kingsdown, near Deal, M.D., by his wife, Alice, dau. of Edward Chapman, of Sydney, New South Wales; _b._ Streatham, S.W., 27 Feb. 1887; educ. St. Paul’s School, London University and Sandhurst; from which latter he was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st Battn. Royal Lancashire Regt. 8 Feb. 1908, and promoted Lieut. 12 Sept. 1911. On the outbreak of war he went with that regt. to the Front, and was killed in action at Haucourt, between Cambray and Le Cateau, France, 26 Aug. 1914; _unm._ In an article headed “Our Troops Under Fire,” in “The Times,” 8 Sept. 1914 the writer said: “Then there was Lieut. Steele-Perkins, who died one of the grandest deaths a British officer could wish for. He was lifted out of the trenches wounded four times, but, protesting, he crawled back again and remained there till he was mortally wounded.” The following account appeared in “The Scout,” 26 Sept. 1914, p. 54: “On Aug. 26, 1914, The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regt. was very heavily engaged. One of the greatest heroes of the fight was Lieut. Steele-Perkins. As the German hordes advanced, he--one of the few officers left--walked along the trenches, encouraging the men to do their utmost. No fear had he of danger. What the men could face he was willing to endure. A shell exploded, wounding him severely, and he was carried out of the trenches, protesting loudly. No sooner had he been carried to safety than he crawled back to the trenches; while he could move he would be with his men--they needed his presence to spur them on. ‘Ah,’ said one of his sergeants, ‘he was a proper man, he was. We would do anything for him.’ Four times he was lifted out of trenches, badly wounded, and four times he crawled back again, more feeble each time--nothing but actual physical weakness would keep him from sharing the dangers of his men. Then came the end--from a shell bursting overhead.”

=PERRETT, ERNEST=, Petty Officer, 206389, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PERRETT, WILLIAM NELSON=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 24698, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Frederick Nelson Perrett, of 265, Dale Street, Chatham; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=PERRY, ALFRED HENRY=, Leading Telegraphist, J. 867, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PERRY, ARTHUR THEODORE=, Private, No. 3/140, New Zealand Army Medical Corps, _s._ of Arthur Perry, of Northampton; _b._ Wellington, New Zealand, 4 May, 1886; educ. at Southampton, England; then returned to New Zealand; joined the New Zealand Army Medical Corps after the outbreak of war, 15 Aug. 1914; left Egypt for the Dardanelles 12 April, 1915; took part in the landing on the 25th April, and was killed in action there, 22 May, 1915; _unm._ Buried in the English Cemetery, Gallipoli. Lieut.-Col. C. M. Begg, commanding N.Z. Field Ambulance, wrote: “He was a very hard worker and was a general favourite in the company. During the time we have been under fire here, he was indefatigable in his attention to the wounded and never hesitated to expose himself in the course of his duties. May it be some comfort to you to know he died doing his duty;” and a comrade: “He died after a month of the most heroic and unselfish work given for the sake of others. He met this noble end as he had lived--a Christian, and by his patience and unselfish endeavours was loved by us all.”

=PERRY, EVELYN WALTER COPLAND=, 2nd Lieut., Royal Flying Corps (Special Reserve), only child of the late Walter Copland Perry, Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Evelyn Emma (29, Thurloe Square, S.W.), sister of Lieut.-Col. Horace Robert Stopford, Coldstream Guards (killed in action at the Modder River, 28 Nov. 1899), and only dau. of the late Robert Stopford [grandson of James, 2nd Earl of Courtown, K.P.]; _b._ at 5, Manchester Square, London, 4 Dec. 1890; educ. St. David’s (Mr. Joyce’s), Reigate; Ripton, and Trinity College, Cambridge, and on leaving there worked at the Royal Aircraft Factory from Feb. 1911 to Aug. 1912. He obtained his aviation certificate (No. 130) on a Valkyrie monoplane at Hendon, 30 Aug. 1911; was gazetted 2nd Lieut., R.F.C. (S.R.), 21 March, 1913, and obtained his certificate as a First Class Pilot, Upavon, 13 Aug. following. On 1 Aug. 1914, he received orders to join the R.F.C. at Netheravon, which he did on 5 Aug., and attd. to the 3rd Squadron he flew with it to Dover on 12 Aug. The following day 42 aeroplanes flew to Amiens, whence he wrote but one letter, full of his extreme enjoyment in these flights, and adding that he was to keep the fine machine he had been using; but apparently these hopes were not realised and he had to give it up. He was killed instantaneously together with his pilot, H. E. Parfitt, on Sunday, 16 Aug 1914, on leaving Amiens, on a B.E. 8 machine, being the first British officer to lose his life on active service in France in the European War. The machine apparently stalled at about 150 ft., and caught fire on reaching the ground. He was buried in the cemetery at St. Acheuil, the following day; _unm._ Flight Commander P. Shepherd, R.N., wrote: “I knew your son both at Eastchurch and Upavon, and we have lost from the Flying Corps a most gallant officer.” Lieut. Perry did a considerable amount of flying while on the staff of the Royal Aircraft Factory on their early experimental machines, including testing a hydroplane at Fleet. On leaving the Royal Aircraft Factory he joined Mr. Sopwith at Brooklands, and flew very well on his old “Burgess-Wright” with the “Gnome” engine. He left Mr. Sopwith to take an Avro biplane to Portugal, where he put the machine through its tests for the Portuguese Army. In the course of these tests he flew over Lisbon and eventually, owing to engine failure, made a wonderfully skilful forced landing in the Tagus, without any injury to machine, or himself or his passenger even getting their feet wet. On his return to England Mr. Perry, in conjunction with Mr. Beadle, started building aeroplanes on their own account, and produced a small biplane on Avro-cum-B.E. lines, but with many original points, which flew extremely well (this was afterwards purchased by the Admiralty). Mr. Perry next started aviation works at Twickenham, and produced the interesting and beautifully made flying boat which was one of the features of the last Olympic Show.

=PERRY, GEORGE HENRY=, Leading Stoker, 1245, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PERRY, GEORGE HERBERT GRESLEY=, Capt., 2nd Battn. West Yorkshire Regt., only _s._ of Brigadier-General Hugh Whitchurch Perry, late R.A., Army Ordnance Department, by his wife, Minna Grace, dau. of Edward Reid Nelson Druce, of Victoria Park, near Dover; _b._ Plumstead, near Cape Town, 6 Aug. 1893; educ. Hillside, West Malvern, Haileybury College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., West Yorkshires, 4 Sept. 1912, and promoted Lieut. 14 Aug. 1913; was wounded on 12 March, 1915, during the counter-attack at Neuve Chapelle, and died in No. 7 Stationary Hospital, at Boulogne, 15 March following; _unm._ He was mentioned for gallantry in the field by F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French, in his Despatch of 31 May, 1915, and his Commanding Officer, Major P. L. Ingpen, wrote of him: “He was hit during the German counter-attack on 12 March, 1915, while pluckily working his machine guns. I need hardly say that he will be a great loss to the regt. and one that cannot easily be replaced. It was owing to his disposition of his guns that the regt. was able to beat off the attack with great loss to the enemy. In my report I mentioned him for special commendation and it was forwarded by the Brigadier.” Although he had been at the Front some months, this was his first engagement.

=PERRY, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 6668, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Thomas Perry, of 38, Chester Street, Wolverhampton, Foreman Tinsmith, by his wife, Jane, dau. of James Darling, of Birmingham; _b._ Wolverhampton, co. Stafford, 10 March, 1881; educ. St. Andrew’s School there; enlisted 1905; served three years with the Colours, and six with the Reserve; mobilised 4 Aug. 1914; went to France in Aug., and was killed in action at Poperinghe, during the First Battle of Ypres, 10 Nov. following; _unm._ Buried in Poperinghe Cemetery.

=PERSSE, CECIL DE BURGH=, Lieut., 7th (Princess Royal’s) Dragoon Guards (attd. Irish Guards), 4th and yst. _s._ of the late Henry Sadleir Persse, of Glenarde and Kiltullagh, co. Galway, J.P., by his wife, Eleanor Alice, dau. of Col. Thomas Seymour, of Ballymore Castle, co. Galway, J.P.; _b._ 17 July, 1875; educ. Cheltenham College and Trinity College, Cambridge, from which he took his degree. In the South African War (1899–1902) he served with the Warwickshire Imperial Yeomanry, and took part in the operations in the various Colonies, later receiving a commission in the 7th Dragoon Guards. For these services he received the Queen’s medal with three clasps, and the King’s medal with two clasps. When the Boer War was concluded he settled down in Government employment for a while. He received a commission in the Reserve of Officers of the 7th Dragoon Guards, 10 April, 1912, and on the outbreak of the European War rejoined his old regt. but as the infantry regts. were more in need of officers than the cavalry, he volunteered to exchange into the infantry, and was transferred to the Irish Guards, served with them in France and Flanders, and was seriously wounded in the head, in action in Flanders, 18 May, 1915. He was brought home to Netley Hospital, and seemed at first to be making satisfactory progress towards recovery, but some weeks later it was necessary to perform an operation; blood poisoning afterwards supervened and he died there on Monday 19 July; _unm._ He was buried in the Hospital Cemetery.

=PERSSÉ, RODOLPH ALGERNON=, 2nd Lieut., Reserve Battn. The Rifle Brigade, attd. 2nd Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, only _s._ of the late Robert Algernon Perssé, of Creg Clare, co. Galway, J.P., by his wife, the Hon. Eleanor Laura Jane, née Gough (Creg Clare, Ardrahan, co. Galway), only surv. dau. of George Stephens, 2nd Viscount Gough; and grandson of the late Dudley Perssé, of Roxborough, co. Galway. D.L.; _b._ Roxborough, aforesaid, 12 May, 1892; educ. Eton and Magdalen College, Oxford, where he had just completed his second year when war broke out; obtained a commission in the Rifle Brigade, 26 Aug. 1914, joining the Reserve Battn. at Sheerness; went to France, 16 Oct.; was there attd. to the 2nd Battn. King’s Royal Rifle Corps, and was killed in action at Cuinchy, 1 Jan. following, during a night attack; _unm._ Buried there. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915. His commanding officer wrote: “He had taken his platoon to attack a position early on the morning of 1 Jan., and after the position was taken it was found to be untenable, and the whole force was ordered back to their trenches. It was here that poor Perssé was killed. He was an exceptionally gallant boy, and we shall miss him very much. I had already submitted his name for his gallant behaviour near Ypres.” A brother officer also wrote: “What a splendid, brave, cool officer he was, he never flinched or wavered in his most gallant spirit, and his absolute fearlessness and pluck were grand, and were of the greatest value to his men. He will, indeed, be sadly missed, for he made himself so popular with all ranks”; and another: “He was without exception the bravest officer I have ever seen, and the best. His men would do anything for him. This is not only my own opinion, for I know that it was shared by every officer in the mess.” He was a fine all-round athlete and a first-rate shot. He played in the Eton eleven in July, 1911. At Oxford he did well in the Freshmen’s sports of 1913; won the Magdalen Grind; rode in the Intervarsity Point-to-Point, and was whip to the Magdalen Beagles. The President of Magdalen wrote of him: “He is indeed a loss to us here, young and old. Among the first and bravest, he has given his all, even himself. His bright, vivid, daring, high-spirited chivalrous personality had endeared him to us all.”

=PERYER, ALBERT EDWARD=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 306704, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=PESKETT, CHARLES EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 4392, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PETER, SAMUEL VICTOR=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 1879), 201829, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PETO, CLEMENT HENRY=, Capt., 10th (Prince of Wales’s Own Royal) Hussars, 4th and yst. _s._ of William Herbert Peto, of Dunkinty, Elgin, by his wife, Kate, dau. of Sir Robert Palmer Harding, and grandson of the late Sir Samuel Morton Peto, 1st Bart.; _b._ London, 8 July, 1884; educ. Harrow and Sandhurst; received his commission in the 10th Hussars, 3 Feb. 1904. and was promoted Lieut. 22 Oct. 1905, and Capt. 17 Sept. 1910, passing the same year the Musketry Course at Changli Sali, also in Telephony and Hindustani, L.S. Pt. II. He served with his regt. in France and Flanders, and was killed in action while in command of C Squadron at the First Battle of Ypres, 17 Nov. 1914. The Germans had made a strong attack and he had allowed them to come within five yards of his trench, before giving the order to fire. He then led his Squadron in pursuit of the retreating enemy and was shot through the head by a sniper. The Colonel of his regt. wrote: “There was no better soldier in the Army or a better fellow than your son. Personally I was very fond of him and so was everyone in the regiment, whether officers or men. All the time he was under me I have never known him cavel, or grumble, at any order, however unpleasant.” The officer commanding the regt. on the 17 Nov. wrote that he met his death commanding his own Squadron which he had trained so well in South Africa, in repelling a fierce attack of the Germans which his Squadron repulsed with heavy loss. Private Sparks, 14th Hussars, wrote to the “Kent Messenger,” 26 Dec. 1914. “We came under a very heavy shell and rifle fire from a very short distance in front. Lord Alastair Innes Ker carried me a long way and must have been almost exhausted when I saw two officers jump out of the trench and run towards us. They dragged me to the trench by the arms. Private Saintsbury, 13th Hussars, caught me as they pushed me into the trench. One of them bound me up as well as he was able in the dark and gave me a drink from his flask. The officers were two brothers, Capt. C. and Lieut. K. Peto, 10th Hussars. Capt. C. Peto, I am sorry to say, has since been killed in the great attack on Ypres. He was a very brave officer. “He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. 1915 [London Gazette, 17 Feb. 1915], for gallant and distinguished service in the field. Capt. Peto was a great hunter and travelled from India through Kashmir and Turkestan to Siberia, accompanied only by natives, and shot splendid specimens of ovis ammion, ovis poli (51½ inches), markhor, ibex, barasingh, etc. He also shot lions in Northern Rhodesia; and rode many winners in regimental races at Rawal Pindi and Mhow (Winning Post, 12 Dec. 1914).” He was _unm._, and was buried in Ypres Cemetery.

=PETTY, FRANK=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 1171), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PETTY, JAMES RICHARD=, Private, No. 3199, 2/6th Battn. East Surrey Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Richard Petty, of 4, Cleveland Road, New Malden, by his wife, Helen; _b._ New Malden, co. Surrey, 12 June, 1880; educ. Elm Road Boys School there; was a coal porter; joined the East Surrey Territorials, 26 April, 1915; and died in the Military Hospital, Kingston-on-Thames, 31 March, 1916, from pleurisy contracted while on active service. He _m._ at New Malden Church, 3 April, 1904, Charlotte (87, Northcote Road, New Malden, dau. of William Lambden, Henley-on-Thames, and had three children; Robert James, _b._ 15 Nov. 1909; Herbert John, _b._ 25 Nov. 1912; and Dorothy May, _b._ 20 July, 1906.

=PHELAN, JOHN HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5716), S.S. 1000695, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PHAYRE, CHARLES FREDERICK=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, 2nd _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Richard Phayre, of Belganm, Woking, D.L., J.P., late of the Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regt., by his wife, Frances Anne, dau. of the late John Jasper Leigh Bayly, and grandson of the late Gen. Sir Robert Phayre, G.C.B.; _b._ Bangalore, East Indies, 26 May, 1891; educ. St. Clair, Walmer; Repton, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (Sandhurst Coy.); gazetted 2nd Lieut., Royal Munster Fusiliers, 5 Oct. 1910, and promoted Lieut. 22 April, 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, and was killed in action during the retreat from Mons, on the 27th of the same month. The 2nd Battn. Royal Munster Fusiliers formed the rear guard of the 1st Brigade, 1st Division, on 27 Aug., and were cut off during the retreat from Mons. They made a gallant stand and retired fighting for three hours. His Capt., who was taken prisoner, wrote: “I ordered a charge, and the company dashed forward, ‘Dicky’ well in front of the right half. We were met by a blasting fire, and numbers of the men fell. He got within 30 yards of the enemy’s trench and there was shot dead, falling with his head towards the enemy, 10 yards in front of his men. Only two men besides myself reached the trench alive.” He was buried at Etreux, with eight of his brother officers who fell in the same action; _unm._ His brother, Lieut. Richard Herbert Phayre, was killed in action at Ypres, 26 Oct. 1914 (see following notice).

=PHAYRE, RICHARD HERBERT=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regt., eldest _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Richard Phayre, of Belgaum, Woking, D.L., J.P., late of Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own Yorkshire Regt., by his wife, Frances Anne, dau. of the late John Jasper Leigh Bayly, and grandson of the late Gen. Sir Robert Phayre, G.C.B.; _b._ Farnboro’. co. Hants, 31 March, 1890; educ. St. Clair, Walmer; Repton, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Yorkshire Regt., 11 Dec. 1909, and promoted Lieut. 1 April, 1911; went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Oct. 1914, and was killed in action during the first Battle of Ypres, on the 26th of the same month; _unm._ Buried at Gheluvelt. He was gazetted temporary Capt. after his death, 9 Dec. 1914, to rank as from 15 Nov. His brother, Lieut. Charles Frederick Phayre, was killed in action during the retreat from Mons, 27 Aug. 1914 (see preceding notice).

=PHILIPPS, IVOR JOHN DOUGLAS=, Capt., 16th (Service) Battn. Cheshire Regt., only _s._ of the late George Gray Stuart Philipps, Chamberlain to the Earl of Moray, by his wife, Mary Frances, 2nd dau. of William Hobson Moubray, of Otterston and Cockairnie, Fife, Commander R.N., J.P., D.L.; _b._ Portobello, Edinburgh, 8 July, 1882; educ. Ardvreck, Crieff; and Loretto, Musselburgh; joined the Black Watch (Militia) on 31 Jan. 1900, and in 1902 was attd. to the 3rd York and Lancaster Regt. for service in South Africa. He was awarded the Queen’s medal with two clasps, and on his return resigned his commission, but when the European War broke out, at once offered his services, and was gazetted Lieut. in the Reserve of Officers, 19 Aug. 1914. He was for some time Assistant Recruiting Officer at Birkenhead, Cheshire, and was promoted Capt. (temp.), 16th (Service) Battn. Cheshire Regt., 10 Dec. 1914. He caught a chill while on a route march, and died of double pneumonia at Prenton, Cheshire, 8 March, 1915. Letters from his brother officers speak of his intrepid courage, his capability, and the respect and affection he inspired. He _m._ at St. Mary Cathedral, Edinburgh, 9 July, 1908, Amy Constance Violet, sister of 2nd Lieut. Evan R. H. K. Macdonald (killed in action, 20 Sept. 1914, see his notice), 2nd dau. of Keith Norman Macdonald, of 21, Clarendon Crescent, Edinburgh, M.D., F.R.C.P.E., and had an only child: Reginald Ivor Carew Keith, _b._ 3 June, 1909.

=PHILIPS, JOSEPH DOUGLAS=, Lieut., 1st Battn. The Buffs, East Kent Regt., 2nd _s._ of Major James Joseph Philips, of Rosecourt, Gladstone Road, Broadstairs, late Army Veterinary Corps, by his wife, Elizabeth Mary Charlotte, dau. of James Gould, of South Norwood; _b._ Woolwich, 3 March, 1886; educ. Selhurst Park College, South Norwood, and by Army coach at Blackheath; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1st Battn. The Buffs, 20 March, 1907, and promoted Lieut., 1 Sept. 1910; served in the West African Frontier Force in Nigeria from 9 March, 1910, for over four years; was home on leave when war began, and immediately relinquished the remainder and volunteered for field service with his regt.; rejoined at Fermoy, Ireland; went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. and was killed in action whilst leading his platoon at Bois Grenier, 20 Oct. 1914; _unm._ Buried near Radinghem Ridge, about two miles from Bois Grenier. The previous day he had distinguished himself by carrying several wounded out of the trenches under fire.

=PHILLIP, HARRY=, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R.), Ch. 10503, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=PHILLIPS, CHARLES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3607), S.S. 101254, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PHILLIPS EDWARD ALEXANDER=, Leading Signalman (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8614), 199553, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PHILLIPS, EDWARD HAWTIN=, D.S.O., Major, 28th Battery Royal Field Artillery, eldest _s._ of the late John Hawtin Phillips; _b._ London, 22 Feb. 1876; educ. Wellington College; gazetted 2nd Lieut., R.A., from the Militia, 16 Jan. 1897, and promoted Lieut. 16 Jan. 1900; Capt. 11 March, 1902; and Major March, 1915, when he transferred to the R.F.A. from the R.H.A.; was Adjutant from 4 Dec. 1908 to Nov. 1909; was employed with West African Frontier Force, 22 April to 28 Oct. 1900, and again 23 Jan. 1904 to 16 Nov. 1905; served (1) with Protectorate Expedition during operations in Sierra Leone 1898–9 (medal with clasp); (2) in Northern Nigeria, 1900, with Kaduna Expedition (twice slightly wounded; mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 4 Dec. 1900] clasp); (3) in West Africa, 1900, during operations in Ashanti for Relief of Kumassi (severely wounded; again mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 4 Dec 1900]; medal with clasp; D.S.O.); (4) in South African War, 1901–2; took part in operations in Orange River Colony, Jan. to March, 1902; and in those in Cape Colony and the Transvaal in command of pom-pom Section, March to May, 1902 (wounded; a third time mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 18 July, 1902], Queen’s medal with five clasps); (5) in Northern Nigeria, 1904, during operations against the people of Semolika (medal with clasp); and (6) in command of the 28th Battery with the Meerut Division, Indian Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, 1914; was wounded in action near La Bassée during the 1st Battle of Ypres, 5 Nov. 1914, three days after reaching the front, and died at Chocques the following day; _unm._ Buried in Bethune Cemetery. The Inspector-General of Artillery (F. Mercer) wrote: “There was no man in all the Artillery which is under my control belonging to this force whom I would have selected before him for any duty which called for all the highest personal qualifications of a soldier; it was the same in India, if I wanted anything done, or tried. I always knew that it could be in no better hands than his. As a most gallant soldier and gentleman, a thorough sportsman, and a true friend, he will be very deeply regretted by the regt.; and you will, I trust, forgive me, a perfect stranger, for intruding on your grief to say how much we shall all feel his loss. It would be selfish to express my own personal sorrow, but I know that all the Artillery in India, as well as in this force, would like you to feel how very deeply we sympathise with you in your very great sorrow, and how much we shall all miss him, the best type of Artillery officer and the finest example to the boys who were fortunate enough to serve under him.” He was a keen and bold rider to hounds, and recently he took his pilot’s certificate at Brooklands for flying, notwithstanding a stiff arm and hand from having been badly mauled by a tiger in 1911, in the Central Provinces, India. His brother, Capt. R. N. Phillips, died of wounds, 27 Dec. 1914 (see his notice).

PHILLIPS, GEORGE HENRY, Private, No. Ch. 17397, Royal Marine L.I., 4th _s._ of William Henry Phillips, of 61, Blandfields Street, Balham, by his wife, Lucy Jane, yst. dau. of the late James Jewson, of Eau Brink, Norfolk; _b._ Wandsworth Common, S.W., 15 Nov. 1895; educ. Hearnville L.C.C. School, Balham, S.W.; joined the Royal Marine L.I., 29 April, 1912; went through a course of training at the Royal Marine Barracks, Deal, also Royal Marine Barracks, Chatham, and was lost in H.M.S. Cressy when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. His three brothers, Corpl. William James Phillips, Royal Marine L.I., Gun-Layer, H.M.S. Jupiter; A.B. Eric Wilton Phillips, Gun-Layer, H.M.S. Thunderer, and A.B. Leonard Charles Phillips, Gun-Layer, H.M.S. Foyle, are all (1916) on active service.

=PHILLIPS, HENRY=, Seaman, R.N.R., 3514 A., H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PHILLIPS, RALPH NOEL=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 2nd _s._ of the late John Hawtin Phillips; _b._ London, 26 Dec. 1877; educ. Wellington College, and Trinity College, Cambridge; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 1st R.W.F. 24 Jan. 1900, and promoted Lieut. 22 Jan 1903, and Capt. 2 May, 1910; was Adjutant, 7th Cheshire Territorials, 11 April, 1911 to 10 April, 1914, and was attached to the Chinese Regt. at Wei-hai-Wei, 3 Nov. 1904 to 1 Oct. 1906, when it was disbanded; served (1) in South Africa, 1900–2; was for sometime transport officer with Gen. Barton’s Brigade; took part in operations in the Transvaal 30 Nov. 1900 to Jan. 1902, and March to 31 May, 1902, and in those in the Orange River Colony, Jan. to March, 1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps; King’s medal with two clasps); and (2) with the 19th Brigade, British Expeditionary Force, in France and Flanders, from 12 Aug. 1914; took part in the retreat from Mons; the Battle of the Aisne, and was wounded in action near Fleurbaix, 3 Nov. following, during the First Battle of Ypres, and died of wounds in London, 27 Dec. 1914. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 20 Nov. 1914 [London Gazette, 17 Feb. 1915], for gallant and distinguished service in the field. Capt. Phillips _m._ at Bridgnorth, Shropshire, July, 1911, Margaret, only dau. of W. H. Farmer, of Gatacre Park, Bridgnorth; _s.p._ His elder brother, Major E. H. Phillips, died of wounds 6 Nov. 1914 (see his notice).

=PHILLIPS, STEPHEN ARLA=, Armourer, 340270, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PHILLIPS, THOMAS HAROLD=, Private, No. 199, 2nd Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, eldest _s._ of the late David Phillips, by his wife, Sarah (Arfyn, Picton Place, Carmarthen), dau. of Thomas Thomas; _b._ Carmarthen, 14 April, 1889; educ. Carmarthen County School; joined the Territorial Force in 1909, and served three years as Sergt. in the 7th Welsh (Cyclists) Battn., was for five years in the service of the National and Provincial Bank at Barry, co. Glamorgan, after which he went to Australia, and on the outbreak of war enlisted at Brisbane, 2 Sept. 1914; left for Egypt, 22 Sept.; went to the Dardanelles 8 May, 1915, and died 14 May, following, of wounds received in action at Anzac. Buried, Anzac Beach, Gallipoli; _unm._ His Commanding Officer, Lieut.-Col. Charles V. Stodart, wrote: “Your son has always been willing and ready to do his share of the work, and has cheerfully put up with our many hardships.”

=PHILLIPS, WILLIAM=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ports./15609, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PHILLIPSON, ALBERT=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 174277, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=PHILLIS, HENRY JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 5453, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PHILPOTT, HORACE HENRY=, Stoker, 2nd Class, K. 21845, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=PHILPOTT, WALTER=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 5016, H.M.S Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=PHIPPS, WILLIAM HEWETT=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7552), 291888, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=PICKBURN, FRANK=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 15391, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=PICKERING, EDWARD JOHN=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 4551), 293241, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PICKERING, THOMAS GEORGE=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3728), S.S. 101346, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PICKERSGILL, ALBERT EDWARD=, 2nd Cooper, 294295, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=PIDWELL, CHARLES=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 951), 166221, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PIDWELL, CHARLES JAMES=, Chief Shipwright, 340922, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PIGDEN, ARTHUR RONALD=, Private, No. 9563, 1/5th Battn. (London Rifle Brigade) The London Regt. (T.F.), _s._ of George Alexander Pigden, of 23, Albert Road, Stroud Green, Hornsey, Town Councillor, by his wife, Matilda; _b._ Barnsbury, 25 Feb. 1894; educ. Stroud Green School, Hornsey County School and Clark’s College; joined the Boy Scouts in 1908, the King’s Royal Rifles Cadet Corps, 1911, and the London Rifle Brigade May, 1913. On the outbreak of war he volunteered for foreign service, left England with the L.R.B. 2 Nov. 1914, and within a week was in the trenches, where they remained over Christmas, fraternising with the Saxons who were in the trenches 80 yards in front of them that day. In April, 1915, the Regt. was resting at Armentières, when the Canadians were gassed, and they were rushed up through Ypres to their support, marching 17½ miles with full packs in 4½ hours. Writing home on 28 April, Pigden said, “Threw away all my souvenirs on march, only souvenir am now anxious about is myself,” and the following day: “Am going out to repair telephone wire under fire to-night, so cheer oh!” He was on signalling duty in a dug-out at Fortuin with four others for fifteen days, and though all other parts of the line were being hit, their little dug-out escaped until 2 May, 1915, when he was killed by the bursting of a shell; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “We were sent up to relieve the Canadians when gassed, there was a heavy bombardment going on which lasted 15 days; as you can imagine our wires were continually being broken by the shelling and it was almost an hourly occurrence for one of our five to run out and repair them, and even deliver the message by hand, we five did this perilous work in rotation, and strange to say none of us were touched while on this task, although other stations were losing heavily meanwhile. Your son was hit by a shell in the left hand on the last day before retirement, and in the afternoon another shell burst among us, I was only stunned, and ran for stretcher-bearers, but it was too late, they declared your son dead on arrival.”

=PIGOTT, GERALD WELLESLEY=, 2nd Lieut., 127th Battery Royal Field Artillery, only child of Lieut.-Col. Wellesley George Pigott, of Blackmore House, co. Essex, J.P., commanding 12th Battn. Rifle Brigade (now on active service), by his wife, Helen Louise, only dau. of the late Capt. Thomas Donaldson, 3rd K.O. Hussars, by his wife, Helen Louisa Elizabeth, eldest dau. of Richard Andrew Hyacinth Kirwan, of Bawnmore, co. Galway, J.P., and grandson of the Rev. Wellesley Pigott, M.A., Rector of Fugglestone-cum-Bemerton [4th _s._ of Sir George Pigott, 1st Bart.]; _b._ South Weald, co. Essex, 3 Sept. 1890; educ. West Downs, Winchester (1905–10), Wellington College (1910–13), and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (Feb. to July, 1914); gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. Essex Regt. 15 Aug. 1914; transferred to the Royal Field Artillery, 15 Jan. 1915, and posted to the 127th Battery at the Front in March; served in France and Flanders, and was wounded at Brielen, during the 2nd Battle of Ypres, 13 May, 1915, by shrapnel, which struck him in the head. He was taken to the dressing station and from there conveyed to No. 2 Clearing Station at Bailleul, where he died, 14 May, 1915. Buried in the British Officers’ Cemetery, Bailleul; _unm._ The Officer Commanding the 29th Brigade, R.F.A., wrote: “He was such a good lad, and had the making of a most capable officer, and he will be greatly missed”; and the Officer Commanding 127th Battery: “I am sure if your boy had lived he would have made a very good soldier; he was very keen and had plenty of pluck.”

=PILBEAM, LEWIS=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2074), 212013, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PILCHER, THOMAS PERCY=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. The Rifle Brigade, 2nd _s._ of Major-Gen. Thomas David Pilcher, C.B., now (1916) commanding the 17th Division, by his 1st wife, Kathleen Mary, dau. of Col. Thomas Goune, 17th Lancers; _b._ Farnborough, co. Hants., 25 Oct. 1893; educ. Wellington College, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut., The Rifle Brigade, 4 Sept. 1912, being then the youngest officer in the Army, and was promoted Lieut. 16 Nov. 1914; joined his regt. in Rawal Pindi, India, in Nov. 1912; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from Oct. 1914 until he was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915, while leading his platoon; _unm._ Buried in the Cemetery there. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 31 May, 1915, for good reconnaissance work, and gallant leading of his platoon. His commanding officer, Lieut.-Col. Stephens, his Brigadier, Brig.-Gen. Lowry-Cole (since killed in action) and his Divisional Commander, Major-Gen. F. J. Davies, C.B., all bore tribute to his ability, courage, high sense of duty and his popularity with both his brother officers and his men.

=PILLAR, SAMUEL=, Private, No. 9437, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd _s._ of the late William John Pillar, by his wife, Bessie (Hughenden House, Queen Street, Dawlish, co. Devon), dau. of George Henry Collings; _b._ Dawlish, 13 Jan. 1894; educ. there; enlisted, 11 Jan. 1912; went to France, 14 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Rentel, 8 Nov. following; _unm._

=PILLAR, WILLIAM HENRY=, A.B., 224285, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PILLING, WALTER=, A.B., 214963, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PINCHIN, JOHN HERBERT=, Sergt., No. 5235, 1st Battn., The Wiltshire Regt.; _b._ Devizes, co. Wilts, 12 May, 1882; educ. Market Lavington and Easterton Elementary Schools, enlisted in Dec. 1898; promoted Sergt., July, 1914; served in the South African War, 1899–1902 (Queen’s medal with three clasps and King’s medal with two clasps), and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 16 Aug. 1914 to 22 Sept. 1914, on which latter date he was mortally wounded during the Battle of Mons, and died in the 1st Northern General Hospital, Newcastle-on-Tyne, 23 Oct. following; _unm._

=PINLDEBURY, WALTER=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5415), 180820. H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PINK, JOSEPH=, Gunner, R.M.A. (R.F.R., B. 501), late R.M.A. 5791, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PINK, SIDNEY EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 12242, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PIPER, EDWARD JAMES=, E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 148209, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PITHER, JAMES HERBERT=, C.E.R.A., 1st Class (Pensioner), 160538, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PITKIN, STANLEY=, Private, No. 8/462, 8th Southland Coy., Otago Infantry Battn., New Zealand Expeditionary Force, 5th _s._ of Edwin Pitkin, of Whaddon, Bucks, Agricultural Stockman, by his wife, Annie, dau. of Robert Reynolds; _b._ Whaddon, co. Bucks, 8 Sept. 1894; educ. National School there; went to New Zealand in 1911, and settled at Dipton, Southland, N.Z., as an Agricultural Worker; joined the New Zealand Territorials in 1912; volunteered for Imperial service on the outbreak of the European War in Aug. 1914; left for Egypt; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and died on H.M. Hospital Ship Dongola, 7 May, 1915, of wounds received in action in a bayonet charge there on the 2nd.

=PITT, GEORGE ROBERT=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 16457, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PITT, JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5268), 203612, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PLATER, WILLIAM JOHN=, Private, No. 8980, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, 3rd _s._ of William John Plater, of Ichnield Cottage, Little Kimble, co. Bucks, Cowman, by his wife, Jane; _b._ Great Kimble, 2 July, 1891; educ. there; enlisted 27 Jan. 1911; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action, 4 Oct. following; _unm._ Lieut. Beckwith Smith, D.S.O., wrote: “I knew Private Plater well, as practically throughout his soldiering he was under my command. He was in my platoon throughout, and I can only say that I wish every man in my platoon and in the British Army had been like him. During the retreat from Mons he suffered the most frightful blisters on his feet, but I never once heard him grumble and he never fell out. He was one of the 50 men I took with me on the night of 4 Oct. 1914, when I was told off to try and take two German trenches at the point of the bayonet. These two trenches were one behind the other, and the first one was not more than 100 yards from our own. This first was unoccupied, but the second one was full of Germans, and Private Plater was killed on reaching the parapet of this trench. We got into the trench and killed all the Germans in it, but were unable to hold it, as there were a lot more Germans coming up. I tell you all this because I did not see Private Plater killed myself, and as we retired we were unable to bring his body away with us. The men who were actually next to him both stopped to make sure he was dead before leaving him. Will you please convey to Private Plater’s sister my own personal grief at the loss of such an excellent soldier. The company, the regt., and, in fact, the whole army feel the loss of such men, as they are hard to replace. He died a death of which every soldier and every Coldstreamer is proud. Every man who took part in that charge that night was worthy of a D.C.M.”

=PLAYFAIR, LAMBERT=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Royal Scots, attd. 1st Squadron Royal Flying Corps, only _s._ of Harry Playfair, of Siloni Bari Tea Estate, North Lakhimpur, Upper Assam, India, by his wife, Jessie, dau. of the late A. P. Sandeman, and grandson of the late Lieut.-Col. Sir Robert Lambert Playfair, K.C.M.G., LL.D., by his wife, Agnes (18, Queen’s Gardens, St. Andrew’s, Fife), dau. of Major-Gen. Thomas Webster, of Balgarvie, co. Fife; _b._ Dibrugarh, Assam, India, 7 Dec. 1893; educ. at Oakham, and passed into Sandhurst with a Prize Cadetship, 14 Jan. 1912; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Scots, 5 Feb. 1912, joined the 2nd Battn. in March, and afterwards the 1st Battn. at Allahabad; left India with his Regt. for England in Oct. 1914, and in March, 1915, entered the Royal Flying Corps as observer on active service. On 6 July, 1915, when engaged in signalling to our guns the positions of the enemy’s batteries, his aeroplane was assailed first by one German machine and then by another. These were driven off in turn whenever they ventured to approach, Lieut. Playfair in the intervals resuming his observation duties--then the two German machines which had the great advantage of superior speed, made a combined assault but rather than give way he ordered an attack on the two, although he had only five rounds left. He was shot through the heart and his body was skilfully brought back to our lines by his pilot, 2nd Lieut. O. D. Filley, who afterwards received the Military Cross for this engagement. He was buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery, Belgium; _unm._ His Colonel wrote that he was an unusually capable officer, that his death was heroic, and that it was indeed an honour to have had such an officer under one’s command. His Major reported that he was extraordinarily brave, feared absolutely nothing, loving fighting in the air, and was such an example of grit and ability that his death was a great loss to the squadron, and added that he “knew of no one who could gather so much information from a single reconnaissance as Lieut. Playfair.”

=PLAYFAIR, HON. LYON GEORGE HENRY LYON=, Capt., 126th Battery, 29th Brigade, R.F.A., only _s._ and _h._ of George James, 2nd Baron Playfair, C.V.O., Brigadier General and Hon. Col. 2nd Highland Brigade, R.F.A., by his 2nd wife, Augusta Mary, dau. of Henry Thomas Hickman, of Chorlton House, Leamington; _b._ London, 19 Oct. 1888; educ. St. Andrew’s, Eton and the Royal Military Academy (where he passed in second); gazetted 2nd Lieut. R.F.A. 18 Dec. 1908, Lieut. 18 Dec. 1911, and Capt. 18 Dec. 1914; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action near Zonnebeke, while acting as observing officer for his battery, in a trench close to the German lines, 20 April, 1915; _unm._ One of his gunners wrote of him: “A finer officer or better gentleman, it would be hard to find.”

=PLEACE, WILLIAM GEORGE=, Corpl., R.M.L.I., 12239 (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1553), H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=PLUMB, ARTHUR EDWARD=, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R.), Ch. 9435, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=PLUMB, WILLIAM=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 12774, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=PLUME, GEORGE=, Master-at-Arms (R.F.R., Ch. A. 1814), 350101, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=MANSEL-PLEYDELL, EDMUND MORTON=, of Whatcombe, co. Dorset, Lieut., 3rd (Reserve) Battn. Dorsetshire Regt., attd. 3rd Battn. Worcestershire Regt., elder _s._ of the late Lieut.-Col. Edmund Morton Mansel-Pleydell, of Whatcombe, co. Dorset, J.P., D.L., 12th Lancers (died 13 Oct. 1914), by his wife, Kathleen Emily (Croft House, Botley), 4th dau. of the late Sir Thomas Francis Grove, 1st Bart.; _b._ Bangalore, India, 23 Dec. 1886; educ. Wellington, and Sherborne; was for some time a Lieut. of the Royal Agricultural Contingent, Senior Division, O.T.C. (T.F.), and on the outbreak of war was given a commission as 2nd Lieut. in the Dorsetshire Regt., 30 Nov. 1914; trained at Wyke Regis until 25 Jan. 1915, when he was ordered to Rouen, and there transferred to the Worcestershire Regt.; proceeded to the front, 2 March, and was killed in action at Kemmel, during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, on the 12th, while leading his platoon in a charge against the German trenches; _unm._ Buried there. His Col. wrote: “He was my most promising officer, and would have, had he lived, I am certain, distinguished himself.” He was a well-known footballer, forward member of the London Devonians, Lennox, Richmond, Trojair and Stund Clubs; a good rider to hounds, and polo player, a successful cricketer and shot, and a pig sticker while in Morocco.

=PLUMMER, ARCHIBALD ALFRED=, Private, No. 8652, 2nd Battn. Lincolnshire Regt., _s._ of William Plummer, Labourer; _b._ Bungay, co. Suffolk, 9th May, 1892; enlisted in the 3rd Battn. Norfolk Regt. 28 Jan. 1909, was transferred to the Lincolns and was killed in action with the Expeditionary Force in France, 10 March, 1915; _unm._

=PLUMMER, ARTHUR HENRY=, 2nd Lieut. 5th Battn. The King’s Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), 3rd. _s._ of the Rev. Francis Bowes Plummer, Rector of Halewood and Hon. Canon of Liverpool, by his wife, Edith Mary, dau. of Rev. Canon Barker, Rector of Hexham; _b._ Walton-on-the-Hill, 5 Nov. 1891; educ. Trent College, Derbyshire, (Jan. 1901 to July, 1910, holding a scholarship for the last five years), and Trinity College, Oxford (Oct. 1910 to June, 1914), where he studied medicine and gained the first place in the 2nd Class Honours List of the Final School of Physiology. After the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he tried to secure some position in the Army where he could make use of his medical knowledge. Failing to realize his hopes, he applied for a commission in the 5th Battn. Liverpool Regt. (T.F.), and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. 19 Oct. After four months at Blackpool, with the reserve unit, he was, in Feb. 1915, transferred to the Service Battn. at Canterbury, and shortly afterwards (21 Feb.) left England to join the First Army in France. For four months he was engaged in hard fighting in the trenches near Bethune and, to use his own words, “was often as nearly blown to pieces as possible.” He was killed in the late afternoon, 17 May, 1915, in action near Festubert. Writing to his father, the Commanding Officer said: “He was killed whilst occupying with his platoon our foremost trench, doing his duty gallantly and fearlessly. In addition to his military command, he was throughout the long battle indefatigable in his attention to the wounded, and his medical skill brought timely relief to many a stricken comrade. His fine manly character and kindly disposition had already endeared him to all of us.” Capt. H. K. S. Woodhouse, commanding C Coy., wrote: “After a very hard morning, my company was told to go in support of another regt. and your son accompanied me with his platoon. I left him to go to some other duties, and did not see him again alive.... He was shot in the neck while he was directing some men to their places, and the bullet must have touched his spine, for he fell and was unconscious for an hour before he died.... He was buried in the rear of the English fire trench, alongside his platoon sergeant, who was killed earlier in the day.” While at Trent he was a member of the O.T.C. (1906–1910), Senior Prefect, Gold Medallist and Captain of Cricket and Football (1909–1910).

=PLUNKETT, GERALD=, B.A., Barrister-at-Law, Sub-Lieut., A Coy., Collingwood Battn. Royal Naval Division, yst. _s._ of Patrick Joseph Plunkett, of 14, Palmerston Road, Dublin, and grandson of the late Walter Plunkett, of Bryne House, co. Meath; _b._ Dublin, 11 Aug. 1887; educ. Belvedere College (S.J.), Dublin (where he took honours each year in Intermediate Examinations), and New College, Oxford (B.A.); was called to the Irish Bar, 1910, and was a member of the North-West Circuit; joined the Trinity College O.T.C. on the outbreak of war, and was given a commission, 20 Oct. 1914; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles, and was killed in action there, 4 June, 1915. He was Platoon Commander and gallantly led his men in the attack on the Turkish position that day, cheering them on to the last. He was emptying his revolver into the Turks when he was shot in the head, and killed instantly; _unm._

=POCOCK, FRANK WILLIAM=, Sergt., No. 1851, 13th Battn. (Princess Louise’s Kensington) The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Frank Pocock, of 14, Tadema Road, Chelsea, by his wife, Rose Hannah, dau. of John Vickers; _b._ Chelsea, 11 Sept. 1891; educ. Harwood Road Council School, Fulham, was a Timber Merchant’s Salesman; joined the Kensingtons 24 Feb. 1909; completed his term of service 23 Feb. 1914, but on the outbreak of war in Aug. following rejoined his regt. on the 6th; volunteered for foreign service; went to France on 3 Nov., was wounded in the ear at Neuve Chapelle on 16 March, and was killed in action at Festubert, 9 May, 1915, while leading his platoon from one German trench to another; _unm._ Buried there. Lieut. Penn wrote that he “faced the enemy unflinchingly and died a noble soldier’s death.”

=POCOCK, WILLIAM JONATHAN=, Stoker. 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4447), S.S. 103463, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PODD, JOHN EDMUND=, Sergt., No. 106, 4th Battn. Suffolk Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Henry Podd, of 23, Wykes Bishop Street, Ipswich, by his wife, Mary Ann, dau. of Daniel Button; _b._ Ipswich, 13 Oct. 1885; educ. Cavendish Street School, St. Clement’s, Ipswich; was a Machinist at Stoke Foundry, Ipswich; joined the Suffolk Territorials, 2 Sept. 1902; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war; went to France, 8 Nov. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915. He _m._ at Butley Church, co. Suffolk, 12 May, 1913, Kate Edith Elizabeth (15, Cobbold Street, Ipswich), dau. of David Mayhew, of Butley, and had a son: John Edmund, _b._ posthumous 10 June, 1915.

=POINTER, WILLIAM=, A.B., 220380, H.M.S Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=POLING, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Bombardier, R.M.A. (R.F.R., I.C. 32), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=POLLARD, CLIFFORD=, Boy, 1st Class. J. 23543 (Ports.), H.M.S. Hawke; _s._ of William Pollard, of 15, Greenfield Road, Holmfirth, near Huddersfield; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=POLLARD, EDWARD BRANCH=, Lieut., 8th (Service) Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, attd. 176th Coy. Royal Engineers, yst. _s._ of George Richard Macintosh Pollard, of Burns Cottage, Moffat, co. Dumfries, M.D., by his wife, Grace, dau. of the Rev. J. Macfarlane. LL.D.; _b._ Clapham, co. Surrey, 1 March, 1883; educ. Royal School of Mines, and on finishing his mining and metallurgical course went to the Mundydroog mines, Mysore, in Oct. 1907, where he was in the Mounted Rifles Coy. of the Kola Gold Fields Volunteers. When war was declared in Aug. 1914, he was in Northern Nigeria. As soon as practicable he threw up his mining appointment, returned to England in Nov. 1914, and was given a 2nd Lieutenancy in the 8th Battn. King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 6 Dec. 1914, being promoted Lieut. 27 Jan. 1915. He was for some time Transport Officer at Borden Camp, but on 17 April, 1915, was seconded to the 176th Coy. R.E., and sent to do mining operations in the North of France. On 7 July six of his men were entombed in a tunnel by the explosion of a German shell. He immediately organised a rescue party under heavy fire, and his men were subsequently saved by a brother officer. In order to get at some timber which had to be moved, he himself got up on the top of the debris, thereby exposing himself to the snipers, and was shot in the forehead, from which wound he died at Abbeville, on the 26th; _unm._ Buried in Moffat Cemetery. His Adjutant wrote: “His conduct in this necessary but dangerous work was beyond all praise. I reported the whole incident, and trust his conduct will receive due award.” In 1905 he gained the Remanet Scholarship, and in 1907 won the Edward Matthey Prize; obtained his A.R.S.M. in the same year, and was also a M.Inst.M.M. In 1907 he was selected by the Institute of Mining and Metallurgy for Post-Graduate Course in various parts of the world.