Part 131

=MARTIN, WILLIAM HERBERT=, Private, No. 1522, E Coy. 7th Battn. Middlesex Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of William Albert Martin, of 10, Shakespeare Road, Edmonton, Labourer at Woolwich Arsenal, by his wife, Isabella, dau. of Robert Rawlinson; _b._ Sawston, co. Cambridge, 8 June, 1896; educ. Bruce Grove Board Schools, Tottenham; was a Carpenter and Joiner; joined the Middlesex Territorials in June, 1912; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; trained at Sittingbourne; went to Gibraltar, 7 Sept. 1914, and died in the Military Hospital there, 23 Jan. 1915, after undergoing an operation for appendicitis, contracted on service; _unm._

=WOOD-MARTIN, FRANCIS WINCHESTER=, Capt., 1st Battn. Suffolk Regt., 4th and yst. _s._ of Col. William Gregory Wood-Martin, of Cleveragh, co. Sligo, A.D.C., J.P., D.L., by his wife, Frances Dora, dau. of Roger Dodwell Robinson, of Wellmount, co. Sligo, J.P.; _b._ London, 27 Feb. 1880; educ. Cheltenham; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 1st Battn. Suffolk Regt., 12 Aug. 1899; promoted Lieut. 30 Aug. 1900, and Capt. 11 Feb. 1906; served in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in the operations in Cape Colony, south of the Orange River, 1899–1902, including actions at Colesberg (1–5 Jan.) being taken prisoner, but was released in the following June when Lord Roberts entered Pretoria. He was appointed Station Officer in the Transvaal and took part in the operations east of Pretoria, July-29 Nov. 1900, and in the Transvaal, Dec. 1900–31 May, 1902, receiving the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. On the outbreak of the European War he served with his regt. in the Expeditionary Force, and was killed in action near Ypres, 17 Feb. 1915; _unm._ His elder brother, Capt. J. I. Wood-Martin, was killed at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915 (see following notice), and a memorial was erected to their memory in St. Anne’s Parish Church, Strandhill, and in the Cathedral at Khartoum.

=WOOD-MARTIN, JAMES ISIDORE=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Northamptonshire Regt. (58th), eldest _s._ of Col. William Gregory Wood-Martin, of Cleveragh, co. Sligo, A.D.C., late R.G.A. and 44th Regt., etc. (see preceding notice); _b._ 3 Sept. 1874; gazetted 2nd Lieut., 2nd Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., 20 Feb. 1895; promoted Lieut. 23 Feb. 1898, and Capt. 2 June, 1903; served with the Mounted Infantry in the South African War, 1899–1902; took part in operations in the Orange Free State, Feb. to May, 1900; operations in the Transvaal west of Pretoria, July to Nov, 1900; including action at Venterskroon (7–9 Aug.), operations in the Orange River Colony, May to Nov. 1900; including actions at Lindley (1 June), and Rhenoster River; operations in the Transvaal, May, 1901, to May, 1902 (severely wounded, Queen’s medal with three clasps, and King’s medal with two clasps). On the conclusion of the war he was attached to the Egyptian Army, 4 April, 1903, to 3 April, 1913, being Lieut.-Col. Commanding the 9th and 11th Sudanese. In 1905, he took part in the operations in the Sudan against the Nyam Nyam tribes in the Bahr-el-Ghazal Province (Egyptian medal with clasps). On the outbreak of the European War he left with his regt. for the Front, served in France and Flanders, and was killed in action, while leading his men in a charge against the enemy, near Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915; _unm._ His yr. brother, Capt. F. W. Wood-Martin, was killed, 17 Feb. 1915 (see preceding notice).

=MARTYN, EDWARD THOMAS=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 8487), 194645 Chatham, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=MARVIN, HENRY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 8452), 203011 Chatham, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=MASEFIELD, ROBERT=, Major, 1st Batt. King’s Shropshire L.I., eldest _s._ of Valentine Vickers Masefield, of Akaroa, New Zealand, by his wife, Isabel, dau. of (--) McKay, of Pigeon’s Bay, New Zealand, and nephew and adopted _s._ of Col. Robert Taylor Masefield, C.B., formerly commanding 4th Battn. Shropshire L.I., late of Ellerton Hall, Newport, Salop, and now of Woodbury, Devon; _b._ Gough’s Bay, Canterbury, New Zealand, 24 May, 1872; educ. Marlborough (Crescent), 1884–90, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to 2nd Battn. King’s Shropshire L.I., 18 June, 1892, and shortly after posted to the 1st Battn. at Hong Kong, going with it to India; became Lieut. 21 Aug. 1895, and Capt. 9 June, 1901; joined the 2nd Battn. in South Africa in 1902, took part in the operations in the Transvaal, March 31 to May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with two clasps) and returned with it to India on the close of the campaign; promoted Major at Secunderabad, 18 Sept. 1912. On the outbreak of the European War he was home on furlough, and was ordered to join the 1st Battn. at Tipperary, 8 Aug. 1914. They proceeded to the Front on 8 Sept. and were in the trenches on the Aisne, near Vailly. On 12 Oct. the Shropshires were moved north to help to bar the first rush on Calais, and during the following days--hastily entrenched and holding an extended front in flat country--had to beat back incessant and determined attacks from superior numbers. On 24 Oct. Major Masefield, commanding A Coy., was also left 2nd in command of the battn., and was killed in the trenches near Bois-Grenier, between Armentières and Lille. Of his death on that day his Capt. wrote: “It was in the trenches of A Coy. We had been fighting hard for five days, and D Coy. had lost all their officers except one, so at 12 o’clock I was taken from A to go to D Coy. trenches. I said good-bye, and he took my seat. It was there at about 4.30 p.m. he was killed instantaneously by shrapnel shell in the back.” Many tributes to his memory were received from his brother officers and men, and his feelings for them may be best expressed in his own words, in almost his last letter: “The men are splendid, always cheery--full of thrust and ready for anything--we cannot do enough for them.” A Private in A Coy. wrote: “His last thoughts were for his men, his last words telling us to keep our heads down as much as possible”; and a Sergt.: “It was a critical time as another strong attack was expected ... he himself was (standing against the traverse) watching the front ... cheering his men and preventing any signs of possible panic or unnecessary risk at a most nerve-trying time.... He died, as he had lived, a gallant gentleman.” Brother officers wrote: “You know we all loved him, from the Colonel down to the newest recruit....” and “we always said the regt. would be all right as long as Masefield was with it”; and his Colonel (himself wounded): “Always cheery and ready for work under all conditions, he will be hard to replace.” A fine soldier and sportsman, he was a first-class shot, both big and small game, and a keen fisherman, and he also excelled in all games, in most of which he played for his regt. He _m._ at Farnham, co. Surrey, 2 July, 1908, Esmé, dau. of Col. Henry Spencer Wheatley, C.B. (late 3rd Gurkhas), of the Knoll, Farnham; _s.p._

=MASON, ALBERT EDWARD=, Ordinary Seaman, J. 16559, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=MASON, ANDREW NIMMO=, Private, No. 919, 2nd Battn. Gordon Highlanders; _b._ Edinburgh, 14 Oct. 1893; educ. Morningside Board School there; was employed as a Vanman with Messrs. Buchan, Dairymen, of Balcarris Street, Edinburgh; enlisted 22 Feb. 1912; went to France in Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Ypres, 2 Nov. following.

=MASON, ARTHUR=, Rifleman, No. 2367, A Coy, 1/18th Battn. (London Irish Rifles), The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. _s._ of Joseph Mason, of 11, Tower Terrace, Wood Green, N., by his wife, Sarah, dau. of Thomas Hammond, of Lower Guiting; _b._ Wood Green, N., 4 Feb. 1883; educ. Higher Grade School there; was a Mercantile Clerk; enlisted in the 2nd Battn. of the London Irish Rifles, 2 Sept. 1914, and trained with them at the White City, London, and Reigate; later he volunteered for the 1st Battn. then at St. Albans, and left with them for France on 10 March, 1915. He was killed in action during the famous charge made by the London Irish at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915; _unm._

=MASON, EDWARD=, 2nd Lieut. 3rd (attached 2nd) Battn. Northamptonshire Regt., the distinguished ’Cellist and Conductor; only _s._ of Jeremiah Mason, of 1, Ingoldsby Mansions, West Kensington, and Coventry, by his wife Sarah, dau. of William Sutton, of Kenilworth; _b._ Coventry, 24 June, 1878; educ. privately in Coventry and in Germany; began his musical life as a chorister in St. Michael’s Church, during the period Dr. A. H. Brewer was organist and choirmaster, and when he entered the Royal College of Music, he had already gained some proficiency as a violinist, ’cellist and pianist. In the course of his studentship he won several exhibitions, and obtained his diploma of Associateship. On leaving there, he was, in 1897, appointed assistant to Dr. C. H. Lloyd at Eton, a post he held until the outbreak of the war. He made his first appearance in London as a ’cellist at the Bechstein Hall in 1900, and was well-known both as a soloist and as a quartet player at Chamber concerts in London and the country. He was a Director of, and principal ’cellist in the New Symphony Orchestra, which he conducted on its first appearance at the Queen’s Hall, in 1906, and was engaged in the orchestras of most of the principal musical festivals. In 1907, he established the Edward Mason Choir, formed principally in order to produce new works by the younger British composers, who by his death lost a good friend. Following the outbreak of war, he joined the Universities and Public Schools Battn. early in Sept., received his commission 24 Feb. 1915; went to France at the end of March, and was killed in action near Fromelles, 9 May. In a letter to his father, a brother officer said: “He was killed gallantly leading his men in the attack on 9 May against the German trenches”; and his platoon sergt. wrote that Mr. Mason’s detachment came under a devastating fire from German machine guns near Fromelles, and that he fell in a hail of bullets. His portrait was hung in the music school at Eton, where he taught so long and so successfully. Another portrait hangs in the Students’ Room of the Royal College of Music. The R.C.M. Magazine for No. 3 Term, 1915, says: “Edward Mason, the man, had many lovable qualities, which endeared him to his friends. He was generous-hearted, good-humoured, and at all times a charming companion. He hated any kind of pose or pretence, and might be described as the antithesis of the conventional musician of the ‘long-haired’ variety.” “He was a fine fellow, and one of the best musicians I ever knew,” wrote Dr. C. H. Lloyd, his former chief at Eton. “And all who knew Edward Mason well will endorse this very apt and true summary of his qualities.” He _m._ at Ealing 14 Aug. 1905, Jessie, (the violinist and leader of the Grimson String Quartet) dau. of Samuel Dean Grimson.

=MASON, GEORGE=, Private, R.M.L.I. (R.F.R.), Ch. 7021, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=MASON, HENRY THOMAS=, Chief Stoker, 170258, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=MASON, JAMES=, Private, No. 5779, 3rd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of James Mason, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Charles Lincoln; _b._ Sprowston, co. Norwich, 14 May, 1886; enlisted 18 Oct. 1904; served in Egypt, 29 Sept. 1906 to 20 Oct. 1908, and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, from 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Landrecies, 25 Aug. 1914. He _m._ at Norwich, 19 Aug. 1911, Clara (7, Pearces Fields, Sprowston, Norwich), dau. of James Hazelton, and had a dau., Clara Ada, _b._ 5 Feb. 1913.

=MASON, JOHN=, Petty Officer, 1st Class, 196093, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=MASON, JOHN=, Color-Sergt., R.M.L.I., Ch. 7778. H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=MASON, THEOPHILUS=, Drummer, No. 1614, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, yst. _s._ of Theophilus Mason, of 3, Pitley Place, Walworth, S.E., retired Policeman: _b._ New Kent Road, London, S.E., 23 Feb. 1884; educ. Sayer Street Board School; enlisted as a Drummer, 2 May, 1898; went to France, 12 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Cuinchy Brickfields, 1 Feb. 1915. Buried in Cuinchy Cemetery (Grave No. 14 F). Sergt.-Drummer A. Douglas of his battn. wrote to the widow; “I feel I must write and tell you how sorry we all feel for you in your sad bereavement. It may be some consolation to you to know that your husband died like a hero and a true soldier. He always had my deepest respect, and I with the remainder of the drummers feel his loss very deeply.” He _m._ at St. Stephen’s Church, Walworth, S.E., 1 Nov. 1902, Ellen (14, Russell Street, Windsor), dau. of Charles Eagle, of 39, Eltham Street, Walworth, S.E., and had five children: Theophilus, _b._ 26 May, 1904; Charles, _b._ 15 April, 1907; Horace, _b._ 17 April, 1910; Ellen, _b._ 23 Nov. 1905; and Muriel Irene, _b._ 12 March, 1913.

=MASON, WALTER TROWER=, Shipwright, 342914, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=MASON, WILLIAM=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 3625), 133388, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=MASSEY. CHARLES THOMAS=, Chief Petty Officer (W.T.O.), R.N.R., H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea 22 Sept. 1914.

=MASSIE, JOHN HAMON, D.S.O.=, Major, Royal Garrison Artillery, yr. _s._ of Edward Richard Massie, of Coddington, Cheshire, and Annefield, Gresford, North Wales, formerly Lieut. 78th Highlanders, by his first wife, Baroness Olga Marie, dau. of Baron von Wessenberg-Ampringen and granddau. of Henry, Baron von Wessenberg-Ampringen, formerly Austrian Ambassador, at St. James’, and grandson of Admiral Thomas Leche Massie; _b._ Eaux Chaudes, Basses Pyrenees, France, 10 June, 1872; educ. Stubbington House (Mr. M. Foster), and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 1 May, 1892; promoted Lieut. 1 May, 1895; Capt. 19 Jan. 1900, and Major, 15 Feb. 1913; served in Chitral, 1895, with the Relief Force (medal with clasp); and in the South African War, 1900–2, attd. to the Transport Department; took part in the operations in the Orange Free State, Feb. to May, 1900; operations in the Transvaal in May and June, 1900, including actions near Johannesburg and Diamond Hill; operations in the Orange River Colony, May to 29 Nov. 1900, including action at Wittebergen; operations in the Transvaal, 30 Nov. 1900 to March, 1902, and those in the Orange River Colony, March to 31 May, 1902 (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 17 Jan. 1902], Queen’s medal with four clasps and King’s medal with two clasps, D.S.O.); was Instructor at the Royal Military Academy from 1 Jan. to 11 Sept. 1904; Commander of a company of Gentleman Cadets there from 12 Sept. 1904 to 31 Dec. 1908, and Staff Capt. School of Gunnery, Shoeburyness, Nov. 1910 to Aug. 1914; went to France with the Expeditionary Force, 9 Oct. 1914, and died in the Field Ambulance, near Ypres, 15 Nov. following, of wounds received in action on the 13th, when in command of the 26th Battery, Heavy Artillery. Buried in Ypres Cemetery. Major Massie _m._ at Southsea, co. Hants, 3 Sept. 1903, Maria Margaret, elder dau. of Major-Gen. Ernest Archibald Berger, late 10th (The Lincolnshire) Regt.; _s.p._

=MASTER, CHARLES LIONEL=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Royal Irish Rifles, _s._ of the late William Edward Master, of Kotmalie, Ceylon, Tea Planter, by his wife, Jeanette, dau. of Samuel Newson Gissing, nephew of Harcourt Master, of Rotherhurst, Liss, co. Hants, grandson of Lieut.-Col. Harcourt Master, 1st Dragoon Guards, and 4th Queen’s Own Light Dragoons, and great-grandson of Lieut.-Col. Harcourt Master, 52nd Foot; _b._ in Ceylon, 24 March, 1881; educ. Bradfield College; joined the Royal Irish Rifles from the Louth Militia, as 2nd Lieut. 5 Jan. 1901; promoted Lieut. 28 March, 1905; Adjutant, 25 Jan. 1908; and Captain, 28 June, 1908; served in the South African War, taking part in the operations in the Orange Free State and Transvaal, Aug. 1901–May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with five clasps). On the outbreak of the European War, he went out with his regt. to France, took part in the retreat from Mons, and the subsequent engagements prior to meeting his death in action at La Couture, on 12 Oct. 1914, from a shrapnel shell, when leading his coy. in the attack. He was buried at Vielle Chapelle; _unm._ He was mentioned for distinguished conduct in the field in Field-Marshal Sir John French’s despatch of 8 Oct. 1914. Capt. Master was much beloved by both officers and men, as will be seen from the following extracts from letters received since his death. The wife of his late Colonel wrote: “As Capt. Master was my husband’s Adjutant, we got to know him so well, and he was invaluable to my husband being such a dependable, able soldier”; and an officer: “His death was a dreadful blow to me, as it was to us all, and we shall miss him terribly, and mourn him always. It is no exaggeration to say that he was beloved by officers and men alike, for we recognised his great ability and worth, and I know that Col. Bird thought very highly of him as a thoroughly sound and reliable soldier. Had he lived, I am sure he would have done particularly well in this war, and he has already been mentioned in despatches.” Capt. Master was a keen sportsman, being a member of his football eleven at school, and after joining his regiment kept up his interest in the game, and did his utmost to inculcate the love of pure sport amongst his men. It was owing in a large measure to his tuition and untiring efforts that the Royal Irish Rifles turned out a team which was a tower of strength for several years in regimental contests, and had the proud distinction of winning the Army Cup. He was also devoted to hunting, and whenever the opportunity occurred he might be seen out with the various packs in the neighbourhood in which his regt. happened to be quartered.

=MASTERS, TREVOR MONRO HOARE=, Midshipman, R.N., eldest _s._ of the late Lieut. Charles Monro Masters, R.N., late H.M.S. Cressy (died 21 Aug. 1902), by his wife, Susan (now wife of Capt. William Firth Slayter, R.N.), dau. of (--), of New Zealand, and gdson. of Canon James Hoare Masters, of The Close, Chichester; _b._ Sydney, N.S.W., 13 May, 1895; educ. privately (Rev. C. Royle, Stanmore Park, near Harrow); entered the Navy, became Midshipman in Jan. 1911, was appointed to H.M.S. Formidable, Nov. 1914, and was lost when that ship was sunk in the English Channel, 1 Jan. 1915; _unm._

=SMITH-MASTERS, GEORGE ARTHUR=, 2nd Lieut., 6th (Service) Battn. The Bedfordshire Regt., yst. _s._ of the Rev. John Ernest Smith-Masters, M.A., Vicar of South Banbury, formerly Vicar of Stewkley, Bucks, and Rural Dean of Mursley, by his wife, Eliza Margaret, dau. of Samuel Swinton Melville, I.C.S., and grandson of the late Rev. Allan Smith-Masters, of Camer, Kent, J.P.; _b._ Kidmore End, co. Oxon, 29 Dec. 1894, and after receiving his early education at Eversley School, was elected to a scholarship at Haileybury College. He matriculated at Keble College, Oxford, in Jan. 1914, intending to prepare for Holy Orders, but on the outbreak of war applied for a commission, and was gazetted 2nd Lieut. from the Oxford University O.T.C. on 21 Aug. 1914, and left England with his regt. 30 July, 1915. He had always taken a great interest in the Church Lads’ Brigade, and had been appointed Lieut. in the 5th Oxford Cadet Corps (C.L.B.) in July, 1914. In the early days of the war he was, with his father, in charge of the lads of the Stewkley Coy. of C.L.B. in their work of guarding bridges on the main line of the London & North Western Railway by day and night. He went out near midnight on 19 Aug. 1915, along with a Sergt. to endeavour to locate shots which were endangering the lives of his men employed in digging trenches, and was shot through the heart by a sniper. His Colonel wrote to his mother: “Your dear son was a favourite with us all, and there was not an officer or a man who stood with me round his grave who did not feel they had lost a personal friend. He was such a charming boy, a God-fearing, straight-living English boy. An English gentleman, he died doing his duty, a very brave action. Col. des Vœux, who commands the operations there, said that nobody but one of the best and bravest would have attempted to do what your son wished to do.” His company officer wrote: “One thing you will be proud to know is that he died doing his duty in an exceptionally brave manner, not in broad daylight, when it is easier to be brave, but in the dead of night, a mile behind the firing line. The whole of his company was able to attend his last parade, when we laid him to rest yesterday evening.” A drummer of his company wrote home: “He was a great favourite with us all, both with the other officers and with us men. He was the best officer in the battn.; he was something like a brother might be, and was missed quite as much.” He was buried in the English cemetery at Dranoutre, the Service being taken by the Senior Chaplain of the Brigade. The General and officers from all the regiments in the Brigade were present, his uncle, Col. J. S. Melville, commanding 8th E. Lancs. Regt., attending as chief mourner.

=MATHER, JAMES=, Private, No. 8884, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of James Charles Mather, of 25, Fraser Street, Bolton, Labourer, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Ralph Hough, Stripper and Grinder; _b._ Halliwell, Bolton, co. Lancaster, 17 Nov. 1890; educ. Brownlow-fold Council School; enlisted 3 Oct. 1910, and was killed in action at Rentel, Belgium, 2 Nov. 1914; _unm._

=MATHER, JOHN KEARSLEY=, Lieut., 1st Battn. York and Lancaster Regt., 5th _s._ of Arthur Mather, of Avonhill, Cheltenham, by his wife, Ethel Madeline, dau. of the late Rev. Charles Francis Willis, M.A.; _b._ Cheltenham, 25 Jan. 1890; educ. Cheltenham College, and the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich (Sandhurst Division); gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 1st York and Lancaster Regt. 18 Sept. 1909, and joined his battn. at Quetta, India, in the following Dec.; served in India five years, being promoted Lieut. 8 Dec. 1911; came home with his battn. in Dec. 1914; went to France, 15 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action by shell fire near Ypres, 18 Feb. 1915, and buried at Verbranden Molen; _unm._

=MATHERRON, EDWARD JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8050), S.S. 103773, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=MATHESON, JOHN RODERICK FLETCHER=, Private, No. 8919, 1st Battn. Highland L.I., _s._ of the Rev. Dugald Matheson, United Free Church of Scotland, Minister of Tarbat; _b._ Kiltearn, co. Ross, June, 1880; educ. Tarbat Old Public School and Inverness; enlisted in the Highland L.I. in 1909, served through the South African War, and obtained his discharge in 1913. On the outbreak of war he was in Canada, but immediately re-enlisted, came over with the 1st Canadian Contingent, obtained his transfer to his old regt.; went to the Front at the end of Dec. 1914, and was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle, 12 March, 1915. He _m._ at Winnipeg, Canada, 1909, Bella, dau. of D. M. Davidson, of co. Inverness, but had no children.