Part 158

=PUNCHARD, EDMUND ELGOOD=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regt. (21st Brigade, 7th Division), 2nd _s._ of the Rev. Elgood George Punchard, D.D., Honorary Canon of Ely, by his wife, Catherine Mary, dau. of Joseph Johnson; _b._ Luton, co. Beds, 21 Oct. 1890; educ. Haileybury (1902–08) and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst (1909–10); gazetted 2nd Lieut., Bedfordshire Regt., 5 Oct. 1910, and promoted Lieut., 11 June, 1912; left Southampton, 4 Oct. 1914; returned to Dover, because of submarines, 6 Oct.; left again and arrived at Zeebrugge, 7–8 Oct.; Bruges (St. Croix), marched from 4 to 8 p.m., 8 Oct.; left for Coq-sur-Mer, arriving at 2.30 p.m., bivouac at Uytkirke, 9 Oct.; left for Ostend, 5 a.m., 4 p.m. ordered back to Bruges, arriving 8 p.m., 10 Oct.; retreated to Beernem, 4 to 8 p.m., 11 Oct.; to Coolscamp, 7.30 a.m., 12 Oct.; to Roulers, 13 Oct.; to Ypres, 9.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m., 14 Oct.; entrenched at Halte, on Menin-Ypres road, 15 Oct.; skirmish with Uhlans, at Gheluvelt, 16 Oct.; Gheluvelt, Battle of Ypres begun, 17 Oct.; left at 4.30 a.m. for Baecleare, arriving 7.30 p.m., advanced to Terhand, 18 Oct.; Terhand, retired to Gheluvelt, 19 Oct.; under heavy fire till dusk, moved out towards Baecleare, and entrenched, 20 Oct.; returned to Gheluvelt, in trenches, 21 Oct.; under heavy fire, worst at 3.30 p.m., 22 Oct.; shelled from 8 p.m., two Bedford officers killed, first Army Corps expected, 23 Oct.; fusilade, 6 a.m., seventh day of battle, third in trenches (night and day) unrelieved, 24 Oct.; reinforced by Highland L.I. and King’s Own Scottish Borderers, 25 Oct.; brigade hard pressed, retired to Hooge, 26 Oct.; advanced again towards Gheluvelt, bivouac at Kruiseck, 27 Oct.; shelled all day in trenches from 9 a.m., opposed by three German Army Corps, 28 Oct.; shelled at dawn, Yorks and Gordons retreated on Zandvorde-Gheluvelt road, trenches recovered, 29 Oct.; fight on Menin-Gheluvelt road and in the woods, 30 Oct.; trenches shelled from 2 a.m. to 1 p.m., ordered out of trenches at 4 p.m., advanced up the hill, over turnip field, by wood of Zandvorde, the ridge won, 31 Oct. He was killed in this attack, being shot at the head of his platoon; _unm._ The following day 300 survivors from the battn. mustered under the one officer left. Lieut. Punchard was buried at Kruiseck, near Gheluvelt. He was mentioned in Field-Marshal Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 14 Jan. [London Gazette, 18 Feb.] 1915 for distinguished service in the field.

=PUNSHON, HAROLD FINLAY=, Corpl., No. 2126, 8th Battn. Durham L.I. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Thomas Punshon, of Ashley Terrace, Chester-le-Street, co. Durham, by his wife, Agnes Kershaw, dau. of the late Richard Finlay; _b._ Chester-le-Street, 23 Feb. 1892; educ. Higher Grade School, Gateshead; was employed at the Priestman Colliery Office; joined the Durham L.I. Territorials in April, 1912; was in training in camp when war was declared in Aug. 1914, and volunteered for foreign service; went to France, 19 April, 1915, and was killed in action near Ypres on the 26th, being shot by a sniper; _unm._ Buried about half a mile S.E. of St. Julien. Capt. John Turnbull in a letter to his brother wrote: “I regret very deeply to have to inform you that your poor brother Harry was killed on Monday the 26th. I was not with him when he met his death, but saw him an hour before, when, I am sure you will be proud to know, he was doing his bit in a splendidly cool manner, under most trying circumstances. I got separated from the body of men with whom he was, but have since learned that he with two or three other N.C.Os., and a few men were cut off by a large body of Germans. Some of our chaps had to surrender, but Harry and a few others made a dash for it and got clear. He was killed soon after this, while going between trenches with ammunition.”

=PUNTER, HENRY=, Private, No. G. 282, 2nd Battn. Royal West Surrey Regt., _s._ of Frederick Punter, of Send Road, Send, near Woking; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action at Ypres, 2 Nov. 1911.

=PURCHASE, FREDERICK WILLIAM=, Sergt., No. 4204, 2nd Battn. The Essex Regt., _s._ of the late (--) Purchase; _b._ 20 Feb. 1876; enlisted in the Essex Regt., 8 May, 1894; served in the South African War, 1899–1902 (Queen’s medal with four clasps), and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from 22 Aug. 1914 to 1 Nov. 1914, on which latter date he was killed in action. Buried at Armentières. Sergt. Purchase had the Long Service and Good Conduct medal, and was mentioned in Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 8 Oct. [London Gazette, 19 Oct.] 1914. He was also awarded the French Medaille Militaire for conspicuous bravery. He _m._ at St. Thomas Church, Brentwood, 25, Jan. 1913, Alice Elizabeth (32, Alfred Road, Brentwood, co. Essex), yst. dau. of Henry Matthews, of Hutton, co. Essex, and had a son, Frederick Henry, _b._ posthumous, 16 Nov. 1914.

=PURDON, JOHN=, Private, No. 11029, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards; _b._ Whiston, co. Lanark; enlisted 14 Sept. 1914, aged 29; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; wounded and admitted to No. 23 Field Ambulance, 8 April, 1915; discharged to duty, 14 April; killed in action 16 May following. He _m._ at Glasgow, 19 April, 1912, Grace. (16, Moir Street, Glasgow), dau. of (--) Suttons, and had a dau.: Grace Catherine, _b._ 10 Dec. 1914.

=PURDY, RICHARD=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 8444), S.S. 104630, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=PURNELL, FREDERICK DAVID=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6455), 183408, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea. 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=PURSER, JOSEPH=, Private, S/7043, 4th Battn. Middlesex Regt., _s._ of F. J. Purser, of 24, Balmore Street, Highgate; died in Chelsea Hospital, 18 Jan. 1915, of tetanus, contracted while mobilised for service.

=PURVIS, LIONEL=, Sergt., No. 17, F. Coy., 14th Battn. (The London Scottish) The London Regt. (T.F.), yst. _s._ of John Prior Purvis, of 16, The Grove, Blackheath, S.E., Surgeon, by his wife, Frances Mary, dau. of William Vaughan; _b._ Greenwich, S.E., 19 July, 1873; educ. Roan School there; was a Furniture Manufacturer; joined the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers, 7th Middlesex, 12 Nov. 1894; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France 14 Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Messines, 1 Nov. following; _unm._ He won many prizes at Bisley and elsewhere, and was 7th in the King’s Prize Competition at Bisley in 1904; he was also twice a member of the winning team for the Daily Telegraph Cup.

=PUTTERGILL, RICHARD=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 5206), S.S. 1844, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=PUTTICK, JAMES FREDERICK=, A.B., J. 8750, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=PYE, OSCAR GEORGE=, Trooper, No. 3080, 1st Life Guards, 3rd _s._ of William Pye, of Jeskyns Court, Cobham, Gravesend, Farmer and Landowner, by his wife, Mary, dau. of the late William Miskin; _b._ Cuxton, Rochester, co. Kent, 12 Aug. 1892; educ. Thanet College, Margate; was a Manager of Farms at Cuxton and Cobham, but after the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, joined the 1st Life Guards, 5 Sept. following; went to France, 1 Nov. 1914; took part in the fighting during the winter of 1914–15, and was killed in action in the advance trenches near Ypres, 13 May, 1915; _unm._ He was buried on the battlefield about 1½ miles from Ypres, on the Ypres-Menin Road. An officer wrote: “Your son was in my troop from the time he came up from the base, and I have never known any man who was more liked and respected by all his comrades, myself included. He was always an example to everybody by his cheerfulness and the way he did his work, and the troop feel his loss very much”; and a comrade: “He was an exceedingly brave man, he never showed any sign of fear, and was always one of the first to volunteer for any dangerous or disagreeable job.”

=PYE, REGINALD EBE=, Rifleman, No. 3847, 1/18th Battn. (London Irish Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of Ebenezer Clayton Pye, of 8, Britten Street, Chelsea, S.W., by his wife, Elizabeth Emma, dau. of William (and Elizabeth) Allsup; _b._ Chelsea, 8 Oct. 1896; educ. Marlborough Road L.C.C. School there; was Page to the Hon. Mr. Gathorne Hardy, of Cadogan Square, then to Dr. McConnell, of Hampstead; when 17 years old he was apprenticed to motor trade, and got his licence for driving the Saturday before war broke out; joined the London Irish Rifles in March, 1914; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in the Aug. following; went to France, 1 Sept. 1915, and was killed in action during the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915.

=PYEFINCH, LEONARD THOMAS=, Private, No. 7861, 1st Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs); served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 20 Oct. 1914.

=PYMAN, JAMES=, Capt., 3rd Battn. The Border Regt., attd. 2nd Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., yr. _s._ of the late James Pyman, of Newcastle-on-Tyne, Shipowner, by his wife, Emily, dau. of the late John Sutcliffe, of Stallingbro’ Manor, Lincoln; _b._ Newcastle-on-Tyne, 12 Aug. 1883; educ. Mill Hill and Hamelin, near Hanover; gazetted Lieut. 3rd (Militia) Borderers, 20 May, 1903, and Capt., 19 May, 1906; later joined the Reserve of Officers, but on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, rejoined his regt.; went to France, 14 Oct. 1914, attd. to the 2nd Battn. King’s Own Yorkshire L.I., and was killed in action near Hooge, 18 Nov. following, by a high-explosive shell; _unm._

=QUEGAN, JOHN=, Private, No. 2009, 11th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, 2nd _s._ of William Quegan, of Kinnitty, King’s County, Labourer, by his wife, Mary, dau. of Terence Higgins; _b._ Kinnitty aforesaid, 20 Oct. 1890; educ. Kinnitty National School; went to Australia in April, 1912, and worked on the Trans-Australian Railway; volunteered after the outbreak of war and joined the Commonwealth Expeditionary Force in Dec. and died on board H.M. hospital ship Sicilia, 6 Aug. 1915, from wounds received in action at Lone Pine, Gallipoli; _unm._

=QUICK, ROBERT GEORGE=, Private, No. 2197, 4th Battn. (Royal Fusiliers) The London Regt. (T.F.), only _s._ of Robert Ernest Quick, L.-Corpl. No. 20592, Oxford and Bucks L.I., by his wife, Leonora (5, Stirling Road, Higham Hill, Walthamstow), dau. of George Bush; _b._ Higham Hill, Walthamstow, 30 Aug. 1896; educ. Higham Hill Council and the Higher Elementary (Scholar) Schools, there; was an apprentice to the wood machining; volunteered and joined the 4th City of London Royal Fusiliers, 10 Aug. 1914; sailed for Malta, 4 Sept. following; went to France from there early in 1915, and was killed in action at Ypres, 27 April, 1915; _unm._ Sergt.-Major Birch wrote speaking highly of him.

=QUIGLEY, HUGH DOMINIC=, S.B.A., M. 5012, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=QUIN, JAMES EDWARD=, Private, No. 24640, 13th Battn. (5th Royal Highlanders of Canada), Canadian Expeditionary Force, elder _s._ of James Quin, of Corbally House, Limerick, J.P., Merchant, head of the firm of John Quin & Co., of Limerick, by his wife, Marian Frances, dau. of Nicholas James Lalor, of 33, FitzWilliam Place, Dublin, J.P.; _b._ 70, George Street, Limerick, 24 Nov. 1888; educ. Stonyhurst College and Louvain University (where he obtained his degree “faculté de droit”), and went to Canada in April, 1912; was a Salesman with Lindsay & Co., Montreal. On the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914, he immediately proceeded to Valcartier, and joined the 5th Royal Highlanders of Canada; came over with the first contingent in Oct. 1914; trained on Salisbury Plain, and went to the Front in Feb. 1915. He was reported missing after the Second Battle of Ypres, 22 April, 1915, when his battn. defended the cross-roads at Ypres, refusing to surrender, in spite of nearly all their number being killed, badly wounded, or taken prisoners, and he is now officially stated to have been killed in this action; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “I don’t think I ever met a more good-natured, generous hearted and unselfish fellow.... No words of mine would fit tribute to his memory.... I know he was thought a lot of by his superiors”; and another: “He was always given the most dangerous tasks to perform, and to my knowledge he always performed them ably and well.”

=QUIN, SIDNEY JOHN=, 2nd Writer, 347163, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=QUIN, THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5827), S.S. 100714, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=QUINN, HENRY=, Private No. 2013, 9th Battn. Durham L.I. (T.F.), _s._ of the late Charles Quinn, by his wife, (--) (45, Renforth Street, Dunston), dau. of (--); _b._ Teams, 27 Aug. 1893; educ. St. Philip’s R.C. School, Dunston; enlisted July, 1914; went to France, April, 1915, and was killed in action, 5 July, following; _unm._

=QUINN, JAMES=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8259), 293970, R.N., _s._ of Michael Quinn, Sugar Boiler in McFies, Liverpool; _b._ Liverpool, 10 April, 1878; educ. St. Joseph’s School, Liverpool; served 12 years in the Royal Navy, including the operations in China at the time of the Boxer rebellion, and lost his life in H.M.S. Cressy, when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. He was well known as the sailor “Handcuff King,” being a popular exponent of the trick of freeing himself from handcuffs and leg irons; he on several occasions demonstrated before Dover audiences, jumping from the Prince of Wales Pier Head while manacled at the wrists and legs, and in a few seconds coming to the surface entirely free from all encumbrances. He was a bearer at King Edward’s Funeral and received a memorial medal from King George V. He _m._ at Liverpool, 5 June, 1905, Mary Ellen (36 Boundary Street East, Liverpool, N.), dau. of Arthur Quinn, and had two sons: Arthur William, _b._ 21 Jan. 1909 (_d._ young); and James, _b._ 14 Jan. 1914.

=QUINN, JAMES=, Private, No. 1726, 3rd Battn. Durham L.I., _s._ of Joseph Quinn, of Sunderland, by his wife, Jane, dau. of Carry Plunkett; _b._ Ryhope, co. Durham, 1885; educ. Ryhope Elementary School; enlisted in the D.L.I. about 1903; served eight years with the Colours and then joined the Reserve; mobilised 4 Aug. 1914; went to France in Oct., and was killed in action by a hand grenade, 4 June, 1915, while on guard at Ypres. He _m._ at St. Patrick’s Church, Sunderland, 5 Feb. 1908, Elizabeth (17, Sussex Street, Sunderland), dau. of John Cassidy, and had three children: Patrick James Cassidy, _b._ 16 June, 1912; Joseph Cassidy, _b._ 14 Dec. 1914; and Elizabeth Jane Cassidy, _b._ 17 Feb. 1909.

=QUIRK, ROBERT=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9517), S.S. 106877, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=QUOGEN, VICTOR WILLIAM=, Stoker, R.N.R., U. 1368, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._

=QUY, TERENCE EDWARD DANIEL=, Rifleman, No. 2447, 12th Battn. (The Rangers) London Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Daniel Arthur Quy, of 4, Formosa Street, Paddington, Grocer, by his wife, Mary Charlotte, dau. of Thomas (and Mary) Helier, of Woolwich; _b._ Paddington; educ. Longford House School, Margate, and the Polytechnic, Regent Street; enlisted in The Rangers on the outbreak of war, Aug. 1914; went to the Front with them in Dec., and was killed in action at Zonnebeke, 18 April, 1915; _unm._ Writing to his father, Capt. A. H. Arbuthnot said: “The Poly. Company went up to the trenches on the night of the 17th. and the next morning it was our duty to support by our fire a small attack that was being carried out by the battn. on our left. Your son was doing his part nobly when I deeply grieve to say, as he was firing over the parpapet, a bullet from the enemy struck him in the head. Death was instantaneous, so I am thankful to say he suffered no pain. That same night we buried him with three other comrades of his company in a little cemetery about 100 yards behind the trenches, and the spot is marked by a neat plain wooden cross.”

=RACKHAM, ERNEST=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 7267), 291149, H.M.S. Hogue, lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=RADCLIFF, HERBERT TRAVERS=, Capt., 5th (Reserve), attd. 1st, Battn. Leinster Regt., 2nd _s._ of the late George Edward Radcliff, of Wilmount, Kells. co. Meath, by his wife, Emma May Alexandria, dau. of John Travers Madden, of Inch House, Balbriggan; _b._ Kells, 11 Aug. 1882; educ. Royal School, Armagh; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Leinster Regt., 27 Oct. 1906; promoted Lieut. and Capt. 10 Feb. 1913; went to France, 6 March, 1915, attd. to 1st Battn., and was killed in action at St. Eloi, 15 March following; _unm._ Lieut.-Col. A. B. Prowse, commanding 1st Leinster Regt., wrote: “He was holding a trench which had a garrison of 30 men, and which was attacked by 100 Germans at, or soon after, dawn. He was killed instantaneously by a bullet which struck him in the head, and could have suffered no pain. I may add that the Germans were beaten off with a loss of 34 killed alone. During the few days he has been with us he has proved himself a brave and gallant officer, and we deplore the loss of a good comrade, and offer you a whole-hearted sympathy”; and Lieut. C. I. Mackay, of the 5th Battn.: “I was with him when he was killed. He was my company commander both here and in Passage, and, like all the men of the company, I would have done anything for him. He always thought of the men first and afterwards himself, and it was through this unselfishness he met his death. Some one said the Germans were leaving their trench to attack, and no one looked out, so he looked over and was hit. He suffered no pain whatever. He was buried on Monday night, and we have handed all his things to the Quartermaster, who will send them to you in a few weeks. I only know too well how useless it is to express sympathy, but I have taken this opportunity of expressing not only my own sympathy, but that of all the men of the company, who had grown to love him, even in the few days under his command.”

=RADCLIFFE, JOHN=, Private, No. 12647, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, eldest _s._ of Thomas Craine Radcliffe, of Roslyn Boarding House, Isle of Man, Joiner, by his wife, Mary, dau. of George Towle, of Derby; _b._ Ramsey, 11 June, 1893; educ. Wesleyan Day School there; was a clerk in the office of Messrs. Dickenson, Cruikshank & Co., Advocates; enlisted 15 Sept. 1914, and was killed in action at Cuinchy, 25 Jan. 1915; _unm._

=RADCLIFFE, SAMUEL=, Gunner T., H.M.S. Laurel; killed in action in the Heligoland Bight, 28 Aug. 1914.

=WILSON-RAE, REGINALD=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. East Surrey Regt., eldest _s._ of William Wilson-Rae, of The Warren, Strawberry Vale, Twickenham, Landed Proprietor, by his wife, Felicia Benigna Iza, dau. of Felician Faleçki, a Baron of Poland; _b._ London, 12 Jan. 1891; educ. Mostyn House, Parkgate (Ches.) and Liverpool University; was attd. to the Statistical Department of the firm of Magniac Williamson & Co., Stockbrokers, London; joined the London University O.T.C. in 1913; gazetted 2nd Lieut., in the 3rd East Surrey Regt., 15 Aug. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 2 Feb. 1915; went to France, 19 Dec. 1914, and was attd. to the 1st S. Staffordshire Regt.; served with them until 22 March, when he rejoined his own regt., and was killed in action 2½ miles south of Ypres, on the 30th of that month, while leading a bombing party; _unm._ Buried at Voormezeele. He had been specially recommended by his commanding officer for his conduct in charge of night patrols and in the firing line. He was a fine all-round athlete, being a member of both the Vesta Rowing Club and Twickenham Football Club, and had won many prizes for rowing, cycling and shooting.

=RADMALL, STUART=, L.-Corpl., No. 10009, 1st, attd. 2nd Battn. Wiltshire Regt., yst. _s._ of John Henry Radmall, of Chingford, by his wife, Edith Anna, dau. of Josiah Griffin, of Blackheath; _b._ Chingford, co. Essex, 7 March, 1896; educ. Forest School, where he was in the O.T.C.; enlisted after the outbreak of war, 24 Aug. 1914; was promoted L.-Corpl., and went to France, 27 Nov. following; served in several engagements with the 1st Battn. till 27 Jan., when he was taken ill and sent to the Base Hospital at Rouen, where he remained for six weeks; on recovery joined the 2nd Battn., and was killed in action at Givenchy, 15 June, 1915; _unm._