Part 172

=SHIMMIN, WILLIAM=, Private, No. 11741, 2nd Battn. Scots Guards, _s._ of John Shimmin, of Avonmore, Port St. Mary, Isle of Man; _b._ Isle of Man; enlisted 23 Oct. 1914, aged 34; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 16–18 May, 1915.

=SHINGLETON, ARTHUR ROBERT=, Driver, No. 1624, Battery, Royal Field Artillery (T.F.), 4th _s._ of the late Thomas Shingleton, of Dover, by his wife, Ellen Elizabeth (now wife of (--) Newing, of 3, Jubilee Cottages, Primrose Road, Dover), dau. of George Falwell, of Dover; _b._ Dover, 30 Dec. 1896; educ. Holy Trinity School, Dover, Kent; joined the R.F.A., 30 Oct. 1914, and was knocked down and killed by a runaway horse at Sevenoaks, 12 Feb. 1915, while on service; _unm._

=SHINNIE, HERBERT FORSYTH CRAIG=, Sub-Lieut., Royal Naval Reserve, 8th _s._ of Robert Shinnie, of 150, Bon-Accord Street, Aberdeen, Carriage and Motor Car Manufacturer; _b._ Aberdeen, 21 July, 1892; educ. Aberdeen Grammar School (1902–7) and having joined the Navy League in 1906 decided to adopt the sea as a profession. He was then too old to join the Navy direct, so was indentured as an apprentice in seamanship to the Adam Line, and in the autumn of that year joined the s.s. Aberlour at Newcastle. Under Captain Barnett on this ship he served for the next four years, making three voyages round the world, and while still on his last voyage as an apprentice, was gazetted Midshipman, R.N.R., 1 April, 1911. During the following Nov. and Dec. he was on H.M.S. Africa the flagship of the Third Division, Home Fleet, completing the first part of his naval training, which had already been begun with the men of the Naval Reserve at Aberdeen. In the latter month he received an appointment as a junior officer in the British India Company’s Service, and joined the s.s. Ekma at Belfast, his rank being that of Fourth Officer. He sailed at once for the East, and soon after his arrival in Calcutta was promoted Third Officer and transferred to s.s. Ellenga, and in the summer of 1912, was again promoted, this time to R.M.S. Kaurthala, one of the large mail boats running between Calcutta, Rangoon and Singapore. In the spring of 1913, he joined the s.s. Chakrata at London, and continued upon her until the end of March, 1914, when he returned home to prepare himself for his First Officer’s Certificate. The examination for this he successfully passed in June, 1914, and almost immediately afterwards was notified by the Admiralty to join the Home Fleet for the Annual Manœuvres. He accordingly reported himself for duty, and was despatched to Sheerness to complete the complement of H.M.S. Formidable. During the whole month of July they were at sea engaged in manœuvres on a greater scale than usual. During the next three months Shinnie was twice mentioned for commendable service, and received his promotion to the rank of Sub-Lieut. while at sea. He was lost when the Formidable was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on the morning of 1 Jan. 1915. One of the Petty Officers who was with Shinnie on the quarterdeck, writing after the disaster, says: “I had no time to exchange words with my officers, but Sub-Lieut. Shinnie superintended the lowering of the quarterdeck boats and ordered Petty Officers to take charge of them, as they were mostly married men. He remained perfectly cool and calm to the very end, and when the order came from the Capt. to look out for ourselves the Sub-Lieut. went to see that each of the men near him had something that would float and that they could hang on to. As far as I know he went down with the ship.” A brother officer, who was badly injured by the second explosion and had to be helped overboard at the end says: “I was amongst the last who left the ship, but after I was in the water I saw Sub-Lieut. Shinnie still at his post. He was then fastening on one of the life-saving collars.” He was _unm._

=SHIP, FRANCIS ALFRED=, L.-Corpl., No. 7648. 1st Battn. East Kent Regt. (The Buffs), _s._ of Francis Charles Ship, of 203, Maxey Road, Plumstead; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 25 Dec. 1914.

=SHIPLEY, WILLIAM=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 3899), 309117, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SHIPP, GREGORY=, L.-Corpl., No. 8338, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Frederick Shipp, of Gaywood Road, King’s Lynn; _b._ co. Norfolk; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; killed in action, 1 Jan. 1915. Buried in Soldiers’ Cemetery, Rue du Bois, Bethune-Richebourg Road; _unm._

=SHONK, WILLIAM CHARLES=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., Ch B. 8533), 396982, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=SHORT, ALBERT FREDERICK=, Rifleman, No. 2563, 1/17th Battn. (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 3rd _s._ of the late Alexander William Short, of Stepney, Lighterman, by his wife, Emma Amelia (33, Salmon’s Lane, London, E.), dau. of Alfred Seymour; _b._ Stepney, E., 3 March, 1894; educ. Cayley Street Council School, S.; was a Confectioner’s Packer; joined the Poplar and Stepney Rifles about 24 Aug. 1914; went to France, 9 March, 1915, and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos, 26 Oct. 1915, while acting as stretcher-bearer. Buried Fort Tosh, a little north of Loos, on the Loos-Hulloch road; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “He was killed by a shell while endeavouring to succour some of his unfortunate comrades, and he died like a hero. I mourn the loss of a true and brave comrade who never shirked his duty, and he was laid to rest alongside his fellow stretcher-bearer, who was killed with him. I attended his funeral the following evening, and a little wooden cross now denotes where heroes fell.”

=SHOTTON, ROWLANDSON HARDY=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 8558), 203871, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Robert Shotton, of 2, East Street, Hendon, Sunderland; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=SHOVE, VICTOR ALBERT=, A.B., 227275, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SHRUBB, FRANK JAMES=, Private, No. 14121, 4th Battn. Coldstream Guards, 2nd _s._ of Henry Shrubb, of Almodington House, Sidlesham, Chichester, Farmer, by his wife, Ellen, dau. of Thomas Green; _b._ Birdham, co. Sussex, 25 July, 1895; educ. Manhood School there; enlisted 8 Dec. 1914; went to the Front, 15 Aug. 1915, took part in the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept., and was killed in action at Levantie, France, 8 Jan. 1916; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “He was filling sandbags to build up the trenches with. Four of them were together and a shell fell among them. Frank being killed instantly.... He was buried in a little cemetery about a mile from the trenches, and a cross marks the spot.”

=SHUTE, THOMAS JOHN=, Rifleman, No. 2774, 1/17th Battn. (Poplar and Stepney Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Thomas John Shute, of 56, Conder Street, Stepney, E., by his wife. Jenny, dau. of (--) Harris; _b._ Limehouse, E., 12 Nov. 1889; educ. Dalglish Street School, Limehouse, E.; was a Shipping Clerk; joined the Poplar and Stepney Rifles, 4 Sept. 1914; went to France, 9 March, 1915, and died, 27 Sept. 1915, of wounds received in action at the Battle of Loos. Buried New Cemetery, Choques. He _m._ at Stepney, 8 March, 1915, Annie (17, Tredegar Square, Bow, E.), dau. of Michael Hurley; _s.p._

=SHYER, HARRY=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ports/16676, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SIBBALD, JOHN=, Private, No. 10001, D Coy., 2nd Battn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, yst. _s._ of John Hadden Sibbald, of Harelaw Cottages, Longniddry, for 27 years Forrester to the Earl of Wemyss, by his wife, Jane, dau. of Abner Baillie; _b._ Aberlady, co. Haddington, 25 Dec. 1885; educ. Aberlady Public School; enlisted 4 Jan. 1906; was stationed at Maryhill Barracks, Glasgow; Stirling Castle, and Chatham; went to South Africa with a draft for the 2nd Battn.; served with the Military Police there; formed one of the Guard of Honour, during the King’s visit to Balmoral in 1911, and again on the occasion of their Majesties visit to Edinburgh after the Coronation; and took part in the Military Pageant in London; went to France with the Expeditionary Force in Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Ploegsteert, 10 Nov. following; _unm._ Buried there. He was in the winning team of the inter-company tug-of-war challenge shield in the 1st Battn. 1905–6–7, and had the cross guns four years in succession for his musketry.

=SICHEL, GEOFFREY MICHAEL JOHN=, Lieut., 3rd Battn. The Duke of Cambridge’s Own Middlesex Regt. (“The Die Hards”), elder _s._ of Walter Sydney Sichel, of 50, Egerton Gardens, S.W., Author and Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Constance Elizabeth, eldest dau. of the late John Holms, M.P.; _b._ Campden Hill, London, W., 15 May, 1890; educ. Bradfield College and Sandhurst; gazetted 2nd Lieut. to the 3rd Middlesex, 18 Sept. 1909, and promoted Lieut. 27 Sept. 1912; was in India with his regt. when war broke out; left for France, 18 Jan. 1915, and was killed in action 3 miles east of Ypres, 9 Feb. 1915, while his battn. was engaged in repelling an attack of the Prussian Guard; _unm._

=SILCOX, WILLIAM HENRY=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 10074), 213480, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=SILK, GEORGE DOLLAR=, Private, No. 5951, 1st Battn. Queen’s Royal West Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; was reported missing after the fighting on 31 Oct. 1914, and is now assumed to have been killed in action on or about that date; _m._

=SILK, JOSEPH=, Private, No. G. 14063, 3rd Battn. Middlesex Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France; killed in action, 23 April, 1915.

=SILK, NORMAN GALBRAITH=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. South Wales Borderers, only child of Fleet-Paymaster Ernest Edwin Silk, R.N., Royal Naval Depôt, Sheerness, by his wife, Isabel Maud, dau. of Capt. Ernest C. Wilford, late 65th Regt.; _b._ Rushbrook. co. Cork, 30 April, 1895; educ. Eastman’s, Southsea; Cheltenham College (Newick House), and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst (Jan. 1913 to Feb. 1914); gazetted 2nd Lieut., 1st South Wales Borderers, 24 Feb. 1914, and promoted Lieut. 15 Nov. 1914; went to France with his battn. at the outbreak of war; served through the retreat from Mons, and the Battles of the Aisne, the Marne, and Ypres, where he was wounded in Nov., and invalided home; joined the 2nd Battn. of his regt. on recovery in Feb. 1915, and left England with it for the Near East in March; took part in the landing at Sedd-ul-Bahr on 25 April, and in the subsequent fighting on the Gallipoli Peninsula, and was killed in action there, 9 June, 1915; _unm._ The colonel commanding South Wales Borderers wrote: “To me, as a commanding officer, he is a very great loss. He had proved himself to be a most gallant and capable officer and as devoted to his men as they were to him. He was always bright and cheerful, and always only too keen to be ever right at the front, and I know that had he lived he must have made a name for himself.”

=SILKSTONE, BERT=, Private, No. 9570, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of William Silkstone, of 103, Padget Street, Brightside, Sheffield; _b._ co. York; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 4 Oct. 1914.

=SILLETT, ERNEST HENRY=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 1047), 173052, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=CIVILIAN-SILLS, STEPHEN=, Canteen Assistant, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=SILVER, CHARLES=, Private, No. G. 2053, 2nd Battn. East Surrey Regt.; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, etc.; killed in action, 12 March, 1915.

=SILVESTER, ALFRED FERDINAND=, Rifleman, No. 2895, 16th Battn. (Queen’s Westminster Rifles) The London Regt. (T.F.), 2nd _s._ of William Keeley Silvester, of 34B, Lavender Sweep, Clapham Common, S.W., Minister in the Catholic Apostolic Church, by his wife, Julia, dau. of Joseph Simpson; _b._ London, 30 Dec. 1887; was a Confidential Clerk in a City Bank; joined the Queen’s Westminster Rifles in 1909; completed his term of service in 1913, but volunteered and rejoined after the outbreak of war, 2 Sept. 1914; went to France, 24 Jan. 1915, and died in the Royal Victoria Hospital, Netley, 14 March, 1915, of wounds received in action at Houplines, near Armentières, on the 6th; _unm._

=SILVESTER, ANSON LLOYD=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Royal Sussex Regt., elder _s._ of the Rev. James Silvester, M.A., F.R. Hist. Socy., Vicar of Great Clacton and Little Holland, Clacton-on-Sea, author of “The Spiritual Year,” “A Century of Sonnets,” and other works, and Editor of “The Lord’s Portion,” by his wife, Constance Ellen, formerly Sister Lloyd of H.M. Nursing Service, dau. of William Lloyd, of the General Post Office [Baronet coll.]; _b._ Walcot, Bath, where his father was senior curate of the parish, 11 Dec. 1888; educ. Trent College, co. Derby, where he distinguished himself in study and sport, becoming Victor Ludorum of the school, and in 1908 won an Exhibition in Modern History at Jesus College, Oxford, where he graduated B.A. in the Honours School of Modern History in 1912, with 2nd Class Honours. At Oxford he belonged to the Officers’ Training Corps, as a member of which he was one of the guard of honour at the funeral of His Majesty King Edward VII and at the Coronation of His Majesty King George V, and afterwards joined the 9th Royal Sussex Regt. Special Reserve, being gazetted 2nd Lieut. 6 Sept. 1913. He spent some time in Germany in the spring of 1914, to obtain a thorough proficiency in German, having also studied French, with a view to an appointment in H.M. Consular service, for which he had received the necessary nomination. He was engaged in volunteer Y.M.C.A. camp work when the war broke out, and on mobilisation he was summoned to join his regt. at Chichester. For some time he was on duty at Dover, but went to the Front in Sept. 1914, with five other officers of his regt., receiving leave of absence for a few days, after terrible experience in the trenches; and returning to the Front at the end of Nov. He fell in action, while bravely leading forward his men to recapture a position the Germans had taken the same day at Cuinchy, near La Bassée, on the night of 31 Dec. 1914; _unm._ His body was not recovered until 12 Jan., when he was buried in the cemetery at Cuinchy. W. R. Smethurst, his platoon Sergt., wrote: “We had some very rough times together, shared each other’s rations, and always the same dug out during that awful time we had last October at Ypres. About that time he contracted that bad cough that he had, and I tried many a time to get him to go to hospital, but he would not. When he went on leave I never expected that he would come back to us again as he really was not fit,” and referring to his death: “We crept up to 30 yards of them (the Germans) when they opened on us a terrific fire both from machine guns and rifles. Your son fell practically at the first shot, and so did 11 men out of 2. I spoke to Mr. Silvester and asked him if he was badly hit. He did not answer my question but ordered me to take the men away and retire back to our old position. He must have expired almost immediately.”

=SILVESTER, JOHN=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 6976), 191889, H.M.S. Hawke; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=SILVERTON, WILLIAM HENRY=, Private, No. 1347, 1st Battn. (Royal Fusiliers), The London Regt. (T.F.), eldest _s._ of the late William James Silverton, by his wife, Alice (14, Appleford Road, North Kensington); _b._ North Kensington, 18 Nov. 1895; educ. Middle Row School there; was a Chemist; joined the Royal Fusiliers in July, 1911; volunteered for foreign service on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; went to France, 10 March, 1915, and was killed in action at Fromelles, 9 May, 1915; _unm._

=SIMMONDS, GEORGE HENRY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 4910), 159624, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=SIMMONDS, RICHARD STANLEY=, Gunner, R.M.A., 11386, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SIMMONS, ALBERT=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 4165), 291953, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SIMMONS, ALBERT=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 10519), 193736, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=SIMMS, ALFRED=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 11783, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Alfred Simms, of 28, Albert Street, Bedford; lost when that ship was torpedoed in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=SIMMS, GEORGE=, Private, No. 1066, D Coy., 1st Newfoundland Regt., 2nd _s._ of William Simms, of Pilley’s Island, Newfoundland, Fisherman, by his wife, Norah, dau. of Jacob Parsons; _b._ Notre Dame Bay, Newfoundland, 17 Oct. 1887; educ. there; was a Lumberman; volunteered after the outbreak of war and joined the Newfoundland Expeditionary Force, 11 Feb. 1915; left St. John for Britain, 20 March, 1915; trained at Stob’s Camp, Scotland; left for the Dardanelles, 10 Aug., and was killed in action at Suvla Bay, 30 Dec. 1915, by shrapnel; _unm._ His company officer (Capt. March) wrote: “During storm and rain and amid shot and shell he always managed to attend to the needs of the fatigued men and officers. A cup of hot tea and something to eat he always had ready”; adding: “He did splendid work; he kept us alive during those terrible days at Suvla.”

=SIMMS, GEORGE NORMAN, M.V.O.=, Capt., 2nd Battn. Royal Munster Fusiliers, yst. _s._ of the late George Simms, of 7, Porchester Gate, and Sumner Grange, Sunningdale, by his wife, Alice Maud (Gilderdale House, Gerrards Cross), dau. of Thomas Pearson, of Scarborough, Yorks; _b._ 7, Porchester Gate, London, W., 21 Oct. 1875; educ. Eastbourne College; gazetted 2nd Lieut., Royal Munster Fusiliers, from the Militia, 1 Dec. 1897; promoted Lieut. 11 March, 1899, and Capt. 6 June, 1906; served in the South African War, 1902; took part in the operations in Orange River Colony, Jan. to May, 1902 (Queen’s medal with two clasps), and with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders, and was killed in action at Etreux or Oisy, 27 Aug. 1914; _unm._ Capt. H. S. Jervis, Royal Munster Fusiliers, wrote: “It falls to my lot, as the Senior Officer surviving the action of 27 Aug., to write and amplify the terrible news which I presume you have already received from the War Office, of the death of your son. To say that we all feel the acutest sorrow at your loss, which is also ours, is to but inadequately express our feelings. He leaves a gap which it will take many years to fill. On 27 Aug. his company was on outpost duty with mine, in front of the Battn. which was to cover the withdrawal of our Brigade. The latter got away safely, but to achieve this the Battn. had to sacrifice itself. The enemy was coming from the north and began working round to eastward of us. Your son’s company was sent to the post of danger to prevent this. It was a most difficult undertaking, inviting his complete isolation from the rest of us, but he carried it through, fought a smart little action, and returned with the loss of but three men. We then continued the withdrawal, and it was discovered that the enemy had surrounded and cut us off. Again George Simms was sent to the post of danger, this time in front. He went off at the head of his men, and having revealed the enemy in an entrenched position straight across the line of retreat, he proceeded to attack at once. A murderous fire was opened on him and his men, and a destructive cross-fire was brought to bear on them from a loopholed house. While gallantly exposing himself as an example to his men, he was shot in the body and fell dead. The whole five officers of his company were killed--a magnificent example to the remainder of the Battn. The next day the Germans sent out a party of our men whom they had taken prisoners, to bury our dead, and your son was placed in a grave with eight of his brother officers who fell in the same action. His personal effects were buried with him, nothing being touched. His kit was on our transport wagons, which may have escaped. When I came to this Battn. four months ago, I was attd. to your son’s company so that I might see how the new system was run, and it really was a lesson on the art of managing men. The Brigadier, after inspecting his company, said: ‘I should like to serve under Capt. Simms myself.’ No higher praise is needed. The whole Battn. was devoted to him, and his company was far the best of the Battn. In the Mess we shall miss him more than anywhere, his invincible good temper, tact and sense of humour made him an ideal senior member of the Mess.” In the War Office Record he is spoken of as a sound Company Commander. He was awarded the 5th Class of the Royal Victorian Order on the occasion of the presentation of new Colours to the Battn. by His Majesty King Edward VII at Cork, 1 Aug. 1903.

=SIMPKINS, FREDERICK THOMAS=, Signal Boy, J. 21561, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SIMPSON, ABRAM=, Private, No. K.P. 458, 8th Section, D Coy., Drake Battn. Royal Naval Division, _s._ of Abram Simpson, of 9, Maltkiln Lane, Castleford; _b._ Castleford, co. York, 6 June, 1895; educ. Lock Lane School there; enlisted after the outbreak of the war, 11 Sept. 1914, and was attd. to the Drake Battn. of the R.N.D.; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles; was wounded in the hip during a bayonet charge on 14 May, 1915, but returned to the trenches after a few days in hospital, and died, 20 June following, of wounds received in action; _unm._

=SIMPSON, ALBERT VICTOR=, A.B., No. 235888, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=SIMPSON, ALEXANDER MATHIESON=, Private, No. 14455, A Coy., No. 4 Platoon, 1st Battn. Cameron Highlanders, only child of the late Alexander Lee Simpson, of Glasgow, Slater, by his wife, Maggie, widow of (--) Logan, dau. of John Mathieson, Coal Miner, grandson of William Simpson, of Glasgow, Schoolmaster (by his wife, Sarah, dau. of Robert Lee, of (--), Ireland), and great-grandson of Alexander Simpson, of Girvan, co. Ayr, who emigrated to Rockhampton, Australia, about 1850; _b._ Glasgow, Jan. 1890; brought up by his aunt, Miss Sarah Simpson, of 68, John Street, Dunoon, Argyle, and educ. Glasgow and Dunoon Grammar Schools; was a Painter; enlisted about Oct. 1914; went to France, and was killed in action at the Battle of Loos, 25 Sept. 1915. He _m._ at Dunoon, 1914. Annie (Orwell Cottage, Edward Street, Dunoon), dau. of (--) Smith.

=SIMPSON, ANTHONY HENRY=, Lieut., 1st Battn. Royal Warwickshire Regt., yr. _s._ of James Herbert Simpson, of Rugby, M.L., by his wife, Charlotte Maria, dau. of Henry Wilson; _b._ Rugby, 28 Dec. 1887; educ. Hillbrow School, Rugby (1896–1901); Rugby School (1901–6), and Corpus Christi College, Oxford (1906–11, Scholar), and was afterwards an assistant master at Tonbridge School, where he was an officer in the O.T.C.; gazetted Lieut. to the Special Reserve of the Royal Warwickshire Regt., 24 Dec. 1914; went to France, 19 Jan. 1915, and died at the Base Hospital, Boulogne, 1 Feb. following, from bronchitis contracted while on active service; _unm._ Buried in the Cemetery there.