Part 31

=BRUCE, GERVASE RONALD=, Midshipman, R.N., _s._ of Percy Robert Bruce, of Downhill, co. Londonderry, and Clifton Hall, Notts, Major, South Notts Hussars, by his wife, Aletheia Georgina, dau. of the Right Hon. Sir Richard Horner Paget, of Cranmore Hall, Somerset, 1st Bart., P.C., and grandson of Lieut.-Col. Sir Hervey Juckes Lloyd Bruce, of Downhill, near Coleraine, and Clifton Hall, Nottingham, 4th Bart., late Coldstream Guards; _b._ London, 19 Jan. 1899; educ. Osborne and Dartmouth Colleges; mobilised from Dartmouth. Aug. 1914, and was killed in action in the Battle off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, by the sinking of H.M.S. Monmouth, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BRUCE, JOHN ELLIOTT LIDDERDALE=, R.A., Major, Royal Garrison Artillery, 2nd _s._ of Col. Elliott Armstrong Bruce, of Stenhouse, Barnstaple, Indian Army [grandson of Sir William Bruce, of Stenhouse, 7th Bart.], by his 1st wife, Mary Rebecca, dau. of the Rev. William Dawson; _b._ Rangoon, 10 Jan. 1870; educ. Carshalton House, Carshalton, Surrey; St. Paul’s School and Woolwich Academy; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Royal Artillery, 15 Feb. 1889, and promoted Lieut. 15 Feb. 1892, Capt. 19 July, 1899, and Major, 7 Aug. 1909; was D.A.A.G. for Royal Artillery in India, 29 March, 1906, to 31 May, 1907; Staff Capt., India, 1 June, 1907, to 16 March, 1908, and Brigade Major, India, 17 March, 1908, to 28 March, 1910; served (1) in Burma as Orderly Officer, 1891, with the Wuntho Expedition (mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 9 Feb. 1892] (medal with clasp); (2) with the Waziristan Expedition, 1894–5 (clasp); (3) in the operations in the North-West Frontier, India, 1897–8, with the Tochi Field Force (medal with clasp); (4) in South African War, 1900; took part in operations in the Transvaal, Orange Free State, and Cape Colony, March to Sept. (Queen’s medal with three clasps); (5) on North-West Frontier, India, 1908, as D.A.Q.M.G. (12–31 May) to Field Force during operations in the Mohmand country; and (6) with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at the Dardanelles, 1915; took part in the landing, 25 April, and was killed in action there 29 May following, being mentioned in Gen. Sir Ian Hamilton’s Despatches [London Gazette, 5 Aug. 1915]. Major Bruce _m._ at Tilford, Surrey, 12 Sept. 1900, Charlotte Mabel, yst. dau. of the late T. J. G. Johnstone, of the Ceylon Civil Service, and had two sons: John Charles Douglas, _b._ 2 Aug. 1902; and Henry Malcolm, _b._ 28 Feb. 1904.

=BRUCE, JONATHAN MAXWELL=, Major, 107th Pioneers, Indian Army, eldest _s._ of Richard Isaac Bruce, of Quetta, Teddington, C.I.E. late Commissioner in the Punjab (who received the thanks of the Indian Government on several occasions for distinguished frontier service), by his wife, Lilla, dau. of the Rev. John Beavor Webb, Rector of Dunderrow, co. Cork, and gdson. of Jonathan Bruce, of Miltown Castle, co. Cork; _b._ Dharmsala, India, 22 June, 1873; educ. Haileybury and Sandhurst; obtained his commission, 16 Jan. 1895, and was promoted Lieut. 16 April, 1897, Capt. 16 Jan. 1904, Double Company Officer 8 March, 1908, and Major 16 Jan. 1913. He saw active service on the North-West Frontier of India in 1897–8, taking part in the defence and relief of Malakand, the action at Landaki and the operations in the Mahmund Country, receiving the medal with two clasps. Major Bruce was killed in action at Festubert, 24 Nov. 1914, and was buried at Bethune. He _m._ at St. Alban’s Church, Teddington, 14 Sept. 1905, Mabel Waldron (Kenilworth, Seymour Road, Hampton Wick), 3rd dau. of Henry Trengronse, of Hampton Wick, J.P., and had two daus.--Mary Aileen, _b._ 5 May, 1908, Barbara Maxwell, _b._ 11 March, 1910.

=BRUCE, WILLIAM ARTHUR McCRAE=, Lieut., 59th Scinde Rifles, Frontier Force, Indian Army, only _s._ of Col. Andrew McCrae Bruce, of Roch d’Or, Sanares, Jersey, C.B., Unemployed Supry. List, Indian Army; by his wife, Margaret Hay; _b._ 15 June, 1890; educ. Mr. Bickerstith’s Preparatory School, Netherwood, Hastings; Mr. Reynold’s Preparatory School, Cliff House, Southbourne, Hants; Victoria College, Jersey, and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst. Was a King’s Indian Cadet, and after passing out of Sandhurst in the autumn of 1909 was gazetted 2nd Lieut. on the unattached list for the Indian Army 29 Jan. 1910, and sailed for India in H.M. Troopship Plassy, on 11 Feb. from Southampton. On arrival in India he was ordered in join 5th Northumberland Fusiliers, to which regt. he was attached; after serving with them for one year he was posted to the 59th Scinde Rifles F.F. at Kohat, Punjab, and joined on 8 March, 1911. In 1911–12 he took part with his regt. in one or two small affairs against Wuzeerie Raiders. In 1912, he passed in musketry and signalling. In the autumn of 1913, he marched with his regt. from Kohat to Qullundur, arriving there on 17 Dec. 1913. In June, 1914, Col. Fenner, commanding the regt. wrote of him: “A big, fine and promising young officer of excellent ability. As Transport and Signalling Officer, has performed his duties with marked success. Personally popular, good at games and a fine rider. He is good tempered, has tact, judgment, self-reliance, reliability and common sense. His influence with officers and men is good, he is active and temperate.” In 1914, he was granted eight months’ leave to England where he arrived on 10 April. On the outbreak of war he was ordered to rejoin his regt. and sailed for India in H.M. Trooper Dongola on 10 Aug. On arrival in Egypt he was ordered to disembark and proceed to Cairo and await the arrival of his regt. With his regt, he arrived in Marseilles about 17 Sept. and in Oct. joined the fighting line. He took part in all the work done by his regt. until he was killed on 19 Dec. 1914. Major I. L. Leede, commanding the 59th Scinde Rifles F.F. wrote on 20 Dec. 1914: “I am deeply grieved to have to write and tell you that your son Lieut. Bruce was killed yesterday, during a night attack. He met his death in a German trench which we had taken, he was shot through the chest and killed instantly.... Until Col Fenner was killed, your son was my company officer, and I was very fond of him indeed, and I am more grieved than I can say to have to tell you of his death. I consider him to have been a young officer of most exceptional promise, and I have seen him under fire off and on for two months. Will you please accept the very sincere sympathy and condolence of the whole regt.” Capt. Anderson of 59th Scinde Rifles F.F. writing on 20 Dec. 1914, to Gen. J. R. B. Atkinson, said. “A N.C.O. of mine got back last night. He had been with Bruce, who was the first man into his part of the trench, and died most gallantly holding it. He (the N.C.O.) says he told his men to retire, but they said the Sahib had ordered them not to, so they died there.” Lieut. C. J. S. Le Cornu, 56th Punjab Rifles F.F. with the 33rd Div. Sig. Coy., writing on 27 Dec. 1914, said: “I had a long talk with Anderson, the Adjutant. He said to me: ‘If you are writing to Bruce’s people do tell them how very fond we all of us in the regt. were of him, and that he died doing an extremely plucky thing....’ He was leading a bombing party, ... and the men who were with and near him that night cannot speak too highly of him.... Every single officer and man in the 59th I saw to-day had a word of sympathy for you, and they one and all said how very pluckily your son had died.” Capt. Scales, attached to the 59th Scinde Rifles, who was very severely wounded in the same attack, wrote on 9 Jan. 1915: “Your son was with me just a minute or two before we left our trenches to attack the German trenches, he was in splendid spirits and ready for anything.... His loss will be felt by everyone in the regt. as he was the best of good fellows, and absolutely fearless.”

=BRUMPTON, ERNEST WILLIAM=, Gunner, R.M.A., 5923, (R.F.R., B. 547), H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BRUNS, THOMAS JOHN=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 13363, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BRYANT, CHARLES WILLIAM=, Ordinary Seaman, J. 10225, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BRYANT, HENRY EDWARD=, Stoker, 1st Class (R.F.R., B. 4220), S.S. 102908 H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BRYANT, JOHN WILLIAM=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 8959), 207950, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BRYANT, RICHARD=, Chief Armourer, 168951, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BRYANT, THOMAS HENRY=, Armourer’s Crew, M. 7291, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BINGHAM-BRYDEN, EDWARD CARRUTHERS=, Private, No. 1137, D Coy., 4th Battn. Australian Imperial Force, only _s._ of the late Edward Carruthers Bryden, of Birklees, Goulburn, New South Wales, Dental Surgeon, by his wife, Anna Maria (Birklees, Goulburn, New South Wales), dau. of the late Henry Bingham, of Annagh House, co. Mayo [2nd _s._ of Robert Augustus Bingham, of Bingham Castle, co. Mayo]; _b._ Birklees, Goulburn, 30 July, 1894; educ. Goulburn and afterwards at an Agricultural College, and when war broke out was on a station learning farming previous to taking up land for himself; volunteered for Imperial service at the end of Aug. 1914; left for Egypt with the main force on the Euripides, 19 Oct. 1914; took part in the landing at the Dardanelles, 25 April, 1915, and was killed in action there the following day; _unm._ His company officer wrote: “He was in my company and under me since we left Sydney. I wanted you to know he died as a true soldier. His body was buried on the battlefield.”

=BUCHANAN, DUNCAN ALLAN=, Private, No. 1837, 1/8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders (T.F.), eldest _s._ of Thomas Watters Buchanan, of Oak Bank, Oban, Sheep Farmer, by his wife, Jane Cooper, dau. of the late William Allan, of Morningside, Edinburgh; _b._ Colisnacone Farm, Glencoe, co. Argyle, 19 Dec. 1894; educ. Oban High School; prior to the outbreak of the war was in the employment of Messrs. Hosack & Sutherland, Lawyers at Oban, but volunteered his services immediately and enlisted in the Cycle Corps of the 8th Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders, going with his regt. to Flanders in May. On 11 June, 1915, the Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders were in the trenches near Festubert, and as the men were short of rations, parties of ten from each platoon were organised to go to the rear for the purpose of obtaining food. No. 16 platoon, of which Buchanan was a member, went first. The firing trench was only between 50 and 100 yards from the enemy, and the men had to run about 100 yards across the open to get into the communication trench. When they were about half way across the Germans opened fire. Buchanan was badly wounded by a bullet in the thigh. He was brought home and died in Netley Hospital 6 July, following, from haemorrhage caused by the rupture of an artery. In all the letters from officers and comrades, also the nurses and orderlies, reference was made to his brightness and to his cheerful obliging disposition under all circumstances. He was _unm._

=BUCHANAN, JAMES HERBERT=, Lieut., 4th (Extra Reserve) Battn. Princess Victoria’s Royal Irish Fusiliers, attached 1st Battn. Leinster Regt., only _s._ of George Buchanan, of Prospect House, Ballyward, Banbridge, co. Down, retired teacher and farmer, by his wife, Elizabeth, dau. of Robert Ochiltree; _b._ Ballyward, 12 Aug. 1892; educ. Excelsior Academy, Banbridge, and Queen’s University, Belfast, where he studied with a view to entering the ministry of the Presbyterian Church. While at Queen’s University he was for three years a member of the O.T.C. and rose to the rank of Sergt. On 24 June, 1914, he was gazetted 2nd Lieut., being posted to the 4th Battn. Royal Irish Fusiliers. After joining he spent some time training at Carrickfergus, was promoted Lieut. 2 Nov. 1914, and on 16 Feb. left for France with a draft of 200 men. They arrived on the 18th and spent five days at the base. He was then attached to the Leinster Regt. and served with them in the trenches until 15 March, when he received his fatal wound. Writing of his death his Captain said: “On the evening of 14 March he led his men against a German trench, and with great valour took it and held it till morning when it was found to be untenable. At daylight the order was given to retreat, and while assembling his men he was shot twice through the body by snipers.” He was carried to the Field Hospital where he died next morning (16 March, 1915) at 11 o’clock and was buried the same evening in the officers’ cemetery at Dickebush. A commanding officer wrote: “To say that Lieut. Buchanan was loved by his men is not enough, they idolised him.”

=BUCHANAN, WILLIAM=, Petty Officer, 1st Class, 166810, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=GRAY-BUCHANAN, CECIL GORDON=, Trooper, 2nd Light Horse, Australian Imp. Force, yst. _s._ of Lieut.-Col. (Hon. Col.) James Ross Gray-Buchanan, of Eastfleld, Cambuslang, and Scotstoun, co. Lanark, late Commanding 3rd and 4th Battns. The Cameronians, and previously for many years with the 26th Cameronians; by his wife, Kate, dau. of James Farie, of Farme, co. Lanark, and grandson of Thomas Gray-Buchanan, of Ardoch and Scotstoun; _b._ Eastfleld, Rutherglen, 9 Sept. 1886; educ. Cargilfield School and Fettes College, Edinburgh; joined the Australian Light Horse on the outbreak of war, and was killed in action at the Dardanelles, 14 May, 1915. The Col. commanding the regt. wrote that he had had the opportunity of observing him on a good many occasions, both on shipboard and in Egypt, and his service was ever a credit to himself and his family and that he was seen to fall gallantly doing his duty to the last.

=GRAY-BUCHANAN, CLAUDE=, Capt., 35th Sikhs, Indian Army, eldest _s._ of Lieut.-Col. Michael Rowand Gray-Buchanan, of Ettrick Dale, Isle of Bute, by his wife, Frederica, 7th dau. of Henry Stuart, of Montford, Isle of Bute [and granddau. of Rear-Admiral Lord George Stuart, C.B., 7th _s._ of John, 4th Earl, and 1st Marquis of Bute], and grandson of Thomas Gray-Buchanan, of Ardoch and Scotstoun: _b._ Timaru, New Zealand, 17 Feb. 1878; educ. Harrow and Sandhurst, out of which he passed first in 1898; when he was attached to the 1st Battn. Hampshire Regt. as a probationer for the Indian Army. He served with that regt. at Lundi Kotal (Khyber Pass) and on the North West Frontier of India from October, 1898 to October, 1899, when he was appointed to the 35th Sikhs, and promoted Lieut. 30 Oct. 1900. He served through the Waziri Campaign in 1901, for which he received the medal and clasp. He received his company, 20 July, 1907, and passed out of the Staff College, Quetta, in Dec. 1913. Early in Aug. he was appointed to the Headquarters Staff of the Royal Flying Corps, Expeditionary Force and on 2 Nov. 1914, was attached to the 8th Gurkhas. He was at first reported missing, but afterwards officially reported as having been killed in action near Festubert, 4 Nov. 1914. He _m._ at St. Augustine’s Church, Dumbarton, 2 July, 1914, Jane Cecilia Hope, only dau. of Major Robert Elmsall Findlay, of Boturich Castle, co. Dumbarton, _s.p._

=GRAY-BUCHANAN, WALTER BRUCE=, Capt. and Adjutant, 2nd Battn. The Cameronians (Scottish Rifles), fourth _s._ of Lieut.-Col (Hon. Col.) James Ross Gray-Buchanan, of Eastfleld, Cambuslang, and Scotstoun. co. Lanark, late commanding 3rd and 4th battns. The Cameronians, and previously for many years with the 26th Cameronians; by his wife, Kate, dau. of James Farie, of Farme, co. Lanark, and grandson of Thomas Gray-Buchanan, of Ardoch and Scotstoun; _b._ Eastfield, Rutherglen, 20 Aug. 1885; educ. Cargilfield School and Fettes College, Edinburgh; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 3rd Battn. Cameronians, 16 Feb. 1905, transferred to 2nd Battn. 16 Feb. 1907, promoted Lieut. 13 Oct. 1909, and Capt. 3rd Nov. 1914, and appointed Adjutant 8 Feb. 1915. He was killed in action at Neuve Chapelle 10 March, 1915, and was buried there; _unm._ A comrade wrote: “One of those whose memories will never be forgotten and whose deeds will add to the glories of the old regiment.”

=BUCK, FREDERICK=, Petty Officer, 210184, H.M.S. Pathfinder; lost when that ship was sunk by a mine, about 20 miles off the East Coast, 5 Sept. 1914.

=BUCK, THOMAS CYRIL=, D.C.M., Sergt., No. 7584, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards; _s._ of John Buck, of Frettenham, co. Norfolk, Agricultural Labourer, by his wife, Maria Buck, dau. of the late William Cooke, of Buxton; _b._ Frettenham, 3 Nov. 1891; educ. Elementary School there; enlisted at Norwich, 27 Dec. 1907; was promoted Sergt. in Sept. 1912; served with the Expeditionary Force in France, greatly distinguishing himself at Givenchy and again a week later near Gheluvelt, and was killed in action at Richebourg on the morning of 9 May, 1915, being hit by a shrapnel bullet. He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John (now Lord) French’s Despatch of 20 Nov. 1914 [London Gazette, 17 Feb. 1915], and was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal “For conspicuous gallantry and ability at Givenchy, 21 to 23 Dec. 1914, in going forward under heavy fire to select positions for machine guns, and subsequently for rescuing a wounded man who was lying out under fire. He also behaved gallantly on 29 Oct., near Gheluvelt, when in charge of machine guns.” Lieut. T. A. Tapp wrote: “As officer in charge of the machine gun section I feel I must write to you and tell you how dreadfully cut up we all are at losing Sergt. Buck, who had made a name for himself, not only for his machine gun section, which was the best in the Army, but also for his own great personal bravery and devotion to duty. I feel I shall never have any chance of getting another Sergt. even half so good as Sergt. Buck was,” and Col. J. A G. R. Drummond Hay, Commanding Coldstream Guards, writing at the wish of Col. Ponsonby said: “I will quote Colonel Ponsonby’s own words as they evidently convey the feeling in the battn. as to the conspicuously gallant manner in which Sergt. Buck has conducted himself throughout the war. ‘Sergt. T. Buck, who got the D.C.M. a little time ago and was my machine gun Sergt. was killed (this was in a big fight that took place on Sunday, 9 May). He will be a great loss. He has been right through the war, and was one of the bravest and coolest men under fire I have ever seen. I had already mentioned him twice before for that reason and was so glad when he was given D.C.M., which he had so well earned.’”

=BUCKETT, HENRY=, Stoker, 1st Class, 309963, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BUCKINGHAM, ALBERT=, Petty Officer (O.S.), 186259, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BUCKINGHAM, ALFRED THOMAS=, Private, R.M.L.I., Ch. 13830, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BUCKINGHAM, AUBREY WEBSTER=, Major, 3rd Battn. Gordon Highlanders, 3rd _s._ of the late Joseph Hicks Buckingham, of Lancaster Gate, W., and Truro, by his wife, Lucy Webster, dau. of Benjamin Hallewell, of Leeds; _b._ London. 11 Oct. 1870; educ. Elstree, and Harrow; gazetted Lieut. in the London Scottish volunteers in 1892, and saw service in the South African War, 1899–1902. He took part in the operations in Natal in 1899 in command on volunteer details, and was afterwards appointed garrison adjutant at Green Point Camp, and for his services received the Queen’s medal with three clasps and the King’s medal with two clasps. He was given the rank of honorary Capt. in the Army, 31 May, 1901, and that of Major 11 Jan. 1902, and was attached to the 3rd Battn. (Reserve of Officers) of the Gordon Highlanders. He settled at Harrietsham in 1902, purchasing a large portion of the Stede Hill Estate and becoming lord of the manor. On the outbreak of war he was transferred to the 1st Battn. and went to the front on 6 Sept. 1914. He was killed in action near Hooge, 17 Nov. 1914. Major Buckingham _m._ at Harrietsham, 2 June, 1908, Mabel Felizardae (Harrietsham Manor, Kent), dau. of the late Col. Walter Reginald Rudge, of Stede Court, Harrietsham, R.A.; _s.p._

=BUCKINGHAM, JAMES=, Petty Officer (R.F.R., B. 10250), 181522, H.M.S Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914.

=BUCKINGHAM, WILLIAM EDWARD=, Stoker, Petty Officer, 280012, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BUCKLE, HENRY WHITE=, Leading Seaman (R.F.R., B. 2775), 210616, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914.

=BUCKLEY, MOSES MILLER SHAW=, Boy 1st Class, J. 24636 (Devon.), H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914.

=BUCKLEY, CLARENCE JAMES=, Private, No. 69090, A Coy., 26th Battn., 5th Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force, _s._ of James Buckley, of 31, Suffolk Street, St. John West, New Brunswick; _b._ (--); educ. St. Patrick’s School, St. John West; was employed in the Canadian Pacific Railway Locomotive Works; volunteered on the outbreak of war, and enlisted in Oct. 1914, and died shortly after sunset on Wednesday, 13 Oct. 1915, from wounds received in action in France at 4 p.m.; _unm._ He was buried in the cemetery of the 26th Battn. His Lieut. wrote: “He was killed in action Wednesday last doing his duty. When wounded, even though he knew he had not a chance of recovering, he bore himself as a man.” And a comrade: “My work is First Aid in the field, and as I am a stretcher-bearer in C Coy., and was detailed for the support of A Coy. on the memorable 13 Oct., I was an intimate friend of your son, and carried him in from the field when he was wounded, and gave him the best care within my knowledge. He was very badly wounded, and after I had given him enough morphine to deaden his pain, I made him as easy as possible. I was terribly busy that day, but every time I came in I went over to where Clarence was lying to see if he was resting easy. You have every reason to be proud of your brave lad. Although he was mortally wounded he would say, ‘How goes it, Doc.’ (Doc. is my nickname here), and he always had a smile for me.”