Captain Stratford Walter LUDLOW

South Warwickshire Family History Society War Memorial Transcription Project

The Fallen Men of South Warwickshire - World War One

Captain Stratford Walter LUDLOW - 1st/8th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment

Killed in Action on Saturday 1st July 1916 aged 22

Military History


Theatre of War	Medals	Commonwealth War Grave or Memorial
France & Flanders	1914-15 Star, British War & Victory Medals	Serre Road Cemetery No. 2

Arrived in Theatre	Medal Citation (if app)	SWFHS Area Memorials
23 Mar 1915 in Havre, France	~	Dorridge, St. Philip's
		Knowle Soldiers Chapel
Action, Battle or Other Reason Killed	Date and Place Enlisted	Knowle War Memorial
Battle of the Somme	Commissioned 1 November 1911
		Other War Memorials
Place of Death	Previous Regiments or Units	St Alphege Church, Solihull
Beaumont Hamel	~	Worcester Catherdral
		King's School, Worcester

Captain Ludlow was the Officer in Charge of C Company

Military Service History

1 Nov 1911 - Commissioned as 2nd Lt in 8th Battalion Royal Warwickshite's (Gazette) from King's School, Worcester OTC
1 Aug 1913 - Promoted to Lt (Gazette)
1 Dec 1914 - Promoted to Capt (Gazette)
23 Mar 1915 - Joined the British Expeditionary Force with his Battalion at Havre, France

Circumstances of Death

Captain Ludlow is listed as being killed in action on 1 July 1916. The 1st/8th Battalion war diary entry for that day is transcribed below.

The Sucerie in Front of Mailly-Maillet – 1 July 1916 – Attack on Beaumont Hamel:

2.00am: Battalion reported present in forming up trenches

4.30am to 7.00am: Reported that everyone had a good breakfast. Artillery bombardment was intense and not a lot of retaliation from Bosch. Artillery increased in intensity & enemy replying with Field Guns and 15cm.

7.00am: Very intense artillery on both sides

7.25am: Enemy machine guns opened all along line. Three minutes later our troops are lying on parapet ready to advance.

7.30am: Advance begins, enemy first line reached and passed very quickly as also was the second. Only in one or two cases were any enemy seen in these two lines. Having plenty of casualties from machine gun fire in enemy third and fourth lines. At the third line men were temporarily held up by machine gun fire but took it by rushers.

From this point the fighting was all with bombs along trenches. We reached our objective probably 35-40 minutes from Zero hour (7.30am) & at once commenced consolidating & cleaning rifles under the directions of Capt. Martin & 2/Lt Turner. By this time the rest of the Battalion was arriving but had had so many casualties that they could not go through us so helped consolidate. This happened with all Battalions following us. Many times we were bombed from this position and regained it until bombs ran out.

We had to retire to the 3^rd line, line the parapet & hold on with machine [gun] and rifle fire. Parties were detailed to collect as many bombs as could be found (both English & German) & when we had a good store we again reached our objective. No supply of bombs were coming from rear so could not hold on & retired again. Enemy machine guns & snipers were doing a great amount of damage all the while. Enemy artillery opened but fortunately their range was over.

7.30pm: Held onto this position until relieved by a Battalion from the rear. All through the action no troops were seen on our right or left. This has a great deal to do with the inability to push past our objective.

11pm: Arrived at Mailly-Maillet & were put into billets.

Mailly-Maillet – July 2^nd: Resting except for Roll Call.

Casualties arrived at from Roll Call:

Officers Killed: Lt Col C.A. Dixon; Major A.A. Leadrich; Capt S.W. Ludlow; Lt’s Hoskins, Fussell & Proctor; 2^nd Lt’s Mareham & Key.

Officers Wounded 12; Wounded & Missing 1, Wounded & Prisoner of War 1.

Other Ranks: Killed 57; Wounded 255 and Missing 251

Total Casualties were 585.

Personal & Family History

Birth Date/Place	Baptism Date/Place
10 Jul 1894 in Knowle	22 Jul 1894 in Knowle

Parents Names	Abode
Brig Gen Walter Robert & Helen Florence Ludlow	Lovelace Hill, Solihull

Schools	Colleges
King's School, Worcester	~

Address History	Employment History
1894 - Knowle	1901 - Scholar
1901 - Dorridge House, Dorridge	1904 - Scholar at King's School
1904 - King's School, Worcester	1907 - Merchant Navy Training Ship HMS Conway
1907 - HMS Conway, Liverpool	1909 - Scholar at King's School
1909 - King's School, Worcester	1911 - Trainee Surveyor at Ludlow & Briscoe, Birmingham
1911 - The Hostel, College Green, Worcester	1913 - 2nd Lt in Royal Warwickshire, Territorial Army
1911 - Lovelace Hill, Solihull
1916 - Lovelace Hill, Solihull

The following extracts from publications give more informtion about Stratford

King's School - The Vigornian, November 1916, No.87, Vol.VIII

Stratford Walter Ludlow - Capt. Royal Warwick Regt.

Born July 10^th, 1894. Fell in France, July 1^st, 1916.

Stratford Ludlow was the second son of Colonel W.R. Ludlow, C.B., of Lovelace Hill, Solihull. He entered the School in September, 1904, in the First Form, and in three years reached the Fourth, when he went up for a short time to the “Conway.” Giving up the idea of the sea he returned to School after three terms, and left in the Sixth Form in July, 1911. He was in the first football team, 1910, and second Cricket XI., 1911, and a vigorous Col.-Sergt. in the O.T.C. On leaving School he entered his father’s firm and joined the 8^th Battalion Warwick Regiment (T.F.), that had been raised by his father, as 2^nd Lieut. He was a keen, efficient, and smart soldier, and after four years service went to the front with his Battalion in March, 1915. He was gazetted Lieut. In August, 1913 and Captain in December, 1914. He fell at the head of his Company while gallantly leading them over the front German position in the assault on the Quadrilateral, July 1^st, 1916 and although wounded was last seen with some of his men in the second line of German trenches. Letters from commanding officers describe him as an excellent soldier and a first class company commander. He was most loyal to his old School and a regular correspondent with his old Head Master.

Kenilworth Advertiser 15 Jul 1916

SOLIHULL

WOUNDED AND MISSING - Captain Stratford Ludlow, Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F) was seen in the assault on the enemy position on Sunday 2 July, about 7.45 am. He was wounded in the arm in crossing the first of the German works, but continued in the charge until the second German trench was reached. Since then nothing has been heard of him. Anyone who can give any information with regard to him is requested to communicate with Colonel Ludlow, C.B. Lovelace Hill near Solihull, Warwickshire.

Birmingham Mail 21 Jul 1916

COL. LUDLOWS SOM KILLED CAPTAIN STRATFORD LUDLOW (KILLED)

Captain Stratford Ludlow, of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment (T.F.), previously reported wounded and missing on July 1, is now reported killed. Information has been received that his body has been found, and that he was interred in a shell hole on the night of 15th-16th.

Captain Ludlow was the youngest son of Colonel W.R. Ludlow, C.B. of Lovelace Hill, Solihull, who raised the 8th Battalion of the Royal Warwicks in 1908. Captain Ludlow who attained his 22nd birthday last month served in the Warwicks for four years and went to the front in March 1915. He was Gazetted Second Lieutenant on November 1, 1911, Lieutenant on August 1, 1913 and Captain on December 1, 1914.

He fell at the head of his company, while gallantly leading them over the enemy’s front position, and although wounded was last seen with some of his men in the second line of enemy trenches. Letters received from surviving officers describe him as an excellent soldier and a first-class company commander, and a more cheery and enthusiastic brother officer, his comrades say, they could not wish to have had.

He was educated to King's School, Worcester where he was a member of the OTC and on HMS Conway. Colonel Ludlow's other son, Lieutenant Carlton W.R. Ludlow is serving in the Somerset Light Infantry.

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