Other Service Information

• 3 Oct 1900 - Promoted to Lt
• 14 May 1904 - Made Adjutant of 10th Hussars
• 10 Oct 1904 - Promoted to Captain
• 7 Aug 1912 - Promoted to Major
• 17 Feb 1915 - Mentioned in Despatches

Circumstances Leading to Death (Normally from War Diary)           

Assembly area Zonnebeke-Ypres Road 13^th May 1915 4.00am:

A very heavy shelling commenced. It was at first directed on the front line on a breadth of about one mile, held by the 6th and 7th Cavalry Brigades and 2nd Dragoon guards. A dense pool of smoke hungover everything houses collapsed and trenches subsided.

At 6:00am the enemy started to shell our line severely and at 7:00am the 2nd Lifeguards commenced to retire through us. Lt Col Shearman, Major Crichton and Captain Stewart helping considerably to rally these men. Shelling became more severe.

At 8.00am the order was given for the regiment to leave all kit behind in the trenches rifles bandoliers bayonets and spades to be carried. To advance through these to the Queen's Bays trenches, will to the right and dig ourselves in. We concentrated behind the Chateau. Here Captain de Tryll, Sergeant Keely and several men were killed by a shell.

A Squadron alongside the road and immediately on coming into the open a very heavy shell and rifle fire was opened by the enemy. Here captain Gordon-Canning took half a squadron to fill up a gap on the left of the Queen's Bays between them and the 5th Dragoon Guards and later in the day supported the attack by rifle fire. The remaining 2 1/2 squadrons and machine guns then attempted to dig themselves in along the ditch of the road, but was stopped by the shell fire and crossed to dog outs on the South side of the road where they remained till 2:00pm. During this movement Lieut Wardell was wounded.

At 2:00 PM our guns opened a heavy fire on the enemy's trenches for half an hour. At 2:20pm the Essex Yeomanry and Royal Horse Guards advanced up to the right of our line whereupon the regiment jumped out of the dugout and charged led by Colonel Shearman. There was a space of about 400 yards to be crossed. The enemy opened fire but never stopped to receive the charge and left their trenches.

Unfortunately during this charge the Colonel and Captain Stuart were killed and Major Gibbs wounded but not so many men as might be expected. Major Crichton what's severely wounded whilst directing the fire on the retiring enemy and showed great gallantry and continuing to direct operations call ma although lying in the open until he handed over to Major Mitford on a retirement being ordered at 4:30pm. During this retirement the casualties were particularly heavy. Major Mitford was killed and Lieutenants Alexander, Lord Chesham and Stumbert were wounded.

Those who were left rallied under Lieutenant Bouch and Lord Airley in the dugouts on the right of the Queen's Bays trenches. Lieut Gordon-Canning joined up with these at about 8:30pm. Lieut Borthwick returning with him. The regiment then numbered five officers and 98 other ranks. They held this line protecting the Queen's Bays right flank until relieved by the 9th cavalry brigade at 10:30pm when they retired to the General Headquarters line. Captain Brocklehurst came up at 1:00am. END