The Roll of Honour, Volume 1 : A biographical record of all members of His…

1914. Major W. A. Payn (his commanding officer), writing to his widow,

described how, on the evening of 22 Oct. they were in the trenches near Lille, with the Germans 600 yards away. When day broke on the 23rd they saw the Germans entrenching 100 yards away. Volunteers were called to creep up to the ditch to turn the Germans out with the bayonet, and Barton, with six others, volunteered at once, and proceeded to crawl towards the trench. They had not gone far when the Germans saw them, and opened fire. Barton unluckily was hit in the head and killed. Before the war Corpl. Barton was employed as a grinder at the Park Road Spinning Company’s Mill, Dukinfield, and was one of the bellringers at St. Peter’s Church, where a tablet has been erected to his memory. He _m._ at Ashton, 13 Jan. 1908, Mary Jane (195, Portland Street, Ashton-under-Lyne), dau. of the late John Edward Wolstencroft, and had issue a dau., Hilda, _b._ 17 Nov. 1911. [Illustration: =Ernest Barton.=] =BARTON, GILBERT JOHNSON=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5356), S.S. 100, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BARTON, HAROLD WILLIAM FERGUSON=, 2nd Lieut., Royal Scots Fusiliers, yr. _s._ of the late William Thomson Barton, of Morriston, Elgin, by his wife, Clara (Woodstock, Camberley, Surrey), dau. of the late Very Rev. John Ferguson, Dean of Moray, Ross and Caithness; _b._ Morriston, Elgin, 5 Sept. 1893; educ. Stratheden House, Blackheath; Radley College; Mr. Tinniswood’s, Holmdale, Camberley; and the Royal Military College, Sandhurst; and was gazetted to the Royal Scots Fusiliers, 15 Aug. 1914. He went to France on 8 Sept., served on the Aisne and in Flanders, and was killed in action near La Bassée on or about 18 Oct. 1914. At first reported missing after the fighting that day, the news of his death was conveyed to his mother by a German officer, who wrote on a letter from her, no doubt found on his body, as follows: “Dear Mrs. Barton, Your son fell on the field of honour against our regt. I admired his courage after a very hard struggle against us. Your son will be buried near Castle Warneton, near Lille.--(Signed) Ewald, Lieut. Feldart. Regt. No. 7.” [Illustration: =Harold William F. Barton.=] =BARTON, HENRY=, Leading Stoker (R.F.R., B. 10176), 298707, H.M.S. Aboukir; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BARTON, JAMES THOMAS=, Stoker, P.O. (R.F.R., A. 2315), 115754, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BARTON, JOHN THOMAS=, Stoker, 1st Class, K. 5046, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =BARTTELOT, NIGEL KENNETH WALTER=, Lieut.-Commander, R.N., H.M.S. Liberty, 3rd Destroyer Flotilla, yr. _s._ of the late Sir Walter George Barttelot, 2nd Bt., 5th Dragoon Guards (killed in action South Africa, 23 July, 1900), by his wife, Georgiana Mary (now wife of Beville Molesworth St. Aubyn), only dau. of George Edmond Balfour, of The Manor, Sidmouth; _b._ Coates Castle, Fittleworth, Sussex, 9 April, 1883; educ. at “Fonthill,” East Grinstead; “Kivernells,” Lymington, and H.M.S. Britannia, Dartmouth. He joined the Navy, 15 Jan. 1899, becoming a Midshipman 15 May the same year, Sub-Lieut. 15 May, 1902, Lieut. 30 Sept. 1904, and Lieut.-Commander 30 Sept. 1912. He was appointed to the command of the destroyer Liberty, 7 March, 1914, and was killed in action off Heligoland Bight, 28 Aug. 1914. He was buried at Stopham. In the official report of their action, Commodore R. V. Tyrwhitt said: “H.M.S. Liberty.... The late Lieut.-Commander Nigel K. W. Barttelot commanded the Liberty with great skill and gallantry throughout the action. He was a most promising and able officer, and I consider his death a great loss to the Navy.” He _m._ at St. George’s, Hanover Square, 10 Jan. 1906, Dorothy Maud, dau. of the late Frederick Aldcroft Kay, and had a son: James Nigel Walter, _b._ 27 June, 1911. [Illustration: =Nigel K. W. Barttelot.=] =BASHFORD, ALFRED=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2682), 217071, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BASKERVILLE, GILBERT THOMAS=, Clerk, Royal Navy, yr. _s._ of the late Henry Spencer Baskerville, Fleet Paymaster, R.N., by his wife, Jane (4, Marlboro’ Villas, Gillingham, Kent), dau. of Thomas Wetherall Sproulle, M.D., and grandson of the late Commander Percival Baskerville, R.N.; _b._ Gillingham, 6 Oct. 1893; educ. Christ’s Hospital; entered the Navy, July, 1911, and was appointed to H.M.S. Highflyer, flagship in the East Indies. After the manœuvres in 1913, for which he was appointed to H.M.S. Euryalis, he joined the King George V. and was amongst those fêted at Kiel in June, 1914. In July the same year he was appointed to H.M.S. Cressy in order to qualify for his Assistant Paymaster examination, and was lost in the North Sea when that ship was torpedoed, 22 Sept. 1914; _unm._ He had the Persian Gulf medal. [Illustration: =Gilbert Thomas Baskerville.=] =BASKERVILLE, HEDLEY=, A.B. (R.F.R., B. 2418), 204437, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BASNETT, JOHN=, Corpl., No. 2801, D Coy., 8th (Service) Battn. Rifle Brigade, _s._ of John Basnett, of 14, Clement Street, Taylorson Street, Salford, Manchester, Labourer, by his wife, Emily, dau. of John Gallop; _b._ Bristol, 1 Sept. 1890; educ. Ordsall Board School, Salford; was employed at the Westinghouse Works, Trafford Park, but after the outbreak of war joined the Rifle Brigade, 31 Aug. 1914, and was killed in action at Hooge, 30 July, 1915; unm. His Capt., A. C. Sheepshanks, wrote that after the action he was found to be missing, and must have been struck down in the charge that day, adding: “He was turning out a most useful and reliable N.C.O.” [Illustration: =John Basnett.=] =BASS, HENRY=, Private, R.M.L.I. (Ports.), 6800, H.M.S. Hawke; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914; _m._ =BASSETT, VICTOR CHARLES=, Boy, 1st Class, J. 26732, H.M.S. Hawke, _s._ of Isaac Bassett, of 12, Furnival Road, Sheffield; lost in action in the North Sea, 15 Oct. 1914. =BASTARD, REGINALD GEORGE=, Officers’ Chief Steward, 362308 (Devon.), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BASTARD, WILLIAM=, Lieut., 2nd Battn. Bedfordshire Regt., _s._ of William Bastard, of Coltscombe, Slapton, near Kingsbridge, South Devon, by his wife, Helen, 2nd dau. of Joshua Edward Adkins; _b._ Coltscombe, 20 April, 1891; educ. Plymouth (Miss Tubbs’ preparatory school), Blundells’, and Exeter College, Oxford; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 22 Jan. 1913; was in South Africa at the outbreak of war, came home in Sept., was promoted Lieut. the 30th of that month, went to the front on 4 Oct., and was killed in action at Gheluvelt a few days later, 26 Oct. 1914; _unm._ He was mentioned in F.M. Sir John French’s despatch of 14 Jan. 1915, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. The following remarks were received by his mother from Col. Coates--6 Nov. 1914. “From the day he joined I recognised that your son was one of the best types of officers--very keen on his work, thoroughly sensible, and willing to take responsibility. I always had him in my eye as being well fitted for the Adjutancy later on.” [Illustration: =William Bastard.=] =BATCHELOR, BENJAMIN EDWIN=, Stoker, 1st Class, S.S. 111822, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BATCHELOR, GEORGE=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 5069), 177988, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BATCHELOR, HAROLD JAMES=, Flight Sub-Lieut., Royal Naval Air Service, 3rd _s._ of Capt. (--) Batchelor; was in the merchant service; obtained his commission Nov. 1914; was killed in the Dardanelles 11 May, 1915; _unm._ =BATE, THOMAS HENRY=, P.O., 2nd Class (R.F.R., A. 1815), 134972, H.M.S. Hogue; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BATEMAN, CLAUDE JOHN=, Private, No. 391, 7th Light Horse, Australian Imperial Force, _s._ of F. Bateman, of Wainfleet, Lincolnshire; killed in action at the Dardanelles, 2 June, 1915. =BATEMAN, FRANK=, A.B., R.F.R. (B. 2845, S.S. 184), H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BATEMAN, WILLIAM THOMAS=, Private, No. 748, 16th Battn. Australian Imperial Force; _d._ 15 May, 1915, of wounds received in action at the Dardanelles. =BATES, FRANK=, Private, No. 2020, 4th Battn. Royal Sussex Regt. (T.F.); _d._ at Cuckfield 31 Jan. 1915, of heart failure, while training. =BATES, GEORGE=, A.B. (R.F.R., Ch. B. 9776), 210136, H.M.S. Cressy; lost in action in the North Sea, 22 Sept. 1914. =BATES, JAMES CHRISTOPHER=, Private, No. 11259, 1st Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of Joseph Bates, of 113, Woodland Street, Smethwick, co. Stafford; served with Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders; reported missing 22 Dec. 1914, and now assumed to have been killed in action on that date. =BATES, STANES GEOFFREY=, Capt., 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, and Adjutant, North Somersetshire Yeomanry, only _s._ of Gilbert Thompson Bates, tenant of Mells Park, Frome, Somerset, J.P. [2nd _s._ of Sir Edward Bates, 1st Bt., M.P.], by his wife, Charlotte Thaxter, dau. of George Warren, of Woolton; _b._ London, 2 June, 1884; educ. Farnborough, Winchester, and Sandhurst. He joined the 7th Queen’s Own Hussars, 22 April, 1903, and was promoted Lieut. 27 April, 1907, and Capt. 11 May, 1912. He spent two and a-half years in South Africa, and returned with his regt. in Dec. 1906, when they were quartered at Norwich and afterwards at Aldershot. In Oct. 1911 the regt. went to Bangalore, where he remained until July, 1913, when he returned to England on leave, shortly afterwards (1 Nov.) receiving the Adjutancy of the North Somersetshire Yeomanry. He went to the front with this regt. and was wounded at Vlamertinghe during the 1st battle of Ypres, 16 Nov. 1914, but was able to return to the front from the Base Hospital in a few days. At the 2nd battle of Ypres he was killed instantaneously in the trenches at Hooge by a shell explosion, 13 May, 1915; _unm._ He was buried there the same day, amid a few trees behind the line held by the North Somersets. For their conduct on this occasion the North Somersets were specially mentioned in Despatches. He was much beloved by his men in both regts., and his loss deeply regretted by his Colonel and brother officers in the 7th Hussars. A good all-round sportsman and well-known with the Blackmore Vale Hounds. [Illustration: =Stanes Geoffrey Bates.=] =BATES, STANLEY KNIGHT=, Lieut., 5th Battn. The King’s Own (Royal Lancaster Regt.), yr. _s._ of Lieut.-Col. John Henry Bates, late 2nd in command of the same regt., formerly of Fir Bank, Penrith, Manager of the Penrith branch of the Liverpool Bank, by his wife, Sarah Eleanor, dau. of the late William Knight, of Milnthorpe, co. Westmorland; _b._ Morcambe, co. Lancaster, 19 June, 1897; educ. Lancaster Royal Grammar School in which he was House Prefect, and an Ashton House Exhibitioner. On the outbreak of war he obtained a commission in his father’s regt., 10 Aug. 1914, was promoted Lieut., 28 Dec. 1914, and went along with his father to France with his regt., 11 Feb. 1915. He was killed during the second Battle of Ypres in an advanced trench off the Zonnebeke River in front of Potijze at noon on Sunday, 9 May, 1915, while bringing food for the few men he had left with him. He was buried in front of the White Château, Potijze, near Ypres, where an iron cross was erected to his memory. Lieut. Bates took a great interest in the work of the O.T.C. from its commencement, obtained his colours in the Rugby team, and was also in the School Cricket team. A keen athlete, he was intended for the Army and was proud of the distinction of being the youngest full Lieut. in the Army; _unm._ [Illustration: =Stanley Knight Bates.=] =BATES, WILLIAM GEORGE HENRY=, Capt., 1st Battn. (Prince of Wales’s) Leinster Regt., 2nd _s._ of the Rev. William Wheatley Bates, M.A., of Toronto, by his wife, Emily, dau. of Manasseh (and Emma) Leeson, extensive landowner of Canada; _b._ Thornhill, Toronto, 12 Oct. 1878; educ. privately, and Trinity College, Toronto. He enlisted in the Lancashire Fusiliers in 1901, hoping to see active service in South Africa, but the regt. was ordered to Crete and kept there until the conclusion of the campaign. After serving over two years in the ranks, he was given a commission, 7 Nov. 1903, in the Leinster Regt., and promoted Lieut. 15 Dec. 1906, and Capt. 21 Sept.