Somerset Light Infantry - Roll of Honour of Officers of the Somerset Light Infantry Who Died in the Great War Whilst Serving With 8th (Service) Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

No	Date Died	Surname	Forenames	Rank	Decs	Age	Cause	Country	Location/Sector	Cemetery/Memorial	Notes
1915
1	25th September	BRODIE-INNES	Ian Stuart	2Lt	MiD	28	KIA	France	Near "Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 38/39)	-
2	26th September	BAKER	Silvanus Wilfred	2Lt	-	18	KIA	France	"Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 38/39)	-
3	26th September	BASKER	Reginald Hugh	2Lt	-	26	KIA	France	"Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 38/39)	-
4	26th September	EALAND	Frederick John Arthur	2Lt	-	22	KIA	France	"Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 38/39)	-
5	26th September	HOPKINS	Lewis	2Lt	-	?	KIA	France	"Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 38/39)	-
6	26th September	ROBINSON	Edward Colston	2Lt	-	21	KIA	France	"Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 38/39)	-
7	15th October	NICHOLS	Walter Henry	Major	-	43	POW	Germany	POW Camp at West Munich	Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel (II.A.17)	(1)
8	23rd December	HOWARD	Lewis Charles	Lt Col	DSO, MiD*	34	KIA	France	"The Mushroom", east of Armentieres	Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery (IX.D.71)	-
1916
9	5th January	MARSH	Alfred Stanley	Capt	-	24	KIA	France	East of Armentieres	Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery (IX.D.79)	-
10	14th May	VERNON	Roger	2Lt	-	23	KIA	France	Near Fricourt, Somme	Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery (XXX.A.38)	(2)
11	21st May	TURPIN	James Stephen	2Lt	-	24	DOW	France	CCS at Corbie, Somme	Corbie Communal Cemetery Extn (I.A.31)	(3)
12	1st July	CHALMERS	John Robert Thorburn	2Lt	-	28	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Thiepval Memorial (Panel/Face 2A)	-
13	1st July	DALRYMPLE	Hew	2Lt	-	31	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Thiepval Memorial (Panel/Face 2A)	-
14	1st July	HATT	Arthur Beach	Capt	MC, MiD*	27	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Gordon Dump Cemetery (II.M.4)	(4)
15	1st July	LEATHLEY	William George	2Lt	-	20	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Thiepval Memorial (Panel/Face 2A)	-
16	1st July	LEWIS	John Emrys	2Lt	-	24	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Gordon Dump Cemetery (II.M.3)	(5)
17	1st July	SCOTT	William Francis	2Lt	-	31	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Gordon Dump Cemetery (II.M.2)	(6)
18	1st July	WARDEN	Walter George	Capt	-	30	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Gordon Dump Cemetery (II.Q.2)	(7)
19	1st July	WITHERS	Frank Dean	2Lt	-	22	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Thiepval Memorial (Panel/Face 2A)	-
20	1st July	YOUNG	James Vincent	2Lt	-	24	KIA	France	"Lozenge Alley", near Fricourt	Gordon Dump Cemetery (II.M.6)	(8)
21	2nd July	BAKER	Wilfred Harry	2Lt	-	?	KIA	France	"Lozenge Wood", near Fricourt	Puchevillers British Cemetery (I.A.25)	-
22	7th August	EMMS	Harry	2Lt	-	26	KIA	France	Berthonval, near Souchez	Zouave Valley Cemetery, Souchez (II.E.5)	(9)
23	18th November	CHIPPINDALL	Bertram Thorold	2Lt	-	24	KIA	France	Bois d'Hollande, near Beaucourt	Ancre British Cemetery (VI.F.50)	-
24	18th November	FITZMAURICE	Lindsay	Capt	-	23	KIA	France	Bois d'Hollande, near Beaucourt	Ancre British Cemetery (VII.F.35)	-
25	19th November	HALL	Arthur Henry	Capt	MC	25	KIA	France	Puisieux Trench, near Beaucourt	Ancre British Cemetery (VII.E.7)	-
26	19th November	JOSCELYNE	Frank Henry Tremlett	Capt	-	30	KIA	France	Puisieux Trench, near Beaucourt	Ancre British Cemetery (VI.F.46)	(10)
1917
27	25th March	SARGEANT	Ralph Leslie	2Lt	-	26	A	France	25th Gen Hosp, south of Boulogne	Neufchatel-Hardelot Churchyard (19)	(11)
28	23rd April	VAUGHAN	Leslie Howell	2Lt	-	23	KIA	France	"Hyderabad Work", near Fampoux	Brown's Copse Cemetery, Roeux (VI.D.21)	(12)
29	28th April	GIBBS	Gilbert Fincher	2Lt	-	25	KIA	France	Near "Greenland Hill", near Fampoux	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
30	28th April	GORDON	Charles Campbell Boswell	2Lt	-	23	KIA	France	Near "Greenland Hill", near Fampoux	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
31	1st May	BULLIVANT	Robert Walter	2Lt	-	21	DOW	France	Military Hospital at Boulogne	Wimereux Communal Cemetery (III.C.1)	(13)
32	3rd May	BAILEY	Robert Humphrey David	Lt	-	27	KIA	France	East of Arras	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
33	26th May	BAKER	Sidney	Capt	-	36	DOW	UK	Hospital at London	Paddington Old Cemetery (Screen Wall IK.10740)	(14)
34	31st July	BLAKE	Edward William Richmond	2Lt	-	20	KIA	Belgium	Wambeke, near Oosttaverne	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 21)	-
35	31st July	KIRK	Harold Raymond	2Lt	-	21	KIA	Belgium	Wambeke, near Oosttaverne	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 21)	-
36	1st August	WORSLEY	William Reginald	2Lt	-	27	KIA	Belgium	Wambeke, near Oosttaverne	Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial (Panel 21)	-
37	3rd August	HAGON	Charles Douglas	2Lt	-	30	DOW	France	Military Hospital at Abbeville	Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extn (III.B.22)	(15)
38	4th October	FRIEND	Henry John	2Lt	-	22	KIA	Belgium	"Tower Hamlets", near Gheluvelt	Zandvoorde British Cemetery (VI.J.1)	(16)
39	4th October	BARNES	Arthur Randall	2Lt	-	18	KIA	Belgium	"Tower Hamlets" near Gheluvelt	Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 41/42)	-
40	4th October	HUMPHREYS	Frederick Charles	Capt	MC	37	KIA	Belgium	"Tower Hamlets" near Gheluvelt	Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 41/42)	-
41	4th October	SMITH	Henry James	2Lt	-	20	KIA	Belgium	"Tower Hamlets", near Gheluvelt	Tyne Cot Memorial (Panel 41/42)	-
42	17th October	FINDLAY	Cyril Olney	2Lt	-	24	DOW	France	CCS at Outtersteen	Outtersteen Communal Cemetery Extn (I.D.11)	(17)
43	22nd December	WARD	William Leigh	2Lt	-	19	KIA	Belgium	"White Chateau", near Hollebeke	Voormezeele Enclosure No 3 (XIII.L.9)	(18)
44	23rd December	HUCKER	Wilfred Thomas	2Lt	MM	20	DOW	France	CCS at Bailleul	Bailleul Community Cemetery Extn (III.E.29)	(19)
1918
45	5th April	BAKER	Harold Glasspool	Capt	MC*	28	DOW	France	CCS at Doullens	Doullens Comm Cemetery Extn (VI.A.24)	(20)
46	5th April	DRAKEFORD	Harold Arthur	2Lt	-	26	KIA	France	Rossignel Wood, near Gommecourt	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
47	5th April	HEWITT	James Percy	2Lt	-	22	KIA	France	Rossignel Wood, near Gommecourt	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
48	5th April	PLANT	Verner Lovelace	Lt	-	37	KIA	France	Rossignel Wood, near Gommecourt	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
49	5th April	STONE	Harold George	2Lt	-	19	KIA	France	Rossignel Wood, near Gommecourt	Arras Memorial (Bay 4)	-
50	6th August	OWEN	Augustus Charles	Lt	MC	24	KIA	France	Northeast of Bucquoy	St Amand British Cemetery (V.A.19)	-
51	24th August	HARDYMAN	John Hay Maitland	Lt Col	DSO, MC, MiD*	23	KIA	France	Near Bienvillers, southwest of Arras	Bienvillers Military Cemetery (XIX.F.11)	-
52	4th November	BRIGGS	Orrie	Capt	-	30	KIA	France	Salesches, near Le Quesnoy	Romeries Communal Cemetery Extn (V.C.2)	(21)
53	4th November	BROOKS	Horace William	2Lt	MC	24	KIA	France	Louvignies, near Le Quesnoy	Cross Road Cemetery, Fontaine au Bois (III.B.20)	(22)
Notes: 1. NICHOLS was originally buried in West Munich Cemetery and reburied in Niederzwehren Cemetery, Kassel, in June 1924. 2. VERNON was originally killed or wounded during a trench raid, taken by the Germans and buried in the Le Sars German Military Cemetery. He was reburied in the Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery in June 1925. 3. TURPIN was wounded near Fricourt on 20th May 1916. 4. HATT A B was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the west of the front line at Ball Lane/Lozenge Alley, and reburied in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers la Boisselle in August 1919. 5. LEWIS was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the west of the front line at Ball Lane/Lozenge Alley, and reburied in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers la Boisselle in August 1919. 6. SCOTT was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the west of the front line at Ball Lane/Lozenge Alley, and reburied in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers la Boisselle in August 1919. 7. WARDEN was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the west of the front line at Ball Lane/Lozenge Alley, and reburied in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers la Boisselle in August 1919. 8. YOUNG was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the west of the front line at Ball Lane/Lozenge Alley, and reburied in Gordon Dump Cemetery, Ovillers la Boisselle in August 1919. 9. EMMS, according to the Battalion War Diary, was killed at Berthonval returning from a trench raid at about 1:30am on 7th August 1916. His date of death in official records is 6th August 1916. 10. JOSCELYNE was originally buried in a battlefield grave in Beaucourt, and reburied in Ancre British Cemetery, Beaumont Hamel, in October 1919. 11. SERGEANT died of accidental injuries whilst under instruction at the 1st Army Infantry Training Centre, near Boulogne. 12. VAUGHAN may well have been killed accidentally whilst in combat. 13. BULLIVANT was wounded near "Hyderabad Work", near Fampoux on 23rd April 1917. 14. BAKER S was wounded near "Hyderabad Work", near Fampoux on 23rd April 1917. 15. HAGON was wounded near Wytschaete on 17th July 1917. 16. FRIEND was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the south west of Gheluvelt, and reburied in Zandvoorde British Cemetery in July 1920. 17. FINDLAY was wounded east of Wytschaete on 15th October 1917. 18. WARD was originally buried in a battlefield grave to the near the "White Chateau" near Hollebeke, and reburied in Voormezeele Enclosure No 3 , in September 1919. 19. HUCKER was wounded at near the "White Chateau" near Hollebeke on 22nd December 1917. 20. BAKER H G was wounded at Rossignel Wood, near Gommecourt on 5th April 1918. 21. BRIGGS was originally buried in a battlefield grave at Salesches, and reburied in Romeries Communal Cemetery in January 1920. 22. BROOKS was originally buried in a battlefield grave near Le Quesnoy, and reburied in Cross Roads Cemetery in November 1921.

Those Officers of Other Regiments Who Died in the Great War Whilst Serving With

8th (Service) Battalion Somerset Light Infantry

No	Date Died	Surname	Forenames	Rank	Decs	Age	Cause	Country	Location/Sector	Cemetery/Memorial	Notes
1	25th September 1915	COHEN	Aaron Simeon	Lt	-	24	KIA	France	Near "Chalk Pits", northeast of Loos	Loos Memorial (Panel 136)	(1)
2	23rd April 1917	SCOTT	John Willoughby	Lt Col	DSO, MiD**	38	KIA	France	"Greenland Hill", near Fampoux	Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery (XV.G.11)	(2)
3	17th July 1917	SMITH	Herbert Bennett	2Lt	-	20	KIA	Belgium	Near Wytschaete	Cabin Hill Cemetery, Wytschaete (A.7)	(3)
4	9th August 1917	MIERS	Maurice Colin Capel	Lt Col	MiD	35	DOW	UK	Military Hospital at Chatham, Kent	Fort Pitt Military Cemetery (1468)	(4)
5	31st October 1918	GOLDING	Harold William	Capt	MiD	26	KIA	France	Ghissignies, near Le Quesnoy	Romeries Communal Cemetery Extn (IX.A.12)	(5)
Notes. 1. COHEN was detached from the Royal Army Medical Corps and was the Battalion Medical Officer. 2. SCOTT was detached from the Queen's Own Oxfordshire Hussars. He was killed by a sniper. He was originally buried in St Laurent Blangy Communal Cemetery, north east of Arras, and reburied in Cabaret-Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, in February 1923. 3. SMITH was detached from the West Somerset Yeomanry. 4. MIERS was detached from the Middlesex Regiment. He wounded near Lumm Farm, near Wytschaete on 12th July 1917. 5. GOLDING was detached from the Army Service Corps. He was originally buried in a battlefield grave north west of Ghissignies, near Le Quesnoy, and reburied in Romeries Communal Cemetery Extn in September 1920.

Battalion History

Formed at Taunton on 20th October 1914 as part of "K3". Full title: 8th (Service) Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. The Battalion assembled at Halton park, near Tring at the end of October 1914 and soon reached established strength. Intensive individual and collective training for active service was commenced and the Battalion was placed under command of 63rd Infantry Brigade of the 21st Division. The Battalion moved to Leighton Buzzard in November 1914 continuing its training where it remained until April 1915, and was then moved back to Halton Park. The Battalion moved to Witley Camp, Godalming, in August 1915 finalising individual and collective training and embarked at Southampton for Le Havre on 9th September 1915 arriving the next day. The Battalion (with 63rd Brigade) was transferred to 37th Division on 8th July 1916. The Battalion fought in France and Flanders with 37th Division for the remainder of the war and a detailed list of engagements and battles can be viewed here. At the armistice the Battalion was located at Caudry, northwest of Le Cateau, where it remained until the end of the month. Military and physical training was continued and a programme of educational lectures was put in place. On 1st December 1918 the Battalion was marched to Orsinval, southeast of Valenciennes, via Haussy, where it remained until the 13th. Military, physical and educational training was continued. Further marches were carried out between 13th and 18th December with the Battalion arriving at Frasnes-les-Gossellies, north of Charleroi. Here on the 22nd December 1918, the first draft of 16 men, all miners, were returned to the UK for demobilisation. A further 65 men, all miners, were returned to the UK at the end of December 1918. Demobilisation continued throughout January, February and March 1919 and on the 11th of that month the cadre of the Battalion, 5 officers and 46 men, marched to Jumet, in the northern suburbs of Charleroi in final preparation for disbandment and demobilisation. This occurred on 14th April 1919 when the cadre departed for Antwerp en-route for Glencourse near Edinburgh, Scotland. 4 officers and 12 men took the Colours of the Battalion to the Regimental Depot at Taunton from Glencourse on 24th April 1919 where the Battalion was formally disbanded.

Regimental History

The Regiment was formed from the two Battalions of the 13th (1st Somersetshire) (Prince Albert's Light Infantry) Regiment of Foot as the Prince Albert's Light Infantry (Somersetshire Regiment) on 1st July 1881 under the Childers Reforms. As the Regiment consisted of two Battalions, there was no need for it to amalgamate with another Regiment. The reforms also provided for a Depot at Jellalabad Barracks in Taunton, and, as the county Regiment of Somersetshire, the county's Militia and Rifle Volunteer Battalions were integrated into the Regiment as numbered Battalions - 3rd Battalion (formerly 1st Somerset Light Infantry Militia), 4th Battalion (formerly 2nd Somerset Light Infantry Militia), 1st Volunteer Battalion (formerly 1st Somersetshire Rifle Volunteer Corps), 2nd Volunteer Battalion (formerly 2nd Somersetshire Rifle Volunteer Corps), 3rd Volunteer Battalion (formerly 3rd Somersetshire Rifle Volunteer Corps). Within months of the formation, the Regiment was retitled to Prince Albert's (Somersetshire Light Infantry).

In 1908, under the Haldane Reforms, the Militia and Volunteers were reorganised with the 3rd and 4th Militia Battalions almalgamated to form the 3rd (Special Reserve) Battalion and the 1st, 2nd and 3rd Volunteer Battalions reorganised into the 4th and 5th Battalions of the Regimental Territorial Force (TF).

A detailed history of the Somerset Light Infantry can be viewed here and here.

Analysis of 8th Battalion SLI Officer Casualties

Year	Belgium	France	Germany	UK	Total
1914
1915		7	1		8
1916		18			18
1917	8	9		1	18
1918		9			9
TOTALS	8	43	1	1	53

Page last updated: 4th January 2025

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