Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History Books promoted Lieut., 13 Feb. 1914. On the declaration of war he mobilised with his battn. at the town barracks in Aldershot and proceeded to France on 12 Aug. He proved himself possessed of sound soldierly qualities and was mentioned twice in Sir John (now Lord) French's Despatches [London Gazette, 19 Oct. 1914, and 17 Feb. 1915] for gallantry in the field. At the crossing of the Aisne he was first over the bridge by which his battn. had to pass under heavy fire, and when Major Armytage led the line forward in a splendid charge he was in the thick of the fray. His name and that of Major Armytage were on every man's lips in the battn. The following account of the action was given by Corpl. J. Jolley:--"Instead of retiring as we had been doing, on 5 Sept, we advanced five miles to Firoy. There was very fierce fighting, the German infantry advancing to within 800 yards of our artillery, and also in good rifle range. They were practically slaughtered, and hundreds of dead lay everywhere. Early in the morning of the 6th we were up and on the scent, the Guards being the advance guard for a change. Towards the afternoon they got in touch with the German rearguard at a place called by us and the Germans "The Valley of Death." All the artillery possible was brought on to a ridge overlooking this valley, and played on the enemy, who could not get out of it in a hurry, and consequently got many casualties, the Guards capturing eighty men and five maxims, and losing only twelve men. We kept on going until we reached the heights overlooking Charly-sur-Marne. Here we took up our post about two miles from the enemy without knowing it. On the morning of the 7th the King's Royal Rifles were the advance guard. We traversed a wood, and found that the enemy had camped on the other side. We could see the Germans making blockages on the bridge, preparing to blow it up, but on seeing us they made off, and as we had no artillery with us they got off free. The order then came that the bridge must be taken at once. When we got there we found that the bridge had three blockages, comprised of carts, furniture, glass, wire, etc. Prince Maurice of Battenberg was first man over, searching the house beyond all by himself. This was a brave act for an officer alone. The blockage was removed, and the battn. got across without a shot being fired. We went through Charly-sur-Marne, and halted about one mile on the other side for four hours, as the French were busy in action, and in the end they repulsed the Germans." On 27 Oct. 1914, he was ordered to storm a German position and capture some guns which were doing a lot of damage. On the advance they came to a wood which was too thick for them to get through conveniently, and they had to cross an open field. Prince Maurice was leading his men across this open space when a shell fell and burst right by him. He knew that his injuries were mortal, and wished the men good-bye. He was carried to a field dressing-room, where he died. He was buried at Ypres on 30 Oct. about 3.30 p.m. "and not far away the German big guns were firing on our trenches, and our men were doing their best to put them out of action. The guns were making such a noise that you could not hear the Chaplain's voice. It was a soldier's funeral amidst the noise of battle," wrote Capt. W. H. Dyer. The following eulogies were passed upon the Prince:--Sir John French: "The Army has lost a gallant officer, who was a fine example to all around him." General Munro, Commanding the 2nd Division: "His Highness had throughout the campaign displayed a rare example of courage and fortitude to the men of his battn.," and Sir Douglas Haig: "The Army loses a most gallant and valuable officer." Prince Maurice supported the work of the Army Rifle Association and was also keen on polo, being in the Hurlingham handicap list. He did not play much, but he liked the game and was also fond of football, tennis, and motoring. He was also greatly interested in aviation, and made many flights as a passenger at Hendon. Prince Maurice was made a Freemason in the Heroum Filii Lodge, No. 3,404 (the Lodge of the Old Wellingtonians) on 21 June, 1912, and was installed Master of the Twelve Brothers Lodge, No. 785 Southampton, 22 April, 1914. His two brothers are (1916) on active service--Prince Alexander Albert with the Grenadier Guards and Prince Leopold with the 60th Rifles. [Illustration: =Prince Maurice Victor Donald of Battenberg.=] =BATTERHAM, JAMES=, A.B. (R.F.R., B 6505), 204862, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BATTERSBY, AUGUSTUS WOLFE=, Lieut., 4th Battn. Connaught Rangers, 2nd _s._ of the late John Radcliff Battersby, of Loughbawn, Collinstown, co. Meath, J.P., Barrister-at-Law, by his wife, Augusta Helen, dau. of John Rynd, of Reynella, co. Westmeath; _b._ Loughbawn, 10 Feb. 1885; educ. Corring School, Kingstown, and Trinity College, Dublin (B.A.). He entered the Church 20 Feb. 1910, and was curate of Antrim Parish, co. Down, until he was gazetted to the 4th (Extra Reserve) Battn. of the Connaught Rangers, 14 April, 1914. He joined at Aldershot, 30 April, was promoted Lieut. 5 Dec. following, and was attached for service to the 2nd Battn. of the Nigerian Regt. He sailed for the Cameroons on the 17th of the same month; took part in operations at Wum Bidgas where he was slightly wounded, and died of dysentery at Duala, 8 June, 1915, and was buried in the cemetery there; _unm._ [Illustration: =Augustus Wolfe Battersby.=] =BATTERSBY, CHARLES FREMOULT PRESTON=, Capt., 113th Battery Royal Field Artillery, only _s._ of Major-Gen. Thomas Preston Battersby of Imber House, East Molesey, Principal Ordnance Officer, by his wife, Agnes Janet, dau. of the late John Evens; _b._ Castle Barracks, Enniskillen, 11 July, 1887; educ. King's School, Canterbury, and Royal Military Academy, Woolwich; gazetted 2nd Lieut. 23 July, 1907, and became Lieut. 23 July, 1910, and Capt. 30 Oct. 1914. He was present at the retreat from Mons, the Battle of the Marne and in action for a long time on the Aisne. He was killed during the first bombardment of Ypres, 4 Nov. 1914, while a farm, in which he was billetted was being heavily shelled, he returned from his safety pit to release a horse which was tied up in the yard belonging to the farm, and he was killed by one of the shells while so doing. He was buried the following day in the cemetery at Ypres. [Illustration: =Charles Fremoult Preston Battersby.=] =BATTY, CHRISTOPHER=, Leading Stoker, K. 3346, H.M.S. Good Hope; lost in the action off Coronel, on the coast of Chili, 1 Nov. 1914. =BATTY, WILLIAM HENRY=, Corpl., No. 7780, 2nd Battn. Coldstream Guards, _s._ of William Batty, of Sheffield, late Scots Greys, by his wife, Helen; _b._ Sheffield, 13 Jan. 1889; educ. National School there; enlisted 1 April, 1908, served three years with the colours and then passed into the reserve, and joined the Sheffield Police. On the declaration of war |