TOPIC:

I thought a new thread on ABW veterans who fell on 1 July 1916 - The First Day of the Somme would be interesting to many.

The only one that graces my collection is a Queens South Africa medal with Cape Colony, Orange Free State, South Africa 1901 & South Africa 1902 clasps named to 429 Pte J. R. PENDLEBURY LANC. FUS.
James Pendlebury was born at Hulme in Lancashire. He served in South Africa during the Anglo Boer War being awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with four clasps as above. He reenlisted into the 15th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers and entered France on 23rd November 1915 as 10207 Pte. J Pendlebury, Lancashire Fusiliers. He was sadly killed in action on 1st of July 1916 on the 1st day of the Battle of Somme. He was in Platoon No. IV under Lt. L.S. Beyts of the 15th Service Bn. Salford Pals. He has no known grave and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 3C and 3D, and on a plaque in the Sacred Trinity Church on Bury St, which is the home of the regimental colors. He resided in Salford in Lancashire when he enlisted into WWI. His family received his 1915 Star Trio and Memorial Plaque that are sadly long gone from his QSA.

I look forward to seeing other posts on this thread. ATB, John

Hi John,

Great idea for a thread to honour those who fell on that day; none in my collection but maybe one day I can contribute.

Good write-up to get things started.

Interesting to note that the senior officers, Field Marshall Douglas Haig & General Henry Rawlison, were both veterans of the ABW. I'm sure it shaped their thinking/planning at the time.

Regards,
Shaun

John – I am pleased to be able to make a contribution to your post, based on my on-going investigation of the Pembrokeshire Imperial Yeomanry.




On the left a portrait of Major Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand sporting his QSA medal ribbon; middle - his headstone in Norfolk Cemetery, Becordel-Becourt, France; right – a letter describing his death. I am indebted to the “Dulwich College – The Fallen of the Great War” website for all three images.

If you wish to view the medals of Major Stewart Walter Loudoun-Shand in the flesh visit the Lord Ashcroft Gallery in the Imperial War Museum.

Stewart Walter Shand, at some stage the family changed their name by deed poll, was born on 8 October 1879 in Sri Lanka or Ceylon, as it was known then. His parents were Scottish born but by the time Stewart was born they were successful and prosperous tea-planters. On the proceeds they returned to a life of luxury in London when Stewart was still quite young. He was educated at Dulwich College from 1891 to 1897. When he left Dulwich College he worked in a bank.

When the ABW started he was also a member of the 7th (London Scottish) Middlesex Volunteer Rifle Company, familiarly known as the London Scottish Rifle Volunteers. In December 1899 he was not selected to serve in South Africa allegedly because of his age but I am doubtful of this because he was 20 years and 2 months old at the time. I suspect as a frustrated young man he applied to the Imperial Yeomanry HQ in London where he was told the London IY Companies were fully subscribed and they pointed him in the direction of Pembrokeshire.

On 26 January 1900 he walked into the Shire Hall in Tenby and attested to serve as a Trooper in the 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company of the Imperial Yeomanry. He was found to be medically fit for service and assigned the Regimental Number 4121. He sailed with the Company to South Africa during March 1900, stayed the course, and returned to England in early July 1901. On 7 August 1901 he was fully discharged at Tenby when his conduct and character were classed as “V Good”. Like most members of the IY he served in South Africa without special distinction although he was promoted to Lance-corporal. He was subsequently awarded the Queen’s South Africa medal with 3 clasps – Cape Colony, Orange Free State & South Africa 1901.

Between the two wars he returned to South Africa for a time and cannot be found on the English 1911 Census. For further information about his Great War service and life merely Google “Loudoun-Shand” and take your pick. You will notice some slight variations to what I have written above. What I have written is based on his attestation papers, ABW service records & discharge papers which his biographers don’t seem to have been aware of.

Regards, David.