We
deeply regret to report the death of Lieut.- Col. Edward T.
Saint, D.S.0., of 6, St. Barnabas’-road, Cambridge, Commanding
Officer, the Cambridgeshire Regiment, who died August 29th of
wounds received in action the previous day. With the news of
his having been wounded came word of the death of Lieut. H.
F. Driver, M.C., of the same battalion, second son of Mr. and
Mrs. J. K. Driver, of Hills-road, Cambridge. Other officers
were wounded.
The information is partly contained in a letter received in
the town from the chaplain to the battalion, who writes that
Lieut. Driver, M.C., signalling officer to Cambs. Battalion,
Cambs. Regiment, was in a dug-out at Battalion Headquarters
with Lieut.-Col. E. T. Saint. D.S.O., the
Adjutant, Capt. E. Walker, M.C., and another
signalling officer, about 9 p.m. on August 28th. A shell burst,
killing Lieut. Driver instantly. Lieut.- Col. Saint was very
severely wounded, and it was stated that his left arm would
have to be amputated at the shoulder. Capt. Walker escaped miraculously
with flesh wounds. Lieut.-Col. Saint’s wife also received
a letter from the Chaplain, who stated that it was hoped he
would recover from his wounds. On Monday night, however, she
received a telegram from the War Office stating that her husband
died of wounds on August 29th.
LIEUT.-COL.
SAINT, D.S.O.
Lieut.-Col. Edward T. Saint, D.S.O., was the eldest son of Mr.
Wm. Saint, builder and contractor, St. Barnabas’-road.
He was educated at the Perse School and Ivel Bury School, Biggleswade.
After leaving school he entered his father’s business,
and in 1907 commenced on his own account, in Newmarket-road
as an automobile engineer. In 1910 a company was formed, and
the motor business in Regent-street taken over, and the two
businesses were successfully carried on. At the outbreak of
the war Col. Saint was managing director of the Regent-street
business. He was 33 years of age at the time of his death. He
leaves a widow and two children.
Col Saint joined the 3rd (Cambs.) V.B. the Suffolk Regiment
(afterwards the 1st Battalion Cambs. Regiment) about the time
of the Boer War, being a member of “C” Company,
under the command of Major Oliver Papworth. He volunteered for
service in the Boer War, but being under age, was not taken.
In January, 1906, he obtained his commission as a lieutenant.
He was one of the finest shots in the Eastern Counties, and
won many prizes in the Inter-County Meeting, besides shooting
for his corps at various other matches.
When the present war broke out Col. Saint held the rank of captain,
and was in camp at Tring. His battalion was at once mobilised,
and he volunteered for special duty. In February. 1915, with
the rank of major, he went out to France with his battalion.
He was gazetted lieutenant colonel in January, 1916, and returned
home to take over command of the 4th Battalion, Cambs Regiment.
In September of the same year he went out France, and was appointed
the command of a temporary Regular Army unit, from which he
subsequently retired at his own wish. He went back to his own
regiment in France as second in command, with the rank of major.
Last December he was made Commanding Officer. In March of this
year he was awarded the D.S.O. for conspicuous gallantry in
the field, when for a short time he acted as brigadier. He was
mentioned in dispatches twice for foreign service and once for
home service. He was member of Cambs. and Isle of Ely Territorial
Force Association.
When a member of the Volunteers, Col. Saint was in his work,
and was most popular, but his keenness did not show itself in
so marked a manner as it did after the outbreak of the war,
when he displayed remarkable enthusiasm, and his sterling qualities,
both as a leader and as a man, made him admired and loved. He
was a well-known cricket and football player, being chiefly
connected with the C.E.Y.M.S. Clubs, He was a Conservative in
politics. His brother-in-law, Lieut. Muirhead, was, it will
be remembered, killed about months ago, and his cousin. Sec.-Lieut.
E. D. Twelve trees, fell in action early in August.
LIEUT. H. F. DRIVER, M.C.
Lieut. H F. Driver. M.C., was the second son of Mr. and Mrs.
J. K. Driver, of 82. Hills-road. He was articled to Messrs.
Barly, Grundy, and Barrett, Ltd., and was serving with them
when in January, 1916, he obtained a commission. He served under
Col. Copeman in the 1st Cambs. Regiment on coast duty, and went
to the front last Christmas Eve. In the following March he obtained
the Military Cross for conspicuous bravery. He was home on leave
for a fortnight only a few days before his death. He was a very
popular officer, and beloved by all.
CAPT. E. WALKER, M.C.
Capt. Edmund Walker. M.C.., who has been slightly wounded, is
the son of Mr. Walker, Headmaster of the Friends’ Grammar
School, Saffron Walden. He received scratches on the leg and
hand, but the injuries were not sufficiently bad to necessitate
his removal to hospital.
LIEUT. SIDNEY TAYLOR.
Information has been received that Lieut. Sidney Taylor, Cambs.
Regiment, of Woodditton., was severely wounded on August 28th.
His injuries consist of gunshot wounds in the left arm and leg,
and a fractured femur. He is now lying in hospital at Rouen.
Lieut. Taylor is a son of Mr. Sidney Taylor, of Dullingham,
and a brother of Messrs. W. J. and J. G. Taylor, solicitors,
Cambridge. He was formerly a farmer at Woodditton. He enlisted
in September, 1914, in the Suffolk Yeomanry, with which he served
in Gallipoli. He obtained a commission in the Cambis. Regimennt
about 18 months ago, and has been in France about six months.