Lieutenant, 12th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Died aged 21 on 21st April 1917. Son of Abelards and Eliza Halliday Aldana, 32 Park Avenue, Porthcawl, Glamorgan. Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, I. B. 33. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial.

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918, volume 3, page 3:

ALDANA, JUAN MANUEL, Lieut., 4th Battn. The Worcestershire Regt., only surv. s. of Abelardo Aldana, of Angamos, South Road, Porthcawl, South Wales, Consul of Colombia, Chile, Venezuela and Ecuador, by his wife, Eliza, dau. of E. Stanley Halladay : b. London, 7 Sept. 1895 ; educ. Llandaff Cathedral School ; Worcester King's School, and Keble College, Oxford, where he proved himself a most promising and good sportsman ; applied for a commission on the outbreak of war, and was gazetted Temp. 2nd Lieut. The Worcestershire Regt. 14 Nov. 1914, being promoted Lieut. 1915 ; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from July. 1910; was wounded at the Battle of the Somme 20 Oct. 1910 ; rejoined his regiment two weeks after, and was killed in action at Monchy, near Arras, 20 April, 1917. Buried there. Lieut.-Col. E. Kerans wrote : "He was most popular with us all, and was a most reliable and hard-working officer, and I had just put him in command of a company. The regiment has lost another gallant officer." and the Chaplain of the regiment, the Rev. A. M. Wheatly "As to his life in the battalion, he was always a great favourite with the men. His bright, cheery and boyish manner was very captivating, and it was always a great pleasure to spend an hour in the Mess with him. Although he did not obtrude his religion,I feel confident that at heart he was not far from God and the things of God. He was greatly beloved by his men and fellow-officers, and showed a high standard of courage and devotion to duty. He was an enthusiastic soldier, and was very proud and keen on his work. His death-day was the first time he was in the line in command of a company, and his work was thoroughly well done." Unm.

Extract from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke.

Second Lieutenant J.M. Aldana was wounded during the Battle of the Transloy Ridges on the Somme in October 1916. From April 15th – 19th 1917, the battalion was resting in the cellars of Arras, leaving the city during the afternoon of 19th April. Heavy shell-fire across the intended route at Feuchy Chapel delayed all the companies but eventually the bombardment slackened and the allotted reserve trenches were occupied just before dark. Those trenches were close to the positions of the British heavy guns and were heavily bombarded the next day resulting in the loss of several officers including Lieutenant Juan Aldana.

Second Lieutenant, 10th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Killed in action aged 24 on 25th January 1917. Son of Frederick William Beauchamp, late of Colwall, and Minnie Blanche Beauchamp, of The Cottage, Colwall, Malvern. Baptised 24 February 1893 in Colwall, Herefordshire, son of Frederick William and Minnie Blanche Beauchamp. Amara War Cemetery, XVIII. A. 3. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial.

Extract from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke.

Second Lieutenant Beauchamp was one of only 4 officers to capture a Turkish trench mortar on the morning of 25th January 1917 during the battle of Kut-Al-Amara. A counter attack by the Turks was not long in coming during which Second Lieutenant Beauchamp was killed.

Lieutenant, 2nd/4th Battalion (Territorial), Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry and Royal Flying Corps. Killed 4th April 1917. Aged 20. Son of Herbert Eldon Chappel and Caroline Mary Chappel, of 31, Pemberley Avenue, Bedford. Buried in Suez War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Sectyion B. Grave 23. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial and Bedford St Andrews memorial.

Extract from De Ruvignys Roll of Honour 1914-1918 Volume 3, page 52:

CHAPPEL, WILLIAM ELDON, Lieut., 2/4th (Territorial) Battn. The Duke of Cornwall's Light Infantry, attd. Royal Flying Corps, yr. s. of Herbert Eldon Chappel, of 31, Pemberley Avenue, Bedford, Retired Director of Telegraphs, India Burma Circle, by his wife, Caroline Mary, dau. of the late Rev. Canon Christopherson, Rector of Falmouth; b. Falmouth, 23 April, 1897 ; educ. Belmont School there; The King's School, Worcester, and the Bedford Grammar School, where he was captain of boats, a monitor, and head of his house. He obtained a commission July, 1915, while still at school ; underwent a course at Hayling Island, and later joined his regiment in India, where he was Machine Gun Officer of the battalion, and went through the Machine Gun Course at Pachman ; became attached to the Royal Flying Corps in Feb. 1017, and was killed 4 April, 1917, while flying at Suez. Buried there ; unm.

Second Lieutenant, 6th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Died of wounds 26th May 1915. Matriculated 1909 Oxford University. La Clytte Military Cemetery, I.A.12. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial, Worcester Guildhall & Stoulton St Edmund memorials.

Extract from De Ruvignys Roll of Honour 1914-1918 Volume 1, page 79:

CHAYTOR, ALBAN KINGSFORD, 2nd Lieut., 6th, attd. 3rd, Battn. Worcester Regt., 2nd s. of the Rev. Charles Chaytor, Rector of St. Helens. and St. Albans with St. Michael's, Worcester, since 1881 b. there 23 Oct. 1891 ; educ. at King's School (Cathedral), Worcester, where he was successively captain of cricket and of the boats, and at Worcester College, Oxford, where he held the Worfleld Scholarship and the Inge Exhibition. On leaving there he took up tea planting in Ceylon, was a member of the Volunteer Defence Force, and on the outbreak of war joined the Ceylon Rifle Corps. Early in 1915 he came to England, obtained a commission in the County Regt. 6 Feb. 1915, and (while serving later with the 3rd Battn.) was severely wounded in the trenches near Ypres, 24 May, 1915, and died in a field hospital two days later ; unm. His colonel and brother officers wrote of him as " a most promising officer." a " born soldier," " always ready to volunteer on any dangerous venture." He was buried in the churchyard of La Clytte.

Second Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Killed in action aged 19 on 26th April 1918. Son of George Street Chignell and Emma May Chignell, of Thornloe Bank, Worcester. In the 1901 census he was aged 2, born Worcester, son of George Steel and Emma Mary Chignell, resident 103, Bransford Road, Worcester. In the 1911 census he was aged 12, born Worcester, at school, son of George Steel and Emma Mary Chignell, resident 53 Comer Road, Worcester. Tyne Cot Memorial, Panel 75 to 77. Also appears on Worcester St John in Bedwardine, Worcester Kings School memorial and and Worcester Guildhall memorials.

Extract from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke.

Second Lieutenant Chignell was killed during the second battle of Kemmel. The village had been taken by British forces but when the French failed to take Kemmel Hill and provide support for them, they were forced to withdraw from the village to the railway line. The 3rd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment lost 9 officers and 90 N.C.O.’s and men during the battle, including Hugh Chignell.

Serjeant 17082, 7th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (British Columbia Regiment). Killed in action on 24th May 1915. Born 22nd September 1886. No known grave. Commemorated on Vimy Memorial, France. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial.

William Arnold Fergusson was born on 22nd September 1886 in Newtown, Montgomeryshire, Wales. He enlisted as a Private in the Canadian Infantry on 23rd September 1914 at Valcartier, Quebec, Canada when he gave his next of kin as his father, William B. Fergusson, Morland Road, Croydon. William stated he had had one year's military training with the 104th Regiment and was employed as a farmer at the time of his attestation. He was 6ft 1 and a half inches tall with grey eyes, brown hair and a fair complexion. At some point he was promoted to Corporal and then to Acting Sergeant in France on 1st April 1915. He was promoted to Sergeant on 26th April 1915 and was killed in action on 24th May 1915.

National Archives of Canada Reference: RG 150, Accession 1992-93/166, Box 3055 - 33

Arnold Fergusson was the third son of Dr. Fergusson, of Painswick, Stroud. He entered the Lower School in 1897, and left in the Fifth with the Lower Certificate in 1904. He was one of the first members of Castle House, and before leaving he represented the School in Cricket, Football, and on the River. After leaving he trained in practical farming and then went to Canada. On the outbreak of war he joined the 7th Battalion of the first Canadian contingent, and went through the severe fighting at Ypres. He was made Sergeant, and was, at the time of his death, acting as an officer and doing splendidly, and most popular with his fellows. He was killed instantaneously on May 25th. Active and popular at School he was of the best type of English Colonists. Both Canada and the Motherland are poorer by his loss.

Obituary written by W. H. Chappel, Headmaster 1896-1919.

We are permitted to publish the following extract from a letter to the Headmaster:- "Arnold Fergusson was killed last Monday morning in the fighting round Festubert. He had been doing awfully well, he was promoted Sergeant after Ypres, where he distinguished himself. Then again here in this awful attack on a very strong redoubt, all the officers had been killed, but he led his platoon splendidly, captured a length of trench, and was holding it when he got shot. I met today a man who saw him shot. This man had gone out to bind up a wounded man, when a sniper began to fire at him, so he rolled into a hole made by a shell, and was quite safe. Then Fergusson saw this poor fellow and went out to help him. This man shouted at him, but either he did not hear or took no notice, and he had just begun to dress the man's wounds when the sniper shot him in the head and he was killed instantaneously. Everyone in his company seems to have been very fond of him, and the officers spoke very highly of him."

Source for additional information: The Vigornian, June 1915, No.83, Vol.VIII

Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion King's Own Scottish Borderers. Died of wounds aged 21 on 14th May 1915. Son of Lily M. and the late Rev. John Grant Ferguson, 41 Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh. Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, II. B. 45. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial.

Extract from Bond of Sacrifice: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1916, volume 2, page 152:

LIEUTENANT DUNCAN MACINTYRE GRANT FERGUSON, 3rd (RESERVE) attd. 2nd BATTN. KING'S OWN SCOTTISH BORDERERS, was the eldest son of the late Rev. John Grant Ferguson, Innerleithen, and of Mrs. Ferguson, of 41, Polwarth Terrace, Edinburgh, and was the eldest representative of the fourth generation owning the business of Alexander Ferguson, Edinburgh.

He was born on the 6th May, 1894, at South Norwood, London, and was educated at Sedbergh Preparatory School ; at King's School. Worcester ; and at Aspatria Agricult ural College, Cumberland, where he was in the Rugby team (1912-13). Football was his favourite game.

On the outbreak of the war with Germany he applied for a commission, and in August, 1914, was gazetted 2nd Lieutenant on probation in the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion. King's Own Scottish Borderers. He was confirmed in his rank in the "Gazette" of May, 1915, and was promoted Lieutenant, the rank to date from April, 1915. In that month he was sent to Flanders, attached to the 2nd Battalion, King's Own Scottish Borderers, and had only been in the trenches a fortnight when he was wounded at Hill 60 On the 5th May, 1915. He died in hospital at Boulogne on the 14th May, and was buried in the cemetery there.

Lieutenant, 5th Battalion attached 2nd Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Killed in action aged 21 on 13th April 1918. Awarded the Military Cross (MC). Son of William J. and Mary A. Hemming, of Grove Hill, Droitwich Rd, Worcester. Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 5. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial and Worcester Guildhall memorials.

Extract from The Worcestershire Regiment in the Great War, by Captain H. FitzM. Stacke.

Lieutenant Frank J. Hemming was awarded the MC following the battle of Croiselles during which he defended an improvised work with great courage and tenacity, beating off repeated bombing attacks.

econd Lieutenant, "Z Company, 4th Battalion Worcestershire Regiment. Died aged 25 on 25th April 1917. Son of the Reverend Edwin and E. Frederica Lewis, of Hampton Lovett Rectory, Droitwich, Worcs. Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, III. F. 37. Also appears on the Old Choristers window in Worcester Cathedral Cloisters and Worcester Kings School memorial.

Second Lieutenant Edwin R.H. Lewis was one of the officers killed in the same action as Lieutenant Aldana. From April 15th – 19th 1917, the battalion was resting in the cellars of Arras, leaving the city during the afternoon of 19th April. Heavy shell-fire across the intended route at Feuchy Chapel delayed all the companies but eventually the bombardment slackened and the allotted reserve trenches were occupied just before dark. Those trenches were close to the positions of the British heavy guns and were heavily bombarded the next day resulting in the loss of several officers including Second Lieutenat Lewis.

Lieutenant, Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment). Killed in action on 20th October 1914. Born 11th Jan 1891. Batised 18 February 1891 at Holy Trinity Church, Tithby, Nottinghamshire, son of Henry and Annie Smith, resident Cropwell Butler. Attended Felsted School Sept 1905 - July 1907. In the 1911 census he was the grandson of Henry (Senior) Smith, a wdiower, retired farmer and thrashing machine owner, son of Henry (Junior), a landowner and farmer, and Annie Smith, a student, aged 20, born The Cottage, Cropwell Butler, Nottinghamshire, resident The Grove, Cropwell Butler, Nottinghamshire. Ploegsteert Memorial, Panel 7. Also appears on Worcester Kings School memorial.

Extract from The Bond of Sacrifice Volume 1 Aug-Dec 1914, page 366:

2nd LIEUTENANT HENRY LEONARD CHAPPELL SMITH, SPECIAL RESERVE, attd. 2nd BATTN. THE SHERWOOD FORESTERS (NOTTINGHAMSHIRE AND DERBYSHIRE REGIMENT), who was killed in action on the 18th October, 1914, was the eldest son of Henry and Annie Smith, The Grove, Cropwell-Butler, Nottingham, and was born on the 11th January, 1891. He was a scholar of Felsted School, Essex, and afterwards went to Queen's College, Cambridge, where he graduated B.A. with honours in 1913. He was gazetted to the Special Reserve of his regiment in April, 1913, having previously been a Lieutenant in the O.T.C., King's School, Worcester, and, on war being declared, joined the 2nd Battalion Sherwood Foresters, at Sheffield in August, 1914 ; he fought at the Battle of the Aisne on the 20th September, and again at Ennetiêres, near Lille, on or about the 18th October, 1914, where he was said to have been killed in hand-to-hand fighting. He was never heard of again. For his services he was mentioned in Sir John French's Despatch of he 14th January, 1915.

He was fond of rowing and shooting.