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                                                                                       Lieut E. L. Gedye RFA [T]

Born 1893 Died 23/24^th August 1916 [aged 23 years]

Lieutenant Edward Leonard Gedye was a promising young officer with a large circle of Bristol friends. The son of Mr. and Mrs. George E. Gedye, of 39, St Johns Road, Clifton, he was educated at Queens College, Taunton, and joined the Gloucestershire Royal field Artillery [Territorial] as a gunner in 1912 he was Gazetted Second Lieutenant on February 7^th 1914 and when war broke out he was one of the first Territorials to volunteer for active service.

In March 1915, as brigade orderly officer he went out with the British Expeditionary force, and in the autumn was promoted to the rank of first lieutenant. He was among those mentioned, by Sir John French in the November dispatches. Before the great advance commenced, he had been at his own request attached to his old battery in a territorial unit of the R.F.A. and was constantly in action from the beginning of July onwards. Then he was temporarily attached to another battery, and while so serving was killed while engaged on a dangerous piece of working in the hope of saving others.

The story is told in a sympathetic letter written to Mr. G. E. Gedye, on August 26, by the Major of the battery:-

" It is impossible for me to say how much I sympathise with you in your great grief.

Your son was attached to my battery when he met his death. A better officer I could not desire. He was always cheerful and intensely keen on his work; he was deservedly popular with all who knew him officers and men. He died in the most gallant attempt to save the lives of others, and he suffered no pain. His death is a great loss to the brigade, but we are proud of the way he died.

" I do not know if you have already heard how your son was killed; in case you have not, I will tell you as nearly as I can. The evening before a bomb-store near by was hit by the enemy, and two explosions occurred. At about midnight on the 23^rd your son was on duty at the battery and noticed a fire amongst a large pile of bombs and other ammunition. He called out to a gunner, "Come on, we must put this out" and together they went up to it with buckets of water. The gunner was returning with an empty bucket and passed your son on his way up to the fire with a second bucket. A few seconds afterwards the explosion occurred. We buried him in the English military cemetery near by and we are having a cross-made to mark his grave.

It is not only in our own brigade that his loss is felt; officers from other units who came in contact with him all join in sorrow for his death. On my own behalf and on behalf of my battery I wish to express most heartfelt sympathy with you and Mrs. Gedye."

 The deceased officer, whose career was cut short in the performance of a gallant act, was a keen cricketer, and used to be a member of Westbury Cricket Club.  

He was also, Twice Mentioned in Dispatches.

Transcribed by D.J.Driscoll, from a newspaper Obituary

Lieut E.L. Gedye was also a contributor to "THE FIFTH GLOSTER GAZETTE" a trench newspaper, writing under the pseudonym of  "Emma Kew" (Stroud:  Sutton, 1993).  940.4144 FIF, also a ref to this effect appears in the book "TOMMY" The British Soldier on the Western Front by Richard Holmes. ISBN: 0007137524.

From "The Fifth Gloucester Gazette", 1993 Page 117. 

OBITUARY

Many a time have our readers laughed heartily at the poems above the signature of "Emma Kew." 

The author of such jolly verses as those entitled " Our Fighting Men," "Once Bitten " and  "Emma Kew "

(Lieutenant Gedye, of the Gloucester R.F.A.) is dead, killed in a most gallant attempt to put out the fire which was about to ignite a "Dump " of Bombs. 

We should like to express our sympathy with the Brigade of Artillery of which he was Orderly Officer, on their severe loss.

 ****

 29/07/1916                                           
Western Daily Press
Obituary
 Captain Arthur E. Stone
An official telegram was received in Bristol yesterday, announcing the death of Captain Arthur E. Stone, who was killed in action in France on the 24th inst.
       Captain Stone was well known in the city from his connection with Messrs George White and Co., in whose office he had been for about 20 years. At the outbreak of the Boer War, in 1899, he volunteered with the North Somerset Imperial Yeomanry, and was one of those who formed the guard of honour when Lord Roberts entered Pretoria.
        Captain Stone will be remembered as Sir George White's private secretary for many years. He possessed exceptional business quantities and was entrusted with very important business matters. He rendered valuable service at the time of the formation of the London United Tramways, and later when the business of the British and Colonial Aeroplane Company began to develop, he was selected to control the financial arrangements, and was actively engaged in that capacity up to the time of the outbreak of war
     He was an old artilleryman, and had always a great interest in the Bristol Artillery Volunteers in which he served successively as gunner, Bombardier, Sergeant, and later obtained his commission. On the outbreak of war in August 1914, he was one of the most vigorous recruiting officers in the South Midland Royal Field Artillery, and was successful in obtaining a large number of recruits
      Shortly after his brigade left for France he was appointed Captain, and showed marked aptitude as an officer, so much so that he had recently been appointed to the command of a battery. His Brigadier General, in writing to his relatives, speaks of him "as a gallant
officer and an excellent battery commander, in whom he placed the greatest confidence".
    Captain Stone had the happy knack of making friends wherever he went, and was held in the highest esteem and affection by the members of the firm, as also by the whole staff at Clare Street House and at the Aeroplane Works at Filton, and his loss will be keenly felt by his many friends and the men of his battery.

Transcribed by D.J.Driscoll, from a newspaper Obituary.

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Western Daily Press. August 15^th  1917

 Well known Officers Falls in Action.

****

Major CHESTER W. TODD D.S.O.

 It is with much regret we record the death in action on the 9^th inst., of Major Chester W. Todd R.F.A.

Major Todd was the second son of the late Mr. W.A. Todd J.P.  and of Mrs. Todd, of 4, Clifton Hill, Clifton . He was a member of the Gloucestershire Artillery since 1896, and retired with the rank of Captain in 1912. On the outbreak of  war he rejoined his regiment, and was afterwards appointed temporary Major of No,1 Battery RFA, since the spring of 1915 he had been in France, but was home recently to recuperate after an attack of trench fever, and only returned to the front some four weeks ago, when he was again given command of his old battery, and received a hearty welcome from his men. He was twice mentioned in dispatches and awarded the D.S.O. in Serptember1916, for gallantry in action, and having handled his battery with courage and initiative. Major Todd was a director of Messrs Todd and Co., Ltd, wholesale clothiers, Temple Gate, Bristol, and was a member of the Society of Merchant Venturers.

He resided at Russell House Portishead, and was well known in the neighbourhood, having taken a great interest in local matters and was for some time treasurer to the Portishead Church Council. He leaves a widow and three children to whom the sincere sympathy of citizens generally will go out.

*****

LIEUT. J. BASIL FULLERTON  R.F.A.

Deep sympathy will be felt for Mr. and Mrs. D. L. Fullerton, of the Glen, Durdham Down, who have received the sad news that their elder son, Lieut J. Basil Fullerton, of the S. Midland Brigade., R.F.A., has been killed in action in France. The deceased officer was an old Redhillian, who after leaving school became associated with his father in business. Before the war he joined the R.F.A. as a gunner, and rose to the rank of Second Lieutenant. He mobilised in August, 1914 and had been on active service ever since. There will be widespread regret at the news of his death, for he was well known and very highly respected in the city. He was an office bearer and Sunday school teacher at Trinity Presbyterian Church and was noted for the earnestness in every work which he undertook. He will be remembered, too as a keen hockeyist who sometimes played for the county. The deceased officer was 32 years of age. Mr. and Mrs. Fullerton have another son serving with the Colours as a Captain in the Gloucesters, to which rank he attained at the age of 19.

****

Major F.S. Gedye M.C. TD

1894-1975 Aged 81

Lieut Colonel Harold Essex. Lewis

A Brief Military History.

          Born 30^th Oct 1893 Bristol-Died March 1992 at Bristol

 Educated  Bristol Cathedral School left 1909.

 Enlisted      1^st South Midland Bde.  Mustered as trumpeter in 1913 Regt/No 1583 

Embodied for war 4^th Aug 1914 overseas B.E.F.,  [France]   2^nd March 1915. 

 Promoted Bombardier 1916. Served through whole of the Somme battle.

Decorated. Awarded Distinguished Conduct Medal June 1916.

 for  D.C.M. Citation  see link Gazette Issue 30172 published on the 6th July, 1917., page 8 of 38.  

 Recommended for Commission  and Posted as O/cadet to R.A. Officers School Exeter, Devon.

 Gazetted                   2^nd/Lieut to Special Reserve June 1917.

 Posted to                  19^th Division B.E.F., and appointed Adjutant to Lt/ Col the Marquis of Exeter

Wounded                 9^th Nov 1918 and then hospital till April 1919. 

Released                  April 1919.

The Old Stiffs          Founder member of the old stiffs mess [officers] 1914-18.

Rejoined T.A.          On its reformation 1920 Regt No 19961, Served in T.A. as Captain until 1935 retired to Reserve List.                       

                               Recalled  and Promoted to Major,1938 and Formed 74^th L.A.A. Battery R.A.,  of 24^th Light Regt R.A., 2^nd in command and

                               later Commanded the regiment.                 

Embodied for war.     3^rd Sept 1939 posted to 11^th Mobile Brigade R.A.

 Decorated                 1943 Awarded Territorial Decoration [TD]

 Promoted                  Lieutenant Colonel 1943 attached to a unit of the Russian army

 Released                   1946 and returned to former employment with E. S. A. Robinson ltd 

Appointed                 Deputy Lieutenant of the county of Gloucestershire, City of Gloucester and the City and County of Bristol Feb 1960                                       transferred to the County of Avon on reorganization.

Decoration                Appointed a member of the most Excellent Order of the British Empire, 1974.

Royal Artillery Association.                        

President of the Bristol Branch Royal Artillery Association.   

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OBITUARY

Mr. James Warfield

War hero Mr. James Edmond Victor Warfield has died in Manor Park Hospital, Bristol. he was 94.

Mr. Warfield, of Lincombe Road, Downend,  won the Military Medal in the First World War.

he was serving in Italy as a driver in the 240 Artillery Brigade when a large number of horses went berserk during heavy shelling by the Austrians.

He and a Sergeant Major ran out and cut the horses loose.

returning to civilian life, Mr. Warfield worked on the railway and became head shunter at St Anne's.

He was a widower and leaves two sons, Dennis and David.

**

Medal Card gives the following information.

Warfield J.

Regt No 1590 Rank Driver

re-numbered as 825422 Rank Driver.

Date 1914-1920

Cat Ref wo3 372/21.

Awarded Military Medal.

Gazette Issue 29854 published on the 8 December 1916. Page 15 of 22.

                  His Majesty the KING has been graciously pleased to award the Military Medal for bravery in the Field to the undermentioned

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