9th Battalion Officers 1915

Official photograph of the officers of the 9th (Service) Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment taken by Gale & Polden Ltd Photographers of Aldershot and London at Blackdown in 1915, shortly before the battalion left for the Dardanelles. Cyril Sladden wrote on 20th June 1915: “I have ordered photos of the officers and C Company which will be sent in due course by Gale & Polden of Aldershot.” On 24th August 1915, his mother, Eugénie, wrote: When we look at the photograph of your fellow officers and think what a number of them have been killed or injured, it makes me feel very sad.” Against the names at the bottom, dates have been added for those who died.

Back row: 2nd-Lt J N Lancaster (10/8/15), 2nd-Lt R C Marshall, Lt J A Higgs-Walker, 2nd-Lt J C Bourne (July 1915), Lt C J Tree (July 1915), 2nd-Lt R T Cavenagh, 2nd-Lt C J Howell (25/1/17). One name is missing from the list (eight men are pictured but only seven names); it is most likely Lt de Blaby as, by cross-referencing against the list kept by Ethel Sladden, his is the only name missing.

Middle row: Capt F Falcon (6/8/15), 2nd-Lt L E Hiscock (10/8/15), Lt G T Pearson (12/8/15), Lt T Neame, Lt R N Bellairs, 2nd-Ltd C W F Rawle (5/4/16), 2nd-Lt C T Hambling, 2nd-Lt F G V Beard (France), Lt E H Hiscock (25/1/17, Lt P MacD Sanderson, Lt C E Sladden.

Front row: Lt &Qr-Mr C H Inwood, Capt R B Horsfield, Capt W D Gibbon, Maj W Barker (13/8/15), Capt & Adjt J V Godfray, Lt-Col M H Nunn (10/8/15), Maj C W Crofton (10/8/15), Maj E W Boyd-Moss DSO (10/8/15), Capt G W Rolph (10/8/15), Capt S Munnik, Capt W Austin (? France).

The Sladden family kept a list of officers of the 9th Worcesters, noting if they had been killed or wounded.

At the top, the following note has been added: “List kept by sisters of CES during the war – JCS, 8.11.77.” This note was written by Cyril Sladden’s son, John Cyril Sladden, in November 1977. The names listed are:

Lieut-Col Nunn Killed
Major Barker Missing, believed killed
Major Crofton Killed
Major Boyd-Moss DSO Killed Aug 10
Captain & Adj Godfray Wounded Aug
Captain W Austin
Captain F Falcon Killed Aug 9
Captain W D Gibbon Wounded Aug /15, died of wounds April /16
Captain R B Horsfield Wounded
Captain Munnik Wounded
Captain Rolph Wounded and missing, now reported killed
Lieut Bellairs Wounded
Lieut Higgs-Walker
Lieut & Qr-Mr C H Inwood
Lieut Neame Wounded
Lieut E H Hiscock (Capt) Wounded April 5th
Lieut Saunderson (Capt) Wounded April 9th
Lieut Pearson Killed Aug 12
Lieut Sladden (Capt) Wounded Aug 12, wounded April 9th
Lieut Tree Died of wounds July 20
Lieut de Blaby Wounded Aug
2nd-Lt Bourne Killed July 17
2nd-Lt Cavanagh Wounded
2nd-Lt Beard Killed July /16
2nd-Lt L E Hiscock Killed
2nd-Lt Marshall Wounded Aug, wounded April 9th
2nd-Lt Lancaster Killed Aug
2nd-Lt Howell Wounded April 5th-9th
2nd-Lt Hambling
2nd-Lt Rawle Wounded Aug, killed April 5th /16

A line has then been drawn and 14 names added; these are men not pictured on the 1915 photo of officers.

Capt E B Conybeare Killed April 5th
Capt H P Dobson Killed April 5th
2nd-Lt H F Downie Wounded April 5th
Major W F O Faviell Wounded April 5th
Lt T N Holmden Wounded April 5th
Lt H B Hulbert Wounded April 5th
2nd-Lt J W Snowdon Wounded April 5th
2nd-Lt P J Stidston Wounded April 5th
2nd-Lt C H West Wounded April 5th
Capt A N C Kittermaster Missing, believed killed April
2nd-Lt A H Davis Wounded April 5th-9th
2nd-Lt R R Davies Wounded April 5th-9th
2nd-Lt A Dunkley Wounded April 5th-9th
Lt E K Myles Wounded April 9th