Brigadier General James Monroe Williams

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Parliamentary War Memorial, Westminster Hall

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland declared war on the German Empire on 4 August 1914 following the invasion of Belgium by Germany, and thus participated for four years in the First World War, on the side of the Allies and against the Central Powers. Some 750,000 British men were killed in war during this conflict.

At the start of the war, the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom was the Liberal H. H. Asquith, who was reappointed following the December 1910 general election. He led a Liberal minority government, with the support without participation of Irish nationalist MPs from the Irish Parliamentary Party. Challenged for his management of the war, Herbert Asquith was forced into May 1915 to form a government of national unity including the Conservative Party and the Labour Party. The Prime Minister was forced by the Conservatives to resign in December 1916, and David Lloyd George succeeded him at the head of the coalition.

A total of 264 members of the House of Commons enlisted in the armed forces during the First World War. 23 members of the House of Commons were killed in the war (or died as a result of their participation), as were twenty members of the House of Lords and three former members of the Commons.[1] A memorial commemorates these forty-three men, as well as the staff of the two Chambers and the soldiers who died at the front who are sons of parliamentarians, in Westminster Hall, within the grounds of the Palace of Westminster where Parliament sits.[2]

List

These forty-three parliamentarians or former parliamentarians who fell at the front or as a result of the war are, in chronological order.[3]

# Name Parliament Party Regiment Birth Death Notes
1 Arthur O'Neill MP for Mid Antrim since January 1910 Irish Unionist Alliance Captain, 2d Life Guards Regiment (Cavalry) 19 September 1876 6 November 1914, at the age of 38. Killed in action at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium.[4]
2 Henry Parnell, 5th Baron Congleton [fr] Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1911 Uncertain Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards 6 September 1890 10 November 1914, at the age of 24. Killed in action at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium.[5]
3 Frederick Roberts, 1st Earl Roberts Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1892 (knighted) Uncertain British Army field marshal 30 September 1832 14 November 1914, at the age of 82. Died of pneumonia while visiting Indian troops on the front at Saint-Omer, France.[6] Commander-in-Chief of the Forces from 1901 to 1904. Recipient of the Victoria Cross for his actions during the Indian Rebellion of 1857 in 1857.
4 Wyndham Knatchbull-Hugessen, 3rd Baron Brabourne Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1909 Liberal 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Battalion Grenadier Guards 21 September 1885 11 March 1915, at the age of 29. Killed in action at the Battle of Neuve-Chapelle.[7]
5 Will Gladstone MP for Kilmarnock Burghs since September 1911 Liberal Lieutenant, Royal Welch Fusiliers 14 July 1885 13 April 1915, at the age of 29. Killed in action near Laventie, France.[8] Grandson of former Prime Minister William Ewart Gladstone.
6 John Esmonde MP for North Tipperary since December 1910 Irish Parliamentary Party Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps 21 January 1862 17 April 1915, at the age of 53. Died of pneumonia and exhaustion.[9]
7 Arthur French, 5th Baron de Freyne Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since September 1913 Uncertain Captain, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers 3 July 1879 9 May 1915, at the age of 35. Killed at the Battle of Aubers.[10]
8 Harold Cawley MP for Heywood since January 1910 Liberal Captain, 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment 12 June 1878 23 September 1915, at the age of 37. Killed in action at the Battle of the Dardanelles.[11]
9 Thomas Agar-Robartes MP for St Austell since February 1908 Liberal Captain, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards 22 May 1880 30 September 1915, at the age of 35. Killed by a sniper at the Battle of Loos while assisting a wounded comrade.[12]
10 Lord Ninian Crichton-Stuart MP for Cardiff since December 1910 Conservative Lieutenant-Colonel, 6th Battalion, Welch Regiment 15 May 1883 2 October 1915, at the age of 32. Killed in action at the Battle of Loos.[13]
11 Charles Mills MP for Uxbridge since January 1910 Conservative 2nd Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, Scots Guards 13 March 1887 6 October 1915, at the age of 28. Killed in action at Hulluch, France.[14] Baby of the House from January to December 1910.
12 William Walrond MP for Tiverton since February 1906 Conservative Lieutenant, Railway Supply Detachment, Royal Army Service Corps 22 May 1876 2 November 1915, at the age of 39. Repatriated after being wounded in action in France, and dying of his wounds.[15]
13 Thomas Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1887 Conservative Brigadier General, 2nd 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade 19 October 1864 21 August 1915, at the age of 50. Killed in action at the Battle of Sari Bair during the Gallipoli campaign.[16]
14 Lionel Petre, 16th Baron Petre Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since December 1908 Uncertain Captain, 4th Pioneer Battalion, Coldstream Guards November 3, 1890 30 September 1915, at the age of 24. Died of his wounds at the Battle of Loos.[17]
15 Thomas Trollope, 3rd Baron Kesteven [fr] Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since July 1915 Uncertain Captain, Lincolnshire Yeomanry (Cavalry) 1 May 1891 5 November 1915, at the age of 24. Wounded aboard the freighter SS Mercian torpedoed by a German submarine, and died at Oran in Algeria two days later.[18]
16 George Venables-Vernon, 8th Baron Vernon Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since September 1909 Liberal Captain, Derbyshire Yeomanry 28 September 1888 10 November 1915, at the age of 27. Died of dysentery, contracted while participating in the Gallipoli campaign.[19]
17 James Ogilvie-Grant, 11th Earl of Seafield Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1897 Uncertain Captain, 3rd Battalion, Cameron Highlanders 18 April 1876 12 November 1915, at the age of 39. Died of wounds received in Flanders.[20] Scottish nobleman, 30th Chief of Clan Grant.
18 Gilbert Sackville, 8th Earl De La Warr Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1896 Uncertain Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Service 22 March 1869 16 December 1915, at the age of 46. Died in Messina, Italy, of rheumatic fever and dysentery contracted while serving in the Navy.[21]
19 Michael Hicks Beach, Viscount Quenington MP for Tewkesbury since February 1906 Conservative Captain, Royal Gloucestershire Hussars Yeomanry 19 January 1877 23 April 1916, at the age of 39. Died of wounds received at Qatia in the Egyptian Sinai.[22]
20 Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener Hereditary Peer in the House of Lords since 1898 (knighted) Unaffiliated British Army field marshal 24 June 1850 5 June 1916, at the age of 65. Died on board HMS Hampshire, sunk by a German mine.[23] Secretary of State for War since 1914
21 Duncan Campbell MP for North Ayrshire since December 1911 Unionist Lieutenant-Colonel, Duke of Wellington's Regiment 28 April 1876 4 September 1916, at the age of 40. Seriously wounded in the left arm at the First Battle of Ypres in November 1914, he returned to the front a year later. Wounded by a mine on the western front, he was repatriated once again and died of his injuries.[24] Born in Ontario, Canada; decorated with the Distinguished Service Order
22 Tom Kettle MP for East Tyrone from July 1906 to December 1910 Irish Parliamentary Party Lieutenant, Royal Dublin Fusiliers 9 February 1880 9 September 1916, at the age of 36. Killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.[25] Also economist, lawyer, journalist and poet
23 Guy Baring MP for Winchester since February 1906 Conservative Lieutenant Colonel, 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards 26 February 1873 15 September 1916, at the age of 43. Killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.[26]
24 Charles Duncombe, 2nd Earl of Feversham MP for Thirsk and Malton from February 1906 to February 1915, then hereditary peer in the House of Lords Conservative Lieutenant-Colonel, 21st Battalion of the Royal Corps of the King's Rifles 8 May 1879 15 September 1916, at the age of 37. Killed in action at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette.[27]
25 Gerald Arbuthnot MP for Burnley from January to December 1910 Conservative 2nd Lieutenant, Grenadier Guards 19 December 1872 25 September 1916, at the age of 43. Killed in action at the Battle of the Somme.[28]
26 John Rolls, 2nd Baron Llangattock Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1912 Uncertain Major, 1st Monmouthshire Battery, Royal Field Artillery 25 April 1870 31 October 1916, at the age of 46. Died of his wounds at the Battle of the Somme.[29] Older brother of Charles Rolls, the co-founder of Rolls-Royce.
27 Auberon Herbert, 9th Baron Lucas Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1905 Liberal Captain, Royal Flying Corps 25 May 1876 3 November 1916, at the age of 40. Wounded by a German fighter plane over German lines, aboard his plane, and died of his wounds.[30] Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for War from 1908 to 1911, and for the Colonies in 1911.
28 Henry Barnes, 2nd Baron Gorell Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1913 Uncertain Major, 19th London Battery, Royal Field Artillery 21 January 1882 16 January 1917, at the age of 34. Killed in action at Ypres, Belgium.[31]
29 Henry Howard, 19th Earl of Suffolk Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1898 Liberal Major, Wiltshire Battery, 3rd Wessex Brigade, Royal Field Artillery 13 September 1877 21 April 1917, at the age of 39. Killed in action at the Battle of Istabulat during the Mesopotamia campaign.[32]
30 Valentine Fleming MP for Henley since January 1910 Conservative Major, C Squadron, Oxfordshire Hussars 17 February 1882 20 May 1917, at the age of 35. Killed by German bombardment near Épehy, France.[33] Posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Order. Father of writers Peter and Ian Fleming.
31 Shelley Scarlett, 5th Baron Abinger Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1903 Uncertain Commander, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve 1 April 1872 23 May 1917, at the age of 45. Died in London in unspecified circumstances, but listed by Parliament as a casualty of war.[34] Adoptive grandson of Mary and Percy Bysshe Shelley.
32 Willie Redmond MP for Wexford from 1883 to 1885, for Fermanagh North from 1885 to 1892 and for Clare East from 1892 Irish Parliamentary Party Major, 6th Battalion , Royal Irish Regiment 13 April 1861 7 June 1917, at the age of 56. Died of a wound sustained during the Battle of Messines.[35] Prominent personality of the Irish nationalist movement.
33 Francis McLaren MP for Spalding since January 1910 Liberal 2nd Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps 16 June 1886 30 August 1917, at the age of 31. Died in a flight accident during training.[36]
34 Neil Primrose MP for Wisbech since January 1910 Liberal Captain, Royal Buckinghamshire Yeomanry 14 December 1882 18 November 1917, at the age of 34. Died of wounds sustained in the Third Battle of Gaza.[37] Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs (February to May 1915). Parliamentary Secretary to the Treasury (December 1916 to March 1917).

Son of former Prime Minister Archibald Primrose, 5th Earl of Rosebery.

35 Philip Glazebrook MP for Manchester South since March 1912 Conservative Major, King's Shropshire Light Infantry 24 December 1880 7 March 1918, at the age of 37. Killed in action at Al-Bireh in Palestine.[38] Decorated with the Distinguished Service Order two months before his death.
36 Percy Clive Member of Parliament for Ross from 1900 to 1906, and again from January 1908 Conservative Party(Liberal Unionist Party until 1912.) Lieutenant Colonel, Lancashire Fusiliers 13 March 1873 5 April 1918, at the age of 35. Wounded twice. Killed in action at Bucquoy in France.[39] Decorated with the National Order of the Legion of Honour and the Croix de Guerre
37 William Parsons, 5th Earl of Rosse Hereditary peer elected to the House of Lords as a representative peer by his Irish peers in 1911. Uncertain Major, 1st Battalion, Irish Guards 14 June 1873 10 June 1918, at the age of 44. Died from war wounds.[40]
38 William Poulett, 7th Earl Poulett Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1899 Uncertain Captain, Warwickshire Royal Horse Artillery 11 September 1883 11 July 1918, at the age of 34. Died in service, of the Spanish flu.[41]
39 Francis Bennett-Goldney MP for Canterbury since December 1910. Independent Unionist Major, Royal Army Service Corps 1865 27 July 1918, at the age of 51. Military Attaché at the British Embassy in Paris; died in a car accident in Brest.[42]
40 Oswald Cawley MP for Prestwich since January 1918 Liberal Captain, Shropshire Yeomanry 7 October 1882 22 August 1918, at the age of 35. Killed in action near Merville, France.[43] Third of four siblings to die in the war, after John in 1914 and Harold, also a Liberal MP, in 1915.
41 Lord Alexander Thynne MP for Bath since January 1910 Conservative Lieutenant Colonel, Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry 17 February 1873 16 September 1918, at the age of 45. Killed in action at Béthune, France.[44] Decorated with the Distinguished Service Order and the Croix de Guerre
42 Charles Lyell MP for East Dorset (1904-1910), then Edinburgh South (1910-1917) Liberal Major, Fife Royal Garrison Artillery 18 May 1875 18 October 1918, at the age of 43. Died of pneumonia in Washington, D.C. while on duty.[45]
43 Victor Conyngham, 5th Marquess Conyngham [fr] Hereditary peer in the House of Lords since 1904 Uncertain Lieutenant, South Irish Horse 30 January 1883 9 November 1918, at the age of 35. Aide-de-camp to Lt. Gen. John Maxwell; died on duty, of pneumonia resulting from the 1918 flu.[46]

References

  1. ^ "Former MP killed in WW1 finally added to Parliament's memorial". BBC News. 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  2. ^ Rix, Kathryn (2018-11-12). "MPs and the First World War". The History of Parliament. Retrieved 2023-03-25.
  3. ^ "Recording Angel memorial, Westminster Hall". UK Parliament.
  4. ^ CWGC. "Captain The Hon. Arthur Edward Bruce O'Neill | War Casualty Details 1622815". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  5. ^ "Mr Henry Parnell (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  6. ^ "The Funeral of Lord Roberts of Kandahar 1914". www.garenewing.co.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  7. ^ "Mr Wyndham Knatchbull-Hugessen (Hansard)". api.parliament.uk. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  8. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant William Glynne Charles Gladstone | War Casualty Details 671332". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  9. ^ CWGC. "Captain John Joseph Esmonde | War Casualty Details 2744121". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  10. ^ CWGC. "Captain Arthur Reginald French | War Casualty Details 585441". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  11. ^ CWGC. "Captain The Hon. Harold Kenneth John Cawley | War Casualty Details 2195998". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  12. ^ CWGC. "Captain The Hon. Thomas Charles R. Agar-Robartes | War Casualty Details 53707". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  13. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Colonel Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart | War Casualty Details 62599". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  14. ^ CWGC. "Second Lieutenant The Hon. Charles Thomas Mills | War Casualty Details 736282". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  15. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant The Hon. William Lionel C. Walrond | War Casualty Details 350642". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  16. ^ "Pakenham, 5th Earl of Longford, Thomas". www.winchestercollegeatwar.com. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  17. ^ CWGC. "Captain Lionel George Carroll Petre | War Casualty Details 356817". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  18. ^ CWGC. "Captain Sir Thomas Carew Trollope | War Casualty Details 394616". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  19. ^ CWGC. "Captain George Francis Augustus Venables-Vernon | War Casualty Details 115981". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  20. ^ CWGC. "Captain James Ogilvie-Grant | War Casualty Details 149196". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  21. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Gilbert George Reginald Sackville | War Casualty Details 642064". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  22. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Michael Hugh Hicks-Beach | War Casualty Details 113972". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  23. ^ "The strange death of Lord Kitchener". Financial Times. 2014-11-07. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  24. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Colonel Duncan Frederick Campbell | War Casualty Details 663638". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  25. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Thomas Michael Kettle | War Casualty Details 798121". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  26. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Colonel The Hon. Guy Victor Baring | War Casualty Details 546514". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  27. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Colonel Charles William Reginald Duncombe | War Casualty Details 264937". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  28. ^ "Former MP killed in WW1 finally added to Parliament's memorial". BBC News. 2018-11-10. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  29. ^ CWGC. "Major John Maclean Rolls | War Casualty Details 47705". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  30. ^ CWGC. "Captain Auberon Thomas Herbert | War Casualty Details 304085". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  31. ^ CWGC. "Major Henry Gorell Barnes | War Casualty Details 144228". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  32. ^ CWGC. "Major Henry Molyneux Paget Howard | War Casualty Details 631607". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  33. ^ CWGC. "Major Valentine Fleming | War Casualty Details 337500". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  34. ^ CWGC. "Commander Shelley Leopold Lawrence Scarlett | War Casualty Details 402120". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  35. ^ CWGC. "Major William Hoey Kearney Redmond | War Casualty Details 4041444". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  36. ^ CWGC. "Second Lieutenant The Hon. Francis W. S. McLaren | War Casualty Details 401510". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  37. ^ CWGC. "Captain The Rt. Hon. Neil James Archibald Primrose | War Casualty Details 653139". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  38. ^ CWGC. "Major Philip Kirkland Glazebrook | War Casualty Details 646968". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  39. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Colonel Percy Archer Clive | War Casualty Details 744850". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  40. ^ CWGC. "Major William Edward Parsons | War Casualty Details 663212". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  41. ^ CWGC. "Captain William John Lydston Poulett | War Casualty Details 394198". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  42. ^ CWGC. "Major Francis Bennett-Goldney | War Casualty Details 258612". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  43. ^ CWGC. "Captain The Hon. Oswald Cawley | War Casualty Details 287355". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  44. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Colonel Lord Alexander George Thynne | War Casualty Details 61592". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  45. ^ CWGC. "Major The Hon. Charles Henry Lyell | War Casualty Details 4010497". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
  46. ^ CWGC. "Lieutenant Victor George Henry Francis Conyngham | War Casualty Details 663182". CWGC. Retrieved 2023-04-06.
source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_British_parliamentarians_who_died_in_the_First_World_War