2 KIA British Officers - WWI - Solferino Farm Cemetry

[Stijn David]

Hello,

While underway in my homeland i visited the Solferino Farm Cemetry near Ypres. These 2 Tombstones did draw my attention, both officers died or where KIA on 26 th October 1917 and belonged to the Royal Field Artillery.

Who can shed some light on the carreers of both brave and well decorated officers who found their final resting place in the Ypres Salient?

* Major L Field, DSO & MC (Age = 30)

* Captain P.S. Barker, MC

Thanks in advance and lets not forgett!

Cordial greetings,

[Gunner 1]

Major Linwood Field was the Battery Commander of B Battery, 78th Brigade, RFA and Captain Paul Studholme Barker was the Battery Captain of B/78. Field and Barker along with Lieut. P H Chantril were killed by a direct hit by an enemy shell on their trench shelter

Field's DSO was gazetted in the London Gazette of 1 January 1918 - there is no citation.  His MC was gazetted in the London Gazette of 16 August 1917 " For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his battery was under heavy shell-fire he ran out into the open with utter disregard for his own life, to dig out a man who had been buried by a shell. He also removed three wounded men to a place of safety."

Barker's MC was gazetted in the London Gazette of 17 December 1917 with the the citation on 23 April 1918 "for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty in running a wire to his battery observation post, maintaining communications all day and calibrating his battery under heavy hostile fire."

 

 

[peter monahan]

They will  ot be forgotten.

 

[Stijn David]

Hello Gunner

Thank you very much! Both very brave individuals, the grave of Lt. Chantrill is positioned at the left of both graves. 

Cordial greetings