PARTICULARS OF WAR SERVICE OF THOSE WHO
JOINED UP FROM OUR SMALL STAFF
(PARTNERS INCLUDED).

CAPTAIN ROBERT RANKIN, A.S.C.

Particulars of Service:

Enlisted as a Private in Public Schools Brigade (2nd Platoon, "C" Company, i8th Battalion, 18th Royal Fusiliers), 15th September, 1914. Lance Corporal ditto, April, 1915. Corporal, ditto, June, 1915. Lieutenant, Army Service Corps, 31st August, 1915. Lieutenant, S. R. D., Deptford, 5th September, 1915. Lieutenant, H. T. D., Blackheath, Ranger's House, 18th October, 1915. Lieutenant, B. E. F., France, 10th November, 1915. Lieutenant, 1st Reserve Park, 15th November, 1915. Lieutenant, 1st Indian Cavalry Reserve Park, now 4th Cavalry Division, Reserve Park, Siaikote Brigade, 18th May, 1916. Captain, ditto, 1st April, 1917. Invalided, December, 1917. Re-joined, Transport Officer, Napier Lines, Colchester, April, 1918. Cannock Chase, R.A.S.C., 240th H.T. Co., Brocton Camp, June, 1918. Demobilized, January, 1919.

CAPTAIN JAMES S. RANKIN.
M.P., Toxteth Division of Liverpool.

Particulars of Service:

Joined as Private in the R.A.M.C., in the last week of August, 1914, and served with it until the end of February, 1915. Draughtedunexpectedly with his Platoon into Hospital orderly work, with no apparent prospect of getting to France. Applied for Commission and was granted one in the R.F.A., in February, 1915. Trained at St. Annes-on-Sea, Grantham, and Salisbury Plain. Went to France early in November, 1915, as Captain in charge of the Ammunition Column of the 150th Brigade, County Palatine Division. Served in the Somme area till May, 1916. Owing to breakdown in health, home for some months on sick leave. Later on Home service at Catterick and Ripon, and after further training went with the 386th Battery, R.F.A., to Mesopotamia, sailing in June, 1917, and landing at Basra on the 22nd August, 1917. Proceeded with his battery to a desert camp about 150 miles N.E. of Baghdad—towards the Persian border. Though still attached to his battery he was offered and accepted a District Sub- Directorship with the Director of Local Resources, a scheme originally arranged by General Maude for utilising the great possibilities of the country. He had been working on this from March till September, 1918, when he went to Persia on a special mission. Left Kermanshap, Persia, late September, 1918, for Baghdad, and at a later date was granted leave to resume his Parliamentary duties, arriving in England, January 26th, 1919, and was shortly after demobilized.

CAPTAIN T. E. ROME, M.C.
1/6th (Rifles) K.L.R.

Particulars of Service:

Joined 6th K.L.R. as Rifleman, September 4th, 1914. Commissioned, 28th October, 1914. Sent to 1/6th K.L.R., at Canterbury. Trained there until sent out to France, February 21st. Unit at Ypres. Occupied trenches at the Bluff, Hill 6o. Sanctuary Wood. Wounded during Hill 6o Battle (start of 2nd Ypres battle) 21St April, 1915. Home Service Upstreet, 2/6th K.L.R., July, 1915, and 3/6th K.L.R., Blackpool. Re-joined B.E.F., February, 3rd, 1916, 55th Division at Wailly, South Arras. Marched down to Somme. 'Captain, September 9th, 1916. Left Somme, September 30th, trained up to Ypres, took over Railway Wood section, front line. July offensive, 1917. September offensive. Awarded M.C. Taken out of line, and put in quiet Sector, Cambrai front, October, 1917. German offensive, November 29th. Division badly cut up. Rest billets. Re-organising unit until February, 1918. La Bassée, wounded during start of German final offensive, April 9th. Returned England, April 27th. Home service, 52nd K.L.R. (Young Soldiers' Training Battalion), Kinmel Park and Crowborough. Joined 5th Battalion K.L.R., 30th November, 1918. Discharged from Army, 1st April, 1919.

SERGEANT E. C. COLLEY.

Particulars of Service:

Joined 18th Service Battalion K.L.R., 1st September, 1914, as Private. Trained at Hooton Park, Knowsley Park, Grantham, and Salisbury Plain. Went to France, 7th November, 1915. In line, December, at Gommecourt. January, 1916, Division on Somme. July, Somme offensive. August, in line at Givenchy. October, on Somme again. Attacking at Flers. November, Arras front. April, 1917, Arras offensive. May, at Zillebeke sector, Ypres. July 31st, third battle of Ypres. September, in line at Wyschaete. November, Paschaendale sector. January, 1918, Division transferred to St. Quentin front. March 21St, proceeded on leive 24 hours before the German offensive commenced. April, returned to remains of unit, in line at Kemmel Hill. End May, Division broken up and sent down to Etaples. Heavily bombed by Huns whilst there. June, joined 1/6th K.L.R., in line at Givenchy. July, wounded, sent down line. Early September rejoined Battalion. September 21St attacking by La Bassée. October onwards, open warfare. In action until Armistice signed. December, at small village near Ath, in France. January, Division marched to Uccle, near Brussels. March, 1919, proceeded home to be demobilized.

The Late LIEUTENANT BENJAMIN MOLYNEAUX,
3rd Cheshire Regiment.
(Of Broad Green.)

Particulars of Service:

Enlisted in the army in September, 1914, joining the 6th Battalion King's Liverpool Regiment. He volunteered forthwith for active service, but being only i8 years of age at the time, was not sent overseas until June, 1915. After twelve months' service with the Expeditionary Force, he returned to England to obtain his Commission in the Cheshire Regiment. He was back in France in January, 1917, with the irth Battalion of that Regiment, and was seriously wounded at Messines in June the same year, and invalided home. He again returned to France in August, 1918, and joined the 9th Battalion of his regiment, and was appointed Scout and Intelligence Officer. On the 4th November, whilst visiting the front line at Jenlain, near Valenciennes, with his Sergeant and Corporal, he was mortally wounded by a shell, and carried to the Regimental Aid Post, where he was detained the night, as he was too ill to be moved. The following day he was sent to the Casualty Clearing Station at Awoingt, near Cambrai, but died in the early morning of the 8th November.

The following letter was received from Lieut.-Col. King, 9th Cheshire Regiment

'Dear Mrs. Molyneaux,
I fear that nothing I can say will help you in your sorrow, but you will at least be very proud to know of the splendid work done by your son before he was wounded.

He had been carefully chosen for the very difficult and responsible post of Scout Officer to the Battalion.

During attacks on the 3rd and 4th November his work was really magnificent. He continually visited the leading line, getting information and bringing it back, under the most intense rifle, machine-gun, and shell fire.

He was absolutely fearless and regardless of his own life. I can assure you that he was directly responsible for much of the success of his Battalion in this last battle of the war. None of us will ever forget his fine courage and example. I can only convey to you the very deep sympathy of myself and my brother officers.

Yours very sincerely,

(Signed) C. A. KING,
Lieut.-Col. 9th Cheshire Regiment.'