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Henry Douglas MACPHERSON

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Surname: MACPHERSON

Forename(s): Henry Douglas

Place of Birth: Leeds, Yorkshire

Service No: ---

Rank: 2nd Lieutenant

Regiment / Corps / Service: Royal Flying Corps

Battalion / Unit: 29th Squadron

Division: ---

Age: 19

Date of Death: 1917-10-14

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: VII. D. 45.

CWGC Cemetery: MENDINGHEM MILITARY CEMETERY

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: CAUTLEY, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: SEDBERGH SCHOOL, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

Henry Douglas Macpherson (born 6 March 1898) was the son of Henry and Lily Macpherson, née Halliwell. Henry was born at Leeds, Yorkshire and Lily at Manchester, Lancashire.

1901 Leeds, Yorkshire Census: 3, Moorland Road - Henry D. Macpherson, aged 3 years, born Leeds, son of Henry and Lily Macpherson.

1911 Sedbergh, Yorkshire Census: Preparatory School - Douglas Macpherson, aged 13 years, born Leeds, Yorkshire. Pupil. [A younger brother, Stuart, is also named.]

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: 2/Lt Henry Douglas Macpherson, R.F.C. Theatre of War: Belgium Spt 1917. Killed in Action 14.10.17. Correspondence: Application from Mr Henry Macpherson for Medals in the case of his late Son 2/Lt H. D. Macpherson. 25.8.19. Address: Ghyllas, Sedbergh, Yorkshire.

British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: 2 Lieut H. D. Macpherson, R.F.C. K. in A. 14.10.17.

Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: 2 Lt H. D. Macpherson, R.F.C. Date and Place of Death: 14.10.17. K. in A. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Father - Henry Macpherson Esq. £91 12s. 10d.

Douglas lost his life when he was shot down by Leutnant Erwin Böhme.

A short biography of Henry is included in: ‘Sedbergh and District 1914-1918 – But who shall return the children?’ Compiled by Sedbergh and District History Society. Edited by Diane Elphick (2016).

Photograph courtesy of Professor Reynold Macpherson PhD.

Data Source: Local War Memorial

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Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record: ---

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2nd Lieutenant Henry Douglas MACPHERSON

2nd Lieutenant Henry Douglas MACPHERSON

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Flying Corps

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Royal Flying Corps

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

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Born:

Residence:

Enlisted:

Number:

Rank:

Regiment:

Battalion:

Decorations:

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Theatre of War:

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: MacPHERSON

Forename(s): Henry Douglas

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number:

Rank: Second Lieutenant

Regiment: Royal Flying Corps

Unit: 29th Sqdn.

Age: 19

Awards:

Died Date: 14/10/1917

Additional Information: Son of Henry and Lily Macpherson, of Ghyllas, Sedbergh, Yorks. Native of Leeds. Educated at Sedbergh School. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: I THANK MY GOD UPON EVERY REMEMBRANCE OF YOU PHIL. 1.3)

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SEDBERGH SCHOOL ARCHIVES

(Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre)

SEDBERGH SCHOOL REGISTER 1912

1979 – Macpherson, Henry Douglas; (School-house), brother of Nos. 1785, 1849, 2243, and 2845; born March 6th, 1898; left December, 1916. XV. 1915 and 1916. Great War:– Lieut., R.A.F.; killed in action October14th, 1917.

SEDBERGH SCHOOL ARCHIVES

(Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre)

The Sedberghian, VOL. XXXVI. NO. 6. DECEMBER, 1915 – Football.

CHARACTERS OF THE XV. [House XV]

H.D. MACPHERSON (10st. 2lbs.) – Not altogether a success as stand-off half. He is plucky in defence and has the merit of running straight, but he is too often tackled with the ball, and as yet has hardly acquired the knack of varying his tactics and deceiving the defence.

SEDBERGH SCHOOL ARCHIVES

(Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre)

The Sedberghian, VOL. XXXVII. NO. 6. DECEMBER, 1916 – Football.

CHARACTERS OF THE XV. [First XV]

H.D. MACPHERSON (SH., 10st. 7lbs) – A very much improved stand-off half. He takes the ball well on the run, for which he is much indebted to his scrum half, and along with Sherriff has done much to infuse some individuality and variety into the back play. His tackling deserves a special word of praise.

SEDBERGH SCHOOL ARCHIVES

(Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre)

[The following information about H.D. Macpherson is from the Sedberghian magazine]

Half-back for School House XV., December 1913 – brother in team.

Half-back for school under-16 team v St Bees, played in ‘almost a swamp’; School House Gym VIII., brother also in team, March 1913.

Half-back for school 3rd XV. and House team, December 1914.

Half-back for school 3rd XV., February 1915.

School House XI, July 1915 and team won cup.

Half-back for 1st XV., November 1915 – played alongside William Wavell Wakefield.

Half-back for School House XV. – team won cup, December 1915.

Eleventh in Ten Mile in a time of 1hr.24min.59secs., March 1916.

Promoted provisionally Lance Corporal in O.T.C., June 1916.

First XI. and House XI.; awarded ‘white boots’ and 2nd XI. caps, July 1916.

SEDBERGH SCHOOL ARCHIVES

(Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre)

‘PATS’–Preparatory School magazine, December 1917.

H.D. Macpherson, the third of five brothers, (four of whom have been to the School, and the youngest is still with us) came in September 1907. He worked his way up from the bottom to nearly the top of the School, and was in both the Cricket and Football XI. He left in July, 1912, for Sedbergh School, where he got his Football Colours, First XV. and his second XI. Cricket Cap. He was second Lieutenant, R.F.C., and was killed in action on October 14th, 1917.

‘The Westmorland Gazette’ (20 October 1917)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

[Heading of article not known but does exist]

Sec.-Lieut. Henry Douglas Macpherson (19), R.F.C., reported killed in action on October 14, was the third son of Mr. Henry Macpherson, Headingley, Leeds, and was educated at Sedbergh and Pembroke College, which he entered in December last. He got his wings in May, and went to the Front only three weeks ago.

SEDBERGH SCHOOL ARCHIVES

(Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre)

The Sedberghian, VOL. XXXIX. NO. 1. FEBRUARY, 1918 – Obituary Notes.

H.D. MACPHERSON

2nd Lieut. R.F.C.

(Killed in action, Oct. 14, 1917).

Duncan Macpherson came on from Mr. Thomas’ School in 1912 and left in December, 1916, to join the R.F.C. After his training and a short visit to Sedbergh he went out to France and was shot through the head whilst flying, after a very brief spell of active service, on October 14th, 1917. He helped his House in every form of sport, and gained his football colours in 1915 and 1916. He was a promising half-back, full of dash and quite fearless, and did excellent work for the School during his last term. In his House he enjoyed exceptional popularity, for he had the gift of influencing his contemporaries and of winning their affection to a far greater extent than most boys; and with this was combined a great keenness for his House and an intense love of Sedbergh. We offer our sincere sympathy to his family whose loss we share.

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Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

Sedbergh School Rugby First XV 1915-16

Sedbergh School Rugby First XV 1915-16

Henry Douglas Macpherson - sitting on the ground (left)

Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre

Sedbergh School Rugby First XV 1915-16

Sedbergh School Rugby First XV 1915-16

Henry Douglas Macpherson - detail

Courtesy of Sedbergh School Archive and Heritage Centre

2nd Lieutenant Henry Douglas Macpherson

2nd Lieutenant Henry Douglas Macpherson

Courtesy of Professor Reynold Macpherson PhD

Lily Macpherson

Lily Macpherson

Lily Macpherson, née Halliwell, the mother of Henry Douglas Macpherson, on her wedding day in 1894

Courtesy of Professor Reynold Macpherson PhD

Lily Macpherson

Lily Macpherson

Lily Macpherson, née Halliwell, the mother of Henry Douglas Macpherson

Courtesy of Professor Reynold Macpherson PhD

Henry Macpherson

Henry Macpherson

Henry Macpherson, the father of Henry Douglas Macpherson

Courtesy of Professor Reynold Macpherson PhD

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