Philip Chamberlayne PRESTON

29 October 1915

MR. P. C. PRESTON DIES OF WOUNDS

News has reached Flasby Hall, Gargrave, of the above lamentable event. His friends will be grieved to know that Captain Phillip Chamberlayne Preston, 7th Norfolks, of Shrublands, Swaffham, Norfolk, second son of the late Captain John Norcliffe Preston, of Flasby Hall, is reported from the War Office as wounded and missing between the 12th and 15th October, and believed killed.

Capt. Preston had seen previous service in Lumsden’s Horse in the South African War, and possessed two medals. He joined the forces shortly after the present war broke out and proceeded to France.
For several years past he has lived in Swaffham, being head of the firm of Chamberlayne and Co., merchants. He interested himself in many branches of sport, and was an enthusiastic cricketer and tennis player when at his old home at Flasby on the Gargrave cricket and tennis enclosures. Unfortunately his death is confirmed as “Killed, gallantly leading his men.”

07 July 1916

THE LATE CAPTAIN P.C. PRESTON, FLASBY – A HEROIC END

The many friends of the late Captain P.C. Preston, a son of Captain Preston, of Flasby Hall who, for some years, and up to his death, was chairman of the Skipton Bench of Magistrates, will be interested to hear of his lamentable but heroic end while fighting his country’s foes on the Western Front. The circumstances are recounted in ‘The Lynn Advertiser’ for June 9th, in which journal Pte. Spooner, of the Norfolk Regiment, home on leave at Swaffham after being at the Front since May 30th, 1915, gives an account of his experiences. The account states:–

“Pte. Spooner went with his regiment at first to Armentières, and from thence to Plug Street Wood, where they went into the trenches, the German lines being some 200 to 300 yards away. After being there some time they were transferred to Loos to relieve troops engaged in the Battle of Loos and Hill 70. The regiment kept on the line of the advance, and eventually relieved those holding the front line. They dug themselves in during the night, and then left to go back for rations, and by the time they returned it was getting light, and strict orders were given that no man must show himself or the Germans would shell them. They were spotted by an aeroplane, and the Germans shelled them all day long for three days.

“During the nights they went into a German communication trench to snatch a few hours’ sleep, going back to the front trenches during the day. After three days they were relieved by a Scotch regiment, and went back to a village to rest. After a week the advance from Hulluck [Hulluch] took place, and on the 13th October, the day Captain Preston was killed, they attacked the German trenches. Captain Preston’s company got into the enemy trenches, and Pte. Spooner’s Company went down into the German communication trench to assist to expel the Germans on the right, where, owing to the distance between the trenches, the regiment had been unable to advance.

"The communication trench brought Pte. Spooner’s Company down to a German trench at right angles. At this point Captain Preston could be seen in the German trenches with a wound in his thigh, but he had a rifle and bayonet and was shooting the Germans, and forcing them past the communication trench. Later, after the trench to the right had been cleared, they went back past the communication trench to the right to finish clearing it, and Captain Preston was seen in the same position, but dead, having received a bullet wound in the left temple.

"It is quite clear that Captain Preston, after getting into the German trenches, took one of his men’s rifles and sold his life dearly. The fighting continued from 2 o’clock to 8 p.m., the Germans, when they lost the trenches, shelling them with great effect. The Norfolks were relieved at 8 p.m. by the Berks. Regiment
The next day they tried to recover Captain Preston’s body, but the shells had worked havoc with the trench, and he was apparently buried. After Hullock the regiment went further to the left and had a very hot time, the Germans shelling them heavily, and, in addition, the men had to stand in waist deep water. The trench parapets gave way, and although shells went a long way behind many casualties occurred from flying pieces. Another move was made, but conditions were as bad, or worse, and the water was deep in the trenches and beyond, and it was impossible for either side to attack or do anything, the water being deep enough in places to drown anyone. After this they went back to Hulluck, and this time Captain Johnson, of Ashill, was killed. Captain Johnson stayed behind to hand over the trench stores when he was seriously wounded by a shell, and expired before he reached the dressing station. During this time the regiment had a hot time from rifle grenades, trench mortors, &c., and they could see the Loos towers gradually being knocked out of existence.”

Private Spooner, who furnished the above information, returned to France on June 3rd.

20 October 1916

CAPTAIN PRESTON’S DEATH PRESUMED

Captain Phillip Chamberlayne Preston, of the Norfolk Regiment, was reported wounded and missing on October 13th, 1915, at Hulluch, and, as no further news has been received of him, he is now presumed to have been killed. We gave an account of his heroic end in the ‘Craven Herald’ for July 7th, 1916. Captain Preston, who was the younger son of the late Captain J. N. Preston, of Flasby Hall, Gargrave, was educated at Aysgarth and Charterhouse. In the South African War he fought with Lumsden’s Horse, and obtained the King’s medal with three clasps and the D.C.M. He offered his services when the present war broke out, and was given a commission in the Norfolk Regiment.

16 August 1918

GARGRAVE – Discovered in Berkshire

Gargrave Parish Church has just benefited by a recent discovery in Berkshire by Captain J.H. Preston, of Flasby Hall, who, in a letter to the Vicar, says:– “I recently heard of a chalice in a private collection of silver in Berkshire bearing the following inscription:– ‘In usum ecclesiæ de Gargrave in Diocœsi Ebor 1684.’ This was made by William Raunson at York in the year 1597. The relatives of my brother, the late Captain P.C. Preston, have bought this chalice and are giving it to the Vicar and churchwardens of Gargrave in his memory, hoping that by thus returning it to the parish it will be used by, and remain in the possession of the parishioners for whom it was originally made.” Captain P.C. Preston was killed in the present war as recorded by us at the time. The chalice is 321 years old.

04 July 1919

PEACE SUPPLEMENT TO THE 'CRAVEN HERALD' – CRAVEN'S FALLEN OFFICERS: CAPTAIN P. C. PRESTON

7th Norfolk Regiment, second son of the late Captain J. N. Preston, Flasby Hall, Gargrave, killed in action in France about 12th October, 1915.